What Your Clothes Say About You: In an interview (and in life) your attire plays a supporting role. Appropriate attire supports your image as a person who takes the interview process seriously and understands the nature of the industry in which you are trying to become employed. If you are primarily remembered for your interview attire, this is probably because you made an error in judgment! In some industries, customer contact and image presented to the customer are the most critical element. In such industries, your attire will be judged more critically. Your attire should be appropriate and most importantly, well-fitting. It should not take center stage. Dressing nicely and appropriately is a compliment to the person you meet, so if in doubt, err on the side of dressing better than you might need to. Even if you are aware that employees of an organization dress casually on the job, dress up for the interview unless you are specifically told otherwise by the employer. Changes in fashion may change some things, like the width of lapels, the cut of pants, or the colors of blouses available in the stores. Basic professional attire does not change with the whims of fashion. A good suit should last five to ten years, depending on its quality, how hard you wear it, how well you care for it, and if it continues to fit you well. You can express fashion's whims in your off-the-job clothes, and to some extent in your accessories. Cost / quality: You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a CEO, but you should invest in quality that will look appropriate during your first few years on the job. One good quality suit is sufficient for a job search if that is all your budget allows. You can vary your shirt/blouse and tie combination. Attire Specifics for Men: • Always wear a 2-piece suit in a conservative color. No double-breasted. No suit jackets with different pants. This is NOT a suit. • Color/Pattern: Solid Navy or Dark Gray. (I would never deviate) Very subtle weave patterns or plaids (the kind that look solid across a room) are sometimes ok. Although commonly worn by many, black for men is considered overly formal (weddings, funerals, clubbers) or for the hospitality industry. Avoid Bold pinstripes. • Fabric: Wool, NEVER polyester or anything that is a blend (typically add too much sheen and look cheap) • Lapel: Standard notch, not peak or skinny lapels (too fashion forward) • Ties: Select good quality silk ties. No Mickey Mouse or Corporate/university logos. This is also not the place for wool, knit, or skinny ties. I would go with 2.5" or wider. Stick with four-in-hand or half windsor knot. No double windsor (screams pompous). • Shirts: Long-sleeved shirts, even in summer (you shouldn't even own short sleeve unless you were a missionary). Choose white or light blue solid cotton, that is it! No silk or fancy fabrics. Button-downs are less formal and inappropriate. Go with a simple straight collar, not spread unless conservative. • Cuffs: Barrel cuffs, no French/double cuffs. Do NOT wear contrasting cuffs/collars. They scream executive, which you are not. They also scream Michael Douglas circa 1980s. • Socks: Dark, matching socks, mid-calf length so no skin is visible when you sit down. No crazy colors or patterns. • Shoes: Shined and clean Leather lace-ups. No slip-ons. No synthetics. No rubber soles. Black, dark brown, or cordovan. Plain toe, split toe, and cap toe are fine. Brogues and semi-brogues are typically more casual. Invest in a good pair; even if you don't wear them daily on the job, you'll need them for other occasions and you should expect to get lots of years out of good shoes. Your choice in footwear says a lot about you as a person in a very subtle (or not so subtle) way and is the most judged thing about you. This rule applies beyond just interviews, i.e. dates, meeting your girlfriend's family, meeting clients, etc. • Belt: Leather and reasonable slim. Should exactly match your shoes. No crazy belt buckles. No suspenders/braces. (Again, 1980s) • Accessories: Wear a conservative watch. Wedding ring is the only other piece that can be worn. No ear or face rings for men (duh). No tie bars. No cufflinks. Cufflinks are fine in everyday business wear, but I would NOT wear them for interviews at b-school or otherwise. Same goes with pocket squares, flashy socks, etc. I think cufflinks would be fine for something like an information session or something more casual. If I did, I would go with something like fabric knot links instead of flashy metal generally. No pocket squares. They scream fashion forward, not conservative. • Details: Clean and well pressed. Suits typically