Can You Actually Be Cute In An Interview?
By: KC Crawford
If you do a Google search for “interview fashion trends,” or something to that extent, you’ll find…nothing. Maybe it’s the Millennial in me who wants to trust the internet, or maybe it’s the lawyer in me who knows too much about suits—but I was shocked. How is it impossible to find anything on interview attire trends?
I went to the streets of social media to find out what’s trending in the board room, and how not to embarrass yourself down the interview runway.
Let me begin with this disclaimer: trends may depend on what industry you’re interviewing in, or what area of the country you’re in. If you’re interviewing in the legal profession, the trend is to wear black, because it’s considered the most respectful color and, of course, law is the most respectful/respected profession (cue eye-roll). If you’re in the south, you should opt for a pencil-skirt, rather than power-pants. In fact, there are rumors that some North Carolina Representatives require women interviewees to wear skirts (cue sexist eye-roll).
Other than those little snags, here are some of the most popular trends sweeping the interviewing-nation, and wooing your future boss.
1. Use Dress for the Day, http://www.dressfortheday.com/
I guess this is more of a tip than a trend but trust me- take the tip. Dress for the Day is a pretty cool site that provides outfit examples based on the occasion and your personal style. The site has two options for interviews—conservative (like law, business), and contemporary (not sure, but I’d like that job)—and then searches various fashion blogs to find the right outfit for your big 20 minutes. This is a great place to find inspiration if you don’t know what to wear, or how to put trending pieces together.
2. Mix Designers and Price Points to get a Focus Piece.
This trend is the best way to look classy, save money, and stand out. Young professionals from NY and DC to LA and SF are buying the expensive-fitted blazers from Nordstrom, but then pairing it with a simple, low cost heal from Forever 21, and guess what? It works. You have that focus-piece (the killer blazer), and the rest just falls into place. Other examples: those vintage Chanel earrings your grandma gave you with a blazer from Target, or Martin-Fit dress pants from Banana Republic with a simple, classic white blouse from Walmart.
Anthropologie.
3. Don’t Wear Button-downs. Nobody Likes Those.
Button-downs (BDs) are boring and you’ll look like Sandra Bullock from The Heat (not in a good way…although Bullock on her worst days is still too beautiful for words). Blouses are more feminine, versatile and classy than BDs, yet they are just as professional. It’s not that all BDs are bad—there are the cross breeds—but on the whole, a ruffle-collard silk blouse or a beaded shell is going to look more glam and just as professional than any white-button down.
Banana Republic.
4. Plaids and Patterns are OK! In Moderation.
Plaids and patterns are OK! We’re taught to dress so conservative and safe for interviews, which is true to some extent, but that doesn’t mean you can’t follow your punk-rock heart toward plaids and fun patterns. This is in moderation, of course. For instance, Banana Republic just released new light plaid suits, and Hugo Boss’ newest collection has some weird-whole-suit-is-a-puzzle type pattern. The key is they aren’t electric green or super vibrant—they’re faint or block patterns that are eye-catching, but still safe.
J. Crew.
5. Light Wools. Try them.
Wool is an odd thing. On one hand you don’t want to look like your great aunt Mary, but on the other hand it’s a very classic, safe material. Wool is always in the fashion scene because, well, it’s old as hell and a very common fabric. But recently designers have been releasing more and more suits, blazers and dresses in thin wool, or wool-cotton blends. In fact, J. Crew has a wool suit-line that people on The Hill rave about (see http://caphillstyle.com/ for more rave reviews). These suits are expensive, but they are classy and comfortable—making you look professional to any interviewer.