Interviews can be such an insanely nerve-wracking experience. I always fret over how much I should brush up on my company basics, what kind of questions I should have prepared, and if I've printed enough copies of my resume. The one thing I absolutely relish about the interview experience is dressing for it. My day-to-day wardrobe can feel mundanely casual, so any opportunity to really turn it out is one I embrace to the fullest. I had such an interview recently, and the look I put together really helped elevate my confidence.
Karen Millen coat (missing a button, blast!); J. Crew shirt; Theory pants; Mee Too flats; c/o Amanda Pearl Gobstopper earrings; Michael Michael Kors watch; various bracelets.
Everything else you've seen before, but it's sort of amazing what an effect the shirt has on the overall look, right? Here's a side-by-side with the same pants and shoes from last September:
I wore that second look to a show for NYFW. I really prefer to wear the woven brown belt just because it dresses down the pants, and for exactly that reason I didn't wear it to the interview. Even at a fashion or lifestyle-based company, I think it's extremely important to put professional polish above personal style. You can absolutely still express your individuality and taste without compromising business-dress standards.
Take my pants, for example. They are by no means your standard dress pant, they've got a paper bag waist, pleats and are cropped above the ankle. I find that a traditional trouser style can look unflattering on my figure, so I chose an unconventional cut I like more, but made sure to pair it with a simple, conservative shirt. As far as flare, the oversized pearls were my little twist. My MK watch is one of those menswear-inspired pieces that is perfect for interviews: it illustrates timeliness and taste! So I wore it with just my slim, silver Tiffany bangle and no rings.
(Don't you love Ari's little touch with the tulips?)
I call this pose - Sears catalog, party of one.
One last note about this look, my hair! I am the world's biggest fan of the top knot. I wear one just like this all the time, for every kind of occasion. It was an extremely practical style for my interview though, because currently my mane falls about half-way down my torso. I love it, but it can be hard to wrangle and a bit of a distraction. I tend to fiddle with my hair when I'm nervous, so having it swept up and away from my face eliminated the urge.
I'm pretty much wearing the same shirt as we speak. A pale pink is flattering on pretty much everyone, male or female. I believe it was Michael Bastian who said that pale pink is actually the best color to wear when you are hungover. Anyone, I hope that the interview went well!
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