I’m in economics, but I’ve interviewed lots of candidates and have many friends in other fields. It is almost universally true that the standard for junior job candidates in academia is a suit. Most people who insist otherwise are usually other graduate students, not people who sit on lots of hiring committees. Every stylish person should have a suit in their wardrobe anyway, so consider this an occasion to invest in one.

While a job interview is not a place to showcase your fashion sense, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it to your advantage. A suit can be everything from dowdy to smashing. The first thing is getting the right suit. A well-cut, modern, flattering suit is the key. This means trying on multiple suits and using a tailor. And don’t scrimp – this is an investment piece. Cheap suiting fabric wrinkles easily, the labels don’t lie flat, and they don’t hold up well after multiple dry-cleanings. You’ll be mixing these pieces in your professional wardrobe for years, so don’t consider this a one-time purchase.

Once you’ve got the perfect suit, you can subtlely give it a little personality. In a creative field you can get away with a pretty patterned blouse and earings. At a B-school interview play it conservative with a fitted menswear shirt in a flattering color. Universally great things to style a suit are a great haircut, smashing eyewear, a decent manicure, and a nice watch.

My two cents, M.

http://jauntydame.com/2009/10/its-a-bird-its-a-plane/

Your Color Review posts had a big impact on my dressing, I’ve started looking for more colorful accessories.

I expected to hate the red and blue together, but it felt surprisingly good.

To make this outfit interview-able in my field (history), I would wear a blazer in place of the cardigan, no belt, and black tights rather than the sweater tights. I would also probably wear closed-toe shoes.

However, you and all the Chics are so well-dressed and so attuned to self-presentation, I trust you three to have observed job candidates and determined the range of interview-appropriate dress in your field. I think that the standards really can vary quite a bit by discipline.