what to wear to work interview fancy dinner (and I'm breastfeeding...)

[Anonymous]

the reason I say I am breastfeeding that is because my boobs are enormous. I normally have size As and now they are Cs. All of my dresses are kind of low cut because it never really mattered and this potential boss happens to be a conservative Midwestern type. I want to wow him but not that way! Anyway, to be honest I've never done a fancy dinner like this. Do you just wear a suit? When I saw them while we were working together going out, they changed for dinner. So I want to look nice and appropriate and my only dresses are out.

Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

If he's very conservative, I would go with a suit and nice shirt (blouse) that buttons high enough to keep "the girls" in check. You don't want to be constantly worrying about whether too much cleavage is showing!

[Anonymous]

Simple black dress with a higher neckline. Nice jewelry, nice shoes, stockings. Make sure your nails are in good shape, get your hair blown out, don't go crazy with the makeup, but wear a little more than daytime (a LITTLE..just a darker shade of eyeshadow and lipstick). Carry a clutch instead of a big old bag.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Are you wanting to buy something or work with what you have?

[Anonymous]

What do you mean by a fancy dinner? Is it a formal event or are you saying this is an interview at a nice DC restaurant? If the latter, I think a suit is still the most appropriate. Maybe a more feminine skirt suit in a darker color.

[Anonymous]

I would actually recommend a navy/black/chocolate 3/4 sleeve wrap dress (so forgiving and de-emphasizing of the girls) with a cami underneath. And I would go with nice watch, pearl earrings, nice purse. Peep toe or closed toe shoe.

[Anonymous]

A suit is fine for almost any dinner I can imagine. Dress it up with a higher heeled shoe and some jewelry, but not so much that it looks odd with a suit. If it's an actual formal event, a simple, modest black dress with nice but conservative jewelry.

If you're not happy with what you already own, I recommend sucking it up and buying something. You will look more polished but more importantly feel so much more confident if you like what you've got on, and for a job interview that is critical. Plus when you get the job you will get plenty of wear out of it.

[Anonymous]

Definitely go with a suit. Maybe a pretty silk camisole with a conservative neckline underneath. It's still an interview, even if it is dinner. Do not dress like it's a date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would actually recommend a navy/black/chocolate 3/4 sleeve wrap dress (so forgiving and de-emphasizing of the girls) with a cami underneath. And I would go with nice watch, pearl earrings, nice purse. Peep toe or closed toe shoe.

A suit would be just fine, but this is exactly what I would wear!

Wrap dresses are really flattering, and the cami or tank top underneath covers the cleavage. FWIW, I got one of these dresses in navy blue a few months ago at a small store on L Street between 19th and 20th, I think. It was a bit overpriced ($80, maybe) given that it wasn't great quality, but it's soooo practical for the post-partum months. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, if you want to work with something you've already got, find a nice cami to go underneath. This was my go-to at work when I was nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple black dress with a higher neckline. Nice jewelry, nice shoes, stockings. Make sure your nails are in good shape, get your hair blown out, don't go crazy with the makeup, but wear a little more than daytime (a LITTLE..just a darker shade of eyeshadow and lipstick). Carry a clutch instead of a big old bag.

Good luck!

^^^Totally agree with this. I am BFing too (boobs are DD/E!), just went back to work, and have had / will have several evening work events to go to. I have the few nice black and charcoal grey work dresses I bought for this purpose -- they are structured/lined, for formality and a clean/crisp look, but also do well to contain the chest area. I wear w/ nice jewelry (chunky gold necklace or pearls) and get a mani/pedi and blow hair out or pull back in a smooth bun, etc., wear good shoes, etc. I think a structured shift or cap sleeve dress is very approriate for a work dinner or interview in the summer -- more so than a wrap dress, IMO, unless your work environment is more casual / creative. A suit, dressed up a bit w/ jewelry, makeup, bag, etc., would also work.

[Anonymous]

If you are being interviewed for a job you should wear a suit. A suit is professional and shows you mean business. PP's suggesting a dress...have you ever been intervviewed formally? This is not a date or an event, but an interview and what she "accessorizes" a black dress with is irrelevent and shows she would care more about how fancy and dressed up she looked like, other then focusing on looking professional.

I have C's normally and when I have to wear a button down shirt I button it up all the way but also wear a lightweight stretch cami underneath to be safe.

