Interview suit blouses

Heather

I need help! I'm looking for a good interview blouse for under my navy Sejour suit, for winter. It needs to be extremely conservative, as this is for a medical residency. The complication is that I am a size 16-18, and I haven't been able to find anything good. I was hoping for a silk blouse, or at least a soft one, so there are fewer issues with gapping in the front, but if I have to, I'll settle for a starched blouse. I have more questions after I solve this one, particularly regarding winter in the north and formal interviews, but this is the most pressing.

Thanks in advance!

8 years ago

Shopping

4 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Have you looked at Foxcroft online at Nordies?

8 years ago

Sydney

Active Member

Take a look at Talbots. Misses sizes go up to 20 and xl and the the woman's sizes start at x or 12w. There is some overlap in the sizes, so you may have to order a few to get the right size, but they have a 90 day return period. Note that stores carry up to a 16 and xl and often start at 14w and x (I have no idea why - seems silly Talbots if you are listening!), but the other sizes I noted are available online.

Also, I have a few blouses from Talbots that are 100% polyester and wash and wear great (I also have a few that don't). Just wanted to mention that as I tend to shy away from silk because of dry cleaning.

Good luck shopping and with the interview!

8 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Are you only looking at button - fronts? What type of blouse looks best on you, and with the suit?
I interviewed medical students and residents for years, and though certainly it had become de rigeur to wear a formal suit, women had several options for tops- button front shirt in cotton/ blends or silk, jewel- neck woven blouse ( or other high neck)- and theoretically an excellent knit such as merino, but knits are always more fraught for formal interviews, so that would depend. Polyester woven blouses would not be off- limits -- again, it's how nicely does it translate. So I'd be looking for the fit and style that looks neatest and most polished on you and gives the best " overall" look. Solids are usually better, mostly just simpler and easier to achieve a neutral, professional look.
It's very easy for shirt collars to look very sloppy the way we wear our suitjackets, compared to mens' buttoned + necktie look, so that's why I consider other collarless blouse options.

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES, Talbots. I forget to mention them.

8 years ago

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