The lovely Kendra sent me this plea:
I was wondering if you could provide some ideas for interview wear beyond the basic suit and button down. I know alot of it has to do with what industry/field and what level you are interviewing for, but either way it can be hard to pump some creativity and personality into interview attire.
Well, Kendra, lemme tell ya. I actually tend to err on the side of conservatism when interviewing, as I believe that the best time to express your personal style and fashionable creativity is AFTER you’ve landed the job. I understand that showing up in a suit when you’re not a suit-wearing girl may seem dishonest, but you ought to be able to express yourself through what you say, your accomplishments, your humor and smarts. Interview clothes should establish your ethos, not your personality. In an interview, you want to present the most adult, impressive, hire-able version of yourself. You can slowly introduce your visual personality after you’ve been hired or your reputation has been established.
All that said, there’s no reason to show up in a white button-down and black slacks to every interview. While you won’t want to flash your tattoos or wear a cleavage-baring blouse or do your hair in a beehive, it is important to look at least somewhat memorable. You don’t want to appear to be a standard-issue office drone. But there are ways to spice up classic, clean, conservative interview garb so that you can leave a visual impression without scaring the bejeezus out of your interviewer.
First, a few don’ts.
You all know I am a color-o-holic, and utilizing some brights is a great way to grab attention in an interview situation. But please do not buy a matchy-matchy skirt- or pants-suit in one solid, bright color. There are better, subtler ways to utilize color that will help you appear more sophisticated and stylish.
Steer clear of any fabrics that are super shiny. While I generally subscribe to the rule that shiny = pretty, satin, lame, and other highly reflective materials are just never interview-appropriate. Sure, they’re attention-getting, but more in a “wish I was out clubbing instead of trapped in a conference room” way than a “I’m a stylish go-getter” way.
Same applies to sequins, pailettes, rhinestones, and really anything heavily embellished. You should use your ability to assemble a stylish, flattering ensemble to wow your potential new employer, not a super-busy, flashy, or detail-laden piece of clothing.
I’d also avoid flowers or feathers in your hair, voluminous scarves, bangle bracelets or other jewelry that clanks, fishnet tights, open-toe strappy sandals, above-the-knee skirts, and heavy/colorful makeup. Think clean, simple, elegant. And, of course, whatever you wear should fit you IMPECCABLY. No pant hems dragging, pulling buttons on oxford shirts, blazers that constrict your shoulder movement, or skirts that give you muffin-top. Not only will ill-fitting clothes make you appear shoddy, but they’ll cause you to fidget. You’ll be nervous enough as it is, don’t give yourself another excuse to wiggle and writhe.
Now, as Kendra pointed out, interview garb varies from industry to industry. If you show up in a suit to interview at a graphic design firm, you might look a little overdressed. If you show up in a sweater and slacks to interview at a law firm, you might look a little underdressed. So never be afraid to ASK about dress code when you’re setting up your interview. Believe me, no one is going to take points off for that.
But should you be unable to procure information about the general environment, I’d say err conservative. Personally, I’d rather be overdressed. At least that way you look earnest instead of lazy. So, generally, I recommend suiting, button-downs or blouses, pumps, and simple jewelry as starting points. Sounds deathly dull, right? But there’s lots of wiggle room in those staples. Observe:
If you click to enlarge, you’ll see that each woman here has a few small, thoughtful details in her outfit that make it memorable. On the far left, she’s got a gorgeous green handbag and long chain necklace. The woman in the middle has a subtle pattern on her blouse, a long funky necklace, and her blazer sleeves rolled up. On the far right, she’s got some slightly daring shoes and a graphic-patterned top on. The rolled sleeves are a little more casual than I’d typically recommend, but the rest are all great ways to personalize a suited look.
