Interview Outfit Forum

[Anonymous User]

With the interview season coming up again, thought I would offer this two cents:

Watch what you wear to an interview!

I recently interviewed a candidate and all I can remember after the interview was that he wore a black chalk stripe suit and patent leather shoes (if you don't know what a chalk stripe is, good for you). Please do not wear patent leather shoes to an interview if you are a guy--unless you wear a tux to an interview, which I do not recommend--and I would avoid chalk stripe too while you are at it.

Remember, the golden rule of a proper interview outfit is that it should not draw the interviewer's attention, especially not in a negative way.

[nealric]

I feel bad for these folks. The vast majority of the time, it's that they didn't grow up in families of professionals and simply don't know "the rules." Everyone knows you are supposed to wear a suit, but not everyone knows that not every suit is acceptable. Or, they may be feeling a financial pinch and the $400-500 for something that will fit in is a huge stretch.

[Anonymous User]

I feel bad for these folks. The vast majority of the time, it's that they didn't grow up in families of professionals and simply don't know "the rules." Everyone knows you are supposed to wear a suit, but not everyone knows that not every suit is acceptable. Or, they may be feeling a financial pinch and the $400-500 for something that will fit in is a huge stretch.

I don't think $400-500 is necessary for something that will fit in...at least not for women.

[worklifewhat]

I had to look up "chalk stripe" and I found this:

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Chalk-Str ... qEQAvD_BwE

I don't think I'd really bat an eye at it but I'm also female and it doesn't strike me as taboo or even overly loud.

[HenryHankPalmer]

I had to look up "chalk stripe" and I found this:

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Chalk-Str ... qEQAvD_BwE

I don't think I'd really bat an eye at it but I'm also female and it doesn't strike me as taboo or even overly loud.

That is a very nice, conservative pinstripe suit. I probably wouldn't wear it to an interview, but I wouldn't hold it against someone who did. Chalk stripe suits are usually more gaudy. See below

[NoBladesNoBows]

I had to look up "chalk stripe" and I found this:

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Chalk-Str ... qEQAvD_BwE

I don't think I'd really bat an eye at it but I'm also female and it doesn't strike me as taboo or even overly loud.

Yea I'm a little confused by OP. Was it a particularly gaudy or outrageous suit or something? BB has lots of very classy/conservative pinstripe (I guess chalkstripe is similar? didn't know the difference until this thread) suits. I also didn't personally wear patent leather, but why is this a big deal? I feel like I've seen plenty of biglawyers wearing them.

[nealric]

I feel bad for these folks. The vast majority of the time, it's that they didn't grow up in families of professionals and simply don't know "the rules." Everyone knows you are supposed to wear a suit, but not everyone knows that not every suit is acceptable. Or, they may be feeling a financial pinch and the $400-500 for something that will fit in is a huge stretch.

I don't think $400-500 is necessary for something that will fit in...at least not for women.

It can be done for men, but not easy. I'm talking about full outfit. You can find a suit that will look at least acceptable at Joseph A bank for $200 or so, but you are also going to need shoes ($100-150 for a cap toe oxford with a leather sole), a belt ($20-30), a tie ($15-30), and a few shirts ($50-100). If you want something that will actually hold up for many uses (probably a good idea) and look a bit more polished it's going to cost a lot more.

Better off folks probably have most or all of this in their wardrobe already, but if your only suit is a $99 polyester special you wore to your sister's wedding that came with a maroon shirt a yellow tie, you are really going to have to go shopping.

[Anonymous User]

OP Here. Pinstripe are very subtle, fine lines that one would barely notice; whereas chalk stripes are loud and obnoxious. See below for an example:



This is not meant to be a fashion debate. Just don't wear a fashion statement to an interview. Plain navy suit is generally a safe bet, so long as it fits and is not overly baggy.

Outfit is an underrated topic that interviewees do not think about, but interviewers would absolutely notice if you walk in with something "unusual."

[worklifewhat]

I feel bad for these folks. The vast majority of the time, it's that they didn't grow up in families of professionals and simply don't know "the rules." Everyone knows you are supposed to wear a suit, but not everyone knows that not every suit is acceptable. Or, they may be feeling a financial pinch and the $400-500 for something that will fit in is a huge stretch.

