Of course the agency I went through managed to crease my pleasure a little bit - I was the most nervous, I still wasn't dressed appropriately. Ladies - corporate wear means matching your trousers to your jacket - even the slightest shade of black out and you're a gonner! The agency was fantastic though and lucky me a neighbour and friend works there (fluke I promise you) and went the extra mile to help me out with the wardrobe dilemma.
Have you heard of Dress For Success? It's a not for profit worldwide organisation that assists lower income women return to the workforce. You have to be referred by a government department (WINZ will help - i went through CAB) but after that it's an appointment and a whole heap of new clothes.
Usually you would go there prior to an interview where they would fix you out with one appropriate interview outfit. Because I already have the job I had appointment number two at the same time which gives you another outfit and accessories to match. I've got to tell you I have NEVER tried on so many clothes at once, even when I was itsy bitsy and young - I've never been into fashion much I guess. If I like it I try it on and if it fits I buy it - I don't trawl the racks looking at this and that. It was really nice too to have someone tell me what looked nice and went together and what didn't - particularly as I'd thought the jacket I wore to the interviews was great but was then told it made me look "boxy". I think I'm still dressing skinny JJ style rather than roly poly JJ style that I am today.
So today I staggered out of Dress For Success with the following...
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| That's two pair of trousers - the far left ones are a great tailored fit - aren't my photos terrible. The black jacket zips up the front instead of buttoning and you can't tell but the white jacket is actually a soft lime with grey patterning - what's amazing is that the tags are still on this jacket - priced originally at ...$460.00!!!!! |
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| More work shirts - the one on the left obviously needs ironing, the white one is realy lovely and looks great with the waistcoat which has gorgeous buttons - the two combined remind me of my banking days LOL |
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| Ahhh don't you love things you don't have to iron. The white is a bit casual but looks great with the black jacket. |
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| Freebie mags and two pairs of shoes. With most of the outfits quite plain I apparently can get away with some pattern on my shoes - the ones on the left are pretty neat particularly as I'm not used to "winkle pickers" as I call the toe shape. I love sling backs too so the black sandals are just lovely. |
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| Where do I begin - the colouring of the green purse is a bit darker than the jacket green but is perfect with it. There's a blue powder compact, lip gloss, foundation, a cute pair of earrings and a jewelery pouch from Esteem jewellery, a glass bead long necklace that doubles up and is very lovely the round purse is from DFS "freebie" rack and goes really well with the shoes and really importantly 2 bras, tags still attached. |
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| And from the freebie rack - a pair of 3/4 jeans, a lovely Wild Child top, a grey shirt that would look quite formal if worn with a nice wide strapped cami or singlet top and a lovely casual bronze knit top. |
Is that it - I think so - as an op shopper I know clothing prices and all of this would have cost me at least $105 from an average op shop - half a dozen of these still have tags on so are brand new and not cheap so I am the luckiest person I know today. If you ever get asked to help out somehow with DFS I would highly recommend it - I will be going into work on Monday with a whole heap of confidence and all because of this wonderful organisation. Thank you Dress For Success - I will be "paying it forward" when I can and contributing back to you also when I can do that.
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