So the next model is yours truly. I was put in a brown skirt suit with a pink button down. The major flaw with this outfit is that it truly did not fit. The skirt was WAY too long, the jacket was too big, and the button down was too small. It looked like I was playing dress up. Had I been able to shop for my own clothes and tried things on, I'm sure it would have worked out, but I didn't have that luxury. So my recommendation is ALWAYS TRY THINGS ON!!! If it doesn't fit, its better to find out in the store than on the morning of an important interview or event.
Assuming I had been able to try things on, I probably would have gone with a smaller sized skirt making it a high waisted pencil skirt. This would have fixed the length issue, at least somewhat anyway. As for the jacket, I would have tried on a size smaller and compared the two. Regardless of which size jacket, I would have to get the sleeves shortened as I have short arms. As for the button down, there is no remedy other than going up a size. And even if the shirt fit, I would have a tailor put a pair of snaps between buttons to ensure that there is no gaping. All of my button downs have these snaps even though they fit. The reason is that I know that I'll be confident wearing a shirt that just won't gap, ever. The really cool thing about this suit is that it is machine washable. The saleswoman that came with the clothes told us that the suits really are machine washable and they turn out nicely. So next time I need a suit, I may just go to Dillard's and try one of these on. Also, I peaked at the price tag, and they're not terribly expensive (as suits go anyway). If I remember correctly, I think the skirt + jacket would run about $250.
A seriously surprising thing was that the panelists were perfectly ok with my dark blue nail polish. In fact, they didn't even notice it until I pointed it out. They explained that because of my coloring (ie dark hair, light skin) dark nails didn't draw their attention. In fact, the female attorney thought it was pretty cool that I was so trendy and could take advantage of that because of my coloring. What is most remarkable is that The Judge had explained about 5 minutes prior to my modeling that no one should EVER wear black nail polish and then said that my nails were perfectly ok. That being said, regardless of your coloring or trendiness, do not wear dark colored nail polish to an interview. Even red might be too much. I'm a big fan of nude or very light pink nail polish on myself. This means wearing nail polish that matches your nails so that its not obvious you're wearing it. The reasoning is this: if you talk with your hands, doing so talking with with dark nail polish on can get distracting. Also, wouldn't you question the judgment of someone who came to an interview wearing dark nail polish? Even though I would think they were trendy or an individual, I also know that because an interview is a formal event, I would definitely question the interviewee's judgment. The subject of my hair didn't come up, but the general words of wisdom from the panelists were to keep your hair out of your face so that the interviewer can look in your eyes and you don't look like a cyclops. Personally, I tend to wear my hair straight or in a bun or french twist for interviews or other important career type events, but I keep my bangs out of the updo and carefully pin them back in a side sweep. I do it to keep it all under control and look polished but to make sure that my face isn't completely bare. I'm not a fan of keeping my face bare of my bangs when its up because I feel like it looks like I'm about to go running, but that's just personal preference.
How do you feel about showing some individuality in an interview? Better to express yourself subtly, loudly, or not at all?