Those three suit-wearing gals up above aren’t exactly going wild with color … and, frankly, neither should you. But a splash here and there can be memorable and attractive without feeling like overkill. My favorite ways to do color for interview outfits is to add a bright blouse to a conservative suit in a neutral shade, or throw on a pair of colorful shoes in a conservative shape with my classic, conservative pieces.
Jewelry is another great way to liven up a suited look. Big earrings can be tricky, and lots of bracelets can be noisy, so the simplest route is to find an interesting statement-y necklace. And since such items are so common that you can practically buy them at gas stations and grocery stores, you’ve got no excuses. Wearing an interesting necklace puts your outfit’s focal point up near your face, which provides your interviewer with an interesting and memorable item to correlate to your lovely countenance. Bonus!
Both of these ladies have chosen great pieces: Big but not huge, interesting but not wild, and fairly short in length. Long necklaces are great, too, but again, the more your interviewer focuses on the vicinity of your gorgeous visage, the more memorable you’ll be.
(Must point out that the woman at right is wearing a henley. Unless you KNOW the office is casual, please don’t do this. Just because you’re wearing a suit with your henley doesn’t make it a dressy outfit.)
If you know in advance that a suit is overkill, try:
- A solid-colored cashmere sweater, pencil skirt, and pumps
- A bright, solid-colored button-down shirt, neutral slacks, and pumps or peep-toes
- A demure dress – something with a nice high neckline, cap sleeves, and a knee-length hem – in wool, heavy twill, or another stiff fabric
- A graphic-patterned blouse, a-line skirt, and bright colored pumps
That whole “never get a second chance to make a first impression” dealy? Yeah, that shit is TRUE. So true. So be sure to give some thought to your interview attire a day or so before the big event. Do some research about the company’s dress code, if you can. Lay out a few options for yourself in advance so you have choices the day of. Make sure that your ensemble has one or two accents – a pop of color, statement jewelry, an interesting handbag or shoes – but is still relatively classic. And, above all, pick something that makes you feel strong and confident so that you can focus on what you’re saying, not how you’re looking.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I work as a Career Counselor at a University and deal with Interview issues all the time. No matter what the company dress code, ALWAYS wear a suit to the interview. It's better to be overdressed, than not professional enough.You are on display and most recruiters expect you to be wearing a suit.
For the more conservative fields like banking and accounting always go with a simple white button down blouse. No patterns, no colors. And no open toe shoes on interviews! I immediately noticed two of the models were wearing sandals, a definite interview no no. Shoes should be low heel, closed toe, and conservative. No bright colors. Save your individual style for after you have the job. Unless you are interviewing for a job in the fashion industry, then all the rules go out the window! You want to think of it as almost a uniform", you want the interviewer to focus on your qualifications not your attire.
Lisa: I work at a Big Ten university and have given presentations on interview attire to several classes. Many students have told me that they've gone to interviews overdressed – in suits, most times – and felt really foolish since the interviewer and entire office were wearing far less formal attire. So I can't agree with you completely. I definitely think that erring on the side of conservatism is wise – better too formal than too casual! But don't you think that dressing several levels more formally than the environment requires makes you look like you haven't done your homework about the office, or even the entire field?
here here- I totally agree- great post!
Thanks, Sal! This is good timing as I will hopefully have some job interviews coming up in the next couple of months.
Question: I have a nice simple black knee-length skirt (J Crew) that I plan to incorporate into my interview outfit, along with black pumps with a subtle pattern. What is the rule on bare legs vs. nude (or other) stockings? I don't normally wear stockings in summer, but I wonder if that is too informal for an interview.
I've only ever done interviews for scholarships and campus jobs, but I've almost always gotten what I wanted out of those interviews. My secret? Well, I love to talk about myself, and that's what an interview basically is. But as far as clothes:
1. I never, EVER wore black. I picked another neutral that better suits my complexion, like chocolate brown or grey.
2. For the most part, I tried to think "Sunday Best." If I wouldn't wear it to church, I didn't wear it to an interview. And believe you me, for those scholarship interviews I showed up looking a LOT more put-together than my jeans-and-sweater wearing male peers and my casual-skirt-and-button-up-blouse-wearing females ones.