Go with a black suit, regular heels- peep toes are completely unprofessional for an interview, and minimal jewelery. You can leave your hair up or down and some nice make up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are being interviewed for a job you should wear a suit. A suit is professional and shows you mean business. PP's suggesting a dress...have you ever been intervviewed formally? This is not a date or an event, but an interview and what she "accessorizes" a black dress with is irrelevent and shows she would care more about how fancy and dressed up she looked like, other then focusing on looking professional.

I have C's normally and when I have to wear a button down shirt I button it up all the way but also wear a lightweight stretch cami underneath to be safe.

Go with a black suit, regular heels- peep toes are completely unprofessional for an interview, and minimal jewelery. You can leave your hair up or down and some nice make up.

So obnoxious. Yes, I HAVE interviewed very formally. My assumption with this post is that the OP has already interviewed in a formal office environment for this position and is now doing the "dinner" interview as the last hurdle. They've already seen her "business" side. The dinner interview is more social and she needs to change it up a LITTLE. It is completely appropriate to wear a conservative black/dark dress (not a cocktail dress), with conservative accessories (pearls or gold), in this circumstance. I might even top it with a jacket, OP. Buttoned-up shirts under suits look out of place at dinner esepcially in the summer: if you wear a suit, wear silk top underneath or other feminine blouse. I tend to avoid buttons anyway, because of the boobage issue. A dark, feminine, skirt suit with a nice lightweight top would be lovely.

As for accessories (apparently a dirty word to you PP) they should be appropriate. A brief case or a big bag doesn't belong at dinner, and chunky flashy jewelry doesn't belong in an interview. Again, I stress GROOMING. The most important thing you can do is look polished and together...especially at the end of the day.

PP, the only thing I agree with you on is about open toed shoes...NEVER in an interview. And no bare legs either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are being interviewed for a job you should wear a suit. A suit is professional and shows you mean business. PP's suggesting a dress...have you ever been intervviewed formally? This is not a date or an event, but an interview and what she "accessorizes" a black dress with is irrelevent and shows she would care more about how fancy and dressed up she looked like, other then focusing on looking professional.

I have C's normally and when I have to wear a button down shirt I button it up all the way but also wear a lightweight stretch cami underneath to be safe.

Go with a black suit, regular heels- peep toes are completely unprofessional for an interview, and minimal jewelery. You can leave your hair up or down and some nice make up.

So obnoxious. Yes, I HAVE interviewed very formally. My assumption with this post is that the OP has already interviewed in a formal office environment for this position and is now doing the "dinner" interview as the last hurdle. They've already seen her "business" side. The dinner interview is more social and she needs to change it up a LITTLE. It is completely appropriate to wear a conservative black/dark dress (not a cocktail dress), with conservative accessories (pearls or gold), in this circumstance. I might even top it with a jacket, OP. Buttoned-up shirts under suits look out of place at dinner esepcially in the summer: if you wear a suit, wear silk top underneath or other feminine blouse. I tend to avoid buttons anyway, because of the boobage issue. A dark, feminine, skirt suit with a nice lightweight top would be lovely.

As for accessories (apparently a dirty word to you PP) they should be appropriate. A brief case or a big bag doesn't belong at dinner, and chunky flashy jewelry doesn't belong in an interview. Again, I stress GROOMING. The most important thing you can do is look polished and together...especially at the end of the day.

PP, the only thing I agree with you on is about open toed shoes...NEVER in an interview. And no bare legs either.

I agree 10:04 is obnoxious, and agree with this PP. Assuming this is a follow-up dinner interview, a formal/business/conservative dress, with tasteful accessories, is appropriate and will show you you are confident and not just a drone (though a nice suit would be fine, too). This is coming from a hiring partner who just went through months of hiring 2 new attorneys.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you so much for all your suggestions. This is a follow up dinner interview.. and I am an attorney. We've already gone through the ringers at the office and I wore my best suits I had (and looked damn good to toot my own horn!). I really wasn't sure about wearing a suit because it's a super fancy restaurant and the reservations are for 8:00 on - but I come from a nonprofit where no one EVER does this kind of thing so my lack of experience/social understanding could cost me.

I am definitely shopping - sorry not to be clear - but there's no way I'm wearing my current dresses on a postpardum bod (sigh). I knew a suit would be ok but somehow it didn't seem quite right, so I'm loving the ideas of maybe a bateau neckline black dress with some nice accessories. Nails are getting done tomorrow (thanks for that suggestion!). Now to just find such a thing quickly!