Interview appropriate colors for men

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2012 13:55:06 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I mean this seems pretty conservative to me (okay I guess minus the pink tie ha ha). The shirt is light grey.

Too fashiony for an interview.

[karinothing]

Oh, I agree that is way to fashiony for an interview. I just meant on a normal every day work day.

I think interview clothes should be

1. Navy or Charcoal suit only
2. White/off white shirt
3. Red/Yellow tie.

[ladygrey]

preferably white, although I think you would be fine with a very light blue or gray as well

[h]

White, ideally. Though I think in many/most situations blue is acceptable (light blue, not some crazy cobalt thing). Anything else, no way.

I don't think I have ever seen a man in my office in a gray shirt. I had no idea they were even a thing. To me dress shirts = white, blue, purple, pink, or small checked patterns.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2012 14:09:07 GMT -5 h said:

I don't think I have ever seen a man in my office in a gray shirt. I had no idea they were even a thing. To me dress shirts = white, blue, purple, pink, or small checked patterns.

Me too. I am confused by the concept of a gray dress shirt.

[karinothing]

It is so odd to me that peopel have never seen grey dress shirts. I used to work at the Mens wearhouse we sold a lot so I know the guys are out there. I think DH has like 5 of them lol.

Plus, they are like all over the red carpet in Hollywood right now.

[Deleted]

Aw I like the gray shirts for every day (not for an interview) but my lawyer husband can wear jeans and birkenstocks (for days without court etc obviously).

[fbf2006]

Dec 20, 2012 14:13:17 GMT -5 karinothing said:

It is so odd to me that peopel have never seen grey dress shirts. I used to work at the Mens wearhouse we sold a lot so I know the guys are out there. I think DH has like 5 of them lol.

Plus, they are like all over the red carpet in Hollywood right now.

Me too. I didn't know gray dress shirts were not common.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2012 14:10:04 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Dec 20, 2012 14:09:07 GMT -5 h said:

I don't think I have ever seen a man in my office in a gray shirt. I had no idea they were even a thing. To me dress shirts = white, blue, purple, pink, or small checked patterns.

Me too. I am confused by the concept of a gray dress shirt.

I'm with you guys, though I'd add white with blue pinstripes to my list of dress shirts that I know exist.

The grey shirts do seem kind of Men's Warehouse-y to me, but having been there a bunch of times when my husband has had to rent tuxes I'll say that a lot of the stuff they sell wouldn't fly where I work. If a shirt or suit is a color or pattern that Brooks Brothers doesn't carry, you probably shouldn't wear it here.

Edit: I'll be damned -- Brooks Brothers does have a selection of grey shirts. I may need to reconsider my views on this topic. Regardless, not okay for an interview.

[calico]

Ya'll are WAY conservative.

I'm going to have to test this white dress shirt interview theory with DH. It will KILL him to wear a boring white shirt and a boring tie, but what the hell.

[karinothing]

Dec 20, 2012 14:41:23 GMT -5 v said:

Dec 20, 2012 14:10:04 GMT -5 @redbellpeppers said:

Me too. I am confused by the concept of a gray dress shirt.

I'm with you guys, though I'd add white with blue pinstripes to my list of dress shirts that I know exist.

The grey shirts do seem kind of Men's Warehouse-y to me, but having been there a bunch of times when my husband has had to rent tuxes I'll say that a lot of the stuff they sell wouldn't fly where I work. If a shirt or suit is a color or pattern that Brooks Brothers doesn't carry, you probably shouldn't wear it here.

Edit: I'll be damned -- Brooks Brothers does have a selection of grey shirts. I may need to reconsider my views on this topic. Regardless, not okay for an interview.

Ha ha. V you crack me up. I was going to say that Brooks Brothers carries grey shirts. They really are a standard colored dress shirt.

Now, DH wears his dress shirts from express in bright turquoise, dark purple, teal, bright orange, etc. His office is not conservative though and he would never wear them to an interview.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2012 14:54:30 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Dec 20, 2012 14:41:23 GMT -5 v said:

I'm with you guys, though I'd add white with blue pinstripes to my list of dress shirts that I know exist.

The grey shirts do seem kind of Men's Warehouse-y to me, but having been there a bunch of times when my husband has had to rent tuxes I'll say that a lot of the stuff they sell wouldn't fly where I work. If a shirt or suit is a color or pattern that Brooks Brothers doesn't carry, you probably shouldn't wear it here.