have tacking stitches to hold vents — on the jacket back and on sleeves — in place before the garment is purchased. Cut them off if your retailer / tailor doesn't. If you buy off the rack, that tag stitched on the outside of your sleeve is not meant to stay there. Carefully inspect clothes dangling threads, etc. Attire Specifics for Women (not absolutely positive on the rules here): • Don't confuse club attire with business attire. If you would wear it to a club, you probably shouldn't wear it in a business environment. • Suit: see above • Suit - pants / skirts: Tailored pants suits are appropriate for women. Pants suits can be an excellent choice for site visits. If you wear pants, they should be creased and tailored, not tight or flowing. If you are pursuing a conservative industry and are in doubt, observe well dressed women in your industry on the job, at career fairs, at information sessions, etc. • Skirt lengths: Should cover your thighs when seated. Showing a lot of thigh makes you look naive at best, foolish at worst. A skirt that ends at the knee when you're standing looks chic and professional. Longer skirts are professional too; just make sure they are narrow enough not to be billowing, but not so narrow that you can't climb stairs comfortably. Don't purchase a skirt or decide on a hem length until you sit in the skirt facing a mirror. That's what your interviewer will see. Ask yourself whether it will be distracting or reinforce your image as a person who looks appropriate for a business environment or gathering. High slits in skirts are not appropriate. A small back, center slit in a knee-length skirt is appropriate. O n a calf length skirt, a slit to the knee to facilitate walking and stair climbing is appropriate. • Color / fabric: Navy, dark gray, brown and black are safe. Solid or very subtle weave pattern or plaid (the type that looks solid across a room). Women generally have more options with suit color than men. For example, while a women could look conservative in a slate blue or light gray suit, these colors would be inappropriate for men. Wool, wool blends, and high quality blends and synthetics are appropriate for women's suiting. • Shirt / sweaters: Underneath the suit jacket, wear a tailored blouse in a color or small print that coordinates nicely with your suit. A fine gauge, good quality knit shell is also appropriate underneath your suit jacket. Don't show cleavage. • Jewelry / accessories: Wear a conservative watch. Jewelry and scarf styles come and go. Keep your choices simple and leaning toward conservative. Avoid extremes of style and color. If your industry is creative, you may have more flexibility than someone pursuing a conservative industry. • Cosmetics: Keep makeup conservative. A little is usually better than none for a polished look. Nails should be clean and well groomed. Avoid extremes of nail length and polish color, especially in conservative industries. • Shoes: Should be leather or fabric / micro fiber. Shoe styles and heel heights come and go. Choose closed-toe pumps. Regardless of what is in style, avoid extremes; no stilettos or chunky platforms. Make certain you can walk comfortably in your shoes; hobbling in uncomfortable shoes does not convey a professional appearance. • Hosiery: Should be plainly styled (no patterns), sheer is most conservative (not opaque), and in neutral colors complementing your suit. Avoid high contrast between your suit and hosiery color. • Purse / bag: If you carry a purse, keep it small and simple, especially if you also carry a briefcase. Purse color should coordinate with your shoes. You may choose to carry a small briefcase or business-like tote bag in place of a purse. Leather is the best choice for briefcases; micro fiber or fine wovens are also acceptable. Avoid purses that look like beach/pool totes, partyish, or little-girlish. Tips for everyone: • Hair: Should be clean and neat. • Details: No missing buttons, no lint; and don't forget to remove external tags and tacking stitches from new clothes. • Hands: Clean fingernails. • Fit: Clothes should be clean, neatly pressed, and fit properly. • Smell: Perfume or cologne should be used sparingly or not at all. Remember that some people have allergies/sensitivities; you'd hate for that to derail an interview. No odors in clothes. Don't smell like smoke. • Pad folios: Preferred over a bulky briefcase. A small briefcase is also appropriate. But if you have no reason to carry a briefcase, don't; you risk looking silly. • Book bags: Absolutely not. Leave it at home. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any specific questions or want advice or examples.

