Wednesday, June 29, 2011

What I Wore to the Interview

Yesterday, Juliane commented:

"Since you are building a work wardrobe, will you share a bit about how you are deciding WHAT clothes you need (your anticipated work environment, professional or casual, color choice, shoe styles, etc.). I am looking to return to work in academia and am also facing building a wardrobe from the ground up, and you seem to have such a good handle on this project that I thought maybe you would share your thought processes on this."

I'm sorry to disappoint, Juliane, but I'm not really making new work clothes yet since I don't know where I'll be working. I'm trying to limp through interviews with my existing wardrobe pieces from my last job search 3 years ago. I do want to make a suit but I'm not going to rush it. As far as shoe styles, while I love the look of high heels, I can't wear them. I go for what I hope is a good mix of stylish and comfortable, but comfortable always comes first. I can't really be too picky right now, but I'd prefer an environment that is more business attire than casual. I don't really want to wear jeans to work every day. But I will if I have to. ;-)


For the interview this morning, I went with the blue suit. This pic is after I returned home from the interview so I'm wrinkly from the car and a little disheveled after throwing the jacket back on. Check it out — I'm even wearing pantyhose (and I didn't hate it).

The above pic and the next are a more accurate representation of the suit color vs. the last photos of it when I asked for opinions on skirt length. It's not a bad color on me but blue is just not one of my favorite colors in general. So why did I buy it? I have no idea, except that it was pretty cheap and fit well. Maybe I was thinking of using it as a pattern, but I don't remember at this point.

I decided on this skirt length (obviously!). Any shorter and I don't think I would've been comfortable while sitting and exposing half of my chubby thighs. At this length while sitting, it rises up to just above my knees.

With the suit, I wore this Ottobre Woman blouse I made 3 years ago. It's hard to tell, but in real life there is a perfectly matching blue inside the roundish thingies in the print and the taupe is a good color on me and (I think) a pleasing contrast to the blue. The pin looks kind of like a crab in this pic, but it's actually a cursive H turned diagonally. It was my grandmother's and the H was for her — Helen.


The interview itself went very well. I think I'm probably perfect for the job and I was getting the feeling they thought so too. But — it's in St. Pete, not Tampa, so it's a bit more of a commute. It's a HUGE place and I'm sure there would be advancement opportunities, and they have a great benefits package. But I'm not counting any chickens at this point. Time to wait and see.

Yesterday, I did start the McCall's cowl neck top I showed last post, but ended up abandoning it because I didn't like how fiddly the cowl is and it just wouldn't sit nice under the jacket. I really need an FBA with it too. I was just winging it on resizing, since I ended up with the envelope of smaller sizes because I went with "Medium" without realizing it was for 12-14. I used my TNT Ottobre tee as a sloper to adjust against. It fits OK, but across the bust is definitely too tight. I'll revisit this once I get back from my trip. I have enough white ITY left for another shell of some sort, whether it's this one again or not.


This is what I changed into about 5 minutes after the suit pics were taken. It's the Walmart dress that reminds me of See & Sew 5593. The print/color is kind of bland on me, but it's fine for around the house and/or running errands. Except I'll never go to Walmart actually wearing it. Does anyone else do that — NOT wear clothes (or fabrics) to the places they came from?


This will be my last post until I'm back from my trip. I'm hoping to leave at 5 AM tomorrow morning, and I still have a hem to sew and laundry to finish, and then pack my stuff plus Tyler's list of more stuff to bring him. What does a Marine do with FOUR guitars in a barracks room he shares with another Marine?

Have a great holiday weekend (or just weekend to the non-USAers)!

22 comments:

  1. It looks nice on you! Hope you get a great job offer. Is moving somewhere half-way for you and Tyler a possibility?

    Happy 4th! Have a great trip and stay safe.

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  2. That would be a heck of a commute, Debbie, but glad to hear it went well for you today. Safe travels, enjoy your trip.

