Men's Interview Clothing #3!

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Either button the top 2 or just the middle. Then leave it buttoned while standing and unbuttoned while sitting.

As for me, I've gained about 10-12lbs since I bought my suit in July. Because of this, my thick, solid, and tight body is coming pretty close to ripping out of the chest area. I already had my suit jacket taken in, but now I need it taken out. Does anyone know whether it's better to get a jacket "taken out" if that makes sense, or would it be ok to adjust the button position to give the jacket more room when buttoned?

10-12 in 3 months? Nice work, son.

You should be able to get it let out at either the side seams or back seam, no prob.
 
Maybe you could get away with that in the Pacific Northwest, but I would wear a suit to an East Coast interview.

You would stand out in a bad way no matter where you interview. At my UW interview, everyone wore a suit. You aren't going to a middle school dance. Just go buy a suit!


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Couple questions:

Regarding my suit I posted on page 27, it's a 3 button. So I should button top 2 while standing and unbutton both while sitting correct?

The place I'm traveling to interview tomorrow is frigid 42 during the day. Can I wear a scarf, as long as it's not too clashy? Of course not during the actual interview, but when walking in and during school tour.

Any thoughts on the scarf?

Thanks Fivo for answering about my jacket.
 
My suit is slightly too loose for me but not loose enough for me to bother getting it tailored. Maybe I'll just hit the gym and bench a lot...
 
10-12 in 3 months? Nice work, son.

You should be able to get it let out at either the side seams or back seam, no prob.

lol a guy's perspective on this is so funny to me. as a girl I'd be bawling my eyes out if I gained 12 lbs!
 
So slightly unrelated, but I have an interview next Tuesday for a job as a research associate for my gap year. Unfortunately, I only have a black suit, with grey or black dress shirt. Since a new suit is out of my price range based on my funds available, should I just look to buy a nice white shirt and new tie? What color tie? I plan on buying a new suit in the future, but this opportunity just came up, so I need to seize it.
Bear in mind that I do live in the Midwest, so people are more used to black suits, but I still need to look good for this interview (look good = perform good).
Thanks
 
I just got my custom suit from worldofalfa and its really nice. I just wish I would have given myself some extra room for comfort because its a bit on the tight side, though like Fivo that may just be because I've gained a few pounds.

Unfortunately there is no extra fabric to let out the pants so Im stuck with either losing weight or just be slightly uncomfortable for the day
 
I decided to go with a suit jacket. A sweater is too risky. Thanks!
 
Wait how is there an entire thread dedicated to this topic? There is only one thing you wear to an interview. It's called a suit.

/thread
 
Wait how is there an entire thread dedicated to this topic? There is only one thing you wear to an interview. It's called a suit.

/thread

cuz most people end up buying a suit like the one on the left instead of the one on the right

evan-ng-suit.jpg
 
10-12 in 3 months? Nice work, son.

You should be able to get it let out at either the side seams or back seam, no prob.

Awwww yeah. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to my tailor in time. They are korean owned but have this one hispanic employee (only one that speaks good english) and he was never available when I was 🙁

So if anyone sees a black guy in a fitted charcoal suit, whose top button on his blazer looks a bit stretched, don't hate on him as he is just genetically like this!

I think I'm going to try to cut 10lbs before my first interview this week. That out to do the trick. Any HS wrestlers have any tips?
 
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Awwww yeah. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to my tailor in time. They are korean owned but have this one hispanic employee (only one that speaks good english) and he was never available when I was 🙁

So if anyone sees a black guy in a fitted charcoal suit, whose top button on his blazer looks a bit stretched, don't hate on him as he is just genetically like this!

I think I'm going to try to cut 10lbs before my first interview this week. That out to do the trick. Any HS wrestlers have any tips?

Lasix, and saunas.
 
Awwww yeah. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to my tailor in time. They are korean owned but have this one hispanic employee (only one that speaks good english) and he was never available when I was 🙁

So if anyone sees a black guy in a fitted charcoal suit, whose top button on his blazer looks a bit stretched, don't hate on him as he is just genetically like this!