Edit: I'll be damned -- Brooks Brothers does have a selection of grey shirts. I may need to reconsider my views on this topic. Regardless, not okay for an interview.

Ha ha. V you crack me up. I was going to say that Brooks Brothers carries grey shirts. They really are a standard colored dress shirt.

Now, DH wears his dress shirts from express in bright turquoise, dark purple, teal, bright orange, etc. His office is not conservative though and he would never wear them to an interview.

Your DH sounds yummy sexy. Too bad I can't get my DH to be more confident in his color choices. He is way too tame.

[karinothing]

ha ha thanks! Has he checked out Express, they have some really great colors. Maybe he can ease into it? Or wear one on a casual friday day or something.

[Chirp]

If it helps... H got laid off two weeks ago and had to go buy clothes for interviewing.

He works in IT, so dress code is less strict. Suits are not necessary, at all. But he still needed everything else (dress pants, shirts, ties, belt, shoes).


He got gray pants and black pants. Black belt and shoes. A white shirt and a light blue shirt and two ties (both are gray/blue/red in different patterns).

So far, he's had one formal interview. They said to go casual. He wore the black pants, blue shirt and no tie... they loved him. He as a third interview after the holidays (first interview was on the phone). It'll be with the higher ups, so he'll be wearing the white shirt and a tie (and whichever pants he grabs).

[h]

There are grey dress shirts at Brooks Brothers? I'll be damned.

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2012 16:01:47 GMT -5 Chirp said:

If it helps... H got laid off two weeks ago and had to go buy clothes for interviewing.

He works in IT, so dress code is less strict. Suits are not necessary, at all. But he still needed everything else (dress pants, shirts, ties, belt, shoes).


He got gray pants and black pants. Black belt and shoes. A white shirt and a light blue shirt and two ties (both are gray/blue/red in different patterns).

So far, he's had one formal interview. They said to go casual. He wore the black pants, blue shirt and no tie... they loved him. He as a third interview after the holidays (first interview was on the phone). It'll be with the higher ups, so he'll be wearing the white shirt and a tie (and whichever pants he grabs).

Are these people in IT?

Either way, I'd say no black pants for 2 reasons: (1) he'll look like a waiter, and (2) I hate black pants. (Note: (2) is not a valid reason).

But if he's interviewing with non-IT people, grey is the winner because grey is the more appropriate color for work pants.

I don't think I realized until this thread that I have such strong opinions on men's work attire. And I don't even think my opinions about women's attire are as strong? <-- aimed at myself

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2012 16:08:01 GMT -5 h said:

There are grey dress shirts at Brooks Brothers? I'll be damned.

A whole page of them!

www.brooksbrothers.com/mens/dress-shirts/0203,default,sc.html?prefn1=refinementColor&prefv1=Grey

[h]

I agree that grey pants are better than black, particularly with a white shirt. White shirt + black pants screams waiter or Mormon missionary for me.

[isabel]

I hope my DH didn't blow his interview on Tuesday by wearing a dark green shirt. I really need to invest in some custom dress shirts for him. That's the only one he has that will button around his neck.

[ellipses84]

My DH wears a black suit, white shirt and blue, but not bold, tie to interviews and always makes a great impression. I interview people and a light gray or standard blue shirt would not phase me as long as it was with a suit and tie. They are very common color shirts in my workplace. I can't tell you how many meetings I've gone to where several people are wearing the same color blue shirt. It's almost as common and boring as white, lol.

Some of the other colors people have mentioned seem more abnormal to me, but I promise I have never judged a potential candidate based on their shirt color. As long as you look professional and don't stand out too much, I don't thing it's that big of a deal.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2012 2:39:33 GMT -5 ellipses84 said:

My DH wears a black suit, white shirt and blue, but not bold, tie to interviews and always makes a great impression.

Men should never wear black suits in a work setting unless it is part of a uniform.

Black suits are for funerals (although even for a funeral, I think that other options are better), and pretty much nothing else.

Re: everyone wearing blue and white shirts -- "common and boring" is exactly what you want to look like in an interview. And in a businessy work environment, really.

[calico]

Dec 21, 2012 7:56:56 GMT -5 v said:

Men should never wear black suits in a work setting unless it is part of a uniform.

Black suits are for funerals (although even for a funeral, I think that other options are better), and pretty much nothing else.

