Interviews can be nerve-wracking, panic inducing situations, faced with a barrage of questions about why you think you’re good enough for the job and what you think you can bring to the company. Well do not fear, if there is one thing that we at Fashionolia can take care of, is the outfit you wear to the interview. Looking smart and feeling confident in what you are wearing can give you that extra head start above your competition.

Background work

If possible, check with the HR department and see what the dress code is for the office. Even see if you can go the place of work before hand and take a look at what the people are wearing to work on a morning. In different types of jobs there are different interview outfits that are, lets say, more appropriate. For instance, if it is a job in say a solicitors, then a well cut, expensive looking (different to actually expensive, the high street have some fabulous designs which don’t cost the earth) suit, with a crisp white shirt and heels, or polished brogues for men, will fit in perfectly. But if you are going for a job in say, advertising or fashion then the dress code will be a lot different. Here are two examples of perfect interview dressing, formal and informal.

Formal Interview

• Formal interviews are of course the most nerve-wracking of them all. Like we mentioned above, a great tailored suit would be great for an interview. Team a suit jacket, skirt or trousers with a crisp white shirt.
• Adding heels can make you walk with confidence but be very careful about the heel height. The last thing you need is to stumble and fall over whilst walking into the interview room.
• Tie your hair back and keep make up to a minimum. If you usually wear a lot of lipstick or heavy eye makeup, leave this at home just this once as too much make up can give the wrong impression to an employee, especially a male interviewer.
• To add a bit of character to the outfit add some jewellery such as some diamond stud earrings or a classic watch.
• Your handbag should be big enough to carry all your essentials in but small enough not to have to spend ten minutes searching through to find a pen and paper.
• Why not add a colourful scarf to your ensemble to brighten the look up if you feel too ‘corporate’.

Informal interview

• Informal interviews are usually with companies such as labour work, within the fashion industry or jobs that are not office based. This is not to say you turn up in jeans and t-shirt. This is actually your turn to show a bit of individuality, usually something that employers would like to see in for example jobs in the fashion industry.
• Steer away from jeans, because although this may be suitable for the job if you are fortunate enough to get it, these can come across like you do not care what the interviewer thinks.
• Team some smart, crease free trousers with a pretty blouse and a statement necklace for an individual look.
• If you are going for a job in advertising or fashion, then make sure it’s obvious you know what is in fashion! So if a certain style bag is in, then make sure you carry that bag, or if a certain colour is ‘the’ colour of the season then try work that colour into your outfit.