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Re: sheath dresses. When I went through OCI two years ago, one of my classmates wore a sheath dress. I heard a couple people (other students) talking about it being odd. It didn't hinder her ability to find a job, though.

Re: hose. In CA, I think it's more unusual to see women wearing hose than not, but I would still play it safe.

Remember, no one is going to hire you for your sheath dress or your hose. On the other hand, sticking out from the mass of women wearing suit dresses with hose could be a bad thing, depending on the interviewer, even if such thinking is irrational and antiquated. It's likely no one will notice or care, but the interviewer holds all the cards - do you really want to take the chance?

Anonymous User wrote:I have some interviews in california next week...I'm thinking about skipping the hose. thoughts?

I might even skip the hose for my NY interviews, to be honest. You'll definitely be fine in CA and in general hose doesn't seem to be as mandatory anymore.

I need some alterations advice from busty ladies.

I'm short, overweight, and very busty. I'm between normal sizes and plus sizes (usually a 16 is too small, but an 18/14W is too big). My big issue is bust. I can sometimes find suits that fit my shoulders and waist, but that when I button the jacket, the jacket stretches/pulls at the buttons unattractively. However, if I go up a size so that it fits over my chest, the shoulders are too broad and the cut feels all wrong. Either the suits "fit" but have the boob stretch problem (like Ann Taylor), they don't come in bigger sizes at all (J. Crew/Banana), or they are plus size and made of crap polyester that makes you look fat AND cheap.

Does anyone have advice for what, exactly, is tailorable, and what is not? My understanding was that it has to fit your shoulders because if it doesn't, it's too hard to tailor. But I have no idea how to do that and make it fit across my bust. Should I buy too-big suits? Or is there a brand out there for busty ladies?

I have one interview suit I got from Macy's, of all places, but it was a unicorn. I'm clerking this year and need more suits!

zor wrote:I need some alterations advice from busty ladies.

I'm short, overweight, and very busty. I'm between normal sizes and plus sizes (usually a 16 is too small, but an 18/14W is too big). My big issue is bust. I can sometimes find suits that fit my shoulders and waist, but that when I button the jacket, the jacket stretches/pulls at the buttons unattractively. However, if I go up a size so that it fits over my chest, the shoulders are too broad and the cut feels all wrong. Either the suits "fit" but have the boob stretch problem (like Ann Taylor), they don't come in bigger sizes at all (J. Crew/Banana), or they are plus size and made of crap polyester that makes you look fat AND cheap.

Does anyone have advice for what, exactly, is tailorable, and what is not? My understanding was that it has to fit your shoulders because if it doesn't, it's too hard to tailor. But I have no idea how to do that and make it fit across my bust. Should I buy too-big suits? Or is there a brand out there for busty ladies?

I have one interview suit I got from Macy's, of all places, but it was a unicorn. I'm clerking this year and need more suits!

I feel ya. I don't have any advice, but I totally relate to having non-typical bust to shoulders measurements while looking for suits. I'm interested to hear what others say.

Unfortunately, yes, the shoulders are the hardest things to fit. I've had tailors refuse to take in shoulders because it requires taking the entire jacket apart and putting it back together again. So the standard advice is to fit your largest bit, and then tailor the rest, but I can see how that's tough in your situation. Can you try styles not intended to button? And have you tried Talbots Women's sizes? They have a lot of very classic stuff.

The other thing might be to find a very good tailor in your town and ask them what they'd suggest. I have no idea if they have tricks for how to extend the bust without messing with the shoulders. (My problem is getting things to fit my shoulders and my hips at the same time, so I don't know from personal experience if there's a solution for what you're talking about.)

A. Nony Mouse wrote:Unfortunately, yes, the shoulders are the hardest things to fit. I've had tailors refuse to take in shoulders because it requires taking the entire jacket apart and putting it back together again. So the standard advice is to fit your largest bit, and then tailor the rest, but I can see how that's tough in your situation. Can you try styles not intended to button? And have you tried Talbots Women's sizes? They have a lot of very classic stuff.

The other thing might be to find a very good tailor in your town and ask them what they'd suggest. I have no idea if they have tricks for how to extend the bust without messing with the shoulders. (My problem is getting things to fit my shoulders and my hips at the same time, so I don't know from personal experience if there's a solution for what you're talking about.)

Boo, that's what I thought (about the shoulders). I did try Talbot's Women's sizes and they didn't work. The Women's sizes were way too big, and the regular sizes were too small. I'm in this awful purgatory.

