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Sudden wardrobe hole uncovered!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

If you have seen my WIW posts you must know that I love jackets and wear them to work frequently - year round. I like them interesting and not conservative and because I work in a casual environment my choices worked well for me.
However yesterday a question popped into my head prompted by Debbie's interview outfit post: "OK Sveta, what would YOU wear if you have an interview tomorrow?" ...and I panicked!
Here is my summer jackets - and correct me if I am wrong - but I think none of them is appropriate for an interview for a senior position.
1. Gap navy moto - too edgy
2. Zara pleated shoulder - too trendy and the color is too "soft"
3. Gap yellow blazer - the color is too "in your face"
4. White blazer - this one is classic in shape but is white jacket too bright for the interview? Also it is past its prime and is not crisp anymore.
5. Zara cream jacket - too trendy as well?

This leaves me with cool season jackets but I am not sure it is any better:
6. Gap cobalt - too bright and edgy
7. white leather - it is leather! not sure it is appropriate.
8. brown leather - ditto!
9. taupe leather - the same!
10. BR long tux. This may be a possibility as it is the most traditional of the lot - but is satin collar too much for the occasion?
Am I right thinking that I have a hole which I need to fill before it is too late? Do you think any of those is acceptable for an interview?

I need that ink suit RIGHT NOW!!!

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Dressing

38 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Joy

Veteran

An interesting question. If you had an interview tomorrow I'd go with in white jacket in 4. For fall/winter/ early spring it would be the taupe leather jacket in 8. But, depending on the company and job, these could be too casual.

Sal

Veteran

Yes I see what you mean...I also think the white in 4 would work.

But are you planning to interview for a new job? If you are - then yes I would look for a jacket to save last minute panicking....if you are not, then I would just enjoy your lovely modern jacket collection until you start job hunting. In some environments many of these jackets could work anyway even for interviewing.

By the way - love your jackets, you have some beauties!!

Diana

Veteran

Ha. Yes, this is why I bought a black suit last winter. Just in case, although in my case for most interviews for academic positions I'd probably break the suit up. I have loads of jackets but they're all a little bit eclectic or else too casual.

ETA: if you had to interview tomorrow, I'd say either the white blazer or the tux. Tux is maybe a bit too "evening" but it would prob be ok for a not-super-stuffy interview.

Debbie

Veteran

I think #4 would work well. I am actually better covered for interview jackets in the fall and winter than the summer.
I have decided I need a suit if I can find the right one.

Gigi

Veteran

I don't mind the pleated shoulder jacket in 2, but I think you're right that the color might be a problem...although maybe you could style it in such a way that the softness would be mitigated. Number 10 looks good but a bit on the casual side. I guess I would agree that nothing here really says "interview." I guess it's time to start keeping your eyes open for the perfect jacket!

abc

Veteran

Wow. You have an amazing collection of jackets. Will you be interviewing or is this a "just in case" item? If you want a blue jacket you should get one (enabling right back at you from the Danier thread haha)

columbine(erin)

Veteran

You look so fab in all these different bottoms and the dress... Sorry got distracted! Hmm. Maybe you need need an interview blazer. what would be your ideal interview outfit from what you have already?

T

Out of these #10 seems most suitable to my eye.

Laura

I agree with T, #10 looks like the most professional of all the outfits. I know it is a casual interview and that outfit looks to fit your needs the best. Good luck!

bj1111

Veteran

i'm old school. ink blue suit it is. best be prepared.

anyway, hopefully, you will get more advanced notice than overnight to interview for a senior management position, unless it was an informal assessment of your potential which they may or may not let you know in advance. enough notice to get the suit and have it tailored.

Bijou

Veteran

I would go for 10. I asked a friend who works in HR (at an accounting firm - so rather conservative) what the perfect interview outfit was - and she said to wear something that made you feel fabulous and confident. So given you have a pretty cool sense of style, I think a more conservative base (like a black shift dress) with one of your fab jackets.

Mona

Veteran

I am in awe of your awesome jacket collection. #10 is the best suited for an interview in my opinion.

Lisa

Veteran

If you are in a pinch I'd go for 4 and 10 which are classic colors and styles. Personally I only interview in a suit and I own 3 (two trouser and one skirt) for formal business meetings and interviews. I've also used my black suit for business holiday dinners and funerals.

anne

Veteran

Sveta, just wanted to say how fab you are looking! What a great jacket collection.

Robidi

They are all stylish, but I would go for either 4 or 10 for an interview.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous jacket collection. And I love how you have an equal number for warmer and cooler weather. This is an imbalance I need to address, so thank you for revealing my own wardrobe hole in the discussion of your own.

By the way, are not some jackets missing here? How about the denim oversize moto? (Obviously no good for an interview, but still). And do you still have the white denim jacket? Or was that one purged?

I think we need to go suit shopping for you, pronto!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are absolutely right. You need a navy blazer. xo

Jules

Veteran

I would not go out an buy something 'just in case' because your style is pretty current and I am not sure you would feel 100% in a suit you bought now in a few years. Your body could change too. In my experience once you are mid-career any job changes tend to happen at a glacial pace... If there is a sudden right person/right place/right time opportunity, clothes are not going to be a game-changer.