3. It's okay to be interesting. Honestly, I've found that as long as I was clean, neat, and pressed, and didn't wear jeans or tank tops or anything TOO casual, the people interviewing me were more interested in what I had to say. It wasn't "let's evaluate what she's wearing," it was more like "she's wearing clothes, now on with the interview." Part of this is because I made SURE to be comfortable. I don't care if you have to search every store from here to the moon, DO NOT rest until you find an interview-appropriate outfit that's as comfortable as being naked. The more confident you are, the more your clothes will seem like a matter of course and a part of you, and the less your interviewer is likely to get hung up on them.
And now, I need to go look for some statement necklaces, because the one thing I NEVER thought of was adding an interesting piece of jewelry to the mix!
I agree that it probably better to accessorize then to go in with a "bold" outfit if the job you are interviewing for is more of a business environment and not arts, entertainment, fashion or music related. You want the interviewer as Lisa stated to focus on your qualifications and skills not your fashion sense.
As we all know there is a time and place for everything and if you are not interviewing for a fashion mag – an interview probably is not the appropriate time to make a fashion statement.
Stefka: I avoid stockings in summer, too, but might recommend them in this case. It kinda depends on the field. What kind of job are you interviewing for? Is the office likely to be fairly formal/conservative? If so – even if it's business casual – nude stockings aren't a bad plan. Again, better too conservative than too casual.
I also agree with you Sal – know the environment you're getting ready to walk into. Don't walk in with a expensive YSL suit that scream high-rise corporate when it a small manufacturing office or omething like that. But on another note, everybody knows that most people will come in dressed "for an interview' but will conform to the job dress code once they come on board. Plus it shows a level of respect for the organization you have the interview with if you take the time to look professional on your interview even if the office is a business casual environment.
Budget Chic: Totally true. And part of the reason why you can dress more formally than you will on a day-to-day basis without being a poseur: They know you're dressed to impress, they expect it!
Although I never had to go through a formal interview until now, I loved this post! All of your advice Sal sounds just right. And I love the fact you chose pictures of women wearing grey suits to illustrate your point instead of black ones. Most of the times they look too severe as colored ones look too bright. Grey is always the best choice and it's easier to accessorize too!
I would also like to add: You're probably wearing something unfamiliar, which will make you nervous and self-conscious anyway. Don't add to that nervousness and self-consciousness by worrying about "Oh shit! I split a seam getting out of the car! Now what?" or "I just know she'll see my bra when I reach out to shake her hand!" or "This looks great when I'm standing up, but I can't breathe when I'm sitting down!" or "That went pretty well, but how am I going to get out of this chair without looking like a doofus?"
Familiarize yourself with your outfit before the big day. Put it on and practice sitting down, standing up, getting in and out of a car, going up and down stairs, shaking hands, and any other movements you're likely to do during the interview. For extra credit, practice a few movements you're not likely to do during the interview– like bending, squatting, reaching over your head– just to get a better idea of how the outfit moves. Pay attention to how much noise your outfit makes, too. If it swishes, rattles, or jingles, it's probably going to be too distracting for you to be fully present in the interview, even if your interviewer doesn't notice.
Sharon, I am TOTALLY stealing that idea for the next time I do a presentation on dressing for interviews. BRILL!
AS someone who is fast approaching the age when they start working in the summer, thanks for a very informative post.
