How to Dress for a Job Interview
For the last decade, office-appropriate clothing has been in flux. Not that long ago, you just wore a suit and tie. Maybe there was a briefcase, even a hat, but the basics were set. Some guys still wear a suit every day—a curious few hang on to the hats, too—but most of us are expected to turn up to work in an amalgam of "professional" attire that includes (but is by no means exclusive to) "smart" trainers, button-downs, stretchy chinos, company-branded vests, and polo shirts that might not make the cut at a PGA invitational.
It is, one could argue, a cursed era of office-wear. So what the hell should you wear to a job interview?
The Job Interview Suit
First, it depends on what you’re interviewing for, and at what level. If you’re applying for a job working outdoors—a lumberjack, perhaps—then it might be odd to turn up in a three-piece suit. And likewise, if you’re in line for a potential CEO position, a flannel and jeans might be undercooking it. So let’s assume you’re applying for a regular-ish, office-based job that has no set uniform, but requires a level of modern formality. (And if that isn’t the case and you're still stumped on what to wear, let us know!)
A suit and tie is the obvious choice, but not the only option. If you have a favorite suit, then wearing it will make you feel good, and you want to feel good in the interview. But if that suit is black, think again (unless you’re interviewing for bouncer, undertaker, or henchman). Black suits get a bad rap, and it’s more than possible to look good in a black suit, but for a job interview, it’s too somber.
Charcoal gray may be a smart choice if the job is finance-related—the colour is perhaps a little drab, but speaks of cool heads and fiscal prudence. You could also explore pinstripes or checks, but you don’t want to drift into Wolf of Wall Street territory. Dressing for a job interview is about meeting the requisite level of formality without going wildly beyond it. You’re not trying to be the "personality hire." (Are you?)
The solid option is navy, which makes everyone look good. Traditional business suits are cut from worsted wool, which is smooth, with a gentle sheen, but it might jar under stark office bulbs. If you're worried about that, look for something—maybe twill, flannel, or hopsack—that has a matte finish, because it will absorb light.
Wear a white or pale-blue business shirt and a grenadine tie. Try to keep the knot as neat and un-chunky as possible. A four-in-hand would do the trick. You can wear low-key cufflinks—provided your shirt has french cuffs—and a nice watch, but it’s probably best to avoid further sartorial flourishes like pocket squares or tie-bars.
Keep your socks simple, too. Shoes should be black lace-ups—a black, cap-toe oxfords are never a bad call with a navy or charcoal suit—and if you wear a belt, it should be simple and match the colour and leather of your shoes. Finish the look with an overcoat and a nice briefcase or leather tote. Nothing crazy, now—we just want to get it over the line.
The No-Suit Option
Alternatively, you might not want to wear a suit at all, and that’s fine for more creative or casual workplaces. The person you meet probably won't be in a suit, so maybe you don’t need to be either—but you should at least remain suit-adjacent. No jeans. No sneakers. You can dabble in some varied combination of nice knitwear and trousers, but it often doesn’t have the gravitas you need when you walk into an interview.
You can’t just wear a shirt and trousers, either. And on no account should you ever wear just a shirt and tie, unless you’re auditioning for The Book of Mormon.
A jacket of some sort is crucial. Now that can be a nice, easy-wearing blazer, or it could even be a chore jacket (which looks cool with a shirt and tie). But you need that top layer, often referred to as the all-important "third piece" to finish a look. Otherwise it’s all just a bit… boyish.
One of the best ways to stay suit-adjacent is to pair a casual-ish blazer (not the jacket of a suit) with a pair of trousers that feel like they're from the same family colour- and vibe-wise, but won't be mistaken for an attempt to jury rig a suit when you don't own the matching trousers. Maybe it’s a slightly darker shade of the same colour, or maybe there’s a subtle check, or a slubby fleck in the fabric, but it gives the overall look more visual interest than a regular business suit. Then add a knit polo, which is smarter than a T-shirt (definitely no T-shirts in the interview), but still easygoing. It says you’re the kind of guy who knows when it’s time to work, and when it’s time to head out for happy hour. People like that guy. But to do it right, it needs to be light wool, or a cotton/silk mix, with an open, buttonless collar—the kind of thing you’d find on the Italian riviera in 1964. Not just a polo shirt.
Going tonal here might be a good move, meaning the jacket, trousers, and polo are all in the same colour group. Navy still works, but so too does smoky brown, or even a dusty, washed-out green.
One universal job-interview truth is that you need to be polite, prepared, and punctual. Those details are paramount, and the clothes, ultimately, are just window dressing. But that’s not to say they can’t help to seal the deal.
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