Men's Interview Clothing #3!

gravitywave said:

The jacket has to fit off the rack in three places:

Shoulders - pads should be flush. The seam between the sleeve and the chest should be smooth and natural looking.
Length - only just covering your butt.
Collar - flat against your shirt collar. Don't try on a suit jacket without a dress shirt on underneath.

Pants need to fit in the thighs. Waists can taken in or let out about an inch, no more. And of course you need to decide on pleats vs no. The other stuff can be tailored and honestly if you get these right, that shouldn't require much for most guys. But these are the parts you have to get right, otherwise the suit will require more effort than it's worth to get right, and probably won't ever be right anyway.

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TheMaverick said:

Can the width of the pant leg be tailored? I just can't find suits or dress pants that aren't far too wide at the leg even if they fit at the waist.

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JoshuaGuit said:

I have a short p-coat and I have a longer p-coat (more of a trench coat, but not matrix style or anything). I'm interviewing at UCONN next week and it will be cold. Can anyone give me advice on which is more appropriate with this outfit? Both p-coats are black.

Thank you!

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def1 said:

Is your suit black? Nothing wrong with a black suit since most interviewees wear them, but a charcoal would be better.

I would wear the longer p-coat and as long as its not down to your knees.

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nabilesmail said:

http://images.menswearhouse.com/is/image/TMW/867A_41_WILKE_RODRIGUEZ_TIES_TAUPE_MAIN?$grid$

This tie with charcoal suit/white shirt?

This may be a different color than my tie but same brand/width/pattern except mine is a dark maroon

Pretty much want to know if the pattern is all right since the dots are black and a lighter color maroon rather than white (my shirt is white) does that not match well?

Edit: Also what kind of tie knot should I have. Four in Hand or Half Windsor. I really like the symmetry of the Half windsor but I am pretty short (5 ft 7) and slim, I don't know which knot fits me better. By the way I'll be wearing an express 1 mx shirt (not aware of what kind of collar that is).

Any advice?

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Wipeout416 said:

White collar on light purple shirt too pretentious?

How about French cuffs?

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Caesar said:

Just some general FYI that I post on occasion because people always want to know where to get things for an affordable price.

I get shirts from JCP on sale for like 15-20. They look good, wash well, and are in my med student budget.

I get ties from JCP on sale if there is one that catches my eye. I also buy from the tie bar.

Shoes: JCP again but also 6PM.com

Socks: Basically the only non-conventional thing I do is wear more fun socks. I get them from Gap, H+M, basically anywhere that has some that I like.

Pants: Gap, express.

A general rule, the more you spend the longer the product SHOULD last (especially shoes) but if you don't have the money to drop 6 Gs on shoes, go conservative and inexpensive but not cheap. Always with laces, never with square toes.

Fit matters more than label.

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Caesar said:

Just some general FYI that I post on occasion because people always want to know where to get things for an affordable price.

I get shirts from JCP on sale for like 15-20. They look good, wash well, and are in my med student budget.

I get ties from JCP on sale if there is one that catches my eye. I also buy from the tie bar.

Shoes: JCP again but also 6PM.com

Socks: Basically the only non-conventional thing I do is wear more fun socks. I get them from Gap, H+M, basically anywhere that has some that I like.

Pants: Gap, express.

A general rule, the more you spend the longer the product SHOULD last (especially shoes) but if you don't have the money to drop 6 Gs on shoes, go conservative and inexpensive but not cheap. Always with laces, never with square toes.

Fit matters more than label.

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acslater99 said:

So you don't really need a suit for interviews?

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nabilesmail said:

I'm assuming a belt similar this is not conservative enough?
(Its my favorite belt) :/
http://www.express.com/2-in-1-rever...=true&showBreadcrumb=true&showBreadcrumb=true

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nabilesmail said:

Should we have a belt buckel or just a typical black leather belt? Can someone give an example of a professional belt?

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acslater99 said:

So you don't really need a suit for interviews?

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flyers said:

Express suits are nice just because of their fit. You often don't have to get them tailored or anything, and they look good. Downside is they're not the most conservative of suits (i.e. they have pretty thin lapels). But the fit is still great.

Same goes for their dress shirts. Fit is great. But they can still look conservative enough. For anyone thinking of buying stuff from Express, wait for sales! They frequently have deals where if you spend x dollars you get a certain amount off.

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Caesar said:

All suits should be taken to a tailor. It doesn't need tailored when a tailor says it doesn't need tailored.

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flyers said:

Normally I'd agree, because that is usually the case. But with the slim suits from Express it sometimes isn't. Go try one on! If you have already and it needed to be tailored then maybe it's person-dependent. But I do know of a few other people who've bought slim-fit suits from there that did not have to be tailored.