Shoulders + hips--I feel ya on that score, too. I hate it when bigger size clothes assume I have no waist and I look like a giant rectangle/trash compactor. It's hard to find something that nips in at the waist but then goes back out over the hips/butt in a way that mirrors the shoulders.

smile0751 wrote:I feel ya. I don't have any advice, but I totally relate to having non-typical bust to shoulders measurements while looking for suits. I'm interested to hear what others say.

I've gotten so desperate that I even tried wearing my ridiculous sports bra (which looks like it was and may have actually been designed by a team of aeronautical engineers) under my suits to try to just rein them in so the buttons don't pull. But that doesn't work, either. It's bad enough I have to wear shells that go up to my eyeballs for fear of cleavage.

I would even consider a custom suit, but have NO idea where to do that. All the custom suit places I've found don't do women's suits (!). And I'm willing to spend a little bit but not a lot--I'm public interest so $1000 suits are out of the question.

zor wrote:

A. Nony Mouse wrote:Unfortunately, yes, the shoulders are the hardest things to fit. I've had tailors refuse to take in shoulders because it requires taking the entire jacket apart and putting it back together again. So the standard advice is to fit your largest bit, and then tailor the rest, but I can see how that's tough in your situation. Can you try styles not intended to button? And have you tried Talbots Women's sizes? They have a lot of very classic stuff.

The other thing might be to find a very good tailor in your town and ask them what they'd suggest. I have no idea if they have tricks for how to extend the bust without messing with the shoulders. (My problem is getting things to fit my shoulders and my hips at the same time, so I don't know from personal experience if there's a solution for what you're talking about.)

Boo, that's what I thought (about the shoulders). I did try Talbot's Women's sizes and they didn't work. The Women's sizes were way too big, and the regular sizes were too small. I'm in this awful purgatory.

Shoulders + hips--I feel ya on that score, too. I hate it when bigger size clothes assume I have no waist and I look like a giant rectangle/trash compactor. It's hard to find something that nips in at the waist but then goes back out over the hips/butt in a way that mirrors the shoulders.

I would like to find these mythical giant rectangular clothes, because that's what I am, and most things I find are too big in the boobs and hips and way too small in the waist and shoulders.

smile0751 wrote:

zor wrote:I need some alterations advice from busty ladies.

I'm short, overweight, and very busty. I'm between normal sizes and plus sizes (usually a 16 is too small, but an 18/14W is too big). My big issue is bust. I can sometimes find suits that fit my shoulders and waist, but that when I button the jacket, the jacket stretches/pulls at the buttons unattractively. However, if I go up a size so that it fits over my chest, the shoulders are too broad and the cut feels all wrong. Either the suits "fit" but have the boob stretch problem (like Ann Taylor), they don't come in bigger sizes at all (J. Crew/Banana), or they are plus size and made of crap polyester that makes you look fat AND cheap.

Does anyone have advice for what, exactly, is tailorable, and what is not? My understanding was that it has to fit your shoulders because if it doesn't, it's too hard to tailor. But I have no idea how to do that and make it fit across my bust. Should I buy too-big suits? Or is there a brand out there for busty ladies?

I have one interview suit I got from Macy's, of all places, but it was a unicorn. I'm clerking this year and need more suits!

I feel ya. I don't have any advice, but I totally relate to having non-typical bust to shoulders measurements while looking for suits. I'm interested to hear what others say.

I have this same problem, and I feel ya too. I have a few suits that are just too big, so that they can close. Then those can be tailored so the arms aren't too long (but they won't fit/be flattering on the shoulders.)

In my experience, I have had more luck with shopping higher end suits than I would normally go. The fit is much better. I get whatever fits in the shoulders, and then take it in to be tailored.

Also- a good bra makes a world of difference in jacket fit. make sure you're wearing the right size for you. I try to go get measured by a pro (like at Bloomingdales or Nordstrom Lingerie dept person, not some young girl at a place like Victorias Secret) every few months. Its crazy how many women wear the wrong bra size.

best of luck!

zor wrote:

smile0751 wrote:I feel ya. I don't have any advice, but I totally relate to having non-typical bust to shoulders measurements while looking for suits. I'm interested to hear what others say.

I've gotten so desperate that I even tried wearing my ridiculous sports bra (which looks like it was and may have actually been designed by a team of aeronautical engineers) under my suits to try to just rein them in so the buttons don't pull. But that doesn't work, either. It's bad enough I have to wear shells that go up to my eyeballs for fear of cleavage.