I think I'm going to try to cut 10lbs before my first interview this week. That out to do the trick. Any HS wrestlers have any tips?

Heat wraps, sleep with sweatpants and sweatshirts.
 
Guys, this is a version of something I posted on a school specific forum, but it bears repeating for everyone. You absolutely have to wear a suit and tie for your interview. I wouldn't have thought that needed repeating, but there have been recent situations that made me realize that some people either don't get it or don't care.

My school/adcom definitely selects for a laid back group, but if you're not socially adept enough to figure out what's appropriate in an interview you may also have some issues gauging tricky patient situations. It's an interview, it's one day, suck it up and wear a g*d***n suit and tie, shake hands, and use proper forms of address (aka, first names are NOT acceptable. Such a stupid reason to sink what is probably an otherwise great application.
 
Guys, this is a version of something I posted on a school specific forum, but it bears repeating for everyone. You absolutely have to wear a suit and tie for your interview.

👍 At one of my interviews last month, every guy showed up dressed in suits, EXCEPT this one guy. He had on brown khaki pants, top sider shoes, dress shirt that wasn't button up to the top(exposed a little of his chest), no tie and a very big jacket on. At first I was telling everyone maybe that was all he could afford. But throughout the whole interview day he was leaning back in his seat and generally giving the vibe that he did not care about making a good impression. All of us where flabbergasted.
 
Interview season is basically over for me. What's the best way to store this thing in my closet? I bought a big nylon suit bag for traveling, but I'm guessing it's not a good idea to leave it in there. Should I just hang it and cover it with the plastic bag?
 
Interview season is basically over for me. What's the best way to store this thing in my closet? I bought a big nylon suit bag for traveling, but I'm guessing it's not a good idea to leave it in there. Should I just hang it and cover it with the plastic bag?

Hang+Bag. Make sure it's sitting pretty in the bag.
 
I've never seen so many people wearing slip on shoes with their suits in my life. Every time I interviewed I saw those slip-ons, the non-polished shoes, the weird tie colors, the button down collars, the "I just inherited this suit from my dad" guys, the white collar shirts, the bright red ties, the plethora of black suits...WOW

I do have to say though, without all of these guys doing these things, I wouldn't have looked so good :meanie:

Also MedPR, I think you should check the suit from time to time to make sure moths don't chew holes through it!
 
I've never seen so many people wearing slip on shoes with their suits in my life. Every time I interviewed I saw those slip-ons, the non-polished shoes, the weird tie colors, the button down collars, the "I just inherited this suit from my dad" guys, the white collar shirts, the bright red ties, the plethora of black suits...WOW

I do have to say though, without all of these guys doing these things, I wouldn't have looked so good :meanie:

Also MedPR, I think you should check the suit from time to time to make sure moths don't chew holes through it!

lol, I only have one suit and it's black. I also wore slip-ons. bam, accepted. I have an old navy suit, but it was way too small.

I also might add that you should watch out for the irons in the hotel rooms. I ruined a shirt the night before an interview with the rusty water leaking out of the iron. Good thing I brought 2 shirts for a second interview.
 
lol, I only have one suit and it's black. I also wore slip-ons. bam, accepted. I have an old navy suit, but it was way too small.

I also might add that you should watch out for the irons in the hotel rooms. I ruined a shirt the night before an interview with the rusty water leaking out of the iron. Good thing I brought 2 shirts for a second interview.

Hah, nice! And yeah, with regards to irons, I always heat it up first and run it over a regular tshirt for about 5 minutes. I press the steamer, leave the iron on one spot for a while, basically do everything wrong to a shirt just to see if it might burn or leave a black mark. That sucks though about ruining your shirt. I only brought 1 shirt each interview and I'd have been in some serious doo if that happened.

brb wearing a suit and tie with no shirt a la Magic Mike 👍
 
lol, I only have one suit and it's black. I also wore slip-ons. bam, accepted.

