I shopped the sale with a client today and noticed more great items that are worth a second look. Remember to browse through the colour options. 

• Helmet Lang Leather Biker Vest: An architectural piece that’s fashionably boxy. Wear it open for the full roomy effect.  
• Free People Flying V Lace Inset Pullover: Fashionably slouchy, casual and great on tall gals. Also available in iris. 
• Free People Stripe Textured Peplum Jacket: A casual knitted jacket with a peplum. Looks good both open and zipped up. 
• Free People Faux Leather & Linen Blend Moto Jacket: An interesting piece. It’s lightweight and rough around the edges in a uniquely Summery way. Boxy in silhouette. Leave it open. Fun over dresses and with skirts too. 
• Nordstrom Collection Stripe Cashmere Sweater: The photo does not do the style justice. It’s roomier and looks better in motion. The side detail is fab, and the diagonal stripe a little different to a regular horizontal stripe. 
• Classiques Entier Lamb Moss Leather Jacket: A good shape for apple shaped body types. Fab on a shorter neck and larger just. Buttery soft leather and very lightweight.
• Vince Camuto Smart Denim Single Button Blazer: A great lightweight modern classic. Tailored and office appropriate. 
• Tildon Manda Platform Ankle Strap Sandal: As light as a feather and very fashionable. Pretty comfortable but needs a higher volume foot. I particularly liked the gold. 

Warm weather has hit our neck of the woods, which means that Spring and Summer pieces are in full swing. I hope that’s the case for you too.

If you’re in the market for a new pair of sunnies, these tips on how to find the right sunglasses for your face shape might come in handy.

This is an interesting article about how sunnies are becoming an integral part of a brand’s seasonal message.

• Budget-friendly sunnies are an easy way to quickly add pizzazz to Summer outfits. The Huffington Post has selected 30 pairs under $30.
• Harper’s Bazaar rounds up 12 sunnies under $100.
• In the mood for hot pink, apple green or cobalt blue? Then have a look at The Guardian’s selection of bright sunglasses.
• Refinery29 found 26 Statement Shades That Deserve A Moment In The Sun.
• Lots more Standout Sunglasses on Popsugar.
• Lucky Magazine brings us the five types of sunglasses that will never go out of style.

Fab Links from Our Members

Imogen’s blog post V is for V Neck helped Laurinda understand why V-necks don’t always work for her: Too deep and too wide and she ends up too cold.

Laura (rhubarbgirl) recommends Alison’s post on dressing for the super casual workplace.

These strategies for trying on clothes quickly during a shopping expedition were an eye-opener for Marlene.

Vildy enjoyed this article about how Brigitte Bardot got her look. She hadn’t realized the French style icon was not a blonde nor that at that time the high ponytail was mainly worn by young girls.

MsMaven found Bridgette Raes’ advice on how to tell someone they need a makeover very helpful.

Laura J informs us that the Marimekko-Banana Republic limited edition collection will be in stores today.

Illustrator Sara Richard recently launched the website Haute PopC, where she illustrates haute couture fashion based on pop culture. These great drawings remind Ironkurtin of Russian-born French designer Erté back in the day.

Lyn D. loves Audrey Hepburn’s style, and found this beautiful infographic very inspiring.

Jeanie is excited to go see the Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibition that examines the career of the legendary couturier renowned for his revolutionary ball gowns.

Sally explores what makes someone photogenic. Angie agrees that it’s truly quite hard to pin down. It also makes her wonder why animals, flowers and food are so flawlessly photogenic, and humans are not. 

After updating my post on what to wear to a job interview earlier this year, I spoke to four human resource professionals to gain further insights on the subject. I chatted with a Senior Recruiter and the Divisional Human Resources Business Partner of a large technology-oriented non-profit organization, the Vice President of Human Resources at a technology company, and the Head of Human Resources of a bio-tech company. Each has many years of experience in the field, and regularly interviews men and women across a variety of ages and backgrounds for both junior and senior level positions.

I asked everyone the same set of questions, and their responses were consistent, helpful and very interesting. I was surprised to hear that many interviews happen over the phone and on Skype these days because international recruiting is gaining momentum. In this case, what you wear to an interview takes a bit of a backseat until you’re actually meeting recruiters and managers face to face. But when you do get into that face-to-face meeting, there is no question that what you are wearing is an important factor.

Although these professionals represent a wide range of interview situations, their answers won’t be relevant to all situations. I hope to chat to interviewers and HR pros from other domains in future. 

