What to wear...

[G-Spot]

I possess dudeness, so we're talking two buttons and pleats, not skirtage.

From the looks of the suggestions I'll wear the suit. However, I think I'll leave the French cuff Burberry shirt at home and just opt for the plain jane white Brooks Brothers barrel cuff with a simple but powerful tie.

 

[WSKY]

I've worn a suit to every job interview. Only twice have there been any comments about it.

In my early 20s before I became more clothes-conscious I wore a JCPenney special and the SE at one of the nation's biggest papers made a snooty comment about it. It was, in fact, a cheap suit and looked like a cheap suit. In my late 20s I unwittingly went completely the other way. This was in 1988 and Neiman-Marcus was having a heck of a sale and I paid $350 for a very nice, conservative navy suit that the salesman assured me was an incredible deal. A woman I was seeing at the time called it "an IBM executive suit," and I'm still not sure if that was a compliment or not. I no longer have the suit because like an idiot I put a conspicuous hole in the jacket one day while smoking and drinking, so I threw it out. But for some reason I saved the nice wooden hanger that came with it, and now that I know more about clothes I could just about shoot myself every time I see that hanger in my closet. The hanger says "Oxxford Clothiers." Oxxford makes its suits largely by hand in Chicago, and today you'd pay about $3,000 for that suit. GWB wears Oxxford suits.

The current job interview suit was bought used at a consignment shop for $300 about 10 years ago and is probably the equal of the Oxxford. Someone had it custom made, but it fit like it was custom made for me. I showed up at a job interview and the SE said, "You are not allowed to dress better than me." But he hired me anyway.

Not allowed to dress better than the SE. Pretty hard to do at my job. I dress better than him when I'm sleeping.

 

[clutchcargo]

A nice blouse and skirt with heels seems appropriate. Works for women, too.

 

[Double J]

Also, for guys in general: no cuteness on the tie, and lose the earring.

Really? Even if it's just a simple little hoop?

 

[Tom Petty]

Also, for guys in general: no cuteness on the tie, and lose the earring.

Really? Even if it's just a simple little hoop?

double j - he didn't mean the one in your ear.

 

[Double J]

Also, for guys in general: no cuteness on the tie, and lose the earring.

Really? Even if it's just a simple little hoop?

double j - he didn't mean the one in your ear.

So I have to take the ones out of my eyebrows, lip, nose, nipples, navel and nether region? Damn, that's not fair!

 

[farmerjerome]

I'd shy away from a skirt. I think taylored slacks make a much better impression.

I may feel differently in an hour, but I wouldn't wear a skirt to an interview.

Skirts are the more conservative option for women, FJ. Knee length, of course. Look at what high-powered women (bankers, most politicians, etc.) wear. It's almost always a skirt.

You can't make me change my mind!!

 

[Flash]

Oh come on, Farmer J, just once?

 

[Cosmo]

No less than a sport coat/nice shirt/slacks and tie ... a suit would be appropriate. Don't wear a tuxedo, unless you bring a top hat, cane and the tuxedo has tails. If you wear that, realize you will have to dance with the receptionist who may have boobs sagging to her knees.

 

[PaperDoll]

I'd shy away from a skirt. I think tailored slacks make a much better impression.
I may feel differently in an hour, but I wouldn't wear a skirt to an interview.

Skirts are the more conservative option for women, FJ. Knee length, of course. Look at what high-powered women (bankers, most politicians, etc.) wear. It's almost always a skirt.

While I agree with SportsChick, it's difficult to find an affordable skirt suit 'round here. I went suit shopping with a MBA friend of mine at a local outlet mall, and she only looked at pantsuits. (Apparently no one in her office minds, since it's still a suit, and she's more comfortable not worrying about her hemline. :) I prefer skirts in general, but I might have to buy a pantsuit just because I want something new in my incredibly limited colder-weather business wardrobe. The major manufacturers must not want to see female legs in their offices!

 

[Cadet]

I'd shy away from a skirt. I think tailored slacks make a much better impression.
I may feel differently in an hour, but I wouldn't wear a skirt to an interview.

Skirts are the more conservative option for women, FJ. Knee length, of course. Look at what high-powered women (bankers, most politicians, etc.) wear. It's almost always a skirt.

While I agree with SportsChick, it's difficult to find an affordable skirt suit 'round here. I went suit shopping with a MBA friend of mine at a local outlet mall, and she only looked at pantsuits. (Apparently no one in her office minds, since it's still a suit, and she's more comfortable not worrying about her hemline. :) I prefer skirts in general, but I might have to buy a pantsuit just because I want something new in my incredibly limited colder-weather business wardrobe. The major manufacturers must not want to see female legs in their offices!

Some professions it's the opposite. I've got a female friend who is a young lawyer, and she was officially reprimanded by her bosses for not wearing a skirt to court one day. Apparently there is all kinds of research that shows female lawyers do significantly better in court when they're in a skirt.

 

[scribeinwiscy]

Always wear a padded bra if your nipples tend to swell up under pressure.