I would even consider a custom suit, but have NO idea where to do that. All the custom suit places I've found don't do women's suits (!). And I'm willing to spend a little bit but not a lot--I'm public interest so $1000 suits are out of the question.

I feel you. I have a 14" difference between my upper bust and bust measurement and it's next to impossible to find a suit that fits.

Have you tried Eloquii? I'm not sure if they still have it, but a couple of years ago I got a suit jacket from there that was curvy fitted, and it actually worked. Even if they don't have that cut anymore they do have reasonably priced suits.

Otherwise, Igigi sometimes has suit jackets. Their stuff is expensive but great quality and cut for a curvy woman. Also Monif C sometimes carries suits. Usually their stuff is meant for the club but it's cut for a super curvy woman and I have a blazer from there.

I also got a custom suit from eshakti. It's this indian company that will customize clothes and the prices are pretty reasonable. It's kind of a crapshoot because I ordered a bunch of stuff custom from them. Half fit perfectly and half were way too big, but you should definitely try it.

Other option is if you end up in a country with cheap tailors, like Thailand, it's incredibly cheap to get a custom made suit.

zor wrote:I need some alterations advice from busty ladies.

I'm short, overweight, and very busty. I'm between normal sizes and plus sizes (usually a 16 is too small, but an 18/14W is too big). My big issue is bust. I can sometimes find suits that fit my shoulders and waist, but that when I button the jacket, the jacket stretches/pulls at the buttons unattractively. However, if I go up a size so that it fits over my chest, the shoulders are too broad and the cut feels all wrong. Either the suits "fit" but have the boob stretch problem (like Ann Taylor), they don't come in bigger sizes at all (J. Crew/Banana), or they are plus size and made of crap polyester that makes you look fat AND cheap.

Does anyone have advice for what, exactly, is tailorable, and what is not? My understanding was that it has to fit your shoulders because if it doesn't, it's too hard to tailor. But I have no idea how to do that and make it fit across my bust. Should I buy too-big suits? Or is there a brand out there for busty ladies?

I have one interview suit I got from Macy's, of all places, but it was a unicorn. I'm clerking this year and need more suits!

Similar problems. I got my suits at Talbots, because Talbots has plus petite sizes which are basically unheard of elsewhere. Get a size bigger and go to a good tailor. Honestly I don't look super great in the suit but atleast it fits. I was able to get a bespoke suit for a reasonable price, so I wear that mostly, but the talbots suit is a good backup.

buddhabelly wrote:

zor wrote:I need some alterations advice from busty ladies.

I'm short, overweight, and very busty. I'm between normal sizes and plus sizes (usually a 16 is too small, but an 18/14W is too big). My big issue is bust. I can sometimes find suits that fit my shoulders and waist, but that when I button the jacket, the jacket stretches/pulls at the buttons unattractively. However, if I go up a size so that it fits over my chest, the shoulders are too broad and the cut feels all wrong. Either the suits "fit" but have the boob stretch problem (like Ann Taylor), they don't come in bigger sizes at all (J. Crew/Banana), or they are plus size and made of crap polyester that makes you look fat AND cheap.

Does anyone have advice for what, exactly, is tailorable, and what is not? My understanding was that it has to fit your shoulders because if it doesn't, it's too hard to tailor. But I have no idea how to do that and make it fit across my bust. Should I buy too-big suits? Or is there a brand out there for busty ladies?

I have one interview suit I got from Macy's, of all places, but it was a unicorn. I'm clerking this year and need more suits!

Similar problems. I got my suits at Talbots, because Talbots has plus petite sizes which are basically unheard of elsewhere. Get a size bigger and go to a good tailor. Honestly I don't look super great in the suit but atleast it fits. I was able to get a bespoke suit for a reasonable price, so I wear that mostly, but the talbots suit is a good backup.

Where did you get a bespoke suit?

.

Wasn't really sure where to put this, but for a lot of my callbacks I have dinner the night before with a few attorneys. At least one says the attire is business casual. What would y'all wear? I'm thinking a skirt, nice blouse, and heels. Do I need a jacket?

Anonymous User wrote:Wasn't really sure where to put this, but for a lot of my callbacks I have dinner the night before with a few attorneys. At least one says the attire is business casual. What would y'all wear? I'm thinking a skirt, nice blouse, and heels. Do I need a jacket?

I feel like you'd be fine without a jacket, and you'd probably take it off to eat anyway! Skirt, blouse, and heels (or sheath dress) definitely sounds like a good plan.

what do you think about nails/manicures for OCI? necessary or too much?

lemons wrote:what do you think about nails/manicures for OCI? necessary or too much?

