Women’s Interview Outfit Ideas

Key Takeaways For What To Wear To An Interview

Hey, you made it! Hopefully you feel a little more confident about what to wear to an interview when the time comes.

Here’s a quick recap of the major points we covered:

• Research the company ahead of time, figure out what people wear to work and what the culture is like
• Choose an outfit in a tier that’s one notch above the company culture
• When in doubt, go formal! You can never really go wrong wearing a suit. Worst case, it’ll be a fun story after you’re hired

If you’re still not sure about what to wear to an interview, or you have specific questions based on your situation, feel free to drop a comment below! Lily and I read and reply to all of them and we’re happy to help out.

How To Dress For A Creative Job Interview

For a creative job, you can afford to veer away from the more staid and conservative options. Let your personality shine but dont go overboard. Opt for closed-toe shoes, dark pants and a few well-chosen accessories. We love this confident, womanly look that stays professional without being drab.

Our final look shows how you can rock some lighter colors for a creative job interview. Remember you can always add a blazer to further enhance your look or swap out this short-sleeved blouse for a crisp white button-down.

For some more workwear outfit ideas, check out these ideal workwear outfits for women for an elegant look.

Popular Outfit Ideas For Womens Casual Interview Attire

A prospective employee meet-up is your chance to create your first impression on your boss/interviewer. Dressing up well to crack your interview is a major task. Here, womens casual interview attire for impressing the client or interviewer is a must. Is it accurate to say that you are set up to establish that awesome first impression? Its consistently a smart thought to have some meeting outfits prepared to wear beforehand. That way, you wont need to scramble at the moment last to find the right outfit.

Your interview attire relies upon the kind of job youre applying for. Notwithstanding, regardless of what the position, and regardless of whether theres no dressing code, you ought to consistently look flawless, neat, and stylish.

Read Also: How To Prepare For An Interview Manager Position

Pair A Sweater And Black Dress Pants

A pair of classic black slacks is an essential part of a woman’s interview wardrobe. It’s worth investing in a pair of quality black dress pants that fit well and will hold up after many wears.

Once you have a good pair of dress pants, it’s easy to dress them up or down. You can pair your dress pants with a button-down shirt or a blazer for a formal look, or with a sweater for a business casual look.

With a bit of creativity, black dress pants don’t have to be boring. Add a top with an interesting detail, like this heather-gray sweater with black stripes and a button-down blouse. This softens the look and makes it a bit more special.

Interview Outfit In Plus Size Zipper Top + Black Slacks

If youre not sure how Dressed Up to be for an interview, this plus size interview outfit from City Chic is a great option!

I like this outfit, because its professional and simple but shows personality with the zipper along the neckline. Id style this as shown, with black ankle pants and heels!

Shop this plus size interview outfit here.

For an interview, I would NOT wear open toe shoes!Im not a huge fan of the footwear shown here. Id go with black heels or flats!

Read Also: How To Have A Great Interview And Get The Job

Coat And Wide Leg Jeans

A simple, easy to wear and classy look comes with the help of a coat. Coats or blazers give you the professional appearance you want in case of an interview. A blazer would suit any job, from a serious one like IT to a graphic designer.

Similarly, you can wear a simple black shirt underneath, a checkered black and white coat on top, and wide-leg jeans that would provide you the comfort yet the style that would suit you the best.

Wear sneakers or vans as your footwear. They are comfortable and would not cause any nuisance during your anxiety driven interview.

Interview Attire For Women In A Virtual Environment

Screening interviews often occur over the phone or on a video chat platform. Plus, due to the uptick in remote work during COVID-19, many second and third round interviews are also held virtually. Prior to any virtual interview, look at yourself wearing the outfit in front of your background to test the lighting.

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Business Casual Interview Outfit Ideas

The term business casual for women varies somewhat between companies, but it is better to overdress a little than to underdress for an interview if you do not know for sure. At the same time, you can usually wear dress trousers to a casual business interview.

Flat shoes or shoes with a bit of heel would be appropriate, but you will want to avoid wearing tennis shoes. Additionally, you have more leeway in your jewelry, but avoid wearing too much or too bold pieces because you want the attention to remain on your answers and not your jewelry.

A light blue chiffon blouse is a great choice. If you are a little short, consider a tie in the front where the ends hang down the front, which also eliminates the need to wear a necklace. Unless it is scorching, go with a long-sleeved option.

Wear it with a pair of black dress pants. Choose a pair that rises high enough that you do not have to worry about the back when you sit down. This outfit looks superb when worn with ankle-high dress boots. Since you are wearing long-sleeves and a shirt with a tie, you can have some fun with a ring and your earrings, but do not go too bold.

