Many pageant systems are moving away from suits to fashionable dresses for interview. This doesn’t mean the task of finding the perfect interview dress is any easier. You still have to find the right color, cut and style that compliments your coloring, body shape and sense of personal style.
For Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and Miss America contestants, sheath dresses in bold colors are a great choice. Look for dresses that have an interesting neckline or some sort of feature to bring attention to your face. One solid color will make you look professional and taller. Another option would be to find a dress where the top third of the dress is one color (or a print) with the bottom two thirds is a different color (solid). The hemline should be high enough above your knee so it is flattering to your legs but long enough so you don’t make the judges blush.
Find a local seamstress who can make any necessary adjustments to make your dress fit like a glove- not too tight, not too loose. It needs to be just right.
For your shoes, find a fashionable pair of high heels (peep or closed-toe) that coordinate with the color of your dress. Now, you don’t want your shoes to be so attention grabbing that the judges spend their time admiring your feet during the interview.
If you’re petite and want to elongate your legs, then stay with a skin colored shoe ; but choose a pair that is stylish.
Happy shopping.