Here are the questions I asked and some of the responses I received. The responses aren’t perfectly verbatim, but I took notes during our conversations and tried to capture as much of what was said as possible. My goal was to give you an accurate perspective from the other side of the table. And for this reason I also assured the professionals I spoke to that I wouldn’t reveal their identities. 

What direction do you give to candidates about what to wear to a job interview?

• Set the professional expectation with your clothes by wearing business casual separates that are sensible and comfortable. 
• Suits are generally not required. Wear a jacket because it always makes a more professional statement. But take it off during the interview if that makes you feel more comfortable. 
• Err on the side of dressy, modest and conservative. Dress for the interview like you are meeting the most important person in the company.
• The higher up you go in the organization, the more formal you should dress for the interview. Wear a suit if the interview is for an executive position. 
• Dress for your audience and portray confidence. 

Is what the candidate wears to the interview an important factor?

• Yes, it is important. Show that you put effort into your outfit because it will reflect that you are serious about the position. Dressing appropriately and professionally for the interview is a sign of respect both to the interviewer and the organization. 
• Your clothes might send unintended messages. If you’re wearing scuffed shoes, it might make me think you lack attention to detail. Obviously there are exceptions like losing your suitcase on your trip down to the interview and not having time to purchase a replacement pair of shoes. But tell us that happened so that we don’t make inaccurate judgements. 
• Don’t wear anything that will distract the interviewer. 

What kind of conclusions do interviewers draw based on what candidates are wearing?

• If you look professional, you are off to a good start.  
• The way you dress is a reflection of how you would work. So if you present yourself in a professional and appropriate way, the interviewer will infer that you are confident and have good judgement. 
• Skirts must be worn with hosiery because it’s formal and shows that you made an effort, especially for very senior positions. 
•  If you’re too dressy, we fear you might not fit into the organization.  

In an extreme case do you think an outfit can prevent a candidate from getting a job? 

• We hope not. And especially not if you’re interviewing in a very technical field. We would rather nitpick on the interactions with the support staff, than focus on how the candidates presented themselves at the interview. 
• Yes. One of the candidates wore toe-shoes to a formal interview, and he did not get the job. It was very odd. What was the candidate trying to say with that? If he needed to wear the shoes for medical reasons, he should have said so. 
• Yes. A man was interviewing for a VP position at the company, yet he looked like he was going camping. Old shirt, wrinkled corduroys, beat-up shoes, backpack, unshaven and badly groomed. You have to look like you can do the job in the outfit you are wearing. He didn’t think about the role he wanted, and it was a bad first impression.
• Yes. One of our candidates wore extremely ill-fitting clothes. He was tall and slim, and his clothes were far too wide and short, which was off-putting. No one in the organization wanted him because of what he wore. 

Do you suggest covering up tattoos and removing visible body piercings for the interview?

• Yes. Be mindful of your audience. Err on the side of conservative and cover up tattoos as much as possible. Wear long sleeves if you have arm tattoos. Do not risk negative judgements when you can control them. 
• Yes. Cover all visible tattoos for the interview. It’s too distracting, and too risky just in case people judge you negatively because of your body art. You are there to make a statement about your qualifications and skill set, and not your body art. Focus on your best professional self. Once you’ve landed the job, it’s fine to showcase your tattoos.  
• Yes. Cover all tattoos and take out all body piercings to prevent an internal unconscious bias.
• Some cultural nose rings are acceptable, but take the rest out apart from a small stud in each ear if your ears are pieced. 

Are hiring managers consistent in the way they judge what the candidate is wearing? 

• No. They are usually more conservative. So when in doubt, wear something more formal and conservative. 
• No. Everyone comes with their own point of view. 

Do you have any other interview wear “do’s” to share?

• If you’re unsure about what to wear to an interview, phone the HR department and ask for guidance. 
• Iron your clothes. It shows you made an effort. And making an effort creates a positive impression. 
• Wear a nicely coordinated and current outfit. It tells me that you are credible, professional and have good judgement. 
• Your outfit should show that you made an effort, so that you show respect to the organization and the people you are meeting with. Although we want you to show your personality and authentic self, which might be untidy, there is an expectation that people will make an effort for an interview. Looking disheveled creates a negative impression. 
• Wear flattering colours and keep your nails short. 

Do you have any other interview wear “don’ts” to share?

