Fashion, Interview Stories, Job Searches

Fall Recruiting Open Thread: Suitable Suits?

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We’ve noticed that the comment thread on the cold offers post has morphed into a fashion advice column. Here are some of the on-campus interview attire questions that have been posed:

— Is a light gray suit a bad choice for interviews? Dark brown shoes, black, or either?
— What suit colors are acceptable?
— For females, do you have to wear a button down under your skirt suit, or can you wear something else?
— Skirt-suits v. pants suits?

We pajama-wearing ATL bloggers are no longer well-versed in the world of suit fashion, but Corporette has an advice post on interview fashion, in response to a query from a 3L. Their advice for the ladies:

  • Choose a dark suit. A black or navy suit is always more conservative than a brightly- or lightly-colored suit, and if you have to buy something inexpensive then it will hide the imperfections in the fabric and the seams.
  • Buy a skirt suit…. Be sure you pull a chair over to a full-length mirror and practice sitting in the skirt suit; you want to see what the interviewer will see and make sure you look appropriate and tasteful.

    • Is this to prevent a Basic Instinct moment?
    Additional fashion tips, after the jump.

  • Dress for the season you’re in. If you’ve got an interview this week, please don’t go in wearing a tweed suit — you’ll look like you’re not aware of your surroundings. Similarly, if you’re interviewing in January or April, don’t go in wearing a white linen suit.

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    And most importantly, wear a suit that fits well. Warning signs that the suit is a wee bit too small:

  • You can’t button the jacket, or the buttons don’t lay flat once buttoned
  • The skirt is “smiling” because it’s being pulled so tight across your hips
  • When you walk the skirt hikes itself up because it’s too tight across your hips
  • Your arms look like sausages in the jacket
  • You can’t lift your arms above your head

    • So here’s a thread devoted to OCI fashion. Enjoy, and watch out for sausage arms.
    You can read more, including specific tips about skirt suit selection, over at Corporette.
    Reader Mailbag Part I: What To Wear on Interviews Generally [Corporette]

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