One of my favourite quotes is dress for the job you want, not the job you have. It’s no secret I want to work in the fashion industry and the daily compliments I receive in my job that is quite far removed from the fashion industry is a testament to this quote. Sky high heels (my favourite question is ‘how do you walk in those?!’ The answer? Putting one foot in front of the other!) and outrageous colour combinations. Patterned tights and dazzling accessories. Formal dresses mixed with corporate staples. Every day when I walk down the stairs (ok, sometimes I take the lift – stairs and heels are not the most practical combination) I feel confident in my outfit and the fact that one day I might be able to walk into an office filled with others in a similar unique getup. 
 
When I had my first ever interview for a fashion related job a number of years ago, I wore my favourite pinstripe suit, heels and a crisp white shirt. The interview was for a junior marketing assistant at Guess – I was thrilled to even be offered an interview and as with any opportunity like this that presents itself – I was nervous beyond words. Choosing my outfit that day was a lesson in itself. University classes had prepared me for corporate marketing jobs – not fashion ones – and I went with what I thought would be most impressive. At the time I didn’t realise that possibly the most impressive thing I could have done was wear something that would make me stand out and show the company my personal style.

Obviously I didn’t get this role; my lack of retail experience being the main reason; but I can’t help but wonder if the way I dressed in the interview was a little to blame. Roles I have interviewed for since this job included marketing at Kmart and my current job – both pure corporate roles where a suit and a well pressed shirt could always go the distance. I do recall my second, or perhaps third, interview for my current role where the interviewer complimented my shoes. I knew I was in.

Late last year I interviewed for a week long internship at an accessories label, a role where I thought I would have the opportunity to show some of my fashion savvy and where my daily fashion parading would be appreciated. Trying to find the balance between what is corporate and what is fashion is a fine line and I walked it – magenta shirt; full, high waisted skirt and fabulous heels – an interview where my skills and passion for all things fashion landed me the job.

This being my first actual role in a fashion environment opened my eyes to a lot of things. While I was working with fashion savvy people and agonised daily over my outfit, my wardrobe still consisted of a lot of corporate wear and I had to mix and match pieces to make it work. As much as I thought I was expressing my personal style through what I had to work with, the people I was working with didn’t seem to agree, acknowledging that my dress sense was perhaps ‘too corporate’ for them.

I learnt a lot about work environments and dress from this experience and this further fuelled my desire to create stunning looks and wear them to my corporate job. Perhaps the reason they work so well here is because they are so far removed from standard issue corporate wear. But what I think is corporate and what you think is corporate could be worlds apart. At the end of the day, personal style is what YOU think it is, no one else. When it all comes down to it, attending a job interview still has some basic rules whether you are applying to be a CEO or a check out chick.

– Make sure what you are wearing fits properly. Not too big, not too small, but just right. Don’t flash too much leg or too much cleavage. If you can’t fit your own clothing, what else can’t you do?
– Heels should be of a medium height that fit well; too high and you risk tripping over (it happens to EVERYONE and you have no idea what the flooring in the interview location will be like) while too low says ‘schoolgirl’.
– Popular opinion says women should wear a skirt to a job interview – I beg to differ. As long as you are presented well, it shouldn’t matter if you are wearing a skirt or pants.
– Iron whatever you choose to wear. Creases = career fail.
– Hair should be off the face and make up clean and minimal. Less is more. Avoid distracting hair accessories; these will divert the interviewers’ attention.
– Similarly, jewellery is a grey area. You don’t want anything flashy or noisy but you want to show that you can accessorise well. Take your cue from Chanel and remove something before you leave the house. A watch is always a good idea.
– Handbags should be practical. Clutch purses are best kept for evening, oversized beach bag totes belong at the beach.
– Nail polish is a personal choice but it’s best to go with something you think fits the brand you are being interviewed for. Natural or neutral colours are best if you are unsure and then amp it up for a second interview if you think it’s appropriate.
– Always arrive 5 to 10 minutes early. While sitting in the waiting area, don’t fidget. It’s okay to be nervous – the interviewer knows this and will usually take it into account – take a deep breath and answer questions confidently and without babbling.

Remember, your CV got you this far and now you have the chance to impress with your brilliant personality and stunning outfit. Smile, and shine!

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