I took mine to a close family friend tailor and they said it looked great, but that's just one opinion I guess.

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Caesar said:

Like I said, if a tailor says its good, it's good, but that's going to be the vast vast minority when it comes to suits, and this is the Internet where n=1 can become law in about 6 posts haha.

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nabilesmail said:

So I bought these shoes
http://www.amazon.com/Johnston-Murphy-Mens-Melton-Oxford/dp/B000UUGZN6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

and they're running a bit big. My size is 7.5 and I ordered that. When I walk in them my heel raises up, I could easily remove the shoe without untying.

Is there anything I can add to make the shoe fit? It would take a long time to return them and have a new pair 1/2 size lower delivered (I'm leaving next wednesday (not this one) for my interview)

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Caesar said:

Like I said, if a tailor says its good, it's good, but that's going to be the vast vast minority when it comes to suits, and this is the Internet where n=1 can become law in about 6 posts haha.

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MedPR said:

Why would a tailor say your untailored suit fits perfectly? Sounds bad for business.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

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Caesar said:

They wouldn't because they never are

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• slip-on shoes
• square toe shoes
• super flashy shoes (e.g., blue suede)
• sneakers (of any kind)
• Air Force Ones

austinap said:

This is probably a bit late in the cycle for most people, but for those of you still putting together your wardrobe and for the next interview cycle I thought I'd make a quick guide. For most of you, you're just starting to dress like a grownup. I've seen a lot of misconceptions here, so I thought I'd try to clarify a bunch of things in one place.

First, good clothes are a good investment for you now. There are a lot of statements by people saying they won't wear a suit again until residency interviews, but for most people that just isn't true. In my MS3 year, I wore a suit at least monthly. Even aside from the suit, you'll be wearing business casual daily on most of your rotations. This mean's it's a good idea to start building up a selection of standard shirts and ties that you can wear frequently. Good shoes will also be used frequently.

The main misconception I've seen is that interview attire is a matter of opinion. It isn't. In contrast to women's clothing, men's professional dress is essentially a uniform. It's one that you can have some fun with, but it's still a uniform nonetheless. For a med school interview, you need to wear a suit. Not a sweater suit, not a sport coat and slack, but a suit. We'll start there.

The Suit:

Cut: you want a two-piece suit (both parts bought as a set!). For most of you, this is going to be your first suit, so go with something fairly standard. I'd recommend single vested, two-buttons, notched lapels, double- or single-vented, with fairly conservative styling. That means that you should be able to notice things like pick-stitching from more than a few feet away. Unless you're a bigger guy, avoid pleats. They tend to make the pants look baggy and are generally not very flattering.

For color, you should go navy or charcoal. No black!. Black is for funerals and formal events. Your interview should be neither of those things. Navy is probably a little more versatile than charcoal, but I personally prefer charcoal. Lighter grey can be awesome, but will look out of place later in the fall and during winter. Don't do the 3-piece suit. It stands out, and more often than not in a bad way. It brings the rest of your outfit under closer scrutiny.

Unless you're the 1-in-a-million that finds something off the rack that fits perfectly, you'll need to get it tailored. Make sure you get something that fits in the shoulders and is the right length. Those are the two things hardest to fix. A good tailor will be able to bring in the waist and make the sleeves and pants the right length.

If you're an odd size or shape, you should really consider getting a suit made to measure (MTM). There are a ton of good options out there, and many of them are fairly reasonable. Indochino comes to mind, though I know there are others. Look into it.

Shirts:

Again, you're going standard here. If you don't already have some good button down shirts, you should start with the very basics.

Cut and Fit:: Again, go standard here. The collar should be medium spread. Don't go for the cutaway collars, as they look gaudy on most people. Likewise, button-down collars tend to be too informal for an interview. The mao collar is right out. Depending on the shirt, your best bet is to go with barrel cuffs. French cuffs can be good, but if you're not careful they can be either too formal or too flashy. If you do go for French cuffs, I'd suggest using silk knots instead of cufflinks as they tone it down a bit.

Your shirt should fit well. Your shoulders should be in the right place, and you shouldn't look like a puff ball. The buttons shouldn't strain when you're sitting. You shouldn't be able to see a space between the collar and your neck, but it shouldn't feel like you're being choked either. Again, most off-the-rack shirts won't fit most men very well. There are a ton of MTM shirtmakers online now, and many of them are reasonable with great fabric selections. You're going to be wearing a ton of dress shirts from now on, might as well get started out right. Modern Tailor offers a deal for $20 on your first shirt, so you can make sure they get the fit right before you buy a bunch of shirts with nicer fabric. There are other options too.

