what to wear to a job interview

What should I wear to a job interview now?

While we went through a dip in formality post-Covid, traditional dress codes are very much back in favour. So here are a few things to think about when entering an interview, sartorially speaking.

We will start simple. Wear a jacket. Some industries are pretty clear cut: in banking and law, a suit and tie are still de rigueur. Opt for a dark navy or grey two-button variety and a solid shirt. University of California Berkeley’s law department offers a downloadable PDF with tips that feel at the same time harsh and helpful. “Keep it simple and classic,” it declares regarding accessories. Meaning, now is not the time to show off any designer watches, polka-dot socks or ties featuring your favourite anime character.

And while I can easily suggest a pricey wool twill from Huntsman (£2,495, huntsmansavilerow.com) or Polo Ralph Lauren (£945, ralphlauren.com), bear in mind that suits are only recently regaining popularity. This means there has never been a better time to take yourself down to your local charity shop — you just might find yourself buried in piles of gabardine gold. Look for something with a medium to narrow lapel (nothing that could read tuxedo), a two-button jacket and flat or single-pleat trouser. Once you’ve found a decent enough fit, tailor it to perfection.

This “wear a suit” advice goes for creative types as well, but they may have more fun playing with pattern and fit in their ensembles. So for all of those aspiring editors, creative directors and curators, consider a more relaxed take on the matching jacket and trousers. Noah, the New York streetwear label co-founded by ex-Supreme designer Brendon Babenzien, has seen interest in its tailoring explode over the past few years. Yet its customers are wearing these suits in very non-corporate environments. Try its slouchy linen herringbone suit with Sunspel’s Oxford button-down, worn with no tie (£895 for the jacket and £695 for the trousers, noahny.com). Or perhaps even a pleat-front lightweight tweed like this Donegal variety from Todd Snyder (£901, toddsnyder.com).

Just ensure you pair them with a proper dress shoe, whether you are a fashion-forward tailoring kind of guy or a traditionalist. One cannot go wrong with a Crockett & Jones Oxford cap toe — the Connaught 2 is a personal favourite, £575, or Boston loafer, £495, crockettandjones.com).

Kim Lear, founder of Inlay Insights, a company focused on generational shifts in work culture, says the biggest frustration she sees among young adults entering the workforce is that they must conform to the expectations of office culture, including its wardrobe. She encourages them to consider their priorities. To achieve a certain career and make an impact, you will have to think about your wardrobe and decorum strategically, she advises.

This is especially true for a Zoom interview. At a time when tensions are high between management and remote workers, the right shirt and jacket signals that you are on the clock and that your priorities are in line even when you are visible only from the triceps up.

For women, workwear has changed more dramatically from five years ago. A sheath dress, once considered a no-brainer, is now associated with the Maga movement. While colour is still easier to incorporate for women than for men, it is now in the form of a great pair of trousers in subtle jewel tones such as The Fold’s Rialto pants in juniper (£335, thefoldlondon.com). Pair them with a silk blouse and non-matching suit jacket, say this glen plaid option from MaxMara Weekend (£480, gb.weekendmaxmara.com).

Since there are so many more options for women (read: too many, more overwhelming), my best advice is to consider the clients of the employer you are hoping to work for, because you will need to dress in a manner that ensures the interviewer can see you as someone who can represent the company. Is this an investment bank working with traditional industries — manufacturing, for example? Maybe leave the leopard or ditsy floral prints at home, at least until you have that job offer in hand.

For a black suit that feels both classic and current, look at Filippa K’s Nica trousers (£205, filippa-k.com) with either the shrunken Sasha blazer (£345, filippa-k.com) if you are petite, or the Davina jacket, sized down, if you can carry a slightly broader shoulder (£440, filippa-k.com). Pair with a simple underpinning in a muted bright, such as Joseph’s Brunet Habotai silk top in sundown or lagoon (£275, joseph-fashion.com) and finish it all off with a contrasting brown block heeled pump such as Gianvito Rossi’s Piper (£635, gianvitorossi.com).

On the other hand, if you’re headed to a fintech-focused firm, think about breaking up your suiting all together. Disruptive industries are usually the first to banish dress codes. And while you don’t want to act overly confident, a subtle play on texture or proportion could exude what is being coined on TikTok as “quiet confidence” dressing. A good example of this could be pairing a wide-leg trouser such as Kallmeyer’s Roxana in grey (£507, kallmeyer.nyc) with a different-coloured or textured jacket that sits on the waist, such as this cropped style in tweed from Another Tomorrow (£818, anothertomorrow.co).

While Lear thinks younger interviewees should stick to conservative styles to show their career readiness, older interviewees need to communicate modernity. “We are in an ageist culture, unfortunately,” she says. “Whether it’s fair or not, dressing in a modern way can signal that you are up to speed on the latest technologies.”

While this does not mean more casual, it does mean paying attention to silhouettes. Instead of a slim black suit, consider a plissé midi skirt in a bold colour, such as Proenza Schouler White Label’s Rosalyn skirt in red (£490, proenzaschouler.com) topped with a cinched-waist jacket like this belted blazer from Victoria Beckham, which will give some structure to the flowing skirt (£950, victoriabeckham.com). Finish it off with a heeled ballet flat such as Margaux’s Ada (£303, margauxny.com).

My five-year-old son dresses himself now and often asks to wear his suit and tie even though his school does not require a uniform. Last Thursday, as I was walking him to school, we were stopped once by an older woman and once by a formally outfitted doorman to ask if he was on his way to work, with countless compliments in between. He is clearly wearing it for attention. “Why do people like that I wear a suit, Mama?” he asked. “Because when you look good, people take you seriously,” I replied. The lesson is ageless.

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