Sunday, November 11, 2012
Why I Will Never Work in the Fashion Industry
Last week I had an interview for a library aide position. I haven't heard anything yet. If nothing else, I can say I was the most professionally attired interviewee with dress pants, a blouse and a fitted jacket. I also got a haircut about a month ago so I could look a bit more put together and avoid what my kids refer to as "wild, drugged-out hippie" hair. Seems a reasonable presentation to me.
Calypso is also job-hunting. She has an interview Monday afternoon. She is excited and I am glad for her. She was concerned about what to wear. I helped her pick a suitable outfit. It was a bit of a challenge since she spent the last year working on a farm/camp and she is interviewing for an office job. She had gotten rid of most of the clothing she owned which would have been interview appropriate. We still managed to find something, or so I thought.
Today she went to visit a friend's mother for wardrobe advice. She came home with a borrowed Prada bag to carry to the interview. I will spare you my explicit thoughts on the absurdity of a 19 year old with a high school diploma carrying a Prada bag to an interview but to my way of thinking it doesn't seem to convey a need for a job. Maybe I am crazy.
I probably am. I carried all my crap (lunch, purse, sweater, a book to read at lunch) to work in a 99 cent reusable shopping bag for a couple years and was perfectly content doing so. Mr. Lime gave me something more professional looking last Christmas because he thought my shopping bag was a bit sad....and he's the guy who once said the pieces of my wardrobe he most liked seeing me wear were my camo pants and a pepto bismol pink sweater.
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14 comments:
Best of luck on getting the job!
As for fashion, I leafed through an old GQ magazine once. The idea of me trying to dress up like those guys made me laugh out loud.
Well, if that makes you crazy, I am too.
Perhaps I am an anti-elitist snob but I think that unless the rest of your outfit is of a quality that it makes the Prada bag fade into the background... it's not helping you look pulled together, it makes you look like you are trying too hard.
Reminds me of a meme I saw that does something like this,
"Oh honey, that Coach™ bag is so fab! And it goes great with your dollar store flip-flops, gas station sunglasses, and Walmart sweatpants!"
Lol on logophile's comment! Maybe her interviewer will be like some of us here and not even be able to identify a Prada bag!
i work in fashion ... sort of ... however i don't think the label on the purse/bag will matter so much as she might feel more dressed for the interview with it as without it ...
Sorry Logophile, Bijoux ... no one will notice the label if they recognize the bag it won't be due to the label and it doesn't look like she's trying too hard at all ..
I would like to think people get jobs because of how they come off .. how they interact with the interviewer and most importantly how qualified they are for the position .. looking good .. presentable .. dressed for the job ... helps you as an interviewee make that first impression a positive one
You go, girl! And Calypso, too!
You say, "99 cent reusable shopping bag" like it's a bad thing. . .
My surgeon's-wife birth-mother often passes her used clothing to Jen, so my dear wife has acquired something of a reputation as a snappy/flashy dresser, but her heart and bones are ratty sweats. This is the woman who, on our wedding night, excused herself 'to go slip into something more comfortable', and returned clad in the aforementioned ratty sweats. "This is the most comfortable stuff I have," she said. . .
Trini...
NO FASHION ADVICE FROM MR. LIME!!
I'll keep my fingers crossed that the library aid position pans out for you.
I wouldn't know a Prada bag if I ran over it!!!! I have heard recently though that the color to wear to an interview is blue. Supposedly it puts the interviewer at ease and is receptive.
What I do know for sure is that the most important thing to take with you both is confidence/attitude. Remember, If you have an interview....they already want you....don't give them a reason not too!!!
Once I figured this out, I got every job for which I had applied!!!! Best of luck!
Sorry....I take that back! There is no such thing as "luck".
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity!!! Soooo....get prepared!!!! :)
I wouldn't recognize a Prada bag. And I still carry my stuff to work in one of those reusable shopping bags. You'd like it - it's lime green and has a peace sign on it!
Although I know how to dress, I mostly gave up on being fashionable years ago. If I needed a job I would dress to impress, but I'm a jeans and sneakers guy 99% of the time these days. Exceptions are funerals, weddings, and extra-special date nights (anniversary dinner and a show, for instance.)
I've had the same pair of black wingtips for over 20 years; my only pair of dress shoes. I haven't bought a new suit since about 2001, as I recall. I consider myself "dressed up", these days, when I wear chinos, a polo, and CLEAN sneakers.
That's funny to see this today. For no reason at all, I showed up to work with a spiffy vest this morning. I try to wear a tie once a week, even though I don't need to. At first, I liked doing that because it made my supervisors nervous... like I was interviewing after work. But now, it's just that I don't know when else I'm going to wear this stuff, so I may as well use it.
Personally, I would advise against borrowing something for an interview unless you intend to get that thing after you start getting paid... or if you don't have proper business attire for the interview, but won't buy it because the position gets a uniform.
I wonder what tye-dyed camo looks like...
I hope you hear something about the library job soon.
Your post should have been titled "Why Mr. Lime Will Never Work In The Fashion Industry". I think you are far from crazy...I agree with you about the Prada bag...maybe they will think it's a knock-off since it's a 19 year old carrying it. Surely they won't ask to see inside. :)
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