As is rehashed on nearly every page of this thread, almost none of these fashion issues will keep you from getting accepted, but many things (slip on shoes, ugly ties, huge suits, button down collars) will make you look like a huge doofus. If looking ridiculous is of no consequence to you or others, that's fine and getting accepted to a medical school truly is the ultimate goal.

However, every guy has to learn to dress like a big boy at some point, and interview season is as good a time as ever. I don't understand the resistance (not by you of course, but by others) to dressing well that occasionally pops up on this thread. There are some very widely-accepted standards in the grown up world when it comes to business attire, and to thumb one's nose at this is basically a declaration that you weren't mature enough to dress like an adult in the first place.

Although honestly, I think one of the most egregious errors are the hideous square toed slip on shoes (or just any shoe that is either square toed or slip on, but the combo of both is especially frightening), and if I had to reject someone based on one single fashion faux pas, this would probably be the one.
 
As is rehashed on nearly every page of this thread, almost none of these fashion issues will keep you from getting accepted, but many things (slip on shoes, ugly ties, huge suits, button down collars) will make you look like a huge doofus. If looking ridiculous is of no consequence to you or others, that's fine and getting accepted to a medical school truly is the ultimate goal.

However, every guy has to learn to dress like a big boy at some point, and interview season is as good a time as ever. I don't understand the resistance (not by you of course, but by others) to dressing well that occasionally pops up on this thread. There are some very widely-accepted standards in the grown up world when it comes to business attire, and to thumb one's nose at this is basically a declaration that you weren't mature enough to dress like an adult in the first place.

Although honestly, I think one of the most egregious errors are the hideous square toed slip on shoes (or just any shoe that is either square toed or slip on, but the combo of both is especially frightening), and if I had to reject someone based on one single fashion faux pas, this would probably be the one.

I thought my slip-ons were very undoofus like. I'm just on a budget and preoccupied with more important things than how I look in the mirror.
 
I thought my slip-ons were very undoofus like. I'm just on a budget and preoccupied with more important things than how I look in the mirror.

No excuse for those old man slippers brother :meanie:. I paid $32 for my used AE balmoral punched cap toes off ebay and with $2 shoe polish, an old toothbrush, and a sock, they looked good as new. Come at me bro 😎
 
I thought my slip-ons were very undoofus like. I'm just on a budget and preoccupied with more important things than how I look in the mirror.

Oh trust me, I'm on a budget too. But as Fivo pointed out, there are many ways to get around a tight budget. You can easily find a nice pair of shoes used for cheap. Allen Edmonds are good quality but sometimes tough to find a good pair used on ebay for <$100 depending on your size.

The Johnston & Murphy "Melton" shoe is an excellent frugal shoe that you can find on ebay gently used pretty regularly for $20-50, and although they're "corrected grain" leather, they're still lightyears better than what almost every other interviewer wears, and they take and hold a shine very well.

Slip-on shoes are almost never appropriate with a suit, and even on the rare occasion they work, they should be good quality loafers (I would like to go on record saying that I don't think loafers are ever appropriate for suits personally, but some people can get away with it). When I say "slip on shoes", these are what I'm picturing, as it's the kind of terrible abortion I've seen many many people wear with suits at interviews:

85676_BLACK


If you own anything remotely resembling that monstrosity, burn them and start over, budget or no budget.
 
If you own anything remotely resembling that monstrosity, burn them and start over, budget or no budget.

it's true. the reason people say these things in this thread isn't that we're all style nazis, far from it. but the basic rules of men's fashion are extremely straightforward, can be pursued inexpensively, and there really aren't any excuses for not following them. medical school is professional school, and you're kidding yourself if you don't think a major reason for interviews is to assess for that capacity in applicants.

you worked hard in high school and undergrad, did your homework on how to get into med school, put a lot of effort into positioning yourself well for these interviews. why slack off on this particular issue now when so close?
 
