My Daughter will (crossing fingers) be going on Medical School interviews starting this fall…we need to find an appropriate outfit…
She currently lives in JCrew shorts/cute flowy tops and little dresses (or yoga pants and tshirts). She will most likely live in yoga pants, tshirts, and scrubs for many years to come so this is the one “professional” outfit she will need…
I work from home and dont have great fashion sense (especially for a 21 year old on a medical school interview?)
She is petite (5’4ish) with a tiny waist, shoulders, and legs but curvy hips and a larger chest (32DD) We did a little shopping and she was very frustrated…clearly tailoring will be necessary!
Hoping for suggestions (dress? skirt and jacket? jackets are hard with small shoulders and larger chest?..Help!) to get us going…we need to get this wrapped up before she goes back to school and we are both lost!
Thanks!
Sometimes tailoring is the answer. If you have a JCrew credit card, pants cuffs are free.
I think J Crew, Banana Republic and Ann Taylor Loft are a good place to start. A black or navy pencil skirt and cardigan set would work on interviews. A sleeveless dress with a cardigan would work as well. In department stores look for Calvin Klein dresses. They also come in petite. A larger sized petite cut might work. I’ve also done well for d in TJMaxx where they discount Calvin Klein, Kate Spade and Ralph Lauren.
What has she worn to things like summer job or internship interviews, or her graduation, or family dinners? Go through old photos and see what has worked for her in the past.
I would think a large chest means a jacket is almost a must. Certainly padded shoulders (to some extent) can help many women, without being completely Joan Crawford.
Would she be more comfortable to wear khakis and a tailored shirt? She isn’t going to a wedding.
What would be wrong to wear something loose and comfortable, but more formal than her usual wear? Wouldn’t it be wisest for her to be comfortable when interviewing?
She needs to start with a good, properly fitted bra. That will make clothes fit much better and will minimize her chest.
Tailoring - just bite the bullet and do it. Structured blazer - yes, possibly, but a huge NO on extra shoulder padding! She can probably get away with an open-front jacket worn over a sheath dress. Kind of like this one:
I recommend a simple navy dress that she can pair with a cardigan or structured jacket. Navy (or black, if she prefers) is good for interviews, acceptable at funerals, and can be glammed up for a wedding or formal occasion.
The top of the dress (or blouse, if she doesn’t want a dress) should have a simple scoop or v-neck. If it has a crew neck, she should use a scarf to break up the neckline a bit. Avoid anything with ruffles, ruching, or too much detail up top.
Another neckline that would work really well is a boat-neck, which would widen her shoulders and balance out her chest. Cap sleeves also look good on small-shouldered women. (I know, because I have broad shoulders and a small chest, and avoid these like the plague!)
A skirt that falls just above the knee is going to be more flattering than one that hits at mid-thigh or one that hits below the knee. My daughter also has a tiny waist and curvy thighs, and looks fantastic in a Talbot’s pencil skirt ((yes, she’s only 20 and Talbot’s is supposedly for 35 year olds, but it looks great on her!) that hits a couple of inches above the knee.
My D is also applying to med schools this cycle. She seems to be the opposite of your D, mine is 6 ft tall and smaller chested. Many places that have tall or long clothing also have petite clothing. She just ordered a suit from the Limited. I wonder if they would have something for your D?
Also check out GAP and JCPenney online.
Many stores that don’t carry talls or petites in store will have them online.
I love the jackets that BB suggested (she even owns the black shorts in one of the pictures). They are much more her relaxed modern style than the navy suit jackets were we seeing on our first trip. I also like the simple red dress Massmomm posted ( not in red as she mentioned) but it would need a sweater or jacket…and then we get into the issue of me not being to put entire outfits together if they aren’t sold together!
I may have given the idea she is bigger than she is. She is maybe 110-115 pounds dripping wet and so is actually skinny most everywhere except a definite difference in waist and hips which requires tailoring and care to not look too sexy, and then her large chest but paired with a tiny rib cage and shoulders (a professional bra fitter had her in 31DD but 31 is hard to find so she got her into some 32DD that fit well…) We looked at Banana Republic last week on our disappointing shopping trip and our local store has changed their focus and does not carry the “business” lines they used to…only casual wear now.
All suggestions are very appreciated.
I just finished the whole interview circuit (and got a job, so I’m DONE!) I basically cycled through the same three outfits. You really can’t go wrong with a simple dress-- I’d avoid busy prints-- and a cardigan. This was my main outfit:
With a solid dark magenta Kate Spade cardigan. I second all the suggestions for Banana Republic and JCrew, but a priority should be what she feels comfortable in. Personally I’d feel very unlike myself in a blazer or trousers, but I felt great and confident in a dress that was much more my style.
Agree that a comfortable dress or nice tailored slacks and solid silj -type top and cute jacket or sardigan would be fine too.
It is important for your D to figure out what she will be comfortable in, as the comfort/discomfort could come across during the interview and add tension.
Nordstrom has folks that will come in and pin/mark and tell you what is feasible or not. Some jackets/pants/dresses are easier to adjust than others.
I second BunsenBurner’s advice that her first stop should be in the lingerie section to get a really well-fitted bra that is very smooth.
I’d also splurge on a really well fitting, nice looking but comfortable pair of shoes.
Also, does she have a nice raincoat with a zip-out lining? Does it fit well over the interview clothing? That is awfully handy when interviewing in a place that is a little colder or wetter.
I have a larger chest, and say NO to jackets…too bulky.
I’d do simple black sheath like this, with a black cardigan with 3/4 sleeves and either a statement/chunky necklace or a bright scarf. She can choose flats or kitten heels.
I like the moto jacket with matching skirt and knit top, but would probably have the skirt slightly longer. That looks like the most polished interview look to me–attractive, neat and not hyper-sexy.
