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[tortugaphd]

Holla, job seekers!

The last time I was on the job market was a few years ago when I got the job I have now.  Fast forward to the present, and I'm 10 pounds heavier--all in the hips.  When I got an invite to a convention interview in mid-December, I discovered that the suits I had no longer fit.  The jacket still fit, but the pants didn't.  Not having the time to go out and buy another suit before the convention, I paired a jacket with dark pants that I saved from my "fat" days and did the coordinating thing rather than the matching thing.  I didn't look as formal as this guy: http://chronicle.com/article/Facing-Fears-About-Fitting-In/130346/ but I don't think I looked too informal, either.

I have a campus visit coming up but not until the end of February and am contemplating whether to shop for another suit or to keep on doing the coordinating separates thing.  What do you think?  I don't think losing weight is an option for me right now, so don't mention it. ;)

[dr_prephd]

I think it's pretty essential, as a professional, to have at least one suit that you can pull out at the last minute. That said, I've worn trousers / blazer, trousers / sweater set, skirt / sweater set, etc. for some parts of some interviews (night before dinner, for example) and still gotten offers. I've also worn more business-casual-type outfits for 2nd and 3rd interviews after assessing the prevailing sartorial culture.

[nocalprof]

Do the coordinating thing.

And don't worry about it.

Since when are academics expected to be stylish?  Reasonably clean...fine...but don't sweat the wardrobe selection.

OK, maybe my field is particularly well known for being casual...one member of the National Academy in my field gives talks in jeans and birks.  He does wear a sportcoat though.

[larryc]

If you don't have a suit, you should probably get one. Learn your sizes, cruise the thrift stores (with a tape measure) and you can pick up something nice pretty cheap.

[ruralguy]

I am not fashionable at all, but I vote for new suit.  A good blazer and several possible quality pants with them could do as well.
Nothing fancier is really required. Less than that looks a bit too "green" (as does going overboard with 3 piece suits, etc.) .

I know what most of my suits (well, don't really have many) look like, and I couldn't really use any of the suit jackets as pseudo blazers. I just don't think it would look quite right. 

In any case, you were probably fine, in that I am sure it looked professional. Most of this advice is just about what to do ideally going forward.

[seniorscholar]

If you don't have a suit, you should probably get one. Learn your sizes, cruise the thrift stores (with a tape measure) and you can pick up something nice pretty cheap.

And furthermore, if you live in a city, figure out which thrift stores are run by high-class organizations (such as the Junior League, the women's auxiliary of the AMA, etc.) These are the places where seldom worn high-quality clothing is apt to be donated.

(In high school, my daughters regularly prowled one such for the very expensive sporting wear provided by grandmothers as holiday gifts for young teen boys, who either wouldn't wear it or outgrew the ski outfit before it snowed. Perfect sizing for teen age girls, and much much more sturdy than similar clothing intended for female wear.)

[tortugaphd]

Thanks for the responses!  A weekend of suit shopping awaits!

[dr_prephd]

I don't know if you're male or female, but if you're the latter, I've been picking up some great suiting pieces over the past month. J. Crew, Ann Taylor, BR, etc., have all been having great clearance sales, and I've gotten some fabulous pieces for 80% off (still at times pricey, but much better than full price!).

[tortugaphd]

I don't know if you're male or female, but if you're the latter, I've been picking up some great suiting pieces over the past month. J. Crew, Ann Taylor, BR, etc., have all been having great clearance sales, and I've gotten some fabulous pieces for 80% off (still at times pricey, but much better than full price!).

Thanks!  I'm female, and I was planning to make a trip to the mall to hit some of those stores.  Seems like a good time for clearance sales!

[tortugaphd]

Follow up question:

Suit purchased.  I left the tags on so that I can decide whether to keep it or return it for another.  It is a simple jacket and skirt combination in grey.

I've never had a skirt suit before (always pants), so this is my first one.  Is it ok to wear neutral tights with it, or is hose required?  I do have hose but have not worn it in years and would rather wear tights.  If tights are too informal, though, I'll break out the hose.

[oldfullprof]

I never wore a suit to conference interviews.  On campus, yes.

[bibliothecula]

Follow up question:

Suit purchased.  I left the tags on so that I can decide whether to keep it or return it for another.  It is a simple jacket and skirt combination in grey.

I've never had a skirt suit before (always pants), so this is my first one.  Is it ok to wear neutral tights with it, or is hose required?  I do have hose but have not worn it in years and would rather wear tights.  If tights are too informal, though, I'll break out the hose.

I almost always wear tights with my suits. For my grey suit, I have a pair of diamond-pattern black and grey tights that aren't too flashy but break up the monotony of the suit a bit. For my brown suit, I have brown tights with a red floral pattern running up the leg. The tights are from Target. I've gotten compliments, so I don't think they're too risque or odd.

[erzuliefreda]

For my brown suit, I have brown tights with a red floral pattern running up the leg.

The discipline-specific nature of these things is always fascinating. Floral tights at the AHA would be head-turning.

[hipgeek]

If you don't have a suit, you should probably get one. Learn your sizes, cruise the thrift stores (with a tape measure) and you can pick up something nice pretty cheap.

And furthermore, if you live in a city, figure out which thrift stores are run by high-class organizations (such as the Junior League, the women's auxiliary of the AMA, etc.) These are the places where seldom worn high-quality clothing is apt to be donated.

The AMA?  Junior League?  What are these things?  I feel dumb but Im willing to admit my stupidity because i really want to visit these upper echelon thrift shops!

I love the socks in the OP's link.

[drnobody]

If you don't have a suit, you should probably get one. Learn your sizes, cruise the thrift stores (with a tape measure) and you can pick up something nice pretty cheap.

And furthermore, if you live in a city, figure out which thrift stores are run by high-class organizations (such as the Junior League, the women's auxiliary of the AMA, etc.) These are the places where seldom worn high-quality clothing is apt to be donated.

The AMA?  Junior League?  What are these things?  I feel dumb but Im willing to admit my stupidity because i really want to visit these upper echelon thrift shops!

I love the socks in the OP's link.

You may not have these thrift stores, depending on your area. Ie I live in a blue collar place and we don't have any high dollar thrift stores, but the last area I lived in had a thriving Junior League so it was more likely. Check your online yellow pages.