Interview - What to wear in this heat?

Faith · 20-07-2013 8:07pm #1

I've got a job interview coming up this week for a research position within a university. It's my first professional job interview, and I'm not sure what to wear. I don't cope with heat that well, so I would like something as light as possible while remaining suitably formal. I have a black peplum pencil dress, but I imagine I'd need to wear tights and that idea alone is making me sweat

. I don't want to turn up all red faced and sweaty so can anyone advise? I thought maybe linen pants (do they have to be black?) but I'm not sure what kind of a top I'd wear. I'm a plump size 12 carrying most of my weight on my belly. Thanks!

username123 · 20-07-2013 8:46pm

I have had 2 interviews in the past couple of weeks (one in a university) and I wore a grey suit, with a black sleeveless tunic top that I got in Dunnes.

Here is the top (it looks awful in this pic, its actually very flattering, particularly over the tummy - its also a good top for those of us with boobs because it doesnt cling and over accentuate them nor gape like a lot of shirts/blouses do):
http://www.dunnesstores.com/savida-peplum-jacquard-top/tops/dunnesstores/fcp-product/7927917?colour=black
They had it in cream or white too.

I just didnt wear the jacket of the business suit. The material of it is sort of light wool type. Summery enough.

I got offered one of the jobs so presumably it was suitable attire!

Although I was roasting in the car going to the interviews, once you get indoors the places tend to be cooler so you will be grand.

SBWife · 20-07-2013 8:46pm

You should wear normal professional interview clothes and tights, it's only in the mid 20s not the mid 30s.

Toast4532 · 20-07-2013 9:26pm

What about a pencil skirt and blouse with flat pumps or court shoes? Do you have to wear tights or would you go with bare legs?

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Belted-Pencil-Skirt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2470474&cid=2639&Rf936=2308&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=204&sort=3&clr=Black

http://www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Linen-Pencil-Skirt-with-Belt/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2760366&cid=2639&Rf936=2308&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=204&sort=3&clr=Berry

http://www.asos.com/Oasis/Oasis-Peplum-Top/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2762251&cid=15200&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=-1&sort=-1&clr=Off+white

http://www.asos.com/TFNC/TFNC-Shirt-With-Pleated-Frill-Shoulder/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3034570&cid=15200&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=-1&sort=-1&clr=Cream

http://ie.nextdirect.com/en/x5248s5

Could wear something like this maybe, its smart and dressy without being overly formal. Could swap the heels for flats/sandals if you wanted.

http://ie.nextdirect.com/en/x5248s2

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/cutout-bubble-crepe-dress/tailoring/warehouse/fcp-product/4353076031

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/flared-cut-out-dress/tailoring/warehouse/fcp-product/4353074226

You could wear a blazer over the dresses.

Or maybe trousers with a top and blazer?

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/lace-panel-trouser/tailoring/warehouse/fcp-product/4333064805

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/tab-detail-trouser/tailoring/warehouse/fcp-product/4333063828

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/panelled-work-wear-dress/tailoring/warehouse/fcp-product/4370005272

dudara · 21-07-2013 11:15am

I haven't stopped wearing tights as part of my office wear. It's a professional workplace and I wouldn't dream of not wearing tights. To be honest, they're fine in this weather and they actually stop me from sticking to seats etc.

I'd suggest something dark, because we're all sweating buckets at the moment, and dark colours won't show sweat patches so easily. Your peplum dress sounds perfect to be honest.

Give yourself time to get to the interview location in advance, so you can pop into the toilets (maybe a cafe nearby?) and cool yourself down and fix makeup.

meeeeh · 21-07-2013 12:44pm

Dark colors will make you sweat a lot more and patches are perfectly visible on dark clothes too. Pick natural materials, light couloirs are a lot cooler and wear 7 den tights. Unless you are a widow in seventies avoid black.

Faith · 21-07-2013 1:40pm

Thanks for the helpful replies! Toast, I hadn't even thought of Warehouse, thanks. And Dudara - that's a great point about the tights actually!

Interview - What to wear in this heat?

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