I got a no chip in a nice neutral so I wouldn't have to worry about it. Just make sure you don't have chipped or bright polish, other than that it doesn't matter.

franklyscarlet wrote:

lemons wrote:what do you think about nails/manicures for OCI? necessary or too much?

I got a no chip in a nice neutral so I wouldn't have to worry about it. Just make sure you don't have chipped or bright polish, other than that it doesn't matter.

Ok thanks! I don't normally get manicures but getting a job>>>> comfort haha

Maybe this was already covered but what should you do if you don't really wear women's clothes? I will not wear a skirt or heels but I do occasionally wear women's button down shirts for fit. I wear almost exclusively men's clothes and shoes.

Is that something people will notice? And for day-to-day, I usually wear khakis, a button down, and jacket for business casual, will that fly at a firm? I dress conservatively, just not in women's clothes.

Maybe this was already covered but what should you do if you don't really wear women's clothes? I will not wear a skirt or heels but I do occasionally wear women's button down shirts for fit. I wear almost exclusively men's clothes and shoes.

Is that something people will notice? And for day-to-day, I usually wear khakis, a button down, and jacket for business casual, will that fly at a firm? I dress conservatively, just not in women's clothes.

People will notice it and probably assume you're gay. Which is fine.
But it's unclear what you mean by "men's clothes and shoes." If you are a woman-and hence have a femlae body type--men's clothing is going to fit poorly and that is problematic from the perspective of being polished. Just wear a pantsuit that fits you well and use women's wingtips. I remember one time I was in a settlement conference with a female US Attny at Main Justice and she had a pantsuit and some saddle-shoe-eqsue YSL's and I was like "she is all my life/style/career goals." I got msyelf a pair of Cole Hann wingtips which I think are bomb. I think a quality menswear-inspired clothing is totally on point, but you need to wear clothing that is made for a female body so it drapes right and you don't look like you're wearing a costume/your dad's clothing. You can also always get a men's suit and have a tailor go to work on it for you, if you are a larger woman and having difficutly finding good suits in your size.

Thoughts on hairstyles? I'm getting mixed responses on if hair up or down is more professional. And if the answer is up, I'm not sure what style...

Anonymous User wrote:Thoughts on hairstyles? I'm getting mixed responses on if hair up or down is more professional. And if the answer is up, I'm not sure what style...

Whatever's neat/not messy and you're comfortable with. I feel more confident with mine down, so I wore it down. I did trim it a little so it wasn't weird mermaid long.

Two caveats:

1) If you play with your hair, put that shit up. It's an easy nervous tick to have and it makes women look immature/unprofessional in the eyes of a lot of interviewers.

2) I saw a few girls with some absurdly intricate braided/curled updos. Props to them for being able to do that on their own, but it just looked silly with a suit. If you're going for up, go for a simple bun/french twist/other professional looking updo I don't know about because I'm not good at hair.

.

buddhabelly wrote:I leave my hair down, I blow dry it in the morning so it's neat and nicely styled. IMO, hair down looks better on everyone and is more professional and stylish on young women. I feel like the girls who put their hair up in buns either look like grandmas or administrative staff. Just my two cents, of course, wear your hair however you feel like it.

Counterpoint: IMO, it's very easy for someone wearing long, straight hair down to look like a college intern.

I wear my hair in a shoulder length bob when it's freshly cut, and after about 3 months, I'll start putting it half up in a clip (so much easier than blowing out the bob).
In my off-time, it's all pigtails and ponytails, all the time, because I HATE my hair touching my face or neck. I'll tolerate it for work, but not for free time.

Anonymous User wrote:Thoughts on hairstyles? I'm getting mixed responses on if hair up or down is more professional. And if the answer is up, I'm not sure what style...

Agreed that it should probably go up. Obviously do what makes you comfortable but when it's down, you can look too young. I was interviewing at a place today and the woman before me and the woman after me looked sooooooooooo young compared to me, because they had highlighted long blond hair all down, sorta halfway blown out. You shouldn't look like you're out on date night. One thing I have done in the past is half-up with a nice clip in the back, but I tend to hate having hair on the back of my neck, and I think it still looks young.

I am the worst at hair and can't do anything fancy at all so when I put it up I do one of three things depending on length: sock bun using a donut from the drugstore; stylish/simple alligator clip (twist hair at bottom; pull it up then down in a U; clip over both sides); low ponytail with single nice clip.