Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Business, Careers & Education › Black suit to interviews?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Black suit to interviews?

post #1 of 60
5/23/11 at 6:09pm
Thread Starter 
I have an old suit that I've been wearing to all my interviews so far, but it's very ill-fitting and not slim, and since I have a slim figure, it just looks drapey. So.. I went out to H&M and bought a black, slim-fit suit for $80 and I think it fits pretty well. I hear though, that black suits for interviews are generally a bit too formal and that you only wear black suits to funerals, yadda yadda, etc. They did have a gray suit as well, but none in my size, so I just bought the black one. I do have a picture of it on (I apologize for the blurry pic). I'm wearing a very light blue shirt and a maroon-red tie with stripes: Could I get some comments on the fit and the appropriateness of black suits for interviews? I'm 6'1", 150 lbs. The jacket is a 36R and the pants are a 32R. My shirt size is 15.5" and 34" Thanks! Edit: I still have the tags on so I can return it if necessary.
Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Belvest at Pitti Uomo 83
Drake's London at Pitti Uomo 83
Official Wedding Attire Question/Answer/Picture Thread
post #2 of 60
5/23/11 at 6:35pm
Like most of SF, I'm not a fan of black suits for much of anything, so I wouldn't advise it. That said, it's sort of irrelevant in this case, because that coat is way, way too short for you.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 60
5/23/11 at 6:38pm
black suit dont matter in the real world. just wear what you got. all my friends here wear shitty ill fitting black suits with black square toe rubber sole shoes and get awesome jobs. only time you'll get a ding is if an styleforvm member is interviewing.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 60
5/23/11 at 6:43pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrG View Post
Like most of SF, I'm not a fan of black suits for much of anything, so I wouldn't advise it. That said, it's sort of irrelevant in this case, because that coat is way, way too short for you.

Damn. I tried the 38R and it was a bit too loose. Where should the coat fall to?
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 60
5/23/11 at 6:49pm
conservative suits should cover your ass some ppl say your fingers should be able to curl under the jacket i honestly dont think an average interviewer will be able to look at you and say your suit jacket is too short, no hire maybe (big maybe) unless you're applying to a banking or law firm
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 60
5/23/11 at 6:57pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by indesertum View Post
conservative suits should cover your ass

some ppl say your fingers should be able to curl under the jacket


i honestly dont think an average interviewer will be able to look at you and say your suit jacket is too short, no hire maybe (big maybe) unless you're applying to a banking or law firm

I am applying for consulting firms and such. I have a phone interview coming up for Fidelity's internal strategy consulting group, and if I pass those then I get to go to an on-site interview. Not sure if Fidelity is conservative in that regard.

Even though the jacket is really short (according to standards), I really like the way it fits, especially at its price point.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 60
5/23/11 at 8:15pm
If your actually 6'1 I'm pretty sure you need a L and not a R. Anyways as long as you don't look like complete shit and stick to a pretty conservative color you should be fine. I do not think anyone is going to say they are not going to hire you because you wore a black suit, which in my experience is the most popular color choice for college grads for interviews.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 60
5/23/11 at 8:23pm
A black suit is fine, Manton lives in fantasy-bubble-land when it comes to clothing. Just make sure it covers your gluteus maximus and that you wear shoes .
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 60
5/23/11 at 8:38pm
I actually think it's alright as is, except a little small. Momma always told me not to look like crap, but to look hungry for work. The suit should fit you, but out of a grad program or entry level, don't look like you have it made. Look like you are a starving student who is focused on the work rather than the toys and who doesn't have the vanity/playboy attitude most SFers have.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 60
5/23/11 at 10:30pm
Thread Starter 
I guess it's a bit short in length.. the jacket reaches the midpoint of my butt. Unfortunately they had no Ls in the store and only had Rs; and, the smallest L is 38L. They don't have 36Ls. I guess I could tailor the 38L. Thanks for the input guys. Is there anything else besides the jacket length?
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 60
5/23/11 at 11:43pm
The problem is that the jacket is definitely too short, which you seem to already realize, and will have people making wisecracks about it behind your back. Personally, I find the pants too slim for an interview situation (though maybe I'll feel differently with a clearer pic). An interviewer might not be able to pinpoint the short jacket, slim pants, narrow lapels, and H&M fabric, but they'll know something is "off" about you. The HR person might not know the difference, but I bet the hiring manager at an organization like Fidelity will. Also, why the $80 budget for a suit? I'm not telling you to fly to Saville Row, but I have to think your future career has to be worth more than $80 to you. Personally, I'd gladly spend $1,000 on a never-to-be-worn-again custom cow suit with lactating udders if I thought it would give me some sort of edge on interviews.

Of course, all IMHO.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 60
5/24/11 at 12:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by boo View Post
The problem is that the jacket is definitely too short, which you seem to already realize, and will have people making wisecracks about it behind your back. Personally, I find the pants too slim for an interview situation (though maybe I'll feel differently with a clearer pic). An interviewer might not be able to pinpoint the short jacket, slim pants, narrow lapels, and H&M fabric, but they'll know something is "off" about you. The HR person might not know the difference, but I bet the hiring manager at an organization like Fidelity will. Also, why the $80 budget for a suit? I'm not telling you to fly to Saville Row, but I have to think your future career has to be worth more than $80 to you. Personally, I'd gladly spend $1,000 on a never-to-be-worn-again custom cow suit with lactating udders if I thought it would give me some sort of edge on interviews.

Of course, all IMHO.

Well, when I see it, I don't think it's short. I don't know the conventions to how a suit is supposed to fit. I'm just saying it's short because, well, everyone else is.

Maybe I'll check out Zara tomorrow.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 60
5/24/11 at 12:10am
Thread Starter 
wow, yeah. after looking at WAYWT posts in the mc section, my jacket is terribly short.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 60
5/24/11 at 9:14am
Jacket length is too short and the sleeves are too short, it is just covered up by the fact that your shirt sleeves are too short also.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 60
5/24/11 at 12:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenFrog View Post
I guess it's a bit short in length.. the jacket reaches the midpoint of my butt. Unfortunately they had no Ls in the store and only had Rs; and, the smallest L is 38L. They don't have 36Ls. I guess I could tailor the 38L.

Thanks for the input guys. Is there anything else besides the jacket length?

I don't think I have ever seen a RTW 36L suit... Are you a true 36 or more like a 37? Because the alterations from a 38 to a 36 are pretty drastic. I should know, I've had it done when I was a 36, I'm sop happy I'm now a 38.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Business, Careers & Education

Featured Stories on Styleforum

Belvest at Pitti Uomo 83
Drake's London at Pitti Uomo 83
Official Wedding Attire Question/Answer/Picture Thread
Styleforum › Forums › Lifestyle › Business, Careers & Education › Black suit to interviews?