Color and fabric: Again, go basic. A light blue oxford is a classic that will go with just about everything. Don't get dark shirts. They don't go with suits, and you'll look like you're going to a club. White is actually less versatile than most people think, and it tends to look very severe with most people's complexion and outfits. If you're going to go with white, get something with a very light stripe or check. Light pink and purple also tend to work well with a lot of options.

I would avoid getting wrinkle-free fabrics. They tend to look shiny and cheap. There are a few exceptions, but they're usually expensive anyway. 100% cotton is the way to go.

Again, you're going to be wearing dress shirts all the time from now on, get something that fits and will last.


Ties:

Your first ties should be pretty basic and versatile. You should own more than one tie. True story: there are two guys in my class, one with only one tie and another with only two. Everybody notices. Get some good basics with a little variety, you'll be using them. Avoid ties with wild or large patterns and ties with lots of colors. If you're really afraid that your tie is too boring, opt to get something with a little bit of texture. Wool ties and silk grenadine ties are good for this.

Also avoid the red "power" tie. Darker colored reds and burgundies are fine.

Good ties are expensive, but there are options. You can guy some good ties on ebay for really low prices. I've also heard that the tie bar sells a reasonable product, though they're on the lower quality end of the spectrum.

You should use a basic knot. Four-in-hand is probably the most versatile. I tend to like the Pratt knot. Half-windsor tends to be a bit on the wide side, and the full windsor looks ridiculous on all but the most giant of men. Whatever you decide to go with, make sure you tie it well. It should have a dimple, and it shouldn't be loose on your neck. It should extend past your waist band but not below the lower edge of your belt buckle when you're standing straight.

Shoes:

Style: You need lace-up shoes. Period. The standard would be either cap-toe or plain-toe balmorals. Wing-tips are completely acceptable. Leather soles tend to be a bit classier, but there are good shoes with a rubber covering on the soles that can be good too. Just make sure it isn't a thick rubber sole, ans they look cheesy. Also, most leather-soled shoes can be resoled, meaning a good pair of shoes can last your 20+ years with a bit of care.

Color: Black is the standard, so long as you didn't get a black suit, brown will work with most suits too. Oxblood is also excellent. Brown shoes will go with more outfits than black will, and if you get a good pair of brown lace-ups I'm sure you'll find they'll come in handy on the wards (at least, on those rotations with a minimal body-fluid-on-shoes risk).

Cost is always the issue here. Everyone wants to spend less than $100 on shoes, but there simply aren't good men's shoes that retail for that range. If you're really tight, go on ebay and look for Allen Edmonds shoes there.

Don't do these things:

• slip-on shoes
• square toe shoes
• super flashy shoes (e.g., blue suede)
• sneakers (of any kind)
• Air Force Ones

Accessories:

Socks: though some may disagree, here's a place you can add a little flash. Don't go overboard, but you can introduce some color here. If you're going to go basic, your socks should match your pants.

Belt: The belt matches your shoes.

Pocket square: The best advice I ever heard on pocket squares was this: "if you have to ask, don't do it."

Watch: Optional, but if you do it you should have a leather band.

Other tidbits: Keep things clean and simple. Be careful of introducing too many patterns. One big mistake I see a lot of people making is that they think they should match their patterns. If your suit has pinstripes, your shirt should be unpatterned or it should have simple checks. If your shirt is striped, your ties shouldn't be. You get it. At the same time, no colors should match too exactly. Your tie shouldn't be the same color as your shirt. If you use a pocket square, it shouldn't be the same color as anything else you're wearing.

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syoung said:

+1

Very Thorough!

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mcloaf said:

Agree with everything except that one can actually safely wear a white pocket square with a white shirt.

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MuAgonist said:

Is this really you? I feel like I met you at a school.

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airplanes said:

I really hope that's not a black suit. Fits nicely from what I can tell. The brogues look great but are a bit bold for my personal interview preferences.

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IncognitoGuy said:

Looks more charcoal-ish to me, kind of hard to tell with the lighting.

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nabilesmail said:

Any advice on shoes? (w/ charcoal suit, white shirt, maroon tie), I'd like shoes that appear to make me look taller as I'm only 5 ft 7 inches, color/brand ideas?

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austinap said:

This is probably a bit late in the cycle for most people, but for those of you still putting together your wardrobe and for the next interview cycle I thought I'd make a quick guide. For most of you, you're just starting to dress like a grownup. I've seen a lot of misconceptions here, so I thought I'd try to clarify a bunch of things in one place.

