What to wear to a job interview

When it comes to figuring out what to wear to a job interview you could easily fall into the trap of going for a conservative trouser suit in a dark colour. Though this is the simple and safe option, it will also make you boring and forgettable, and this is the last thing you want when interviewing for your dream job. What you do want is to be memorable and your interview outfit can help you to do this. 

Being well dressed is one of the most important factors of working within a corporate environment, especially if the job description involves meeting with clients and becoming a face for the company. If you dress smartly but fashionably people will be more inclined to take you seriously as you will exude a professional and upstanding demeanour.

When you are interviewing it is advisable to stick to dark colours, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a splash of boldness into your accessories. For example, you could include a bright red belt or a pair of deep blue heels to offset the block of dark colour that you will be wearing. It can also be a good idea to stay away from clothes that are overly revealing, as this is apt to cause the wrong first impression. You can still get away with some types of clothing though, such as the pencil skirt. 

Pencil skirts are designed to attract the eye towards the thighs, hips and bottom and despite the fact that they can accentuate your curves they are commonly worn within the workplace. They originate from the 60s and generally fall to the knee or just above it, giving you ample leg coverage. You should not wear a tight fitting top with a pencil skirt though; instead choose a loose blouse that you can tuck into the skirt. You can even get dresses that are designed to look like this, so you won’t have to buy two separates. 

If you would like to wear trousers you should buy a tailored pair that will suit your body shape. Pear and hourglass shapes should go for boot-cut trousers, slim frames for straight leg trousers and apple shapes for wide leg trousers. Also, there are dark colours other than black – try dark blue, brown or even purple, and there is nothing stopping you from selecting a suit in light grey or tan, as both of these options are equally as appealing to the workplace.