Interview Outfit Guidelines: This or That?

In regards to interviewing for consulting, financial firms, etc, I know that it's very conservative.

I'll be using a wool charcoal gray suit — 3 button, flaps, cuffs on pants.


Shirt - White French Cuff or Light Blue Barrel?
If French Cuff - Love Knots French Cuff

Tie - I think I'll be using a very conservative Red-Maroon Tie - with micro white dots on it
What type of knot - half windsor or 4-in-hand? I've become accustomed to the 4-in-hand but is it conservative?

Shoes - Black AE Park Aves (Captoes) or Brown AE Park Aves (Captoes) or Black Wingtips?

Belt - Will have to match with my shoes obviously - I have a shiny crocodile print black belt from Italy for the black shoes and a suede brown belt for the brown shoes. I think I have a reversible plain black/brown belt with a silver buckle somewhere though.

Tie Bar - I most likely will not use it, but I have an option of a TIffany & Co plain silver tie bar.
Pocket Square - Don't have a white linen one at the moment, only ones with designs, but don't think a PS is appropriate anyway.

I understand that interviewing for big firms, it's best to be conservative, but is there a line between being just like every other conservative person and brining your A game (which makes me wonder whether or not a tie bar is appropriate).

Thanks!



plei89 said:

In regards to interviewing for consulting, financial firms, etc, I know that it's very conservative.

I'll be using a wool charcoal gray suit — 3 button, flaps, cuffs on pants.


Shirt - White French Cuff or Light Blue Barrel?
If French Cuff - Love Knots French Cuff

Tie - I think I'll be using a very conservative Red-Maroon Tie - with micro white dots on it
What type of knot - half windsor or 4-in-hand? I've become accustomed to the 4-in-hand but is it conservative?

Shoes - Black AE Park Aves (Captoes) or Brown AE Park Aves (Captoes) or Black Wingtips?

Belt - Will have to match with my shoes obviously - I have a shiny crocodile print black belt from Italy for the black shoes and a suede brown belt for the brown shoes. I think I have a reversible plain black/brown belt with a silver buckle somewhere though.

Tie Bar - I most likely will not use it, but I have an option of a TIffany & Co plain silver tie bar.
Pocket Square - Don't have a white linen one at the moment, only ones with designs, but don't think a PS is appropriate anyway.

I understand that interviewing for big firms, it's best to be conservative, but is there a line between being just like every other conservative person and brining your A game (which makes me wonder whether or not a tie bar is appropriate).

Thanks!

Click to expand...

If you want to be ultra conservative from what you have, white french cuff, 4ih, black park aves, black (not croc) belt, white linen PS. You're way overthinking this though, your tie knot choice is not going to get you the job, as long as it's neat it doesn't matter whether it's a windsor or fih.

Most all of what you've proposed is fine, barring the croc belt, which I would skip. As long as you're dressed generally appropriately, you won't be judged on your dress. If you're way too informal, then you will be judged, but it sounds like that's not a problem for you.

My personal choices out of those: Blue shirt, whatever knot you're comfortable with (4ih is plenty conservative- the standard, even.) As long as it's not a fist sized windsor, you're good. I personally use the pratt for everything apart from knit ties, where anything but a 4iH creates a giant knot that I don't want. Shoes, black captoes. Generally people won't care about brown, but you might draw the one guy in 100 who still does care. Same rationale for not going with the wingtips, even though the brown or wingtip is what I would wear on a normal day. Belt should be plain leather as previously mentioned. Tie bar would be fine, wear it if you normally wear one, don't if you don't. Pocket square- white linen or cotton, conservative fold is your only choice. It wouldn't be inappropriate- they are very traditional. But if you don't already have one, just leave it out. It's a detail that wouldn't count for or against you.

Remember that most people are not SFers- they won't pick apart the details. What they will notice is if you're well dressed or not.

Thanks!

I think what you have suggested is fine, I would go a diffrent route but that is my preference. It is good that you stick to what you know and am comfortable with and you should do just fine at this interview.