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bre_anna
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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 Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: Appropriate Clothing |
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I was wondering if somebody could help me out with this. I received a contract summary from a school in Japan. I am in the process of setting an interview up with them.
I had a quick question about clothing. The contracts says "classroom, teachers should wear business attire. For men, this means pants and a
collared shirt with a necktie. For women, skirt/trousers with a blouse/shirt. No jeans or shorts. For the
first day of school or special ceremonies, formal wear is expected."
For women, does a blouse have to button all the way up to the neck, can I wear a blazer, or sweater over it, and does it matter what color it is? Also, if I wear a skirt what is an appropriate lenght, and should I wear panty hose? What about footwear? Heels? Flats? or something else.
And what would be an example of appropriate formal wear?
Thanks! |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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Lyrajean
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 109
Location: going to Okinawa
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:34 am Post subject: |
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Blouses do not have to button all the way up but do be aware that offices are a bit more cleavage sensitive than you may be familiar with. Plunging v-necks, scoopnecks and anything see through without a camisole underneath is a no go. No sleeves and spagetti straps are not acceptable either. If you have a more -ahem- western size chest be prepared to be held to a stricter standard than your flat-chested J-colleagues sometimes.
Blazers and neat professional sweaters are certainly okay over shirts. Colors vary.
Formal wear they mean a suit most likely, mostly likely anything medium gray or darker to black. Or a conservative dress with at least short sleeves or a blazer over it.
Skirts should come no higher up than the top of the knee. Anything longer is okay.
Dress flats or heels are both okay. Do wear hose at least until you know its okay not to. No flipflops, birkenstocks etc... |
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bre_anna
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 5:57 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Lyrajean, you were realy helpfull.
Unfortunately I do have one of those "Western sized chests". But I'll make do. |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:02 am Post subject: |
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To the OP:
By "school" are you talking about an eikawa or an actual public/private school? |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject: |
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Text deleted
Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| ShioriEigoKyoushi wrote: |
| Imagine a horizontal line half way between the dip at the bottom of your neck and your nips... and don't reveal anything lower. |
I wish I could even go that low... anything lower than an inch below the dip and anyone taller than me is getting a free show (which in a school like mine that is famous for its sports teams and coaches, there are more than a handful of boys that are around 6") and everyone gets more than a little fanservice should I lean over a desk.
@ the OP:
Body hugging is something you should try to avoid, but if you can't... If they can see that you really are built differently but are doing your best to avoid things like clevage, they'll likely let you get away with a little body hugging. With me, it's either I dress smart and they deal with a little form fittingness, or I wear thick, baggy jumpers/sweatshirts or the completely wrong sizer blazer/waist coat and look scruffy.
You might want to wear a really supporting bra, too: jiggling is only going to draw even more attention to them.
Also be careful of any skin that might show around the mid-drift area if you raise your arms, sit, crouch, etc. And most cerainly no cracks or tops of knickers (avoid low riding or hipster trousers at all costs!). |
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Fina1
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 22
Location: Philadelphia, PA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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When in doubt, overdress.
My advice: wear a business suit. Do not wear a sweater, do not wear flats, do not wear open toed shoes.
Wear loafers or closed-toe dress shoes with low heals. Make sure your shoes are shined. The school I'm going to in a few months requires that teacher's shoes are always shined.
Only 1 piercing in each ear and nothing too dangly.
Do not show tattoos (should be obvious).
IRON YOUR CLOTHES!
I don't think I can stress this enough. At my interview there were a lot of people who showed up under-dressed or were wearing nice clothes but did not iron them!! Do not show up with your clothes wrinkled.
When you begin work your school will probably tell you to have them ironed every day.
For my interview I was told "professional business attire". I did a lot of research on proper business attire before buying my clothes.
At the interview I was given a paper with examples of what is acceptable and what is not.
You can't go wrong by being overdressed, but you can by being even slightly underdressed. |
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Apsara
Joined: 20 Sep 2005
Posts: 2142
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Fina1 wrote: |
| do not wear flats |
I'm going to disagree with this. I'm 175cm (5'9") so far taller than most Japanese women and many men already, and I find heels of any height above flat to be incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to walk in anyway, so I never wear them. It has never caused any issues at job interviews/the workplace in Japan. I have always been successful at any job interview I have had here, for teaching jobs and otherwise, wearing flats the whole time. Don't wear heels if you don't want to.
Just a question, since you also mentioned loafers- aren't loafers flats? |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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Text deleted
Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| ShioriEigoKyoushi wrote: |
And yes, that half way line is ok, if you're not wearing a bra that lifts and creates cleavage or anything like that. |
Never owned a push-up bra in my life and haven't worn an underwire in about 3 years. I only wear sports bras to avoid too much of the afore mentioned distracting movement. I don't need much help in the way of pushing up to get clevage and even without a bra I still have some. Mine just protrude too much since they are firmer and fuller than the average person my size and age (its both a curse and a blessing from my days of serious sports). If I stand with anything other than an arched back and pushed back shoulders, they hold the neck line away from my body especially if it isn't a skin tight top. So with regards to neckline, there is not a one-size-fits-all rule: The larger and more protruding/gravity defying you are, the higher the neckline you will be expected to wear.
Just make sure you do a couple of tests with all tops you wear.
1) Look down - if you see anything, chances are that anyone taller than you will be seeing something too.
2) Bend over in front of a mirror - this is the bowing country, so make sure you at least bend down to 45 degrees and see if you get any money shots in the mirror.
Oh... that reminds me: don't ever wear bras with really thin cups or go without even if you are really small. Nipples seen poking under your clothes is another huge no-go. |
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ShioriEigoKyoushi
Joined: 21 Aug 2009
Posts: 364
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Text deleted
Last edited by ShioriEigoKyoushi on Fri Mar 19, 2010 2:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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bre_anna
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:25 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the pointers guys.
I'm quite short 5'2 and quite large chested (E cup) so I'm forseeing some issues finding appropriate clothing. I wanted to gather the info now so that I have a lot of time to shop for clothing (if I get the job that is). It's very difficult for me to find a button up blouse that will button over my chest properly without being extremely big everywhere else. I'll see what I can do. |
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Threnody
Joined: 13 Nov 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:04 am Post subject: |
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bre_anna
| Quote: |
| I'm quite short 5'2 and quite large chested (E cup) so I'm forseeing some issues finding appropriate clothing. I wanted to gather the info now so that I have a lot of time to shop for clothing (if I get the job that is). It's very difficult for me to find a button up blouse that will button over my chest properly without being extremely big everywhere else. I'll see what I can do. |
Have you considered getting some of your smarter and sturdier shirts altered? I'm not sure what the rates are in your area, but it's generally not overly expensive to have some seams taken in, and it can be a great investment if you have trouble finding standard-sized clothing. |
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bre_anna
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
Posts: 23
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:18 am Post subject: |
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| Threnody wrote: |
bre_anna
| Quote: |
| I'm quite short 5'2 and quite large chested (E cup) so I'm forseeing some issues finding appropriate clothing. I wanted to gather the info now so that I have a lot of time to shop for clothing (if I get the job that is). It's very difficult for me to find a button up blouse that will button over my chest properly without being extremely big everywhere else. I'll see what I can do. |
Have you considered getting some of your smarter and sturdier shirts altered? I'm not sure what the rates are in your area, but it's generally not overly expensive to have some seams taken in, and it can be a great investment if you have trouble finding standard-sized clothing. |
It's definately a good idea. I may also be able to do it on my own. I'm pretty good at sewing and I usually hem my own pants. Thanks for the idea. |
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