I don't think $400-500 is necessary for something that will fit in...at least not for women.

It can be done for men, but not easy. I'm talking about full outfit. You can find a suit that will look at least acceptable at Joseph A bank for $200 or so, but you are also going to need shoes ($100-150 for a cap toe oxford with a leather sole), a belt ($20-30), a tie ($15-30), and a few shirts ($50-100). If you want something that will actually hold up for many uses (probably a good idea) and look a bit more polished it's going to cost a lot more.

Better off folks probably have most or all of this in their wardrobe already, but if your only suit is a $99 polyester special you wore to your sister's wedding that came with a maroon shirt a yellow tie, you are really going to have to go shopping.

Shockingly, I think women have it a bit cheaper for the basics. You can get a nice enough blazer at Ann Taylor for $100, a sheath dress for $50-100, and a pair of $50 pumps and look just as polished as the person wearing clothes that cost twice that. Add on some inexpensive non-gaudy jewelry and you are ready to go for under $300.

[Npret]

1Ls that are living off loan money should buy themselves a suit in the fall of their first year. Look for sales if you need to do so. You may need to wear it for other events. There is no reason to wait until OCI to get your interview clothes together.
Just get a regular suit and look like you know how to fit in.

[unsweetened]

A suit is basically the lawyer's uniform. Don't think that your sartorial misadventures will be forgiven. If you want to wear that light gray or creme colored dress shirt, wait until you make partner. For interviewing, a plain navy blue or dark gray suit is optimal and MUST be worn with a white dress shirt. You might be able to get away with light blue, but plain white is 100% safe. It sounds petty, but dressing poorly or inappropriately for an interview can and will result in an auto-ding. Be remembered for your excellent academic credentials, be remembered for your awesome elevator pitch, be remembered for your smile and great personality, but never be remembered for your nonconforming wardrobe.

Edit - after re-reading the advice above, there is pretty solid info there. A suit doesn't have to be expensive, but it ought to be tailored unless you have some crazy body type that fits perfectly off the rack (you don't). One of my colleagues got a suit at Goodwill, but it looked just fine after getting tailored.

[nixy]

I feel bad for these folks. The vast majority of the time, it's that they didn't grow up in families of professionals and simply don't know "the rules." Everyone knows you are supposed to wear a suit, but not everyone knows that not every suit is acceptable. Or, they may be feeling a financial pinch and the $400-500 for something that will fit in is a huge stretch.

[minnbills]

I had to look up "chalk stripe" and I found this:

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Chalk-Str ... qEQAvD_BwE

I don't think I'd really bat an eye at it but I'm also female and it doesn't strike me as taboo or even overly loud.

I wore this exact suit to interview with the firm I am currently with

EDIT: and at this point a light blue dress shirt is perfectly fine for an interview. But yeah don't wear some andy cohen super thick chalk stripe suit to an interview. Agree that patent leather is super weird.

On the other hand I've spit-shined my shoes to the point where they look patent leather-adjacent, maybe OP mistook them for that.

[kyle010723]

I wore this exact suit to interview with the firm I am currently with

EDIT: and at this point a light blue dress shirt is perfectly fine for an interview. But yeah don't wear some andy cohen super thick chalk stripe suit to an interview. Agree that patent leather is super weird.

On the other hand I've spit-shined my shoes to the point where they look patent leather-adjacent, maybe OP mistook them for that.

Glad to know I am not the only person that still spit-shine shoes; it is a lost-art.

[fancybagman]

I wore this exact suit to interview with the firm I am currently with

EDIT: and at this point a light blue dress shirt is perfectly fine for an interview. But yeah don't wear some andy cohen super thick chalk stripe suit to an interview. Agree that patent leather is super weird.

On the other hand I've spit-shined my shoes to the point where they look patent leather-adjacent, maybe OP mistook them for that.

Glad to know I am not the only person that still spit-shine shoes; it is a lost-art.

Shining my shoes is what got me into a zen the night before interviews. It's really underrated.