Finding Your Perfect Interview Outfit
The interview round is one of the first opportunities the judges have to get to know you and your brand, so it is important to make a great first impression. Think outside of the box, and use this round as an opportunity to express your personality off stage, but most importantly, chose an outfit that makes you feel good and your most confident. Here is some advice to help you select your perfect interview outfit.
Outfits
There is no right or wrong when it comes to choosing your interview outfit, however, you should select your outfit with the intention of looking as professional, put together as possible and of course showing personality. A good guideline to follow is to dress as if you were attending a job interview (just with a little more glitz and glamour!)
Some examples could include sophisticated jumpsuits, playlists, or blazer co-ordinates. Dresses should be approximately knee-length and not too revealing. Play around with bolder colours as your outfit is the largest form of non-verbal communication and expression of personality so have fun with it!
Juniors! be fun and playful with your colour choices, however, outfits should still be age-appropriate. For my classics, please don’t feel the need to stick to plainer colours such as navy and neutrals. This is your opportunity to show your individuality, so choose a colour that complements you, and not based on age stereotypes.
My advice would be to avoid denim as it can often look unprofessional. You should also choose a comfortable shoe that you feel confident walking in; nude court shoes are an easy option to match any outfit. Look out for our blog post on ‘Finding Your Perfect Interview Shoe’ for more advice on interview shoes.
Clothing Brands
There are so many great clothing brands for interview outfits– and they don’t have to be pricey either. Some great high street brands include River Island, ASOS, and French Connection. On the other hand, if you’re happy to spend a little more, Lavish Alice, Ted Baker, and House of CB stock some great suits, and sophisticated dresses.
I love finding new unique boutiques to shop from, and I would recommend you to do so as well. This eliminates the risk of accidentally twinning with another contestant- Oh Polly is the worst for this!
Jewellery
Less is always more when it comes to jewellery in interview; Jewellery should be used to complement your outfit, not outshine you or be a distraction. I love wearing a statement earring, to balance out a sleek up-do, or to add glamour to a simpler outfit. My favourite brand to wear is Earring Envy, which specialises in gorgeous eye-catching crystal earrings, available in a range of sizes to create the statement you want.
Girls should choose jewellery with elegance in mind. This could be a dainty necklace, bracelet, or small watch, as well as a small selection of rings. Interview is to see you a more relaxed version compared to onstage, so opt for more minimalistic designs. Smartwatches are also advised against.
Hairstyles
Your chosen hairstyle will most likely depend on the pageant system you are competing in. However, there are no set rules on how you should style your hair during the interview stage.
A pageant leading to a top 5 international is more likely to prefer a sophisticated up-do, such as a sleek ponytail or a up do, whereas a younger pageant may prefer hairstyles with more personality, such as bouncy curls, straight hair and feel free to still go for pony tails and up dos. I would definitely recommend researching your pageant system beforehand for any requirements and look back on previous contestants to see any reoccurring themes or favourites.
For my juniors, I would recommend more age-appropriate fun hairstyles that show your personality. Replace sleek buns and undo’s with a half up half down looks or big and bouncy curls.
Your chosen hairstyle should also complement the structure of your outfit. For example, for a high neckline, I would opt for a high pony or slicked back bun, to avoid looking overdone and distracting. Whereas, for one-shouldered outfits, I would opt for something more eye-catching such as bouncy curls. For my girls who have a nervous habit of hair playing, I would advise an up-do, as this will prevent any nervous fiddling during your interview. A don't for pageant hair is please do not have your hair in pin curls during rehearsals, it doesn't give the full impression to the judges.
Makeup
Unlike your On-Stage makeup, your interview glam should be more natural and toned down. This could simply be a neutral eye look, minimal false eyelashes, with a healthy glow and flawless appearance to the skin. We want you to feel as confident as possible during the interview, so opt for whichever makeup look makes you feel your best- whether this is a fuller coverage glam or light and natural, there is no right or wrong.
I would advise getting your makeup done professionally for this round like you would on stage . Not only will this relieve some stress on the day, make-up artists are trained in the flawless application and use only the best products; they are definitely worth the investment.
Juniors are advised not to wear false eyelashes during interviews as this is often considered not age-appropriate. Please refer to the guidelines of your system prior regarding the use of false lashes for Juniors.
Shoes
We have a whole blog post dedicated to finding your perfect interview heel check out last weeks post!
Where to Find Inspiration
Do your research! Every pageant system is different for interview outfit style, so look back on previous years’ contestants to gauge a reoccurring theme and of course and your own personality twist on top. I love looking back to the glamorous Miss USA interview outfits and searching on Pinterest for my own personal inspiration.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at Harriotte@thecrowncoach.online, or on social media @thecrowncoach and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Harriotte x