Everyone I know who has been for an interview, whether it was for a job, for an internship or for a university placement, has all spent the previous week stressing over what to wear. Should you go all out with the full office skirt suit? Should you stay true to you and go in your comfy jeans and favourite t-shirt?
It is a tricky situation and you can spend sleepless nights deciding on the perfect outfit. You don’t want to look unfashionable, but you also don’t want to look unprofessional. It’s not an easy thing to do, but by intertwining professionalism and fashion, you can create the perfect interview outfit. Gone are the days of the boring suit trouser and white shirt pairing. Don’t be afraid to add colour to your outfit and integrate the latest fashion trends.
The single most important thing before taking on this advice on creating the perfect interview outfit is to make sure you’re comfortable. Make sure it is something you would wear again—don’t jump out of your zone and try to reinvent yourself just to impress someone. If you’re not comfortable with what you’re wearing, chances are it will stress you out even more, so relax, be rational, and kill that interview!
Statement Jewellery
You can dress any old boring outfit up with a strong piece of statement jewellery. Retail stores are packed with large bulky necklaces that add that element of glamour to an ensemble. You can play it safe if you’re feeling unadventurous in a white blouse, but make sure you inject some colour by adding jewellery. It doesn’t have to be a necklace, although with a plain shirt it creates the perfect mix of professionalism and fashion; bold bracelets and earrings also make a statement and allow you to show of your personality behind the plain office wear.
Killer Heels
Firstly be wise about this. If you’re interview is quite far away and you have to walk a long distance to get there, wearing heels is probably not going to be the best idea. If your feet are hurting and blistered, this will only put you in a bad mood before your interview, but if you know the interview isn’t too far away and you’re comfortable in heels, go for it! A plain outfit can be brought to life by adding a pair of killer heels. Coloured ones are especially effective, and elongating the legs and wearing heels will give you the confidence to walk in and smash that interview.
Bold Handbag
If you tend to be more reserved, and the thought of a bright pair of heels or a huge necklace is daunting, don’t be dismayed! There are always more options. Admittedly I am a bit of a plain Jayne, but I like nothing more than a big bold handbag. My trusty River Island bag is the perfect mixture of orange and monochrome and has got more compliments than me on my previous job search. A bag is an unattached accessory making it the perfect add on to make sure your outfit is on trend.
Patterned Trousers
There’s nothing more office-like than a pair of black straight-leg trousers. Black, as we know goes with everything, so why not switch it up a bit? Instead of wearing black trousers, wear a black shirt or blouse and jazz up the outfit with a pair of patterned trousers. Now the kind of pattern you choose to go for will depend on how you want to appear to your employee and again, what you are comfortable with. If it’s bright colours, go for it! Just don’t overcompensate with bright jewellery and a bright handbag too. Find the perfect balance of pattern and plain clothing to make an equally professional and fashion-forward interview outfit.
Blazer Staple
Someone once told me when giving advice on what to wear to an interview that “Blazers are always a winner”. They can make the most casual outfit look smart in a second and you can pick one up in every colour under the sun. Compliment the rest of your outfit with a suited blazer, draw from a colour you have in your handbag or in your necklace or go for the safe black option. There are multiple variations of the blazer, including the kimono which is everywhere in many different patterns, colours and styles.