There was 20+ page thread on this before that I cannot find anymore. Anyone have this bookmarked or is better at the search function?
I think you only wear the watch and that's it...I made it through three pages of watch porn and penis measuring, and still haven't seen any suiting advice for residency applicants
I think you only wear the watch and that's it...
Really easy for anyone that is clueless about clothes: Just go to men's warehouse, tell them you're interviewing, they'll set you up with a charcoal and navy.
-Don't wear a button down shirt with a suit
To clarify for the extra sarcastic, I meant a button down collar.
Good pointI mean, in general I like them.
But I think in a residency interview all you do is risk that someone will think that it looks pretentious.
Same reason I don't wear them at conferences.
I doubt people notice 2 dinky buttons to hold down your collar.
To clarify for the extra sarcastic, I meant a button down collar.
Some of us do.I doubt people notice 2 dinky buttons to hold down your collar.
Just say no to mens warehouse.
Their stuff is crap and their sales staff is clueless.
If you're clueless about fashion, odds are you'll walk out of there with an ugly boxy suit that is two sizes too big.
My only experience with MW is when friends have used them for wedding tux rental (i.e. when I am required to use them), and when others have bought stuff from there that I've seen.
My point was that I think there are better options for only a tiny bit more money. Not that I think there are better cheaper options.
Much of the advice for men goes for women as well, although the latter have more leeway in terms of color.How about for women? I'm not interviewing until next year but I was just planning on using the suits I wore for med school interviewing. Haven't changed sizes and they have been hanging in a garment bag in my closet since being cleaned after my last interview. Two pantsuits- grey suit with a cream blouse and black suit with a soft pink or cream blouse.
Thoughts on heels? I wore a really comfy pair of 3 inch black heels for my med school interviews, but since then I've broken my ankle and haven't been able to do heels since. I could always try a 1-2 inch or I guess a chunkier heel for more stability, but even this low of a heel makes me cringe. And chunky heels usually don't look as nice to me. I'm assuming flats are out of the question, but flats and Danskos are really the only professional shoes I've been able to stand for the last 2 years.
I'm sure the great @Winged Scapula has opinions
Wow, I'm so clueless about this stuff it's embarrassing. Thank you for the summary @southernIM
Much of the advice for men goes for women as well, although the latter have more leeway in terms of color.
SUITS
- wear one
- trousers are fine; skirt suits are more traditional and may be seen more in conservative fields (e.g., surgery); a dress with matching jacket is fine
- the suit must MATCH: fabric, style and color. This is not the occasion for those Tahari and Kasper suits you see at Macys with hot pink jackets and black shirts.
- skirt length at the knee or slightly below *when sitting*; shorter is interpreted as slutty, longer as dowdy
- when you bend over I should not see your thong, your blouse stays tucked in
- tropical weight wool, wool gabardine; no cotton sateen, linen, lycra, knits
- no "fashion" styles: short sleeves, peplums, cuffs, "cigarette" legs, ankle length, pleats
- navy, charcoal are best; brown is considered casual. Black? Despite internet pundit "wisdom", its not considered appropriate for interviews. If that's what you've got and you're on a budget and can't afford another, then so be it - you will be one of the dozens of others who are wearing a black suit.
BLOUSES
- the soft pink and cream sound fine, but boring. If those are your best colors, then definitely wear them but many people look better with a little more bold color. This is where you can deviate from the boys.
- I tend to avoid the button front blouse as I think they are not flattering on most and are too milquetoast; they are fine for working at The Gap or Mortons
- I wish it went without saying but no cleavage on view, no visible bra straps, no tank tops, no sheer; keep your jacket on if sleeveless
SHOES
- flats and certainly Danskos are not professional despite what a thousand med students and residents think they're doing during clinic
- unfortunately, heels are considered appropriate for women for interview
- the shoes in the link you provided are…<ahem> unfortunate
- clearly, if you are physically unable to wear heels you do not want to appear disabled by wearing them; you'll need to find some lower heeled comfortable shoes. Cole Haan makes some Nike Air Soles that are comfortable; you've some time to work on that element.
- color: cordovan if wearing navy, otherwise black. Should be darker than your suit.
JEWELRY
- one piercing per ear, lobes only
- its ok to stray from the "pearl stud" stereotype
- dangly earrings are to be avoided except the smallest ones
- same stuff about watches for men applies here
MISC
- pantyhose are expected; nude are best, very sheer black during the winter are acceptable
- don't bring a portfolio and a purse; one or the other
- if you bring a purse it should not look like a beach tote: it must be leather or a good facsimile of, and not so large that I wonder WTF you've got in there and why you need to cart so much stuff with you
- it should match your shoes
I'm sorry you're stressed out; you needn't be because the rules are easily learned.I get way stressed out reading this stuff. It's so annoying that I have to use any amount of brain power on this nonsense.
I'm sorry you're stressed out; you needn't be because the rules are easily learned.