I love work clothes. Your great advice makes me almost wish I was working. Almost.;-)
This is great! As someone who not only has had formal interviews, but also been to several "meet and greets" in offices that didn't have specific job openings, but that had expressed an interest in seeing me, I have mostly worn suits, or a slight variation with a cardigan. One thing my suits have in common? They're black. Another thing? They all have some sort of feminine detailing. The first formal interview I ever went on was with the Florida House of Representatives and I had to rush and buy a suit the night before the interview. I chose a pants suit that looked pretty standard, but that had filigree detailing on the buttons. Nothing flashy, but enough of a difference for me. The second suit I wore was for a meet and greet. Again, a pants suit, but the jacket had a subtle embossed fabric and two front pockets that had micro-ruffle detailing. The suit I wore at the interview for the job I had now is a skirt suit (I re-use the skirt as a separate all the time) and the jacket is peplum-style with 3/4 length sleeves, so it's more feminine and figure flattering. I always wear pastel shells underneath to cut the severity of the black, so that way I still feel like myself. Fit is SO important with these sorts of things, and I tried to get suits that I still looked like a woman in, vs a woman trying to look corporately gender neutral. Lovely post, Sal!
I love that red suit. I always try to wear a little something that makes you stand out, and memorable. I have a zebra print cardigan that is my interview cardy! It got me 2 call backs and I start my new job on the 22nd! It is smart but al little jazzy so that you stick in their mind- you don't wanna blend into the wallpaper. Even a scarf or bright necklace will do!
Ava-May
x
The last time I did an interview was for an internship position at the software company I work at f/t now. High tech is notoriously casual and Vancouver is pretty casual as far as workplace culture goes, so I donned an A-line green plaid skirt, a black V-neck sweater, pumps, and a beige trench. My interviewers were in cotton tees and jeans, and one of the managers had a baseball cap on, I think. If I had gone in there in a suit I would've been completely overdressed, so I definitely agree with you on that point, Sal.
If only you'd written this months ago! My (ridiculous) housemate went to an interview in her zebra print AA leggings, a black dress, and her boyfriend's cardigan with a gold lame headband and fringe boots.
Totally professional, right?
/end sarcasm.
Great advice as always, Sal! And so thorough. I am a graphic designer, and I still tend to be pretty conservative when interviewing because a neon/platform-wearing 26 year old might not look like she belongs to the Art Director club- and that's the next rung
When I doubt I also ask WWAW (What Would Audrey Wear)? And it's usually spot on.
AsianCajuns: OMG, Laur, PLEASE print up WWAW … bumper stickers or tees or something. I'll buy them in bulk!
Mo: Whoa. For reals? I really hope she wasn't interviewing for a job at a law firm or library. OK, actually, that wouldn't be appropriate anywhere besides a fashion mag!
Sal: It was actually an interview for an art gallery. I mean, she MIGHT have been able to get away with something a LITTLE bit ridiculous, but the whole thing at once? Too much!
She didn't get the job. Naturally.
I wish I'd taken a photo though – I bet it would be perfect as an interview don't!
great tips on the suits for interviews… i always donned a suit when it was time for interviews.. now i can wear bermuda shorts to work.
WHAT? NO BEEHIVE?!
That must explain why Vogue and Elle didn't take me seriously when I was trying to get onboard with them back in my old Production Manager days!
I love this post. I love how you find a way to simultaneously toe the corporate line, while veering offcourse just slightly.
enc: I think "WHAT? NO BEEHIVE?" is going to have to be the Phrase of the Day.
From the admittedly narrow viewpoint of someone who works in a highly professional but often absurdly casual field (biotechnology), I'll beg to differ with you one one little point: showing tattoos. For me, being able to express myself (or perhaps more precisely, not having to hide who I am) at work is hugely critical to my happiness, so I always make it a point to let at least a little ink peek out of whatever outfit I wear to an interview. I figure if they're going to let something like tattoos influence their opinion of me as a scientist, then I would rather not work for that company. For my current job, I interviewed with the VP of the department with my shoulder tattoo in full view, which turned out to be very indicative of the laid-back, accepting environment I now work in.
Post a link to your interview attire video! I thought of it as soon as I read this.
