STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Interview Attire Etiquette Q & Ann Taylor Loft Suits

littlebean · Kate Spade

I hear you because I am all about dressing in a way that I feel reflects myself as opposed to dressing like everyone else or in the way that something tells me to.

But I have to say that the interview situation is where the default option is absolutely a suit. Even in a creative industry as long as you're applying for a corporate job. I also think the default option is closed toed shoes and stockings, although the accessories (jewelry, shoes, bag, scarf, shirt) are where you can show more personality as you think it's appropriate. Of course you can deviate in ways that are still appropriate, but it's risky since if you do not dress in a really polished, professional manner, you risk not getting taken as seriously.

ATL suiting separates seem alright, although I think that if you're looking to reinvest in a new suit for interviews, you might be well served be checking out someplace like TJ Maxx, which often has good deals on designer suits.

scarlett · Marc Jacobs

If you do some interviews on cooler days, you could opt for an opaque or patterned tight to sidestep the icky stockings option. What about just wearing pants instead of a skirt?

blubirde · Chanel

I think it depends on what type of job/industry you're seeking when you're discussing interview attire. I can't speak to your particular industry because mine is super boring but how about a happy medium? I'm think Elle in Legally Blonde. She wore a skirt suit, hose, and closed-toe shoes in all the "professional" scenes, but her outfits were always very creative and fashionable.

Nanette Lapore does a lot of suit pieces with interesting, stylish details. I think ATL does good casual suiting. I'd wear their stuff to work but I probably wouldn't wear it in an interview or somewhere where I thought a more professional attire was required.

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

Hard to say. I think there are two major considerations:

1. Location. I'm in L.A., and people are more casual here.

2. Industry. I'm a lawyer, which means the bar's set pretty low when it comes to fashion sense.

I remember wearing a Nanette Lepore skirt suit with peep toes and no pantyhose on my first interview at my current firm. But I remember I wore my most conservative Banana Republic skirt suit with stockings and closed toe shoes on my last callback interview--I was meeting with the head of the office and I knew he was originally from the midwest so I thought I better play it safe. And I got the job. Which is why I am here at 9 o'clock at night as opposed to home watching tv. lucky lucky me :/

Oh about Ann Taylor--I can't opine because I don't shop there.

cc · Marc Jacobs

I have no clue what kind of attire is expected for the fashion and beauty world but my instinct would be to follow the recruiter's advice. My office is business-casual year round and technically we are supposed to always wear hose or socks and open-toed shoes are not allowed but no one really follows those rules. However, I think if someone showed up to an interview with bare legs and open toe shoes it could definitely work against her. I just don't see pantyhose as being so awful that they are worth losing a job over.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

I agree with it dependign on the location and industry, but I'd personally always wear a suit and closed toe shoes (not to say they can't be chic and stylish!) unless I know for a fact that they have a more casual dress code.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Anyone who works in the industry? I know banking and lawyers have a different set of etiquette. In fact when I worked for a major fashion company, we snickered when a girl came in with white pantyhose and a suit (maybe thats bc we were just bitchy though).

I'm not saying I will walk in with sweatpants or a miniskirt, but just curious about what most people thought.

I think I will switch to a pantsuit to avoid any issues!

Elle · Hermes

The pantsuit option makes the point of hose moot, so I'd go that direction. I think you can have a little more fun with what you pair with the suit since you're in a creative industry, but I would still stick with a suit for the interview process (unless you get a very very different vibe at the first one!).

IMO Ann Taylor Loft's suits are pretty nice quality wise, and pants and jackets all come in petite, regular, and tall sizes which makes getting an off-the-rack fit much easier. Ann Taylor's suit options are more dressy so check there too. Banana and Jcrew are also good places to check, though they're more expensive (the regular Ann Taylor's prices are comparable to those, IMO). I'd probably try on at all those places and buy from whichever line fit best, personally.

ETA: Anyone who wears white pantyhose is asking for it, especially walking into a fashion company!

