Post-Partum Interview Outfit. Help!

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I definitely think a sheath dress + jacket is the way to go. Check the usual suspects and go up a size. Then you can have a tailor bring it all in when you're back to your regular size. I typically wear dress suits (sheath + jacket) and I find them most comfortable even while pregnant around the waist which I would imagine is sort of akin to working around a C-section scar. (I know a C section is worse but just in the sense of wanting to keep pressure off your tummy).

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

This may be more than you want to spend, but it should be really easy to get taken in and use again:

http://www.talbots.com/online/browse...rSale=cat70008

with

http://www.talbots.com/online/browse...rSale=cat70008

I think it's one of those classics that you can wear for a super long time...

ETA: (plus, if you get it in the sesame color it'll go with the brown shoes and be appropriate for the season)...

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

Or this: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...3D2%26spc%3D85 (in brown)!

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...3D2%26spc%3D85

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...3D1%26spc%3D85 (though the zipper may make it a little less formal)

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...D1%26spc%3D247

[MrsK]

OMG. I'm at Ann Taylor right now - trying not to cry in the fitting room. Although I weigh within 10 lbs of my prepg weight, my hips have gone from a size 4 to a size 10! And the prospect of stuffing my poor c-section incision into a pair of pantyhose is just sickening! I'm sore just from shopping.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

I would probably go with thigh-highs as opposed to full hose - go with the ones that clip to the panties so you are not worried. I hope things improve on the shopping front!

[MrsK]

I'm sure I sound like a freak. Waha, waha, I've been pregnant for 2 years and I'm not a size 4 any more. It's not about that. It worries me that I'm so close to my pre-pg weight and my proportions are so changed. I wonder whether my body will ever be familiar to me again. And, short of lingere or swimwear, there are few articles of clothing that are less forgiving than a formal interview suit. I just got off the phone with my BFF who had a baby 13 weeks ago. She assured me that her hips are also 3 sizes larger than usual too. Don't know if that's reassuring but, you know, misery loves company.

I think I've decided to go with a pant suit. Not the most formal option but (1) the pants rest on my waist and not on my incision, (2) no panty hose required, (3) if I wore a sheath dress, I'd have to undress entirely from the waist up to pump and milk stains would be conspicuous, (4) I tried a wrap dress but my curves are too extreme now to get away with a v-neck in a formal work environment. I picked up a jacket similar to:http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/product...aultColor=6600 in black, not double breasted, with full-length sleaves. It was on sale and today they had 50% off of clearance so it was about $60. I had to get it 2 sizes larger than I normally wear. They didn't have the pants in my size so I'm thinking of these pants, also in black: http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/product...aultColor=6600 (3 sizes larger than I usually wear, also about $60). I am ordering the pants on line and splurging on the 3-day delivery so I have time to figure out if they work. I know, black suit with brown shoes -- but if I wear a patterned top that has both black and brown? I've got a leopard print blouse that I wore after my last pregnancy. And I can carry a brown purse? What do you think?

In the meanwhile, I'm going to check out Von Maur and Talbots.

[diggitydot]

Don't stress about your hip size. Pregnancy hormones cause ligaments to loosen and allow baby noggins to pass through something entirely too small for baby noggins to pass through. Ligaments and tendons will firm back up eventually. No, of course your shape won't be the exact same as prior, but don't freak yourself out that the size difference seems so profound to you right now.

No matter what, you're going to rock that interview.

[MrsK]

Or this: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...3D2%26spc%3D85 (in brown)!

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...3D2%26spc%3D85

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...3D1%26spc%3D85 (though the zipper may make it a little less formal)

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/produc...D1%26spc%3D247

The first two are really pretty. I think the one with the zipper looks a little too young for this interview.

[MrsK]

Don't stress about your hip size. Pregnancy hormones cause ligaments to loosen and allow baby noggins to pass through something entirely too small for baby noggins to pass through. Ligaments and tendons will firm back up eventually. No, of course your shape won't be the exact same as prior, but don't freak yourself out that the size difference seems so profound to you right now.

I know. I keep telling myself, I just made a person! But people are a lot more forgiving when you are visably pregnant than when you are post-partum. When I was pregnant, I could have gone to an interview in my house slippers and it would have been charming. Now they don't know that I've just made a person. And nothing shatters a girl's confidence more than feeling fat.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

And nothing shatters a girl's confidence more than feeling fat.

More than anything, I wish that people could view themselves the way their children do...because let's be honest, to your kids you are the most beautiful person in the world -- you should remember that.

Plus, remember that none of these people are looking at you and saying 'well she used to be a size four...' In fact, most of them will probably have no idea that you're post-partum and will think that you look perfectly normal and lovely.

You are an intelligent, capable and beautiful woman who just happens to have given birth recently. Focus on your qualifications for the job -- you'll do great!

[Vishenka69]

I think a pants suit will be fine. The pants look like they'd sit on the hips and not the waist, so you might want to order a back up with a higher rise. As for animal print blouse, it'd depend on how bright the print is, generally animal print wouldn't be my first choice for an interview.

[MrsK]

The print is muted, mostly grey and white with some brown and black. I may need another choice since the blouse barely fits now. I tried the pants at the store in a different fabric. It sits just below the navel. My c-section is much lower. If I don't use the animal print, what should I look for?

[MrsK]

The suit is adorable but there is no way denim would be okay in a corporate environment (think silk stocking law firm). So, you are ok with black but not with pants? After I got the jacket home, I realized that the skirt I bought last year for my first post-partum trip to the office (BabyK was 3 months old) is the same fabric as the jacket. However, my hips are still too wide to fit the skirt (K2 will only be 6 weeks old when I interview and I was much bigger this pregnancy). The leopard print blouse I'm thinking of is similar to the one you picked -- obviously different pattern but similar style with a ruffle instead of cowl neck. The pattern on the blouse I have is actually lighter than the one you showed. Think, snow leopard, not yellow leopard.

I like that, and the brown shoes would work for that. $130 is a sweet deal (and Macys is on ebates).

[Cinderella]

Black pantsuits are a staple in my corporate field. Chocolate heels are in the neutral range so they match with anything. For the summer I'd pick a a single colored shell top like this crew neck t or in yellow or any summer color that's eye catching. I'd keep it simple, comfortable with a touch of color. We also finish the look off with a black belt with silver buckle. This seems to be the uniform worn most.