No excuse for those old man slippers brother :meanie:. I paid $32 for my used AE balmoral punched cap toes off ebay and with $2 shoe polish, an old toothbrush, and a sock, they looked good as new. Come at me bro 😎

Weren't those cheaper balmorals super squeaky? I had a pair like that and they made so much noise. My slip-ons were actually about $200, so they are nicer quality, but they were a gift, and I couldn't afford anything nicer.

At the moment, I can't be ballin' on a budget, but maybe one day I'll be able to put together a solid wardrobe. I agree it's important to look sharp and professional. If I could have afforded a new suit and shoes I would have bought them. Right now I'm just trying to buy plane tickets. I honestly don't think the interviewer even cares about how you are dressed. I had one interviewer wearing a wrinkly polo shirt untucked with slacks.
 
Weren't those cheaper balmorals super squeaky? I had a pair like that and they made so much noise. My slip-ons were actually about $200, so they are nicer quality, but they were a gift, and I couldn't afford anything nicer.

At the moment, I can't be ballin' on a budget, but maybe one day I'll be able to put together a solid wardrobe. I agree it's important to look sharp and professional. If I could have afforded a new suit and shoes I would have bought them. Right now I'm just trying to buy plane tickets. I honestly don't think the interviewer even cares about how you are dressed. I had one interviewer wearing a wrinkly polo shirt untucked with slacks.

you would have found out how much that interviewer cared about how you were dressed if you had shown up wearing what s/he did.
 
I wish clothes were so cheap. Then it would be easy. I don't understand when anyone says "If you have money for plane tickets, you SHOULD have money for high-end clothes". No, after spending money on airplane costs and all other fees, the leftovers aren't as much(unless you are flowing with cash!).

Thankfully it's easy to look good on a cheap budget. Shop around, look for great deals, and get some solid stuff.

I think I said this before, but be thankful you aren't a chick. Men's fashion is ridiculously easy compared to what the chicks are worrying about by a landslide.
 
I think I said this before, but be thankful you aren't a chick. Men's fashion is ridiculously easy compared to what the chicks are worrying about by a landslide.

Agreed. Which makes it stranger how bad guys tend to mess it up, since there really are only a few basic guidelines (well, if you start to get into ridiculous nuances, there are quite a few more guidelines, but for all intents and purposes the basics are easy). This is perhaps why it is so frustrating to see so many other guys walking around like billboards for how not to dress. If there are only a small handful of rules, and you fail to follow any of them, that doesn't speak very highly of the individual.

And you absolutely don't have to break the bank (or come anywhere near) to look good. For interviewing, an inexpensive but tailored suit in a charcoal or navy, a simple cheap white or light blue spread or point collar shirt, a $10 tie, and a pair of like-new cap toes from ebay can make you look like a stud.

For the most part, looking great costs the same as looking terrible. The difference is simply understanding the basic guidelines and not ignoring them.
 
Weren't those cheaper balmorals super squeaky? I had a pair like that and they made so much noise. My slip-ons were actually about $200, so they are nicer quality, but they were a gift, and I couldn't afford anything nicer.

At the moment, I can't be ballin' on a budget, but maybe one day I'll be able to put together a solid wardrobe. I agree it's important to look sharp and professional. If I could have afforded a new suit and shoes I would have bought them. Right now I'm just trying to buy plane tickets. I honestly don't think the interviewer even cares about how you are dressed. I had one interviewer wearing a wrinkly polo shirt untucked with slacks.

😱

Dang man. No my shoes weren't squeaky at all. They're Allen Edmonds in great condition (size 14). You paid $200 for slip-on shoes? Go get that money back asap :meanie: Slap on $100 and I could buy my entire interview gear with that money. $200 or so for a tailored Hugo Boss charcoal suit from ebay(used, looks crisp as heck, come at me). $30 trial shirt from moderntailor.com (spread collar, slim and perfect fit), $30 used AE shoes. Some Calf-high charcoal socks for $3 at Nordstrom's Rack, $15 for a black leather Penguin belt and a $15 burgundy pin dot tie from The Tiebar.

