Perfect Interview Wardrobe
Interview Wardrobe
The clothes you choose to wear to your interview will create the first-and most important-impression upon those who matter, up until your first day on the job. At that point, you can start to relax into the club’s attire. But at this point, dressing to impress is mandatory, and the clothes you choose are critical. This section discusses the interview wardrobe’s key pieces, and the messages they send.
“At one time, the most qualified person got the job. Today, in a situation where three people with equal qualification are interviewed for a job, the one with the best communication skills gets it.”
WHAT DO YOUR CLOTHES SAY TO THE INTERVIEWER?
BLOUSE
Uptight or Elegant?
PEARLS Pretentious or Pulled together?
SUIT JACKET
Suit Jacket Long ago pilfered from menswear
FABRIC Should drape smoothly, not appear stiff, shiny, or flimsy.
COLOR Neural-black, gray, navy’ or beige.
SHAPE Slightly nipped in at waist.
POCKETS Optional pockets lie flat and are lined. Do not remove string to open.
LENGTH Hem extends to the bottom of the hips.
SLEEVES Sleeves land at the base of the thumb.
COLLAR Collar lies smooth and flat against the neck.
SHOULDERS Shoulders are structured but not overpadded.
LAPELS Medium to small lapels<3”1/4 from seam to point is ideal> lie flat without buckling.
FIT Armholes should fit well-not too baddy, no too tight; this part of the jacket can’t be tailored.
STYLE Single-breasted.
BUTTONS Buttons are the same color or darker than the suit and never too large, flashy, or covered in fabric.
Suit Skirt
WHAT IT SAYS
Formal, urban, conservative.
FABRIC Drapes smoothly.
NO BELT LOOPS
SHAPE Simple-a-lime or straight, not too tight and never frilly.
DETAILS For maximun versatility, the waist should not require a belt.
FIT Skirt should not be too tight or too short-do a sitting text in tit before purchasing. Check the rearview mirror. What look fabulous from the front can cling or slouch from other angles.
QUALITY Make sure seams are even and not pulled. Check that lining is firmly intact.
LENGTH To the knee. It’s the length that says, “I’m professional” and looks best on most legs. Shorter could be considered too fashiony; longer, more traditional.
Suit Pants
WHAT IT SAYS
Confident, contemporary, practical.
FIT Pants should drape smoothly over the body, with no tight areas that droop. Check that the pocket lining is smooth and not bulky.
OUALITY Check that fabric hangs evenly and seams are not mismatched or pulled.
THE BOTTOM LINE The seat of the pants should be neither overly baggy nor clingy. To ensure proper fit, check your rearview mirror and sit down while wearing the pants.
ZIP CODE Side, front, or rear closure are acceptable.
BANISH BELT LOOPS
For your first suit, a clean waistline is the most flexible. Belt loops always require a belt and that your top is tucked in.
FLAT FRONT VS. PLEATS
Both are professional; the flat front is more slimming and sophisticated.
LENGTH
The pant leg should break at the instep. When having your pants hemmed, bring the shoe you will most often wear with them.
CUFFED LEG VS. CLEAN
Both are acceptable; a clean leg is more versatile.
Tops are key wardrobe enhancers: Change your top and essentially you’ve changed your look. Choose shirts and that are compatible with your suits. Make sure each top fits comfortably under your suit jacket-and looks suitably professional should you take your jacket off.
BLOUSE
A soft, somewhat loose feminine top. Conservative, confident, ladylike. FIRST PURCHASE: Solid white, cream, black, or a color to match your suit.
SHIRT
Button-front, cuffed-and-collared top inspired by menswear. Efficient, classic; respects authority. Choose a classic, men’s style dress collar; a button-down can be limiting. FIRST PURCHASE; Solid, white cotton.
T-SHIRT
Trim, collarless, cotton or jersey top. Easygoing but organized. Ready to roll up your sleeves
FIRST PURCHASE: Solid white, black, or to match the color of your suit.
1 JACKET+4 TOPS = 3 DRESS CODES
Shoes
Never underestimate the power of shoes. A good pair can make a ho-hum dress look like a million bucks. The wrong ones can send a great suit straight into the gutter. Shoes also tend to make at-a-glance statements about your workplace identity, and your message better be clear-I’m capable, confident, and yes, great with derails.
Portfolio
A portfolio is a sleek and efficient alternative to the handbag. It can help keep resumes presentable, hold a notepad, and conceal any preinterview cheat sheets you want to study en route to your meeting.
From – Dress Smart for Women
Or the highly acclaimed article on
Choosing The Right Suit.
Which Suit Is Right For You?
Choosing the right suit presents a closet-full of challenges and opportunities to those faced with building a wardrobe. From suit silhouettes, pricing and fashionable obsolescence to pant fronts, button counts and lapel widths, there's much to consider.
"The biggest problem in teaching men how to dress is that there's no one for them to look at," says Alan Flusser, author of Dressing the ...
Good reading can be found at
Style Vs. Fashion .