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JB's Guide to Dressing & Interview Attire

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BabyBeagle

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06 Jan 2011, 16:00

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PallMall

Second; university / sporting club / gentlemen's club ties are not only acceptable but a good means of connection (London and Edinburgh are particularly aware of this). For instance, especially at Oxbridge or Oxbridge heavy firms one's college, sporting (rowing, rugby, etc), school, or member's club ties can turn a ding into a job offer. I kid you not.

I want to take a closer look at this statement. While what he says is probably true, it only applies if you're wearing the club tie you are actually entitled to. I would not wear a striped tie from Brooks for the same reason. What if my interviewer actually does belong to the regiment, club, or whatever?

That said, I would wear a Hogwart's tie.

jb88

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06 Jan 2011, 16:01

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PallMall

Even in the States it is still far better to go without a pocket square than cotton or linen. Linen is for handkerchiefs NOT pocket squares. Wear silk pocket squares (Aspinal, HN, Turnbull & Asser, G&H, E&R, and Drakes all do quality pocket squares) avoid linen like the plague. Perhaps you have never worn one or wear you work people had not been exposed to them overly, hence the linen error.

Again if you have ever been to London or even more so Paris, Milan, or Rome black suits are absolutely in style and if one has a well tailored suit, they will hardly look like a waiter. Perhaps the people who get mistaken for a waiter, etc. should actually invest in something other than cheap, off the rack nonsense. I can also speak to colleagues from the New York office of my old bank, and particularly from the more old money banks, well tailored black suits do make an appearance fairly regularly. This is a fallacy I've heard espoused by a few Americans, generally those who have never owned a tailored suit or are from the mid-west. One can always tell a quality suit and black, as long as it is good material, lends itself fantastically to the purpose.

Pallmall,
Certainly appreciate your input from across the pond. While your rules may fly in Europe, Americans are simply not this eccentric; Beagle has got it right with everything he's said.

Absolutely no black suits during the day, ever. It's simply not worth the risk. Sure, you'll see them in offices, but I would never attempt it for an interview. And yes, the white linen pocket square is the safest thing you can go with, especially in light of a popular US show called Mad Men. Check it out. Your best bet is to avoid pocket squares all together.

I do agree with your point that a well-tailored suit can make all the difference.

BabyBeagle

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06 Jan 2011, 16:04

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jbharris88

What are your thoughts on TV fold vs. some kind of puff or points? I would lean toward the former for interviews.

Ivan91

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06 Jan 2011, 16:28

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jb88

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06 Jan 2011, 16:43

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BabyBeagle

What are your thoughts on TV fold vs. some kind of puff or points? I would lean toward the former for interviews.

I completely agree although I would err on the conservative side and skip it altogether. Sure on a few occasions somebody may appreciate that you have a pocket square, but they aren't going to be frowned upon if you don't have one. At best, pocket squares are fashion forward at the moment thanks to shows like Mad Men. You only get one shot, so why risk it? Once you nail the job you can wear whatever pocket squares you want.

Ivan91

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08 Jan 2011, 11:53

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What about this

https://www.raffaello-network.com/raffti ... angeid=380

this

https://www.raffaello-network.com/raffti ... &rangeid=2

and finally this

https://www.raffaello-network.com/raffti ... angeid=559

BabyBeagle

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08 Jan 2011, 13:51

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Ivan91

I don't like the suit because it has a tone-on-tone fancy stripe. Fine for going out, not for interviews.

The tie is also too fancy.

If you wore that suit and tie, and it fit well, you would look well dressed, sure. But, an interview is a graver in tone than a night out; these clothes are celebratory.

The shoes are perhaps the worst offender. Patent leather shoes are formal wear. I don't mean interview formal. I mean wedding formal, and only if it's your wedding.

For the money you're spending on this Versace stuff, you can get good business-appropriate clothes. It's about subtlety though, and Versace is probably the last place I'd look for that. Think of brands like Isaia and Oxxford at the top end, Burberry, Hickey Freeman, Brooks Brothers, RL somewhere below that, and Jos A Bank, Hart Shaffner Marx at the low end.

The designers, i.e Versace, Prada, Gucci, Armani, Valentino, et al, all make nice stuff, but it's very stylized and better suited for revelry. Barney's, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bergdorf all make this distinction and sell the business brands separately from the fashion brands.