-- Edited by Elle at 13:15, 2008-04-22

Suasoria · Chanel

I think the recruiter is right, sad to say. When I worked on the corporate side for retail clothing, first in women's wear and then in men's, I wore suits for interviews - always pants, though.

I agree peep toes can be done tastefully, but interviews aren't the place to be pushing the boundaries IMO.

pinkkitty · BCBG

I think you should always wear closed toe shoes to a job interview, unless it's for a very creative or fashiony job. Like, if I were gonna interview for a job at Neiman Marcus, open-toe would be okay, but I would probably still err on the safe side and wear closed toe. I mean, unless you have nothing but open-toe shoes, why bother?

The hose, I guess depends on where in the country you live and how conservative the industry is - like for banking, law, etc, I would wear hose. If you do wear hose, which you really should consider, I would go with Donna Karan or Calvin Klein. They make beautifully ultra-sheer hose that are sort of the YLBB (your-lips-but-better lipstick) for legs. They're the only hose I will wear!

-- Edited by pinkkitty at 17:54, 2008-04-22

pinkkitty · BCBG

XtinaStyles wrote:

Anyone who works in the industry? I know banking and lawyers have a different set of etiquette. In fact when I worked for a major fashion company, we snickered when a girl came in with white pantyhose and a suit (maybe thats bc we were just bitchy though).

I'm not saying I will walk in with sweatpants or a miniskirt, but just curious about what most people thought.

I think I will switch to a pantsuit to avoid any issues!

Okay, maybe I'm bitchy too because I would snicker at a girl in white pantyhouse.

If you wear hose, please only wear the sheerest you can find (and not ruin) in a nude shade! See my previous post :)

honey · Gucci

i'm the process of interviewing now for fashion/retail jobs and i honestly think it depends on the company, and the position you are interviewing for. however i always wear closed toe shoes.

when i get dressed my aim is to look stylish but not overly trendy. i usually opt for some sort of all black combination b/c it's easier and looks very put together without a lot of effort. i've worn a variety of outfits to interview for a variety of positions. when i've interviewed with big department stores/conglomerates i've gone the suit route, but worn a more fashiony jacket. with smaller companies i usually go for a dress of some sort and make the hose call depending on the weather.

since you're going through a recruiter you're most likely going to be up for more corporate type positions with larger companies so it can't hurt to have a suit.

kenzie · Chanel

I agree with honey. In the fashion industry, I think it varies by company. For example, you might wear a suit with hose to an interview at Talbot's, but you might wear a modified suit (non-matching bottom and blazer), no hose and closed-toe shoes to an interview with Anthropologie/Urban Outfitters. It really all depends.

Even in other creative fields, it varies by company. I work in the creative side of advertising, but I wore hose and closed toe shoes to my interview at my current company just because of the kind of company it is. My suit was slightly on the creative side (girly skirt and matching short-sleeve blazer), but it was still a suit.

In any case, in an interview situation, no matter what the industry, it's best to stay slightly more conservative. Wouldn't want to lose your dream job because you were inappropriately dressed.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

Just a quick update - I found a great deal on a taupe Nine West pantsuit... I think the interview went really well! No hose or peeptoes!

bex · Chanel

XtinaStyles wrote:

Anyone who works in the industry? I know banking and lawyers have a different set of etiquette. In fact when I worked for a major fashion company, we snickered when a girl came in with white pantyhose and a suit (maybe thats bc we were just bitchy though).

I'm not saying I will walk in with sweatpants or a miniskirt, but just curious about what most people thought.

I think I will switch to a pantsuit to avoid any issues!

i work in the beauty industry. when i interviewed for my position, i wore a grey suit with black detailing on the jacket and the pants had a small black striping down the sides. subtle designs but yet still fashion forward if you get my drift. someone said above think Elle Woods in the lawyer scenes- that is how i kept my look. i don't think you have to go the route of tights as the recruiter suggested but then again, i always wear pant suits on interviews.

good luck with your interview(s)!