<p>Jc pennysmhas some great skirts as well.</p>
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<p>Just have to hop in and say that you just answered a burning question. The first wave of women who were hired by the large law firms is approaching 60…I have always wondered what old lady lawyers wear, because to date there really aren’t any. So you’ve answered it!</p>
<p>I bought a gorgeous pair of dress pants at Macys a few months ago. Only paid like twenty or twenty five dollars too. Sometimes you can find really good deals there. I think i bought them in may… And people still comment on them six months later. They’re really nice and slick looking. They’re black with a greyish silver pattern, almost like a tiny plaid. They wind up looking a bit shiny because of the material.</p>
<p>Sent from my DROID BIONIC using CC</p>
<p>I don’t mean to take away from the OP’s “ask”, but it has me thinking…and I’ve been in the position to hire people before…</p>
<p>Do you really put so much weight on the dressing part? When someone is coming in for an interview are bosses really giving them the once over to check out if their blazer is a perfect match for their slacks, if they are wearing nude hose or a sheer tight or if they have a 2 inch heel or a flat?? Wow, that’s SO wrong to me.</p>
<p>Looking put together in one thing. Bringing a good appearance from your closet is appropriate. But once you sit down in that chair in front of me to chat I don’t care what label your pant has or if you shopped at Target or Banana Republic - I care about what comes out of your mouth, what is on your resume and that yes, you look organized and together but it’s not a decision based on fashion! (unless of course you’re in that industry).</p>
<p>And BTW, I’m in Ohio and if you come to your interview with a nice pair of fashion boots (not snow boots) when there isn’t a flake of snow on the ground over 2 inch pumps because that is your style, terrific! Thank you for not being cookie cutter!!</p>
<p>Anyone get my point???</p>
<p>abasket–I think in most professions you are correct, however, like pretty much everyone has asked, in some professions, wearing fashion boots with a suit would not go over very well in an interview. I agree that labels don’t matter much as long as it fits well and is clean. If the OP is interviewing for a teaching position, the interview attire would be completely different from what someone interviewing for a job in a law firm would wear. I would not wear a full suit to a teaching interview, jacket and dress pants maybe but not a “suit”.</p>
<p>Wow, maybe I’'m feisty today, but that’s an even worse statement to me!! ^^^^ Why wouldn’t a teacher be expected to look as professional as a lawyer or vice versa???</p>
<p>My only point of reference now for business attire (and business interviewing) is my DD, who just started working at a Big 4 accounting firm. Dress there is very conservative: nude hose (tights and colored hose are frowned upon), no boots, skirts preferred over pants during interviews. Definitely black or navy colored suiting.</p>
<p>I’ve told this story before, but when she interned at this same firm, another female intern was told that flats were not acceptable when meeting with clients! As it turned out, it was probably just that HER flats were not acceptable - in other words, people did notice her shoes. I think that in her line of work, at least, interviewers and co-workers DO notice clothes and shoes.</p>
<p>Whoever mentioned finding appropriate non-collared shirts: D has had a lot of luck at BR and BR outlets. Nice looking, professional, conservative, but still young-looking. It’s a difficult balance!</p>
<p>abasket…I didn’t take that statement as you did concerning looking as professional but rather as some professions lean towards more traditionally formal attire. I don’t think a lawyer would ever not wear a suit for interviewing but a teacher has lots more options as was stated. </p>
<p>So many studies have been done about how important it is to make a positive first impression before you even open your mouth at interviews. Clean, neat clothes, polished shoes, no garish makeup, firm handshake, looking in the eyes of the interviewer, etc. are very important. I don’t think anyone thinks the brand of clothes is important but rather that they are clean and comfortable and allow the candidate to be confident. I remember I read an article some time ago that said something about your first 30 seconds of an interview are the most important time to make a good positive impression. Will have to see if I can find something about that again.</p>
<p>scout…D2 is also in the accounting field and is currently working while going to school. She was invited to interview and then was offered summer program positions with the Big 4 companies. Her suit of choice is a silvery gray pant suit. Didn’t seem to hurt her not wearing black or blue, however, as you mentioned it is field that is conservative and attire is important especially if meeting with clients. She has never worn pantyhose when she wears skirts/dresses but no one would be able to tell as she uses a self tanner on her legs. ;)</p>
<p>abasket–a suit is overkill for a teaching interview. A nice dress or a skirt with a blazer, etc. is fine and acceptable. Doesn’t mean they don’t look professional at all, just that they are wearing an appropriate outfit for the interview. Over dressing is as much of a no-no as under dressing.</p>
