<p>If it’s a financial industry job LOSE the fur. Goatees are especially bad.</p>
<p>Off with the goatee. Why take the chance? A goatee can be a turn-off to some; no goatee will never be a turn-off. He can have one back later. But I admit I hate them and would use any opportunity to get one eliminated if I were married to or the mom of one. (All’s fair in love and war).</p>
<p>I would go dark solid color, dark blue or charcoal gray, single breasted with no flap in the back of the jacket.</p>
<p>And I happen to think my goatee looks distinguished…</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m going to win the goatee war… I should just be grateful the blond highlights in his dark brown hair have been shorn off (his g-friend talked him into it a few months ago…) Well, to the store we head tomorrow… Wish us luck!</p>
<p>Brand of shoes? Places to buy?</p>
<p>Is your son interested more in looking hip or getting a job?</p>
<p>As someone who has hired many people in my life, professional and non-professional, he needs to lose the facial hair. He can grow it back later if he likes, but for first interviews it’s a no-no.</p>
<p>Shoes: Florsheims or Bostonians. Rounded toe, lace up. Black.</p>
<p>On shoes, make sure they are comfortable! Don’t buy shoes with the expectation of them breaking in – they will break your feet in first. Lace-ups are very classy, and be sure to get good quality socks. As for brand, he should try on several different brands. Each manufacturer has its own proprietary “last”, or mold for the shape of the foot. Once he finds one that fits his foot, it’s very likely that any style made by that same manufacturer will also feel good.</p>
<p>After buying the shoes, have him take them home and wear them INSIDE THE HOUSE ONLY for a couple of days. If they become uncomfortable, take them back. Stores won’t take back shoes that have been worn outside – or in especially grubby houses, either, I suppose!</p>
<p>I can’t offer any worthwhile advice on buying clothing, but I can’t help but comment about how sad this whole process has become. To succeed in life we need to dress in wool suits - even if it is 90 degrees outside. Not only it is important to wear the suit, but it must be the right suit, with the right fit and right color and the shirt, belt, tie, socks and shoes must also be just so. I guess for most of us this reflects appropriate, civilized behavior. To me it just reflects man’s basest behavior. We really don’t accept people who are different. Everyone needs to dress the same and fit in and appearances become much more important than ideas and abilities.</p>
<p>Thta’s why we have Starbucks and computer companies–for the disaffected.</p>
<p>For someone who doesn’t get dressed up that frequently, I would second Moominmama’s advice about wearing new shoes around a little bit before using them for an interview.</p>
<p>A friend of mine, who was a grad student at MIT at the time, was going to attend a 4 day engineering conference. He wanted to look professional, so he bought a new blazer, new shoes, and several pairs of brand new socks. Unfortunately, the shoes did not fit well, and he sustained blisters at the back of the shoes. The blue dye from the new socks got into the raw skin under the blisters, and he had blood poisoning, for which he was in the hspital on an IV for several days. OUCH!</p>
<p>Just got back from Jos A Bank - Success! Excellent sales going on right now, as a previous poster mentioned (impressed with what we were able to get for the $$). He looked really sharp coming out of that dressing room (proud mom). The only alteration needed was pant hem, but I’m now wondering if we should have them close the back vent - Is that better looking sewn closed ?(I heard the man next to us request it on his new suit jacket). Saved enough on the suit that I was able to also also pick up a gorgeous lined trench for him (I had a bad dream about him going to an interview with his letter jacket on over his new suit!) As for shoes, he has his nice black dress shoes that he wears for concerts, so they’re broken in already. Whew - Now the ball will be in his court to land a good job, a minor detail in all this!</p>
<p>Congratulations, people! Sounds like a pretty stress-free shopping experience. What field is your son applying in?</p>
<p>edad, the wool suit isn’t a hot thing that is impossible to wear in the summer. Fine wool is quite light-weight, takes a press beautifully, tailors like a dream, and wears like iron. And it’s breathable, so the wearer is neither too hot, nor too cold. Unless people’s son is in the Deep South, he can wear it year-round in comfort. The Deep South in summer does indeed see the linen suit and seersucker make appearances. But, we were talking an about an undisclosed location in December/January.</p>
<p>I’ll toss in a non-suit comment: One may want to wear their specs instead of contacts, depending on the type of job or the intellectual expression that glasses may provide. Interestingly, after two initial on-campus job interviews where my son did not get a callback, he started wearing his stylish specs and was called back by each of the next three firms. Cause & effect or association? Who knows. He did wear the same suit for all - he only has one.</p>
<p>people, best luck to your son and thanks for starting this thread. Now I know about shoes, thank you! Son is still wearing the black laceup knockoffs he got at Payless Shoe when he was about 14, also for musical performances. (Was size 12 then, is size 12 now!) They actually look fine and are comfortable–obviously they haven’t been worn too often!, but I figure the venture/i-banking guys might just notice…</p>
<p>edad, I agree with you and disagree with you. I am at heart a jeans/capris/flip flops/ tank top person, partial to multiple pierced earrings and anklets. That’s in part why I opened my own law office–so no senior partner could scowl at me when it felt like a jeans day. On the other hand, I have come to see appropriate dressing as a sign of respect. When I am dressed in a suit for a court appearance, or in party attire for a performance or social event, I am symbolically saying that this is an important event, that I care about the client I am representing or the person or artist I am seeing. Plus the clothes are pretty :). </p>
<p>I think that clothing conventions can be like etiquette rules–at their best, a way of making people feel comfortable; at their worst, a straitjacket that makes unfair and artificial distinctions between people.</p>
<p>My son and I have had this discussion several times over the years. Why are people treated differently when they look more polished? Is it fair? We’ve talked around all sides of the issue, positives and negatives, and found that it boils down to simply understanding that “this is the way things work, regardless whether or not you agree”. I hope I’ve never made it sound life-and-death - It depends where he wants to place himself in the work world. I just always wanted him to understand the differences in expectations, and he should prepare himself appropriately for where he feels he belongs. Even if he chooses to go a more casual route for a career path, I think it’s important that he learns how to polish himself up for those inevitable occasions that will arise.</p>
<p>I certainly did not mean to imply that you son should not dress for success. I just find it sad that we are so vain and class conscious. I am surprized that no one has mentioned shoelaces. They need to be of a tight, fine weave. The coarse, casual-looking laces are totally inappropriate for business wear.</p>
<p>It’s important because appearance is communication. Communication is not about what you are trying to say; it’s about what the other party is understanding.</p>
<p>Shirt collar…what about that? Button down, spread? Knot of the tie?</p>
<p>Should match the shirt–no two-tones unless you are applying for an advertising job. A std spread collar is best and looks the most formal. Full Windsor.</p>