Thanks for the welcome
x
As you can probably tell, I've found assembling outfits this week really hard. I'm actually thankful that the weather's been so dreary as I cannot imagine dressing for last week's heat. Ah well, I am sure to be doing some serious damage with this week's paycheck at the weekend
Sal, so agree with you. I also feel you need to wear "your power suit" the one that makes you feel fabulous and confident and take on the worlde!
So something new is not always a good idea if you have never worn it and don't know if the skirt rides up or the jacket does that little stick to your butt thing. Don't let the clothes wear you.
I once went to an interview straight from work and changed my shoes but forgot to change my bag. It was the 90's and it had to be matchy matchy. All my confidence ebbed away in the waiting area as I cursed my missing matching briefcase. Didn't get the job.
One warning about necklaces: don't fiddle with them. People make all kinds of judgements about our comfort gestures that you may not be aware of. xx
I actually interview people quite a bit for a very corporate setting and I would be SHOCKED if a woman showed up baring cleavage, toes or tattoos. (I would also be shocked if a man showed any of these so please don't think I'm not equal opportunity.)
I think a suit or an outfit with a blazer/jacket is essential, and if the environment turns out to be more casual than you expected, you can always shuck the blazer/jacket.
Oh thank you very much for all the nice ideas
.
If someone went to a job interview with feathers or flowers in her hair, I'd think I'd want to slap those right off of her!
this makes me feel a lot better about my $14 savers suit-ish outfit, scored a couple of weeks ago (referred to by a friend as my "bootstrap outfit"). it's conservative but cute, and comfy to boot, and although it's not two matching pieces, it looks professional. there are a lot of great tips and ideas in these comments, too!
Oh goodness do I hate interviews and hopefully won't have another one for years! I'm always nervous about my nose ring and that they will not hire me due to it… I think a good bright shoe is a very good idea… it has always impressed my interviews!
LOVE LOVE LOVE those yellow pumps!!!
Thrift stores are surprisingly great resources for blazers and suit jackets. With a pair of nice black or gray pants, you're golden–without having to invest 100s of dollars in something most people (depending on profession of course) are unlikely to wear often.
Great advice!!! Thanks!
What a great and helpful post!! I am new to your blog but love it! Where did you find those yellow shoes?? I'd love to have them!
Sal,
I am late to the party here (I have been out of the blogosphere for a few weeks), but thanks for posting my question!
I interviewed a week after I sent you the question for a higher rung (IT Director), than I am now (IT Operations Manager) and believe my outfit fits your rules well!
I ended up putting together my most comfy black dress pants with the jacket from my suit which is the darkest charcoal with a barely noticable from afar large window pane pattern. Underneath I chose a jersey scoop neck blouse that had a subtle ruffle around the neck. Deep eggplant pumps, and simple pearl stud earings. I also pulled my hair away from my face with simple bobby pins.
Oh yeah, and the offered me the Director job two days later…. unfortunately I had to turn them down because we couldn't agree on a salary/benefits package.
Thanks again!
Excellent post.
I love this post – I think I must share your taste! Any chance you could share the links to the places that sell the suits pictured?
Bazron: I'm usually so diligent about that, but in this case I omitted links because many of these images are for last year's merchandise! But everything pictured is either from Banana Republic or J.Crew. And those shops are pretty consistent, so I'm sure you'll find similar styles there now!
AWESOME post!! Wish I had read this before a few of my past interviews. I always err on the side of conservative, but adding a little splash of color would have been nice. LOVE the suits in the photos!
Sal is right, you must at least consider the office culture you’re applying in. I wouldn’t hire an engineer that showed up in a suit for an interview. Either they’re young and didn’t bother to find out anything about the industry, or they’re not and it’s worse. Maybe they’re just trying to sneak in the door so they can get their dream manager job eventually? Maybe they just made up their entire resume? Maybe they’re really, totally clueless? A bit autistic is fine for that job, but not to that point.. Anyway people, don’t take the pronouncements of lawyers and MBAs too seriously if that’s not the kind of job you’re applying for.