A maroon ribbed knit dress with long sleeves that stops slightly below your knee is a great business casual interview outfit. Choose one with a side slit that stops a little below your fingertips.

The Three Tiers Of Interview Attire

Now you know you need to be dressed at least one notch above the people youre interviewing with, but where does that fall on the scale of flip flops to fancy formal?

In my experience, company/interview attire can be broken down into three buckets .

Smart Casual: This dress style is fun and light while still being professional. Choices should be neutral and fit well, but dont need to be overly formal.

While people at the company maybe dressed more casually, this is the bare minimum for any interview.

Business Casual: Were not breaking out the full suit here, but we are definitely on the more formal side compared to Smart Casual.

For guys this usually means a sport coat, slacks, and leather shoes. For women, this is a neutral blouse , tailored dress pants, and fancy flats or pumps.

This is the most common style for interview attire.

Business Formal: This is your traditional, conservative business look. Think bankers, lawyers, consultants, etc. Were talking full suit and dress shoes for both genders. That said, just because its formal doesnt mean it cant show a bit of your personality!

Again, these examples are just high level overviews to help you quantify the different levels of interview dress code. Well dive deeper into specific examples/dos and dont for men and women in just a bit.

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Tips And Tricks On Looking Professional For An Interview

• When assembling a great fit, you must give yourself a lot of thought. Whether you have ruler-straight lines or hourglass curves, clothing for your body shape will help you appear your best.

• As a woman matures, comfort in shoes is crucial. Some choices are both cozy and fashionable such as pumps and loafer shoes.

• You dont need to take a stylish handbag to the workplace or for job interviews, but make sure it is current. Avoid carrying bags that are difficult to shift about when you sit for an interview, such as ones with studs or busy-looking crossbody types.

• Your future employer belongs to a certain sector, and that industry will have specific dress codes. For instance, wear something distinctive to your interview if youre applying for a job in fashion, public relations, entertainment, art, or music to show your creativity and originality.

• If the interviewers are wearing distressed jeans, T-shirts, and sweatshirts, wear leather skirts or trousers over black jeans and a blouse or jacket. Choose the option of seeming more professional or creative but not so much that you come across as obnoxious.
• Lastly, make sure your hair is neat and clean. You can also make job interview-appropriate hairstyles such as ponytails or side bun.

Think About Your Body Type

Is your interview in-person? If so, you really need to think about your body type when putting together a winning ensemble. Whether youve got hourglass curves or the straight lines of a ruler, dressing according to your body shape can help you to look your best. Here are a few tips.

• If youre rocking an hourglass figure, theres no need to go save that for girls night out. Instead, wear something sleek with a belt that cinches the waist.
• Do you have a triangle or inverted body shape? Suiting up will help you strike a balance between your lower and upper body. Dark colors such as navy blue, charcoal, and black are great choices for this smart casual look.
• For a pear-shaped body, downplay hips by drawing attention to the waist and upper body. To do this, wear a double-breasted jacket or blouse with ruffles. The horizontal neckline in a boat neck top also looks great on this body type. To streamline your silhouette below, cinch your midsection with a solid color belt.
• Apple shapes look fantastic in any vest, cardigan, coat, or jacket that hits at the hip or upper thigh. Steer clear of blazers which typically fall at the waist, and choose an open fronted long line jacket or a waterfall cardigan.

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When In Doubt Dress Up A Little

Dress codes vary. For example, a tech start-up in Silicon Valley might frown on someone who dresses too formally, while a Fortune 50 company on Madison Avenue might frown on someone who dresses too casually. Its important to get a sense of the corporate culture before you head into the interview, to make sure that your attire is appropriate.

Different industries have different expectations of how candidates and employees should dress. The appropriate dress code can vary greatly depending on the company, industry, and location.

However, regardless of what everyone else at the company is wearing, its essential to take particular care with your appearance during a job interview. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie, or dress and heels, will usually make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in jeans and sneakers.

Learn more about what to wear for a corporate position and what to wear for a more laid-back casual position. In both cases, being well-groomed with clean, untattered clothes is always required.

How To Know What To Wear

So, you know the kind of impression you want to make, but youre not sure how to make it.

The best thing you can do in preparation for an interview is to gather as much information as you can about the organization.

Research the companys culture, values and norms. Are there pictures anywhere of people in the office? The firms social media profiles and website should have some pictures.

Today, most offices have a business-causal dress code, meaning that things arent as formal as they used to be.

People are often allowed to wear jeans to the office so long as they look smart. But remember, interviews still have a more formal expectation.

