Excellent discussion at Shapely Prose going on, about what to wear to a job interview when one has a poochie-tummy such that one looks several months pregnant.
Francesca does not look pregnant, she just looks fat, but as an Apple-shape she appreciates that sometimes even the Spanx will not do it.
For those for whom Spanx is enough, or at least helpful, here is Francesca’s post with information about where to buy Spanx for the interview for the Good Job.
But anyway, as Francesca says, sometimes one must Give It Up and understand that no matter how strong the “slimming undergarments” are, we are not truly succeeding in hiding our love handles and the poochie tummy. They are there. We know they are there, and so does everyone else. There is no point in kidding anyone, because we cannot. And why should we? The love handles are called love handles for a reason. Being soft and squishie is very, very sexy.
There is only one thing to do: Stand up straight, be confident in one’s beauty and specialness, and –if being not pregnant is important to you — take up an extreme sport so that you can say, in all truthfulness, “on Saturdays I go bungee jumping, and on Sundays I parachute.”
Of course, you could lie and say those things even if in actuality you spend your weekends at the sci-fi/fantasy conventions (and who wouldn’t rather do that?), but then you run the risk of your potential boss saying “really? I’m a parachuter also . . . but I never see you at the club.” That would be bad.
Francesca says: Do your best to look the way you would like to look for your job interview, and leave the rest to the goodness of the cosmos.
Francesca dear, the timing of this post is impeccable.
I am definitely a Woman of A Certain Age (in fact today is my birthday – I’m 56) and also of A Certain Girth – very Appley. This is also the year I am spending in business school, earning a certificate to become a professional translator – which means that soon I will be going to job interviews while many women of my age are planning their retirements.
So, definitely – good posture, strong underwear, clothing to flatter without making me look dowdy (something of a challenge at this point – I had really better check out Dress by Design a.s.a.p.) but I’m not sure if I should tell a potential employer about my “sport,” which is belly dancing. Do you think it will scare them off? ;-)
Comment by Annalucia — April 8, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Annalucia – I’m right behind you in July for the same birthday. I am not appley – I am ..well, I’m not sure what I am..I have a waist but because I am so short, I have the Hip Fluff of Doom…my secret weapon is shoulder pads. Yes, good posture. Yes, strong underwear(but not so strong as to send you to the ER because your legs are turning purple). Yes, clothing to flatter without the dowdiness. But also, a set of not too large shoulder pads – makes me look taller and more important and credible. Not Joan Collins shoulder pads – half an inch will do it. And my sport is commuting by bike – my employer loves me for it, has encouraged it, allows me to bring my bike up in the elevator(we are 5 flights up), and has been cheering me on to my 25 mile ride in Maryland at the end of the month!!
Comment by Toby Wollin — April 8, 2008 @ 11:25 am
Please, for the love of God, stop using baby-talk like “poochie tummy” and “lumpy squishie.” Such expressions are just plain embarrassing.
Comment by Harridan P — April 8, 2008 @ 1:37 pm
I always get confused what apple actually means? I have tried to google it but can’t find an explanation that is clear.
I have the exact same problem as the girl in the link! Jelly Belly when i was young, but now I just look pregnant! Thought it was just me…
Comment by M — April 8, 2008 @ 3:01 pm
M – “apple” means that you carry your weight high and in front (thorax, abdomen), unlike “pears” who tend to have it in the rear end and the thighs.
Comment by Annalucia — April 8, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
Francesca, you have excellent taste. I, too, loved this post and used it over at TeenyManolo. Our first comment is pro-discrimination. We would have had it first, but I set it to autopost! Dammit, I’m obviously too complacent!
It’s an excellent discussion and a very well-written, sensible blog. The comments are great, too.
Comment by raincoaster — April 8, 2008 @ 9:07 pm