• Don’t wear too low tops, very high heels, tight clothes, distracting accessories, bright nail polish or a scent. 
• Don’t wear a very conservative and dated look either, especially if you’re over 50. Make sure you wear a current outfit that fits well. 
• Don’t confuse Non-Profit with Informal. Non-profit organizations are usually dressy for the interview, although the culture is pretty casual.
• Don’t wear a silly watch. 
• Don’t carry a bag that is bigger than you. And don’t put your bag on the interview table. Keep it out of sight. 

Although the guidelines seem sensible and obvious, we still stress about what to wear to an interview! I guess we need to calm down about it, think it through logically, follow the guidelines, and ask for help when we’re unsure. A big thank you to the HR professionals who took time out of their busy schedules to speak with me. We appreciate your insights, and will refer back to them the next time we prep our outfit for an interview.

Here are my top picks for shoes and bags at Nordstrom’s Spring and Summer end of season sale (I covered clothing earlier today). Be sure to check all the colour options. 

Shoes

• Franco Sarto Adesso Leather Bootie: A fashionable Summer bootie to wear with dresses and skirts. Read the rave reviews. 
• Sole Society Haley Sandal: A Summer bootie with less coverage and pretty comfy. More rave reviews. 
• Steve Madden Plato Sandal: A casual gladiator that’s extra fab in white. I love how the classic gladiator has made a comeback this year. If I had to wear a casual sandal, it would be gladiators all the way. 
• Fly London Yala Sandal: A quirky casual shoe that’s unexpectedly comfortable. Fun patterns. 
• Paul Green Taggart Boot: For cool Spring and Summer days with boyfriend jeans. Tailored and well made. 
• Matt Bernson Jagg Bootie: Add a refined edge to girly outfits with this style of shoe. 
• Franco Sarto Amplify Leather Flat: Breezy, covered and fits an orthotic. 
• AGL Euro 2 Sandal: A comfortable classic gladiator that’s very well made. 
• Sofft Solana Sandal: A comfortable, low-heeled Summer basic. 
• Rockport truwalkzero II Sneaker: A good-looking walking sneaker that might come in handy travelling this Summer. It’s available in regular and wide widths. Wear sans socks for a fashionable touch. These are in my shopping cart. 
• Julianna Hough for Sole Society Lacey Suede & Leather Sandal: Suede is soft and forgiving, which makes this peep-toe extra comfortable. 
• Vince Nina d’Orsay Flat: On trend but not supportive. I didn’t find this flat comfortable, but some of my clients did. Size down half a size. 
• Jeffrey Campbell Bon Voyage Leather Sandal: A Summer sandal for the Urban Warrior Princess. Hard-edged in distressed cream. Quite unique. 
• Munro Kimi Loafer: I have many happy clients in this white loafer this year because it’s a good looking walking shoe. It’s extremely comfortable, but does run a little narrow. Order the wide size if you need a roomy toe box. The toe box stretches after a few wears, which is a plus. Read the rave reviews. 
• Vaneli Ranon Driving Moccasin: Another extremely comfortable shoe. More glowing reviews.

Handbags

• Rebecca Minkoff Medium M.A.B Tote: A clean modern classic with lots of space. 
• French Connection Chelsea Crossbody Bag: I have happy clients sporting this practical and casual urban wardrobe pet. It holds a lot more than you might expect. 
• Vince Camuto Tilly Leather Backpack: A structured bucket bag to wear on your back. 
• Kate Spade Catherine Street Pippa Leather Satchel: A satchel that functions as a crossbody. Crisp and well made. The navy and white gets my top vote. 
• Milly Color Digital  Satchel: My favourite of the bunch in both black and white. The white was going to follow me home before it went on sale, but I found my special Rosie bag from L.K. Bennett in Boston instead. I am still thinking about this bag because it really pulls at my heart strings. It’s a killer combination of Classic meets Modern and Sporty. 
• Milly Color Digital Clutch: Here is its little cousin in clutch form. 
• French Connection Zip Code Satchel: Easy, lightweight and versatile. 
• Furla Medium Candy Satchel: A simple satchel in an unexpected fun fabrication. Feels like a jelly sweetie. Here are more colours. 
• Loeffler Randall Work Tote: Graphic, crisp and bold. 

There is lots more to shop at the sale if Spring and Summer are your dominant seasons. Do take a peek at underwear, socks, hosiery and sleepwear because now is as good a time as any to stock up on basics.