Post-Partum Interview Outfit. Help!

[MrsK]

Ok, so I don't know where this thread belongs -- career, parenting, retail, all rolled into one. Many of you know that I was laid off almost 4 months ago while very pregnant. I have been actively considering job opportunities and the process has been painfully slow. I had my baby 3 weeks ago and last week a rare job opportunity arose. In the spirt of striking when the iron is hot and expecting the application process to take a while, I submitted my resume. I was surprised (and, frankly, a little alarmed) when they scheduled a phone interview with me right away. I agreed and scrambled to find someone to hold my newborn for the hour-long preliminary phone interview, which, I was grateful to do in my yoga pants while sitting at my kitchen table. The interview went well. (Hooray! Darn it! I don't know what to think!) They want me to come in for a full day of face-to-face interviews in the next week or so.

Now I'm scrambling to find someone that can watch my newborn for the day -- trying to persuade DrK to take a day off of work and reminding him that if I get this job, childcare could become a recurrent problem. I suspect that this is the sort of job where I could be paid a jillion dollars to work like an animal. It may be totally impractical for my family/incompatiable with residency, but it's too soon to say. So, I need to get my hair cut and -- this is the retail part -- I need an interview suit.

I have a closet full of suits but I delievered my baby so recently that there is no way I can fit my 4th trimester curves into any of them. I'm carrying about 10 extra lbs, I've got the amazingly gigantic lactating boobies, a post-partum belly pooch, a fresh c-section incision, and my hips are about 3 or 4 inches wider than they are supposed to be. I've got the shoes -- closed chocolate-colored pumps, stelletto heels in perfect condition. Now I need an interview suit to go with them. It's an uber-formal workplace so I need an uber-formal dress/skirt suit. And stockings? Yes? No? What color? And it's been 114 degrees here and I'm worried that after a couple hours of interviewing, the amazingly gigantic lactating boobies will be weeping and plotting their escape so I'm thinking something with a loose printed blouse that is not silk? What do I do?

[diggitydot]

I have zero advice, just a big "woo hoo!" on landing the interview.

[SoonerTexan]

I have no advice on what sort of "professional" outfit will be kind to a post-partum body (but please do let me know what you figure out!), but I was going to suggest hitting up New York and Company. They're not "fancy schmancy" but it will look "good enough" without costing you a bunch. It would suck to drop a load on clothes you probably wont wear again, especially if the job doesn't work out. Their clearance racks are golden. I'd be surprised if you couldn't find something there, as I gather your post-partum body is still smaller than me fitting into skinny jeans!

Also, you like stockings, you can thank Kate Middleton for bringing them back. As of last week.

Good luck!

[scrub-jay]

Honestly, spending a day away from baby while lactating and being unable to go pump sounds the scariest to me. Since you'd be "in the closet" on that (I assume), I would probably get a handpump to do some fast pumping in the bathroom stall (probably pump and dump due to the ick factor) to relieve some of the pressure.

[MrsK]

They know that I have a 3 wk old and that I'm nursing. I wasn't planning to bf exclusively when I returned to work but I did not expect to have a full day away from K2 until Sept. I wasn't counting on all day interviews. I think I'm going to die.

As for the suit, it has to at least look expensive because the other candidates for the job are being recruited from NY BigLaw firms.

Fashionistas, what to wear for uber formal interview with brown shoes?

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

Nordstrom has a fantastic brand - Halogen - that has a few suit pieces that look expensive, but are really reasonably priced...and it's also generous for curves (I kind of have a chest problem...) without making you look full-figured and trying to hide it.

I just looked and their basic jackets aren't online, but I know their in the store...I would say pick up one of their suit skirts in black, wear nipple pads and be your awesome self!

ETA I just saw that you said brown shoes...I don't know if the Halogen brand comes in brown, I've seen mostly brown and gray...but I know Talbots usually carries brown suits (but they're usually a bit dowdy)...

[ladymoreta]

Wish I had some advice, but I'm fashion challenged. Just wanted to say congratulations on the interview and good luck!!! I hope it ends up being a great fit for you!

[SuzySunshine]

I know you don't have a Nordstrom in town - but I would go to the VonMaur at the mall tomorrow and ask someone for help. I don't think they have a maternity section but someone in the women's section should be able to help you. Congrats on the interview and good luck!

Order a bunch if stuff from Nordies & return what doesnt work. They're on ebates, so you can get a little discount there,and they have a generous return policy.

[MrsK]

How about something like this in brown: (skirt) http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ingenuit...resultback=246 (and jacket) http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ingenuit...esultback=2023 with a printed blouse? Boring, right? What are your thoughts on pantyhose? Are they a do or a don't these days? I thought I read that nude hose are out so would I wear brown? Also, I cannot imagine that wearing stockings with my incision would be at all comfortable. . . Can I wear pants? Is wearing a dress an option? Something like this would be very forgiving: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/donna-ri...esultback=1777 or this http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/calvin-k...esultback=4380 or this http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/adrianna...sultback=3555? Maybe with a jacket?

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

Normally I would say dresses are fine for work -- but I wouldn't for an interview...but I always think you should dress super conservative for interviews (which, for me, is a skirt suit). Unless you can find a dress suit (matching sheeth and suit jacket that are meant to go together) -- I would say that would be ideal for comfort for you in terms of your incision. And while I hate nude pantyhose (and refuse to wear them for work, even when I'm in court), I do think they're appropriate for an interview. what about thigh-highs (i've never tried them, but that might solve the problem)?

I think pants are fine, but i think they may be more uncomfortable on your incision than a skirt...

As much as there are all these "rules" though, you're going to come off much better and at ease if you're comfortable. So maybe comfort is the way to go and hopefully they'll understand that! Good luck!

PS I think the suit from Nordstrom looks good (conservative and boring, yes -- bit I think that's good) as well as the Adrianna Papell dress (with a jacket)! The first and second dress were too casual and too dressy respectively imo.

[Deebs]

I second the VonMaur idea. They should have something that looks great, and a good fit from trying something on always makes it look higher end. I would go for a suit that fits first, and then see if the shoes work with it.

Congrats on the interview! I have a friend who recently interviewed while on maternity leave, and she spoke with the HR coordinator about scheduling a couple pumping breaks in the day. If it's the traditional law firm multiple short interview circuit thing, no one else would need to know if you're taking a little time out. I'd feel really self conscious about taking long bathroom breaks to pump or going past full boob capacity.

[MrsK]

I guess that is how I have to approach it - like I'm interviewing during maternity leave. Guess I shouldn't commit to a start date that is prior to the end of a standard leave. They just called about scheduling the interview for the week after next. K2 will be 6 weeks that day so he'll be ready to use a bottle if necessary. I felt like an idiot telling them that I needed to confirm my childcare for that day before committing to the interview. It's just not usual for this type of job but I guess it won't be a good fit if they cannot accomidate me now.

[oceanchild]

That's good that they're pushing it back, right?

In my conservative-workplace experience, skirt suit = pant suit = dress w/jacket (assuming it's a sheath-type dress with a matching jacket as suggested above)

And I think you're fine without hose.