Anonymous wrote:The outfit on the left (yellow cardigan) is not appropriate for an interview in my opinion, and the suit they showed is a bit cheap looking (and I would be careful with how low-cut that collared shirt could be.

I agree, always err on the side of a well-tailored suit, minimal jewelry and makeup. NO PERFUME! We had one candidate that absolutely reeked of strong perfume. I'm convinced that people can't tell how strong it is to others sometimes and it can be bothersome.

Perfume is a migraine trigger for me....I would never hire anyone who showed up to an iinterviewing wearing it.

Anonymous wrote:http://www.styleopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Job-Interview-Outfits-For-Women-2014.jpg

these outfits are terrible! they are so thoroughly unflattering, one and all.

Anonymous wrote:It's never the WRONG thing to wear. I always err on the side of formality.

It can be the wrong thing to wear, I think. If you're going to be working in a non-suit-type environment, then I think putting on a suit can make you look like you don't know the ropes, are just out of college, that sort of thing. I think being aware of the proper dress for a given environment is one way you show you're not fresh off the boat, in other words.

I'm a journalist, work in a pretty informal environment. I think someone turning up in a suit could well look like they didn't belong. I have to assume that it's similar for folks in other offices - turning up in a suit would mark you as naive, insecure, or not belonging.

The outfit on the left (yellow cardigan) is not appropriate for an interview in my opinion, and the suit they showed is a bit cheap looking (and I would be careful with how low-cut that collared shirt could be.

I agree, always err on the side of a well-tailored suit, minimal jewelry and makeup. NO PERFUME! We had one candidate that absolutely reeked of strong perfume. I'm convinced that people can't tell how strong it is to others sometimes and it can be bothersome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:http://www.styleopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Job-Interview-Outfits-For-Women-2014.jpg

None of these clothes fit her.

Other than the coutoure interviewees mentioned above, wearing a suit (or business casual) to an interview doesn't mean you need to spend a lot of money on a nice, well-fitting tailored suit. Really, nobody notices or cares if it doesn't fit well or is cheap.

Anonymous wrote:http://www.styleopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Job-Interview-Outfits-For-Women-2014.jpg

None of these clothes fit her.

I do think there are some jobs for which a very professional outfit is not required - preschool teacher, nanny, waiter in a restaurant... But there are also professional jobs for which a standard full suit is not going to win you any points - in really creative fields (for example, fashion) in certain cities (for example, New York), an interviewee for a high-level, professional position would be expected to dress very professionally, but with more flair (my sister works in fashion in NY and she says that couture dresses are the norm for "professional" dress).

In DC, however, you can NEVER go wrong with a full suit. I do not work in an office that requires a full suit every day, but I definitely dock points from interviewees who don't show up in suits.

How do pepole not know a suit is required for an interview? Who raised you?

I bought a fairly basic grey suit from Macy's once for $40 and I wear it whenever I have a more formal event. While I'm sure there are certain companies where the people there could tell its a "cheap suit", I really don't think most people 1) have a clue, 2) care.

It's never the WRONG thing to wear. I always err on the side of formality.

I noticed in the other thread that a couple people said they were told a full suit is expected at an interview. Do companies really tell you that? And what if they don't, do you wear a full suit anyway? Is there any instance where a suit would not be required, say at a small arts non-profit or K-12 teaching job? I feel like for certain companies/jobs, a full business suit would be overkill. Anyone NOT in a business field care to chime in?