Q re: dress for man's interview

[Anonymous]

My DH needs advice re: how to dress for an executive-level interview with a tech/start up company in NYC. He currently typically wears to work gabardine pants in brown or khaki from nordstrom with a blue button down and no tie, nice brown shoes - if he needs to "dress up" he adds a gold buttoned navy blazer (preppy). Sometimes he wears a navy suit (jos. bank) with no tie and open collar button down. He wants to wear the brown pants/navy blazer combo to the interview, and I say he should wear the suit/no tie combo. Any advice - preferably from folks familiar with the NYC business scene, please

[Anonymous]

I would say the navy suit, a white dress shirt, and a tie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say the navy suit, a white dress shirt, and a tie.

Red or yellow tie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would say the navy suit, a white dress shirt, and a tie.

Red or yellow tie.

Even if the regular office dress is more casual, definitely go more formal for the interview, as PP's suggested.

[Anonymous]

Navy suit, red tie.

[Anonymous]

What is the significance of the tie color?

[Anonymous]

OP here - I do appreciate the responses, but no way on the tie for an interview at an internet company - I agree if he was interviewing at an investment bank, though I will keep pushing on the suit - thanks again for the responses.

[Anonymous]

I would not wear a suit without a tie. It looks unfinished.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not wear a suit without a tie. It looks unfinished.

Agreed. Wearing a sports jacket and slacks works without a tie, but not a suit. But I would say a suit a required for a job interview.

[Anonymous]

If he has to have his wife ask an internet posting site, chances are he is not qualified to get a job -he can't even dress himself.

Is he going to have to call her during the interview to answer a question?

[Anonymous]

I work in a casual environment as well. He should wear suit and tie. The days of those Internet start-ups with the flip-flops and cargo shorts are over.

[Anonymous]

Agreed! I used to work for a company where shorts and T's were the standard dress code during the summer, which is when I interviewed. I wore a skirt-suit to the interview and felt very out of place, and wondered if I blew the interview. Fast forward a few years later when I was interviewing job candidates for the same company, and the the first thing we always noted was the interviewee's attire - if they weren't wearing a suit (pants or skirt for women, suit and tie for men) then it was a strike against them. Your husband needs to wear the suit and tie, even if he's the only one in the entire company with such formal attire on for the day of the interview.

[Anonymous]

Just because it's an "internet company" doesn't mean a suit shouldn't be worn. DH works in IT and he has worn suits for all interviews except one when the company specifically told him they want business casual and no suit for the interview. Unless it's specified that it's not a suit, I would err on the side of suit.

If he does not want to wear a tie, I agree that he should not wear the suit with just no tie. Looks like crap.

[Anonymous]

Op here - I know I asked for opinions and I do appreciate the feedback, but I don't agree with the responses on the no tie with a suit. Several years ago I would have agreed with you, but I have seen this evolution. I am an attorney who represents start up ventures, and plenty of men in this environment wear the suit/no tie combo, especially those from NYC and LA, when meeting with Investors, presenting at a conference, etc.

To 22:43, my DH and I ask each other for lots of advice, wardrobe related and more substantive. One reason of many I am glad I have a partner! But thanks for playing.