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  3. Deb when your job search is finally successful, go ahead and dress the way you want to. In the last years of my career I changed positions several times (trying to boost the retirement pay) and repeatedly people both men and women would take me aside after a few months and comment on how I had improved the overall look and atmosphere of the job site just by dressing nicely everyday.

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  4. actually, now that you ask, if tenants toss clothes that we deem wearable for renovating or painting apartments or doing yard work, then we are careful to not wear those clothes to that building until the tenant moves out. Pretty silly, actually, since men's clothes mostly look alike, and women don't toss stuff until they move.

    You look great, BTW. I'd hire you in a NY minute.

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  5. Good work on the interview. They would be lucky to have you. I do wear clothes back to the fabric store, especially if I have a relationship with someone at the shop.

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  6. Good luck on the job prospect and I think you look great in blue. I love to wear garments that I have made to the store I purchased from. Have a great vacation.

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  7. I am happy the interview went well, and have a fantastic trip.

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  8. Blue is very flattering to you with your lovely hair. It may not be your color of choice, but adding more touches of it near your face would be a great wardrobe addition.

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  9. I think your interview outfit looks 'the business'. You look groomed, professional, well co-ordinated and attractive. Have a wonderful trip!

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  10. Enjoy your trip! I do not know you personally, but I think you're a great professional in your work and hope that you have finally acceptance.

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  11. Really enjoyed catching up on the last couple of posts. You look great in that suit and I would hire you in a minute. Very professional. Also loving your other recent projects, and yes I too make a denim skirt out of jeans years ago. You have me thinking too about a knit maxi dress... Good luck with the job, I have a good feeling.

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  12. Fingers crossed on the job front! You look great in the suit, professional but not personalityless. I need to make a suit eventually, as my 12 year old interview suit is on its last legs.

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  13. You're so funny not wearing something you bought from Walmart to thier store. Who cares. ha ha

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  14. I really like the suit, the blue suits you very well. I have to say though, when I was looking for a job and went to a recruiter and she tore me up about my too-casual look. I wore a nice top, black slacks, and flats to meet her. Her best advice to me: for an interview, wear a nice black suit (pant or skirt), black pumps or kitten heels, and a white long-sleeved button-down shirt. Also, having at least one LBD is essential for the office. Since I was looking for an office job in a legal environment, her advice really helped, and I received a few job offers too with a new black interview suit. So I love your blue suit, but I think that it's perfect for work-wear, not necessarily interview-wear.

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  15. the suit is great on you. Fingers crossed on the job. Sounds like a good one.

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  16. Hmmm...but if you're moving anyway, could you move closer to St. Pete?...but I digress. Have a lovely trip!

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  17. Good Luck Debbie! Thse days for second interviews it's perfectly okay to wear a dress....a knit wrap dress or a sheath from a woven is fine.

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  18. cough....cough..... some of the rest of us are also having a celebratory long weekend. Happy Canada Day, July 1!
    Blue does look good on you with your hair colour, but if it isn't your fav colour, then it isn't your fav colour and you don't feel wonderful in it.
    Enjoy your trip away.

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  19. I don't wear Walmart clothes to Walmart, but I don't mind wearing Beall's clothes to Bealls. Go figure.

    St Pete??? I thought you were in Orlando. Yikes what an awful commute that would be. Would you consider moving closer???

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  20. I actually like that blue color on you. Fingers crossed for the interview.

    And what does a marine do with 4 guitars? Well, try to impress the ladies even more, of course.

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  21. Marie-Christine1:40 PM, July 05, 2011

    You looked great, I'd have hired you :-). And don't worry about the longer commute, you may just end up closer to there in the end, remember you're a free woman now :-).
    That said, you should wear your favorite colors at interviews in general, it just makes you feel better about yourself. But I completely agree that a suit in the hand is worth more than a better suit in the bush.

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  22. I hope your hunches are correct on the job...I'm in the same situation right now, and having a second interview this week with a company that seems like the perfect fit. We'll see! As for your suit, I'm sure it's the icing on the cake for you making a wonderful impression! Best wishes!

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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