Are Long Work Jackets In Fashion, or Totally 80s?

PasturesNew

I have absolutely no fashion sense whatsoever. But I do like a long suit jacket for work.

I am petite (5'1") and will shortly be needing to go to posh job interviews in central London. I have three long jackets .... are they OK? Or !!!!!!?

BitterAndTwisted

PN as you're petite you risk making your legs look really rather short in long jackets. They MIGHT be OK if they are always the same colour as what you're wearing on the bottom as that won't cut your body in half. I reckon a shorter jacket would be much more flattering. I'd even go as far as considering quite a short length, say at or above the hips if your backside isn't massive.

Wine_of_the_World

How long is the jacket? Is it like down to mid thy or knee length, or just a bit on the long side? (sorry, not in with 80s fashion!).

I am also petite, in fact, more petite that you . But I prefer jackets on the long rather than short side because my upper body is shorter in proportion to my legs. I actually got a suit made to measure, but I dont really like it cos the jacket is so short.

I used to stress alot about what to wear for interviews, but I'm guessing with fashions going round in circles so much, what is outdated, is soon the height of fashion.

Tesco do some really cheap, but smart petite suits (looked on net) if you are interested.

PasturesNew

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

PN as you're petite you risk making your legs look really rather short in long jackets. They MIGHT be OK if they are always the same colour as what you're wearing on the bottom as that won't cut your body in half. I reckon a shorter jacket would be much more flattering. I'd even go as far as considering quite a short length, say at or above the hips if your backside isn't massive.

My legs ARE short.

I imagine long jackets hide my hefty chest, which is about 4 sizes bigger than my hips.

I'd be wearing either a dress under it, which would come probably under the knee (because I only have one dress), or if separates then the top would be outside of the waistband of the bottoms.

At the moment I have the 3 jackets and one dress, that might or might not fit together. I have short skirts, but not that would match with any of the jackets. I would need trousers if I were to be wearing trousers.

I'm kind of thinking "what have I got at the moment", in case I don't get time to get anything else before an interview moment occurs.

I might have another 2 dresses in a box where I'm visiting soon, so can dig those out.

I probably need to spend 3-4 hours (I'm slow) taking photos of me in all the outfits, then host them for you all to choose

PasturesNew

Wine_of_the_World wrote: »

How long is the jacket? Is it like down to mid thy or knee length, or just a bit on the long side? (sorry, not in with 80s fashion!).

Mid thigh really.

Wine_of_the_World wrote: »

Tesco do some really cheap, but smart petite suits (looked on net) if you are interested.

Oh cheers, I'll pop in and have a look. I do hate clothes shopping as nothing fits me or suits me mostly. And if something fits me (sort of), then it doesn't fit with other things that sort of fit me, if you see what I mean.

So I might have a jacket that's a tad tight in truth, but is OK ... and a dress that's a tad large but is OK ... put them together and they just wouldn't work.

And that's prety much my wardrobe.

I tend to buy jacket-style-things, that go over my main clothes, based on the fact they touch at the waist and hips, but then don't actually meet by 2-6" round the chest, but I never do them up. Trying to tie those into fitting with anything else tends to just not work.

lostinrates

Pastures New, what are you up to?

My suggestion is you show everything to FC, (do you have a camera you could send her pictures) and get her to give an opinion.

And you're going suit shopping to aren't you? For the job market you are aiming for I personally would steer clear of Tescos...

I think from your description they might not be right, but ...I might be wrong. I think they might, rather than hide your chest, make you look biger, or lost inside the jacket. Are you embarrassed of your ''assets''? Something that nipped in to the waist to show you are petite but blessed might be more flattering if you are comfortable?

ETA: did you check any of the websites mentioned by the Coven?...I know its an outlay, but for at least one suit IMO its worth it nfor the arena you are aiming at.

belfastgirl23

To be honest I think if you feel comfy in it go for it you'll perform better in the interview. That said I am no fashion queen!

Unless of course the job is editor for Vogue

dmg24

Could I ask what size you are PasturesNew? I've got the top heavy problem too, but always imagine you to be a fair bit smaller than me!

I wouldn't eliminate Tesco from your search. They do have some cheap rubbish, but I have several from there that have seen many public sector boardrooms and not looked out of place!

BitterAndTwisted

Even people with a keen fashion-sense can often use a detached and dispassionate opinion when trying and buying new clothes, especially ones for important occasions which need to be integrated into an existing wardrobe. In your case, I'd wait until you make your move to London and ask FC to go out with you before you make any new purchases.

The wife of one of my Directors once bought a beautiful red Chanel trouser-suit in the sale. The only trouble was the colour didn't flatter her, she wasn't terribly tall and the jacker was much too long for her so she ended up looking like a dwarf walking in a trench. A criminal waste of money, all told.

lostinrates

dmg24 wrote: »

I wouldn't eliminate Tesco from your search. They do have some cheap rubbish, but I have several from there that have seen many public sector boardrooms and not looked out of place!

I have some nice dresses from Tesco, I think they have some nice things along with the cheap rubbish, but....I still advocate caution under PN's circumstances.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

Pastures New, what are you up to?

Trying to sort out what I have ... under the cover of darkness, while you lot were supposed to be sleeping.

lostinrates wrote: »

My suggestion is you show everything to FC, (do you have a camera you could send her pictures) and get her to give an opinion.

Yes, I am thinking of doing that.

lostinrates wrote: »

And you're going suit shopping to aren't you? For the job market you are aiming for I personally would steer clear of Tescos...

I think from your description they might not be right, but ...I might be wrong. I think they might, rather than hide your chest, make you look biger, or lost inside the jacket. Are you embarrassed of your ''assets''? Something that nipped in to the waist to show you are petite but blessed might be more flattering if you are comfortable?

ETA: did you check any of the websites mentioned by the Coven?...I know its an outlay, but for at least one suit IMO its worth it nfor the arena you are aiming at.

Well, just tossing ideas about really. I know what you mean about the job market I am aiming for - and they might look "typically tesco", on the other hand, if there's no job I might end up typing as a temp so "typically tesco" might be OK for those days

I don't have a waist to nip in at ... I am er apple shaped Well, I certainly don't go in there anyway.

I'm just tossing ideas about really... just wanted a quick answer on the jacket thing.