Once you get into stratospheric price levels, it makes sense to ask yourself whether you're making an investment or buying a fashion item. Both have their pluses and minuses. While an immaculately rendered and classically tailored suit may last ten or 20 years and never go out of style, it'll hardly get you noticed in a crowd. Meanwhile, slick fashion suits will have you looking like a rock star, but only for a couple of years.
...
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New Laws Of Fashion Part 1.
With more quality available to the American man than ever before, there are also more pitfalls. To help you navigate our expanding sartorial world, here are Esquire’s fifty new laws of fashion. Commit them to memory. Break them if you like. (We’ll tell you how.) Then go undaunted.
1. YOU WEAR THE CLOTHES, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
2. INVESTING IN QUALITY OFTEN MEANS INVESTING IN THE THINGS YOU CAN’T SEE. Like the m...
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Shop Smart: Building A Business Wardrobe.
Your Investment Strategy
SHOP SMART BUY LESS, BUY BETTER
This step in the wardrobe building process is important: Clothes take up real estate. And salary. The key is to buy less, better ,and buy clothes that will work together. Filling your closet with well-chosen, good quality, versatile pieces will enable you to “work” your wardrobe by mixing and remixing.
The result: Endless combinations that don’t require an...
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The Interview Wardrobe For Women.
THE INTERVIEW WARDROBE-TOOLS TO SUCCESS
When you meet your interviewer for the time, what impression do you want to give? If you want to say, I'm pretty, wear your favorite frilly blouse. If you want to say, I'm laid-back wear the V-neck sweater you loved in college. If you want to say, I'm more competent, reliable, and professional than any candidate you will interview for this position-in other words, if you want the job-st...
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Rules Of Formal Dressing.
Rules of Formal Dressing
1. You don’t have to spend a lot on clothes to look like you’ve spent a lot.
2. Dark color will always look more authoritative.
3. Classics are classics for a reason.
4. Dressing appropriately is like having good manners.
5. A tie should always be tied and in place, not worn half mast.
6. Nobody sees the label.
7. Quality is more important than quantity.
8. When in doubt, wear navy...
Or the highly acclaimed article on
Dressing Depicts Your Attitude .
Clothes Confidence
-When Dressing is serious business
THE POWER LOOK
Now that you understand how quality connotes power, how do you actually dress to display it? One basic rule is that the more formally you are dressed, the more powerful you appear. For instance, try blue pinstripe suit, with a white French cuff shirt and a woven silk tie. The shoes would be black cordovan cap-toes, and the belt is black alligator. Fina...
Perhaps you would like more about
How To Design Your Wardrobe.
At the beginning of your career, you dressed appropriately to show respect. But at this point you want to have the respect of others, and the first step toward achieving that goal is dressing with authority. Looking the part is obviously not enough when it comes to acquiring power in the workplace you have to earn that but how you present yourself signals more than ever your position and prestige. By now, your seniority has also pr...
Also worth visiting is
How To Buy Quality Products.
Quality & Quantity:
There are clearly two ways to spend your money: Quantity and Quality.
As you seek a better position career, both are important. Quantity will give you more choices. If for instance, you now have seven suits instead of four, you have more options, which will only make life easier when getting dressed or packing for travel. Quantity allows you to be more versatile in different situations: Whereas you o...
Or even
Shirts And Tie Wardrobe.
As you start to build your shirt collection, variation is critical. Different fabrics, collars, and styles can make even the most basic shirts seem unique. Also, as you add patterns, be cognizant of what will with your jackets and ties.
SHIRT&TIE (BUTTON-DOWN COLLAR)
The name refers to the collar, which buttons to the shirt. And the statement is classic conservative. If you looked any more Ivy League you’d have ivy gr...
Great custom tailoring information can be found in
How To Shop Smart.
WHAT DO I BUY FIRST?
Primary:
* Suits
* Sport jackets
* Dress shirts
* Dress pants
* Ties
Secondary:
* Chinos
* Sweaters
* Polo shirts
* Shoes
* Socks
* Belts
* Overcoats
* Accessories
SHOP SMART : PANTS
Color:
Dark gray = All business.
Black = Sophisticated, urban.
Tan = Earthy but sophisticated.
Fabric:
For year-round, mid weight wool and wool blend...
Great custom tailoring information can be found in
Wools Used For Mens And Womens Suits And Business Wear.
Mens Suit and Womens Suit FABRIC IDENTIFICATION
Burn Test - CAUTION. WARNING. BE CAREFUL! This should only be done by skilled burners! Make sure there is a bucket of water nearby and that you burn in a metal bucket or non-plastic sink.
To identify fabric that is unknown, a simple burn test can be done to determine if the fabric is a natural fiber, man made fiber, or a blend of natural and man made fibers. The burn test is us...
Or even
Formal Business Attire.