I think this depends on where you live. In DC, black suits are the norm.

[karinothing]

Dec 21, 2012 8:21:29 GMT -5 calico said:

Dec 21, 2012 7:56:56 GMT -5 v said:

Men should never wear black suits in a work setting unless it is part of a uniform.

Black suits are for funerals (although even for a funeral, I think that other options are better), and pretty much nothing else.

I think this depends on where you live. In DC, black suits are the norm.

Really? I live in DC. DH wears a suit every day. He does not wear a black suit for anything but formal events

There are a LOT of people that do not know how to dress in DC.

But I agree with V black suits only for funerals (but I like charcoal better) and formal events.

[chessie]

Dec 21, 2012 1:33:21 GMT -5 kooshball said:

I am just glad they wear shirts. Computer nerds are a little weird sometimes. I never even thought of judging an interviewee on the color of their shirt.

And yeah, do not over dress for an IT casual interview. It just makes those of us in jeans and holey tshirts feel rather uncomfortable. I have had a couple suits and I just remember being uncomfortable and I don't even remember if we hired them.

Same where I work, I recall coming in with a suit when i interviewed here, t hey told me to not wear that next time. Dress code was seriously, clean jeans, polo and some sneakers. Just dress for the job. DH is a software engineer, he always wears a nice pink shirt and some nice pants, calls it a day, no one really cares what he wears, mind u he is being interviewed by all engineers, which most of them can't dress without their wives assistance anyway.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2012 8:32:44 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Dec 21, 2012 8:21:29 GMT -5 calico said:

I think this depends on where you live. In DC, black suits are the norm.

Really? I live in DC. DH wears a suit every day. He does not wear a black suit for anything but formal events

There are a LOT of people that do not know how to dress in DC.

But I agree with V black suits only for funerals (but I like charcoal better) and formal events.

Maybe she hangs out with a lot of secret service agents? But black suits really are not good. They're really hard to pull off because the color is so harsh -- so too much for day and even at night, if not done perfectly it can look cheesy/Jersey Shore. (And I will say -- I do see lots of black suits on men in New York. But almost always on people who clearly are not good dressers and who probably don't work in white shoe environments).

(Note: black suits are perfectly fine for women)

[calico]

Dec 21, 2012 8:32:44 GMT -5 karinothing said:

He does not wear a black suit for anything but formal events

There are a LOT of people that do not know how to dress in DC.

Your DH obviously realizes that there are options.

I ride Metro for a good chunk of time every day and love to people watch, so I'm all too familiar with the bolded statement.

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2012 8:39:38 GMT -5 v said:

(Note: black suits are perfectly fine for women)

Phew. I was getting worried here. I spent way too much money on my black interview suit to look like a doofus!

[mrssavy42112]

Wow, I had no idea there were still offices out there that are that conservative. Neither DH, nor I, work in a place where this would be that big of a deal.

DH is getting into the web designing field, so obviously a little more creative & less formal. I've been buying him checkered shirts & printed ties. The horror!!

[ECB]

Dec 21, 2012 9:45:25 GMT -5 mrssavy42112 said:

Wow, I had no idea there were still offices out there that are that conservative. Neither DH, nor I, work in a place where this would be that big of a deal.

DH is getting into the web designing field, so obviously a little more creative & less formal. I've been buying him checkered shirts & printed ties. The horror!!

I think there are some extreme dress views in this post.... I've always worked in conservative fields, and I've still seen some "pushing of the envelope" that people really don't care all tha tmuch about. (Regular work wear, not interview wear)

[Deleted]

Dec 21, 2012 9:45:25 GMT -5 mrssavy42112 said:

Wow, I had no idea there were still offices out there that are that conservative. Neither DH, nor I, work in a place where this would be that big of a deal.

DH is getting into the web designing field, so obviously a little more creative & less formal. I've been buying him checkered shirts & printed ties. The horror!!

Those are totally fine! I'd keep the checkered shirts in the closet for interviews in stuffy places (they're probably fine for interviews in creative places, and they're fine for daily wear in stuffy places), but printed ties are okay even for interviews (as long as they're kind of boring printed ties) and are fine for every day. Vineyard Vines and Hermes ties, both of which can definitely veer far into whimsical territory, are very common among the very well-dressed men in the stuffy environments where I've worked. You just maybe don't wear your tasteful green salamander tie to an interview or court.