B-School Interviews - Help Me Decide What to Wear (pics and poll)

[Telefonica]

I have interviews at Tuck and HBS and I'm having trouble deciding what to wear. I'd like to hear everyone's input. I've narrowed it down to the following, but am open to suggestions. Option 1: Navy blue Pal Zileri, white and blue stripe tie, white ps

Option 2: Navy blue E. Zegna with pinstripe, DB, red tie and ps. The POWER look!

Option 3: Navy blue Armani Black Label, purple and blue patterned tie and ps.

Option 4: Navy blue Oxxford, contrast blue/white shirt, gold tie, white ps.

Just for fun, I threw in a couple others that I was thinking of:

I'll also be wearing some Kent Wang 100% wool socks, sonlegoman cufflinks and black Allen Edmonds Park Avenues. Thanks!

 

[Jl24]

I vote for the #3, I think that blazer + shirt looks professional. The #4 blazer also works although I'm not sure I'd pair it with the BB french cuff shirt + yellow tie - I think it tries a bit too hard. All IMHO

Good luck on your interviews! What's your background?

 

[luftvier]

In too many of these photos you look like you're trying to be Patrick Bateman. #1 is the best of these, but some recommendations:

• darker tie - like a navy or burgundy repp stripe
• lose the french cuffs. Too many Americans see it as an affectation or associate it older guy who've earned it. Yeah, it's silly, but not worth risking.
• other may tell you to lose the PS. I say you can get away with a while TV fold, but nothing else.

You want to look sharp, but not stick out. Remember that B school folks are not generally sartorially inclined as it is.

 

[JohnsNotHere]

No 1

Lose the pocket square

 

[luftvier]

Also, lose the windsor knot. Tie a FIH instead.

 

[bellyhungry]

I like the Oxxford suit but none of the shirt and tie combos. I suggest a white shirt + a darker rep tie instead.

And get a hair cut to give it layers.

Good luck with the interview.

 

[Fourier]

I’m surprised that no one has commented on the matching of ties and pocket squares. Especially in red, it just doesn't look right.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

No DB suit, no contrasting collar shirt and PS! Play it safe man.

#1 is best.

 

[divitius]

#1 or #3. The tie in #1 looks a bit too narrow for those lapels though, and the matching ps in #3 is kinda awful.

 

[forex]

#1 is the way to go,I would ditch the pocket square though.

 

[makewayhomer]

Originally Posted by JohnsNotHere

No 1 Lose the pocket square
both of these it's an interview not a contest

 

[GBR]

Any would be fine - your clothes are not being iunterviewed.

Concentrate on the interview not your clothes.

 

[Panzeraxe II]

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

No DB suit, no contrasting collar shirt and PS! Play it safe man.

+1000

 

[Sanguis Mortuum]

Originally Posted by Fourier

I'm surprised that no one has commented on the matching of ties and pocket squares. Especially in red, it just doesn't look right.

Agreed. Please don't wear a matching tie and pocket-square, ever.

 

[jb_1977]

Go with #1. Lose the pocket square and french cuffs. Tone down the tie.

I'm a noob to style forums, but I know a lot about b-schools and recruiting and interviewing in that universe. Once you get accepted, you're going to start networking and recruiting right away. You'll join professional clubs aligned with your chosen career path (I'll assume banking

). One of the first things those clubs will address is attire, followed by etiquette.

In general, interviewers in finance and banking are easily annoyed and distracted by arbitrary idiosnycrasies. Your goal is to eliminate the possibility of these things, then convince them that you can do the work.

I think your suits look well tailored and could work in other situations. But if you went to a networking event or interview wearing any of them, there's a good chance you'd get dinged for pretension.