Ask around for advice. If you know someone who has interviewed for a role similar to yours, ask what they wore.

If your budget allows, and if the option is available, book an appointment with a personal shopper at your nearest department store so you can get some advice and try on different outfits.

If consulting a personal shopper isnt a possibility, ask a sales assistant for some help and advice.

The internet is full of forums and sites dedicated to helping women find jobs. Indeed.com is a wonderful resource full of interview techniques and advice.

Following the general guidelines below will help remove some of the uncertainty.

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Consider Your Look From Head To Toe

Even if the job interview is over Zoom, dont be tempted to team that fancy blouse with your pyjama bottoms. I often advise my clients to consider their whole look, from head to toe even if it is a virtual interview. Teaming a gorgeous shirt with joggers may be comfortable but its unlikely to make you feel interview ready, says Stitch Fix stlist consultant Katie Eastwood.

Consider a jumpsuit to take the stress out of coordinating an outfit. Comfy and stylish, its a ready-made look that requires minimal styling.

Oasis Tailored Linen Mix Puff Sleeve Jumpsuit|Price:£63.20 |Sizes:6-18

This all-in-one is perfect when considering what to wear to a job interview. It will take the stress out of putting an outfit together – just throw it on and go. The linen mix will keep you cool in the summer and its tailored design ensures youll remain smart too. The wide-leg and built-in belt offers a flattering silhouette whilst the puff sleeves adds extra interest to your top half – perfect for a virtual interview.

General Guidelines For An Interview Outfit

Your interview outfit may include:

• Skirt Should always be below the knee. Can be high or regular waisted, fitted or loose

• Dress Below the knee, and semi-fitted or fitted

• Pants Not too long, not too short. They can be cigarette-style or bootcut, high-waisted or regular. Wide-legged pants should be avoided for interviews

• Blazer or jacket Fitted or semi-fitted, sitting around your hips

• Shirt or blouse Not too low cut or gaping

How these items are styled or the color you choose depends on the company you want to work for. The more formal the company, the more traditional youll be. The more casual the company, the more room you have to create your outfit.

Here are some top tips:

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Professional / Business Interview Attire

Generally, a job interview calls for you to wear professional, or business, attire. This might mean:

• A suit jacket and slacks with a button-down shirt and tie
• A sweater and a button-down shirt
• A blouse and dress pants
• A statement dress

You can also incorporate some modern style trends into your outfit. All interviewees should consider color when selecting an interview outfit and avoid wearing anything too bright or flashy that will distract the hiring manager.

The more important thing to consider when you’re dressing for a job interview is that you should look professional and polished regardless of the type of position you’re seeking. Even though your interview attire depends on the role you’re applying for, no matter what the position, you should go to the interview looking neat, tidy, and well-dressed.

Business Casual Interview Outfit Examples For Men

Business Casual has some more structure for us guys. The rules are a bit more defined and easy to follow we’re taking the same principles from our Smart Casual look and dressing them up a bit.

For example, instead of a free form button down you’re going to want a shirt with a bit more structure. Instead of distressed chinos you may want to opt for clean, tailored chinos or slacks.

While you don’t need to break out the suit jacket just yet, Business Casual typically calls for some sort of sport coat or blazer . Let’s check out some examples:

Men’s Outfit Example #1

Top: Ironed white button down

Jacket: Gray unstructured sport coat

Belt: Always, and make sure it matches the tone of your shoes

Bottom: Navy slacks

Shoes: Polished leather loafers or oxfords

Accessories: Watches are great, you can also add a pocket square to your sport coat if you want to spice things up. No tie needed at this point.

Awesome, see? Pretty straightforward. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with things like the jacket and shirt style. You want to be professional but you can still show a little bit of personality:

Men’s Outfit Example #2

Belt: Always, make sure the belt matches the tone of your shoes

Bottom: Ironed Navy dress chinos

Shoes: Polished, dark leather dress shoes

Accessories: Watches are great, you can also add a pocket square to your sport coat if you want to spice things up. No tie needed at this point.

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Consider Common Rules Of Thumb

• Dress one step up from what those in the workplace environment wear. For example, if a companyâs leaders and employees typically dress in jeans and T-shirts, your one step up might include a pair of non-denim pants and a tucked-in shirt.

• Prioritize feeling comfortable and confident. Even if youâll be wearing a tie and button-down shirt, make sure your garments do not restrict movement or irritate your skin so that you can focus on the conversation with a potential employer. You may even choose to wear something you already know feels comfortable, rather than investing in a new set of garments.

• Make sure every garment in your ensemble is clean, free of wrinkles or tears, and properly fitting. These details alone can polish your look.