So for around $300 I went to my interviews looking like a black Harvey Specter. I got tons of compliments from many of the med students who I talked to during lunches and chats. The only bad thing is that if I gain any more weight, I'm going to bust out of this suit and I will have to get on the grind again. Ah well, it's served its purpose thus far and it'll definitely last the rest of the cycle.

I know some of you guys might be against buying used clothes/shoes, but if you don't have a lot of money to spare and still want to look like a Harlem pimp, it can be done.

I'll post a pic this weekend of one of my getups. I'm sure people might recognize me based on my suit alone, even without the aesthetic face :laugh:
 
😱

Dang man. No my shoes weren't squeaky at all. They're Allen Edmonds in great condition (size 14). You paid $200 for slip-on shoes? Go get that money back asap :meanie: Slap on $100 and I could buy my entire interview gear with that money. $200 or so for a tailored Hugo Boss charcoal suit from ebay(used, looks crisp as heck, come at me). $30 trial shirt from moderntailor.com (spread collar, slim and perfect fit), $30 used AE shoes. Some Calf-high charcoal socks for $3 at Nordstrom's Rack, $15 for a black leather Penguin belt and a $15 burgundy pin dot tie from The Tiebar.

So for around $300 I went to my interviews looking like a black Harvey Specter. I got tons of compliments from many of the med students who I talked to during lunches and chats. The only bad thing is that if I gain any more weight, I'm going to bust out of this suit and I will have to get on the grind again. Ah well, it's served its purpose thus far and it'll definitely last the rest of the cycle.

I know some of you guys might be against buying used clothes/shoes, but if you don't have a lot of money to spare and still want to look like a Harlem pimp, it can be done.

I'll post a pic this weekend of one of my getups. I'm sure people might recognize me based on my suit alone, even without the aesthetic face :laugh:

I see them priced at $300, but I got them as a gift from a friend who worked at Nordstrom, so they were super cheap for her. They were free for me. I didn't buy anything new except for a shirt and tie. I had a 2-year-old, black, Calvin Klein suit that I wore. I too noticed alot of people with slip-ons, so I didn't feel too out of place.

Here are the slip-ons.
 
I see them priced at $300, but I got them as a gift from a friend who worked at Nordstrom, so they were super cheap for her. They were free for me. I didn't buy anything new except for a shirt and tie. I had a 2-year-old, black, Calvin Klein suit that I wore. I too noticed alot of people with slip-ons, so I didn't feel too out of place.

Here are the slip-ons.

I mean this in the nicest way possible: please do yourself a favor and never wear those again. Ever.
 
I mean this in the nicest way possible: please do yourself a favor and never wear those again. Ever.

Somehow I knew you were going to say that. They specifically wrote "wear comfortable shoes" on the interview invite, so I called their bluff.
 
Somehow I knew you were going to say that. They specifically wrote "wear comfortable shoes" on the interview invite, so I called their bluff.

I'm not trying to be mean here, please don't mistake my comments for that. But those shoes are terrible, and the epitome of what guys wear when they are absolutely clueless about what they're supposed to wear. It does not have to even cost much to get a pair of decent shoes that work.

Of course it's not gonna get you rejected from medical school. That's never been anyone's argument on these threads. But shoes like this are just bad. They should simply not exist.
 
I'm not trying to be mean here, please don't mistake my comments for that. But those shoes are terrible, and the epitome of what guys wear when they are absolutely clueless about what they're supposed to wear. It does not have to even cost much to get a pair of decent shoes that work.

Of course it's not gonna get you rejected from medical school. That's never been anyone's argument on these threads. But shoes like this are just bad. They should simply not exist.

Buy me a new pair and I'll wear them. I could sprint if I had to in those shoes, and I'm broke so I wore free shoes. When I am a resident I will be ballin. Until then.
 