“How to Buy a Business Suit”
As you begin to flourish in the workplace, your wardrobe must expand along with you. Always consider the atmosphere of your office, what your position is, and the long-term goals you have as you choose your business attire. And remember that what you see on the following pages needn’t be accumulated immediately or even one year. A wardrobe, like a career, tales time to build.
DO MY CLO...
Please visit
Clothing Laws For Discerning Dresser.
LAWS OF DRESSING
1. You don’t have to spend a lot on clothes to look like you’ve spent a lot.
2. Dark color will always look more authoritative.
3. Classics are classics for a reason.
4. Dressing appropriately is like having good manners.
5. A tie should always be tied and in place, not worn half mast.
6. Nobody sees the label.
7. Quality is more important than quantity.
8. When in doubt, wear navy or Grey.
...
Also worth visiting is
Custom Clothing And Wardrobe Investment.
INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE
Beginning a career, like launching a business, comes with start-up costs. Some of these will be obvious (suits cost a fair amount of money) and some will seem hidden (tailoring, dry-cleaning, etc.) but none of them should break you. A plan to spend your money is the key to spending it wisely.
UNDESTANDING NECESSARY EXPENDITURES
Things to keep in mind when building your wardrobe:
1. You might a...
Also worth visiting is
Ideal Custom Clothes For The Corporate Work Place.
It is awfully important to know what is and what is not your business. - GERTRUDE STEIN
I’m a self-made man, but I think if I had to go it over again, I’d call in someone else. - ROLAND YOUNG, Actor
It’s always better to be looked over than overlooked. - MAE WEST
Fourteen voice-mail messages after lunch. Thirty-two-mails to return. A PowerPoint presentation coming up in there weeks. There are enough pressures...
Also see
Tailor Made Suits And Shirts For Work And Business.
“If I can be one step ahead because of the clothes I wear, then it’s worth it!”
CRAIG POGSON - Maitre d’ at 0rsay
Your closet will mostly full of non - work clothes at the early point in your career, which means that organizing what you wear to the office will be relatively simple. Here is a list of the minimum you should have in your work wardrobe as well as the accessories you will need to maintain your clothes properly:...
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Accessories For Your Wardrobe.
The sole of a man often reveals his soul. Shoes that are well polished, with heels that are not worn down and laces that aren’t frayed, are the mark of a man who is responsible and cares about details. Here’s how to set off on the right foot.OXFORDSIt may be simple plain black leather with there to six sets of eyelets but oxford is the dressiest option for business. Just about the only statement you can make with an oxford is in t...
Please check out
Super Wools And Worsteds - What Are They?.
An article about the basic cloths used in Savile Row tailoring.
There are all kinds of cloth material out there- wool, cashmere, vicuna etc. But for the moment I just want to let you know about the most widely-used cloth in the business, the classic "Wool Worsteds". This is the main cloth bespoke customers need to know about. These are used for about 90% of our business. The exotics I’ll cover at a later date.
English Wool ...
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Tools Of The Trade.
BRIEFCASE VS.KNAPSCK
Alas, you stopped carrying a Scooby-Doo lunch box at one point in your life you have stopped, haven’t you?, and now it’s time to abandon the knapsack in favor of a briefcase. Infinitely more stylish and far more grow-up, a briefcase is a sign that you are ready to be serious about your career. Choose one in black or brow leather and make sure there’s enough room to grow but not bulge. Be sure there is r...
Good reading can be found at
Your Perfect Formal Wardrobe..
Shop smart
The suit you buy for your interview will not be the last one you ever buy, but since it may be the first one you own, it has to be versatile: Think of it as the Swiss Army knife in your closet.
“How to Buy a Business Suit”
WHAT DO I BUY FIRST?
Primary
Suits
Sport jackets
Dress shirts
Dress pants
Ties
Secondary
Chinos
Sweaters
Polo shirts
Shoes
Socks
Belts
Overcoats
Accesso...
Good reading can be found at
Proper Dressing For An Interview..
ENTICEMENT
All right, let’s deal with the simple gold hoop, the tasteful stud, a simple drop pendant, the feathered hand-carved wooden fetish original ear art picked up in Fiji is acceptable and do you wear it or not? It’s your call, just like goatees, beards, dreads, necklaces, and bracelets. Your freedom to wear what you choose is not in question but your right to have a particular job is in the eye of the beholder who i...
Also see
Dressing In The Corporate World..
Get the Job No Excuses
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and nothing is more professional looking than a suit whit a shirt and tie. It’s strong, authoritative, and shows that you’re serious about what you do for a living. Is it enough to get you the job? Maybe not. But the proper attire will send the right message: You’re ready for business.
GIVING GOOD INTERVIEW
There are five elements to cons...
Great custom tailoring information can be found in
Different Looks For Different Times..
Professional. By now, you should know the basic tenets of looking more professional, but just to be clear, looking more professional means meeting the sartorial standards of your office or industry. No matter the standard, looking more professional most likely means going one step above where you are now: From business casual to appropriate, and from appropriate to corporate.
Authoritative. If you want to look like one of...
