Professional Attire/Dressing for an Interview when you are PETITE

[Anonymous]

I'm 5'3 but very small - small boned/framed, thin, just a small woman. I'm 35.

Suits absolutely swallow me up. What does work for me is wearing cropped jackets with nice pants. When I go to meetings now, I wear nice Ann Taylor pants and a separate cropped jacket - a fitted suit jacket that is a different color and doesn't come as part of a suit, that is shorter than the average suit jacket and the sleeves are quarter length. For whatever reason these look so much better on me.

Would that be acceptable for an interview, or should I get a standard suit?

[Anonymous]

I'm petite (5'3" also and very small-boned). I get my suits tailored, but that's because I absolutely need to (so it's worth the cost). It's the only reliable way I have found to have nice suits. I can occasionally find nice suits that haven't been made to fit, but it's much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm petite (5'3" also and very small-boned). I get my suits tailored, but that's because I absolutely need to (so it's worth the cost). It's the only reliable way I have found to have nice suits. I can occasionally find nice suits that haven't been made to fit, but it's much harder.

Where do you do your suit shopping? I work primarily in a business casual environment. Even when I have meetings, I can usually do nice pants/blouse or jacket combo. I don't think I've worn a suit in a couple of years and so I'm resisting buying one, but it may be time. I don't currently have an interview but may start looking this spring and want to be prepared just in case.

[Anonymous]

It's going to be impossible to give you an answer without knowing what industry you are interviewing for, OP. Some corporate environments, frankly, no, it would not be acceptable to interview in separates and it would barely acceptable to go to work in them. Other places it would be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's going to be impossible to give you an answer without knowing what industry you are interviewing for, OP. Some corporate environments, frankly, no, it would not be acceptable to interview in separates and it would barely acceptable to go to work in them. Other places it would be fine.

Good point. I'm in policy...and the places I would be looking would likely be nonprofit. On the scale of extremely formal to pretty formal (since all interviews would be formal) I would say pretty formal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm petite (5'3" also and very small-boned). I get my suits tailored, but that's because I absolutely need to (so it's worth the cost). It's the only reliable way I have found to have nice suits. I can occasionally find nice suits that haven't been made to fit, but it's much harder.

Where do you do your suit shopping? I work primarily in a business casual environment. Even when I have meetings, I can usually do nice pants/blouse or jacket combo. I don't think I've worn a suit in a couple of years and so I'm resisting buying one, but it may be time. I don't currently have an interview but may start looking this spring and want to be prepared just in case.

Check out Filene's and see if there's anything there before proceeding to department stores.

I get my suits tailored overseas as I travel a lot and it's convenient (and cost-effective).

[Anonymous]

I dont understand why a suit would swallow you up but a pants and jacket wouldn't--a suit is just pants and jacket that are the same material. I'm 5'2" and I wear suits to interviews and other professional things (I'm a lawyer) and I think they work fine. Generally I buy petite sizes.

[Anonymous]

i buy theory suits and they don't swallow me up at all. they come in size 00 too.

i'm about 5'4" but small boned.

there's a theory outlet at the leesburg outlets!

[Anonymous]

I am petite as well and there is a Banana Republic petite section at Tysons. In addition, Ann Taylor has petite sections around the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dont understand why a suit would swallow you up but a pants and jacket wouldn't--a suit is just pants and jacket that are the same material. I'm 5'2" and I wear suits to interviews and other professional things (I'm a lawyer) and I think they work fine. Generally I buy petite sizes.

I think having the contrasting colors helps. The black jacket I wear with either these dark gray pants or these Banana Republic pants that are black/gray. Honestly that seems to help.

I went to ann taylor this afternoon during a late lunch hour and found a size 2 petite suit that worked. The jacket was a bit different - it left a lot of room for the shirt to peek through and was closed together by three hooks rather than buttons so it seemed to work. I didn't end up buying it because the clip in the pants wasn't fastening - and I'm so sick of paying a lot for shoddy clothes! But I was glad to discover that petite AT suits work in a jam!

I will check out the leesburg theory outlet too. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's going to be impossible to give you an answer without knowing what industry you are interviewing for, OP. Some corporate environments, frankly, no, it would not be acceptable to interview in separates and it would barely acceptable to go to work in them. Other places it would be fine.

Good point. I'm in policy...and the places I would be looking would likely be nonprofit. On the scale of extremely formal to pretty formal (since all interviews would be formal) I would say pretty formal.

I would look for a suit that has pants and a cropped jacket, all in one color and one material.

[Anonymous]

I'm petite and I do the dress/jacket combo -- AT, etc. all have them. My problem w/ a suit is that there are so many things to fit me -- a dress is more forgiving, so I'm just trying on jackets. I think that's why you're finding separates easier, you can get one piece to fit you but not the other. If you find a suit you like, walk around and find a dress that works w/ it -- that's like buying 2 outfits at once. Go! You can do it!

[Anonymous]

OP, you need to buy petite suits, not just "cropped" as a petite cut is designed to fit smaller everywhere. And a tailor is essential to make it fit. Also avoid boxy cuts - something tailored and fitted will fit a petite body better.

[Anonymous]

What about a sheath/jacket combo? I'm also on the petite side, the way I'm cut, and I understand how a pants suit can swallow you up whereas a different colored jacket/pants would not. But what always seems to work for me is a matching sheath/jacket combo - and it looks every bit as professional as a pants suit. You can get them in petite sizes, too. Look at J. Crew, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, and even at Talbots which has a great petite section. You may still need to get it tailored, but I think many people do.

[Anonymous]

I order mine from Victoria's Secret and have them tailored if necessary. They look fine off the rack, but if it's something I really like and will wear often, I get it tailored.