Ivan91

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08 Jan 2011, 14:04

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Yeah, you are right. These brands are somehow too blatant. Subtlety is what is important.
Anyway, once we are admitted, we are free to wear whatever we want

BabyBeagle

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08 Jan 2011, 14:35

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Ivan91

Yeah, you are right. These brands are somehow too blatant. Subtlety is what is important.
Anyway, once we are admitted, we are free to wear whatever we want

Do you know any good tailors in Bulgaria? I don't know a lot about Eastern European options, but solid old-school tailoring is much more common in Europe than it is in the US. We have a handful of guys in major markets like NYC, 1 in Boston, 1 in Philly, probably a couple in Chicago and LA each. There's got to be someone near you that we've never heard of but does excellent work.

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08 Jan 2011, 16:30

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Bulgaria produces excellent quality shoes; however, I am not sure whether this is the case for suits.
Europe is a small continent though, Italy and France are not that far away. Do you think we need to hire tailors for just an interview, can`t we just go into a good store and buy something nice that fits us

BabyBeagle

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08 Jan 2011, 17:59

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Ivan91

Yeah of course. I guess I should have said that I meant you might have access to better quality stuff for less money if you hired a tailor. I don't know though. Depends on where you live.

Also, the suit isn't just for one interview, it'll work equally well at interviews during b-school and at the office later. Consider it an investment. You'll get a ton of wear out of navy and charcoal suits b/c they go with everything, and nobody can tell if you're wearing the same suit twice a week.

Jerz

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10 Jan 2011, 19:27

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Just to bring a little sanity:

All of the advice given is true, but do not think you need $85+ ties to get admitted to school or to get hired as an MBA. If you have the money, but all means spend it on your clothing if that makes you happy. If you don't, the most important thing is to remember the principles (dark suit, white shirt, conservative tie, shined dress shoes, etc.) and make sure you find a good tailor so that the clothes fit properly.

PallMall

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Updated on: 20 Jan 2013, 16:50

Originally posted by PallMall on 11 Jan 2011, 09:35.
Last edited by PallMall on 20 Jan 2013, 16:50, edited 1 time in total.

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nicboy

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13 Jan 2011, 13:37

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I want to ask if I can wear a suit color that is a different from the pants color, for example, a charcoal gray suit but a black pants?

BabyBeagle

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13 Jan 2011, 13:49

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nicboy

I want to ask if I can wear a suit color that is a different from the pants color, for example, a charcoal gray suit but a black pants?

No, you can't. A suit consists of a jacket and pants made out of the same fabric, which is what is expected.

A lot of the things I've said are extreme and only apply if you want to conform 100% to my ideal. I'm picking nits because I enjoy talking about it, not because I think it makes much of a difference. However, the wrongness of wearing a charcoal jacket with black pants to an interview is totally beyond debate and will have a material effect on how you are perceived.

If you must wear separate pieces, a navy blazer and charcoal pants with a white shirt/conservative tie is infinitely more correct, but I still would not do this for an interview.

youngn

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04 Feb 2011, 13:21

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Thanks for posting interview attire tips for women....not a lot of those out there.

For all the girls, thoughts on black patent leather heels and black Longchamp totes (not the best but they fit bulky portfolios better than normal sized purses)?

krussell

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04 Feb 2011, 13:23

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I'm surprised at the way people do dress at MBA recruitment events.

I went to one for Deloitte last week and all these guys trying to get into consulting were wearing $2 striped ties with $4 striped shirts. Just cause you're wearing a dress shirt doesn't mean every tie goes with it! You don't buy a different couch and loveseat and call it a set!

nicboy

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05 Feb 2011, 15:15

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BabyBeagle

nicboy

I want to ask if I can wear a suit color that is a different from the pants color, for example, a charcoal gray suit but a black pants?

Can I wear a black and gray strip tie with a white shirt. Someone says wear a red and gray strip, but I think red is kind of old?

Thanks

southernstunna

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06 Feb 2011, 13:24

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lmao at the "suit color different than pants color" comment. This cannot be real life? What male older than the age of 7 does not know this?

EBM

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06 Feb 2011, 14:32

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nicboy

Can I wear a black and gray strip tie with a white shirt. Someone says wear a red and gray strip, but I think red is kind of old?

Thanks

Remember that striped ties aren't the only option. But there's nothing inherently wrong with red as long as it matches your shirt and suit. I think black/gray/white would look a little monochromatic and that some color would be a good call.