Dressing up for an interview is trickier than people usually think. There are serious research studies and extensive papers on how women should dress to make a powerful, professional and long lasting impression from a visual point of view upon the HR managers and future employers. Once upon a time, men would go to interviews in suits and ties while women wore heels and fancy dresses. Are such outfit combinations still necessary in the modern world?
According to human resources specialists, “you dress one or two levels higher than the job that you’re going for.” Or, simply put, don’t take your beach attire to the office, but, on the contrary, dress up to make a statement and show respect for the job and the people who give you their time and attention. In order to tackle the issue of appropriate, elegant and graceful interview attire from the fashion angle, let’s see today five tips, tricks and outfit ideas you can try to pull off a killer look without much effort.
1. The Power Outfit – Or the Simple Monochrome Outfit
Career experts admit that your interview outfit speaks volumes and says a lot about you even before you open your mouth. You need to look impeccable no matter the seasonal fashion trends, the latest innovations in the jewelry department or the novelty shoes you have a soft spot. A power outfit is an outfit that never goes out of fashion and enhances your personal style, body features, and personality. From this point of view, a monochrome outfit is the way to go. They look neat and clean, are timeless and can be styled up with jewelry or accessories if the situation requires. White and gray suggest cleanness, order and attention to detail.
2. The Ageless Black Dress
The black dress goes everywhere and with everything, no matter the occasion. However, wearing a black dress to a job interview can sometimes backfire. Your employers may think you are trying too hard and not all black dresses go well with corporate environments in the middle of the day. Some are way too elegant; others simply don’t go with the company casual and laidback atmosphere and internal policies. If you want to pull off a black dress interview outfit, pair it with simple and elegant accessories to tone it down or style it up and make sure you wear a jacket, coat or even scarf to match the company’s view on dress code. You might even intimidate people if you look like way too dressed up.
3. Accent Pearl Jewelry to Style up Any Outfit
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You can pull off a smart, elegant outfit and even a casual chic one with a piece of pearl jewelry. Pearls are timeless gems that go great even with jeans, so you can’t get things wrong. Don’t opt for a heavy, massive statement pearl piece, as it may be way too much, but you can always mix a pearls bracelet or a pair of sophisticated pearl drop earrings with a simple suit, dress or a jeans-heels-and-jacket combination for more casual working environments. Pearls are graceful and elegant, and they can style up the simplest business outfit you can think of.
4. The Pastel Outfit with Blush Shoes
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When in doubt, go for pastels and get an elegant, yet not too formal outfit. When it comes to light pleasant colors you can opt for sweet lavender hues, eggshell, cream, ivory, white, caramel, pink, blue and everything in between. Remember that HR people sometimes frown upon long see-through pastel or flowery summer dresses, but they will be properly impressed by a silk shirt, trousers, a jacket and a pair of nude pumps.
There are dozens of shoes types to NOT wear at an interview, but blush pink or ‘nude’ shoes aren’t on the list. Nude shoes are some of the best accessories you should consider taking to an interview because they they go great with everything, even jeans and leather jackets.
5. The Timeless Black and White Combo
If you are ever in doubt about what to wear, go for black and white attire. It is elegant, simple and graceful at the same time; it is respectful, tasteful and fit for any occasion. You can pick a black and white dress or a blouse and skirt combination. If you want to accessorize, go for simplicity – pearls make an awesome addition to this attire – but you can also pick some simple silver pieces of jewelry or black/white accent pieces.