But its not "nonsense".
Thanks for all the tips! And FWIW the shoes I linked are definitely unfortunate, just tried to make an example that even a kitten heel would be tough for me and that was the first small heel I found when I googled. There will certainly be shoe shopping in my future, I just need something with stability as that joint is still somewhat weak and painful on uneven ground even 2 years out.
Soft pink is one of my better colors, but I'll take the tip and look for something a bit bolder too.
Hah, thanks. I guess it just irritates me that such superficial things as aesthetics truly make an impact in such a logical, objective, and professional career.
But excuse me for wearing a black (not charcoal) suit. Good thing I got it tailored though -- God forbid the arm lengths are a half inch too short.
But appearance does matter. It makes an impact on people. All I care is that you look like a professional adult. If you follow even half of the points I made ((esp re: tailoring) you will probably look professional, the rest are just minutiae.
But we see a pretty good number of applicants who show up to residencies interviews looking like, for lack of a better word, slobs. Ill fitting suits with the tags still on, poorly coordinated outfits, suits that look like they borrowed them from their dad, etc. Those applicants do look bad and I'm sure it negatively impacts the interviewers' perceptions of them.
I give this advice mostly because it is a perennial question here. I'm hardly a fashionista and the previous thread with watch porn was over my head.
I didn't say the entire outfit was appropriate. Fine here is another one that is more professional.Good Lord where did you get that picture from? Pleated pants, a woven belt, green tie with the lavender shirt? Ugh…its horrible enough to distract from his handsome face.
Read this about button down shirts. You may apparently wear one in your coffin.
I was just teasing you…no need to get your jimmies rustled like @kirbymiester .
I think what turns applicants is off is that medicine which cloaks itself in being above money - values things that are about...wait for it...money. It's unadulterated materialism.I give this advice mostly because it is a perennial question here. I'm hardly a fashionista and the previous thread with watch porn was over my head.
And no, it's not like I'm going to be interviewing someone and going - hmm, black suit, minus two points.
But appearance does matter. It makes an impact on people. All I care is that you look like a professional adult. If you follow even half of the points I made ((esp re: tailoring) you will probably look professional, the rest are just minutiae.
But we see a pretty good number of applicants who show up to residencies interviews looking like, for lack of a better word, slobs. Ill fitting suits with the tags still on, poorly coordinated outfits, suits that look like they borrowed them from their dad, etc. Those applicants do look bad and I'm sure it negatively impacts the interviewers' perceptions of them.
Oh, LOL! Poe's law in action. Thought you were being completely serious. I just don't get how 2 buttons that hold down a collar onto the shirt so you can't see the underside of the tie is "less formal".I was just teasing you…no need to get your jimmies rustled like @kirbymiester .
Was that before or after a round of golf at the whites only country club?I just know what they taught me in Cotillion.
Wouldn't you say that's true of young millenials who fail to see that dressing nicely has some value? IMHO its not materialistic to present a clean, polished and professional image.I think what turns applicants is off is that medicine which cloaks itself in being above money - values things that are about...wait for it...money. It's unadulterated materialism.
LOL. I'm only kidding. I was channeling EMDO2018.Cotillion classes were so long, they unfortunately usually meant no golf that day...
Well I was serious about it being less formal but those aren't rules of my making.Oh, LOL! Poe's law in action. Thought you were being completely serious. I just don't get how 2 buttons that hold down a collar onto the shirt so you can't see the underside of the tie is "less formal".
Good imitation.LOL. I'm only kidding. I was channeling EMDO2018.
Yes, but this isn't the difference between walking in looking like that picture you attached vs. wearing a suit. It's the difference between buying a suit at Armani or Dolce & Gabbana vs. buying a suit at JCPenney (or god forbid a Men's Wearhouse - as if suits can't be altered). I think that is what KirbyMeister is getting at.Wouldn't you say that's true of young millenials who fail to see that dressing nicely has some value? IMHO its not materialistic to present a clean, polished and professional image.
No one needs to be wearing a Patek watch or Zegna suit to a medical school interview; if you can afford it great but its perfectly acceptable to wear something from JCP if it fits well and flatters you.
View attachment 185664
Yes, I know you were being serious about the 2 buttons. I'm just saying in this instance, it really doesn't make sense why it's less formal unlike SouthernIM's other rules (i.e. only one earring in each ear, only on lobe, etc.)Well I was serious about it being less formal but those aren't rules of my making.
Oh, LOL! Poe's law in action. Thought you were being completely serious. I just don't get how 2 buttons that hold down a collar onto the shirt so you can't see the underside of the tie is "less formal".
And yet, it isn't so derm. If you're curious, you should read more about it here: http://historicallyirrelevant.com/post/40546148633/an-ode-to-the-ocbd
Basically, the OCBD started as a shirt for sports- you could ride in it without the collar flapping up into your face. It's a more casual shirt.