Susie

Veteran

Very relevant topic for me right now. Just a few weeks ago I bought a nice Eileen Fisher tropical suiting jacket and pants. At the time, I did not have a specific need for a suit but saw it as a nice to have and knew that I would wear the pieces individually.

Well, tomorrow I have an important meeting. Not an interview per se but that level. And I am so happy to know that I have that suit (as well as appropriate shoes, top and bag) ready to go.

So I agree that a suit does help in feeling prepared.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

#4 or #10 would be my choice if you had an interview right away. But yes, I say we have another meet-up right away so you can find your perfect interview blazer!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I would wear leather for an interview. I remember what I wore for the interview for my current position (manager of a team of accountants) and it was a sheath dress in blue/black with a black wool moto jacket and boots. It was a bit edgy but worked. I don't think most employers expect formal any longer.

My short answer would be that I think the white leather over one of your fab outfits would be appropriate for a management position with a Canadian company in summer and the taupe in fall/winter.

My boss was wearing a great pant suit in grey narrow off white pinstrips about 1" apart. I thought her style was fab and it gave me confidence about the job.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

First of all, what a fantastic jacket collection Sveta. These are beautiful pieces that really are the backbone to your wardrobe. As another jacket lover, I say bravo!

I do think a sharp navy blazer would be stellar for you but like Dianthus, I'm not sure you need a full blown suit. I think a dress or dress trousers with a fabulous fitting jacket works quite well in an interview situation. That having been said, a navy suit broken up gives you a myriad of outfit possibilities.

K. Period.

Veteran

I love that Angie just jumped right in and said Yes. You need a navy blazer. She knows us all so well!

I think you need a navy blazer (or suit) too. You wear jackets a lot. I don't wear them as much as you, but I do have to have a suit on hand.

I have a navy suit (pants and jacket) and a navy pinstripe one (pants, dress and jacket) that I bought to mix and match. Between the two sets, I have a week's worth of suits on rotation, if needed. But I don't need them that often. Still, I get a lot of wear from them by breaking them up. The trousers and dress are easy to get the wear out of. PreYLF I wouldn't have been so sure about the jackets. Now, I just throw the jackets on with dark denim or lighter bottoms and I wear them all the time. I suspect you would too. I just cuff and scrunch to make them less formal. So, I think yes too!

LisaM

I would choose the white and pair it with something simple- maybe a black sheath dress. Good luck!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

<I have started to write a response and it disappeared - boo!>

Thank you all for the responses. As I thought the white blazer and black tux are the closest options but still not ideal.

I don't have any interviews to go to but as Jules mentioned at mid-career it can change at the drop of the hat and the least thing I want to stress about at that time is what to wear. I want to be ready! For the last 2 years my work environment was very stressful and draining and I feel that maybe it is a time for a change - especially as I have been working there for over 10 years.
I am not in a senior management position but in a senior technical position so dress code is not as strict but still I want to look professional without being too corporate.

Also Angie demonstrated that classic suit has a good longevity and can be very modern - all depends how you wear it - so I have no doubt that I can make it work for me outside of the interviews too. Possibly it is a good thing I did not get it before as with my current weight loss it would be too big now but I think it is time to start looking. Maybe I can find it in Seattle?:-)
I don't want to hunt for it at the last moment because then I am bound to compromise and get what is available and not what I really want. Also remember that I am not easy to shop for because I am taller than average: most of jackets are just too short on me. And trousers too!:-(

Suz, you don't have many summer jackets because you do not need them as much as I do. I run cold and have blasting A/C in my office so blazer is a summer staple for me. You run warmer and work from home with no A/C so your need is different (although I will gladly enable you to get more jackets)!
As for my denim jackets I did not show them on purpose as they are definitely not appropriate (and I still have white denim jacket although my faded biker gets much more wear this summer).

Susie, this is exactly what I meant - need to be prepared!:-) What a lucky buy for you!

Yeah, I need a navy blazer (suit) YLF shopping session!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooooh, Seatlle is going to be so much fun for you!!!!

Runcarla

Veteran

I'll be following this! Tried on a navy suit at BR (too curvy) and a lovely grey Italian pinstripe wool (fit shoulders and arm length, but too baggy around bust). Louben does long trouser inseams but they are hard to find. Long Tall Sally carries Louben, though.

K. Period.

Veteran

Sveta, maybe you can check out suiting at BCBG while in Seattle? Their trousers (and most of their clothes, to my chagrin) are cut for taller women. My 6' friend is always ecstatic to try on trousers there that she'll have to have hemmed. And I find that the tops are often cut too long for me too. An option, at least! My suits are both JCrew, which I think is incredible value for a classic plus modern suit. I think they carry talls, maybe? And I know they have a variety of cuts for their suiting, although often their non-suiting options are cut for straighter figures.

ETA: Laughing because I think Angie and I cross posted, and I almost asked Angie in my post if JCrew would work for you. All I can do is nod in agreement that I feel like their suiting outshines anyone else's. My JCrew jacket is just as well made, if not better, than my Hugo Boss.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Svetlana, #1 place to look for a Tall Suit is J.Crew. I think you will hit the jackpot there. Their Talls are the longest in regular retail, and their fit works with your body type. Also, the quality is GREAT. I am much impressed with J.Crew's suiting the last few seasons.

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