The dinner before the interview

[Fangio]

Long story short I have a dinner tomorrow night followed by a tour and interview on Friday and I am having a hard time pinning down what to wear to the dinner. The dress code for the dinner is business casual which in Austin pretty much means a polo shirt and nice pair of jeans. The restaurant is nicer than say an Olive Garden but is still kind of an anything goes as far as dress code type place. The dinner will be with all candidates so I of course want to be noticed, but not for overdressing.

I think the right play here would be a sport coat, but I do not have one. Should I go with a suit and no tie, or just nice slacks and a button down?

 

[voxsartoria]

I don't know...Olive Garden is pretty nice.


- B

 

[gdl203]

Don't drink too much.

 

[Larson McCord]

Originally Posted by Fangio

Long story short I have a dinner tomorrow night followed by a tour and interview on Friday and I am having a hard time pinning down what to wear to the dinner. The dress code for the dinner is business casual which in Austin pretty much means a polo shirt and nice pair of jeans. The restaurant is nicer than say an Olive Garden but is still kind of an anything goes as far as dress code type place. The dinner will be with all candidates so I of course want to be noticed, but not for overdressing.

I think the right play here would be a sport coat, but I do not have one. Should I go with a suit and no tie, or just nice slacks and a button down?

I don't think business casual is polo and jeans. I would go sport coat, dress pants and button down. Go buy a sport coat today.

What kind of job is it?

 

[lasbar]

Originally Posted by gdl203

Don't drink too much.

Listen more than you speak...

Try to play it safe.

Don't overdress or dress to impress...

Don't eat too much and don't smoke...

 

[bellyhungry]

Bachelorette audition?

 

[jnm23q]

Do you have a blazer? If not might be worth picking up a blazer or sport coat even it's from a charity shop.

Failing that you may be able to get away with the suit jacket (say navy) and grey slacks, with a button down shirt. I know a lot of people on here say you shouldn't orphan a jacket but I doubt the panel would notice

 

[Fangio]

Originally Posted by Larson McCord

I don't think business casual is polo and jeans. I would go sport coat, dress pants and button down. Go buy a sport coat today.

What kind of job is it?

Neither do I, but that is how most people dress around here. It is for an entry level engineering position. I think most people interviewing are recent or future bachelors grads, I am a future masters grad which is why I would like to look a little more mature and put together.

 

[MinnMD]

Jacket, button-down shirt, no tie, gray dress pants or khakis, dress shoes. If you don't have a sport coat or Navy blue blazer, you could use the jacket from a Navy blue suit. As for the suit without a tie, it would be okay but probably a tad overdone. If you show up and the jacket appears too formal, just hang it on the back of your chair.

MinnMD

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by Fangio

business casual which in Austin pretty much means a polo shirt and nice pair of jeans.

In no city in the world should business casual mean a polo shirt and pair of jeans. You might as well work on the floor of an Abercrombie store.

Although I haven't been to Austin, unless confirmed by your fellow Austinites, I'd guess that your interpretation of what constitutes business casual, even in Austin is totally off.

 

[LanceW]

Originally Posted by MinnMD

Jacket, button-down shirt, no tie, gray dress pants or khakis, dress shoes. If you don't have a sport coat or Navy blue blazer, you could use the jacket from a Navy blue suit. [...] If you show up and the jacket appears too formal, just hang it on the back of your chair. MinnMD
This. You might post something on Craigslist and see if anyone has a jacket you could have in your size. Maybe you will get lucky.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by LanceW

This.

Yes, this. I've never known business casual to mean jeans.

 

[lasbar]

Originally Posted by JayJay

Yes, this. I've never known business casual to mean jeans.

Business casual is more chinos/city trousers and shirt without tie...

I would be wearing a SC/blazer and a pair of nice trousers...

 

[gorgekko]

Originally Posted by MinnMD

If you don't have a sport coat or Navy blue blazer, you could use the jacket from a Navy blue suit.

Even someone who knows nothing of clothes will instantly know you're wearing a suit coat as a sports jacket. This is Style Forum and if you're going to give advice, do it properly.

The real advice is if you don't own a blue blazer, go out and buy one. At the OP's age he should already own this foundation piece in his wardrobe and it will give him years of service in varied situations.

 

[Fangio]

Thanks for all of the tips. Just to reiterate, I know what business casual is, but having interned with companies in Texas I know their definition is different than mine. While I would love to wear a sports coat I don't currently own one or have the time before tomorrow night to purchase one.

My real question is nice slacks and a shirt, or suit without a tie? I'm working with two suits a grey and a black.