Hey guys I would appreciate some help.
I've got a black suit and recently bought a navy blue shirt to go with it.
I've heard bad things about this combo and was wondering what you guys thought.
And what should I do about the tie?
thanks

Why not light blue shirt with navy tie? Navy shirt with dark suit is good for Vegas, not interview.
 
Hey guys I would appreciate some help.
I've got a black suit and recently bought a navy blue shirt to go with it.
I've heard bad things about this combo and was wondering what you guys thought.
And what should I do about the tie?
thanks

I actually did that once. Result: Rejected
 
Hey guys I would appreciate some help.
I've got a black suit and recently bought a navy blue shirt to go with it.
I've heard bad things about this combo and was wondering what you guys thought.
And what should I do about the tie?
thanks

I advise you to go to any discount store (Ross, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom's Rack, even Target) and buy a white or light blue shirt for less than $20 and a silk tie (burgundy or navy pin dots, or minimal stripes) for around $10. Save the navy shirt for the clubs/bars when you're getting yucky with the boys.
 
Hey guys I would appreciate some help.
I've got a black suit and recently bought a navy blue shirt to go with it.
I've heard bad things about this combo and was wondering what you guys thought.
And what should I do about the tie?
thanks

Pretty bad combination.

Go lighter with the shirt.
 
Somehow I knew you were going to say that. They specifically wrote "wear comfortable shoes" on the interview invite, so I called their bluff.

see, this is exactly the kind of mentality that guys like drzzt, stuff and i are trying to combat. anyone who advises you of exceptions to a dress code when inviting you to something like this is doing you a huge favor. that favor should not be taken as an invitation to try and get away with whatever you think is acceptable given your interpretation of what they said was OK.

those shoes are pretty awful, and i really am sorry that you dropped $200 on them. appropriate shoes /= pain.
 
Oh btw. Striped shirt: 3 wait list. Solid light blue shirt: 3 acceptances. Coincidence? I think not.
 
see, this is exactly the kind of mentality that guys like drzzt, stuff and i are trying to combat. anyone who advises you of exceptions to a dress code when inviting you to something like this is doing you a huge favor. that favor should not be taken as an invitation to try and get away with whatever you think is acceptable given your interpretation of what they said was OK.

those shoes are pretty awful, and i really am sorry that you dropped $200 on them. appropriate shoes /= pain.

I used to be a fan of slip ons. I liked being able to easily slip them on and off and not needing to tie laces. Though after buying my first pair of lace ups I can't imagine ever wearing slip ons again. Laces look so much better, especially when sitting and your shoes and socks are exposed.

Although while maybe not strictly being slip ons I would love to own these monk staps for casual days

_7383572.jpg
 
see, this is exactly the kind of mentality that guys like drzzt, stuff and i are trying to combat. anyone who advises you of exceptions to a dress code when inviting you to something like this is doing you a huge favor. that favor should not be taken as an invitation to try and get away with whatever you think is acceptable given your interpretation of what they said was OK.

those shoes are pretty awful, and i really am sorry that you dropped $200 on them. appropriate shoes /= pain.

Can you not read? I said they were a gift, so they were free. I have zero dollars to buy new anything. I could care less about fashion points, I was just trying to make due with what I have.


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Can you not read? I said they were a gift, so they were free. I have zero dollars to buy new anything. I could care less about fashion points, I was just trying to make due with what I have.


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aw snap. sorry man. i hereby retract my sympathies.

seriously, I understand where you were at. I've been there too. I do however reserve the right to criticize you for flaunting your interview appearance as insignificant to your results and then using that as a basis for saying some sorta crazy stuff, when you are after all posting in a men's fashion forum.
 
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Can you not read? I said they were a gift, so they were free. I have zero dollars to buy new anything. I could care less about fashion points, I was just trying to make due with what I have.


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I'm sure you know this, but you will be poor for 4 more years if you get into medical school. And you will still need professional clothes, and will be judged on it. No need to overspend as a student, but you DO want to start cultivating a professional wardrobe.

And don't be that ***** on picture day coming in shirt and tie with flip flops on the bottom.
 
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