<p>Perhaps this is also a geographic and/or school culture thing as well. I’ve worked at the same school for 13 years. Almost every woman (young and not-so-young) who has interviewed for a teaching position has been in either a pants or skirt suit. Some come in darker suits; others are a little more colorful. Once they are hired, they don’t dress as formally, but they all dress professionally.</p>
<p>Can you explain to me why a suit is overkill for a teacher wishing to secure a job and not overkill for a lawyer??? Each obviously is trying to make a first impression. </p>
<p>Part of my point is also about how biased and judgemental “we” are on people according to really specific clothing.</p>
<p>Wow, four pages of responses!! I am just beginning to read through them, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone. The business is in a large office and the dress code has a big range . . . some people wear business casual every day while others wear jeans and t-shirts. (Obviously I am not going to wear jeans for the interview, ha ha.)</p>
<p>abasket–because wearing a suit to teach in is not standard, wearing a suit in a law office is. It isn’t being judgmental or biased, it’s about presenting yourself appropriately. No law firm is going to hire someone that comes for an interview in jeans and a t-shirt, nor is any school. The people hiring want to know if the candidate understands what is expected and dressing properly is just one of those expectations. It’s no different than the million posts around here about “what should my kid where for an interview for a summer job, college, etc.”.</p>
<p>Naturally–in that case a pants suit would be totally appropriate.</p>
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<p>It’s a technical position in a large company (takes up most of a 40+ story office building) that provides services for a major urban area. (Sorry if that sounds vague, I am always a little paranoid about HR departments googling potential employees.) Basically I would be working for a city government.</p>
<p>Regarding the second question, I really only need the one outfit, if I can get this job. I will never be in contact with the public and a lot of the managers and even the CEO wear jeans. (I did my internship here so I am very familiar with the company.)</p>
<p>I think you should buy a nice, conservative pair of black dress pants and a simple collarless shell blouse, short-sleeved, sleeveless, or long-sleeved, whatever you can find that is appropriate in beige, white, or a not-too-bright color. Then find a coordinating jacket in black or gray. Simple earrings, plain black shoes or dress boots with lower heel. This would be a polished look for any new graduate, and you can use the various pieces again. </p>
<p>You could buy these pieces new at somewhere moderate like Macy’s or Kohl’s or Target, or you could look at a thrift shop if you don’t mind that. As long as you look like you went to some effort to look professional, you will look fine. It sounds like you already have an in at this company and so are likely to get the job.</p>
<p>My cautionary tale of interview clothes on the cheap.
I graduated with an accounting degree in 1979 and was interviewing with a CPA firm. I felt I needed a suit so I set out to find an inexpensive one because I didn’t have much money. The one I found was half the price of most others. However, it was probably about half a size smaller than it should have been. I arrived at the interview and noticed my shoe was intied. When I bent over to tie it, those pants split in half. I told the receptionist what had happened and asked to borrow her stapler. I went to the men’s room and stapled the pants back together. Other than sticking to whatever chair I sat on, I made it through the interview. Didn’t get the job however</p>
<p>swdad-that’s why it’s important to try things on. Even within the same brand, you can have clothing in the same size that doesn’t fit the same. One of the reasons I like shopping at Goodwill for things like this is that I CAN buy top brands, which are sometimes cut and fit better, but for less than I’d pay for “cheap” stuff in regular retail stores.</p>
<p>At a recent interview, I wore a Nordstrom suit jacket and dress pants from LaneBryant. The entire outfit cost me less than $10 and since I don’t wear such clothes at my job it wasn’t a loss. I was offered the job but opted not to take it.</p>
<p>swdad1, I think you are funny and a pretty quick thinker. I guess the stapler ruined those pants though.</p>
<p>Women’s clothing is especially awful at sizing. I honestly wear a size 4 in some styles and sometimes in the SAME BRAND will wear a size 8 or 10! It’s really irritating and that’s why I rarely shop by mail, except if there is a convenient branch nearby where I can return things that aren’t quite right.</p>
<p>Swdad1, that was clever of you to think of stapling the slacks together. Lots of folks also use tape, safety pins or other things for hems that come undone.</p>
<p>Some YWCAs and other places have inexpensive clothing for people entering the workforce. You can call your local Y to inquire. Good Will involves a lot of searching but some folks are able to score some amazing deals. Same with Ross and other discount stores. I am still very pleased with the Evan Picone suit I bought for $62 at Macy’s (normally over $300).</p>
<p>himom - drives me crazy too. I’ve also noticed that shoe sizes are shrinking too. I used to buy a 9 in sneakers and an 8 or an 8.5 in dress shoes… now I’m an 8 or 8.5 in sneakers and a 7 or 7.5 in dress shoes. My sister has noticed the same trend. My feet are not shrinking - the old shoes still fit!</p>
<p>I usually shop in juniors… and I currently have clothes that range from a 3 to a 9!</p>