First, good clothes are a good investment for you now. There are a lot of statements by people saying they won't wear a suit again until residency interviews, but for most people that just isn't true. In my MS3 year, I wore a suit at least monthly. Even aside from the suit, you'll be wearing business casual daily on most of your rotations. This mean's it's a good idea to start building up a selection of standard shirts and ties that you can wear frequently. Good shoes will also be used frequently.

The main misconception I've seen is that interview attire is a matter of opinion. It isn't. In contrast to women's clothing, men's professional dress is essentially a uniform. It's one that you can have some fun with, but it's still a uniform nonetheless. For a med school interview, you need to wear a suit. Not a sweater suit, not a sport coat and slack, but a suit. We'll start there.

The Suit:

Cut: you want a two-piece suit (both parts bought as a set!). For most of you, this is going to be your first suit, so go with something fairly standard. I'd recommend single vested, two-buttons, notched lapels, double- or single-vented, with fairly conservative styling. That means that you should be able to notice things like pick-stitching from more than a few feet away. Unless you're a bigger guy, avoid pleats. They tend to make the pants look baggy and are generally not very flattering.

For color, you should go navy or charcoal. No black!. Black is for funerals and formal events. Your interview should be neither of those things. Navy is probably a little more versatile than charcoal, but I personally prefer charcoal. Lighter grey can be awesome, but will look out of place later in the fall and during winter. Don't do the 3-piece suit. It stands out, and more often than not in a bad way. It brings the rest of your outfit under closer scrutiny.

Unless you're the 1-in-a-million that finds something off the rack that fits perfectly, you'll need to get it tailored. Make sure you get something that fits in the shoulders and is the right length. Those are the two things hardest to fix. A good tailor will be able to bring in the waist and make the sleeves and pants the right length.

If you're an odd size or shape, you should really consider getting a suit made to measure (MTM). There are a ton of good options out there, and many of them are fairly reasonable. Indochino comes to mind, though I know there are others. Look into it.

Shirts:

Again, you're going standard here. If you don't already have some good button down shirts, you should start with the very basics.

Cut and Fit:: Again, go standard here. The collar should be medium spread. Don't go for the cutaway collars, as they look gaudy on most people. Likewise, button-down collars tend to be too informal for an interview. The mao collar is right out. Depending on the shirt, your best bet is to go with barrel cuffs. French cuffs can be good, but if you're not careful they can be either too formal or too flashy. If you do go for French cuffs, I'd suggest using silk knots instead of cufflinks as they tone it down a bit.

Your shirt should fit well. Your shoulders should be in the right place, and you shouldn't look like a puff ball. The buttons shouldn't strain when you're sitting. You shouldn't be able to see a space between the collar and your neck, but it shouldn't feel like you're being choked either. Again, most off-the-rack shirts won't fit most men very well. There are a ton of MTM shirtmakers online now, and many of them are reasonable with great fabric selections. You're going to be wearing a ton of dress shirts from now on, might as well get started out right. Modern Tailor offers a deal for $20 on your first shirt, so you can make sure they get the fit right before you buy a bunch of shirts with nicer fabric. There are other options too.

Color and fabric: Again, go basic. A light blue oxford is a classic that will go with just about everything. Don't get dark shirts. They don't go with suits, and you'll look like you're going to a club. White is actually less versatile than most people think, and it tends to look very severe with most people's complexion and outfits. If you're going to go with white, get something with a very light stripe or check. Light pink and purple also tend to work well with a lot of options.

I would avoid getting wrinkle-free fabrics. They tend to look shiny and cheap. There are a few exceptions, but they're usually expensive anyway. 100% cotton is the way to go.

Again, you're going to be wearing dress shirts all the time from now on, get something that fits and will last.


Ties:

Your first ties should be pretty basic and versatile. You should own more than one tie. True story: there are two guys in my class, one with only one tie and another with only two. Everybody notices. Get some good basics with a little variety, you'll be using them. Avoid ties with wild or large patterns and ties with lots of colors. If you're really afraid that your tie is too boring, opt to get something with a little bit of texture. Wool ties and silk grenadine ties are good for this.

Also avoid the red "power" tie. Darker colored reds and burgundies are fine.

Good ties are expensive, but there are options. You can guy some good ties on ebay for really low prices. I've also heard that the tie bar sells a reasonable product, though they're on the lower quality end of the spectrum.

You should use a basic knot. Four-in-hand is probably the most versatile. I tend to like the Pratt knot. Half-windsor tends to be a bit on the wide side, and the full windsor looks ridiculous on all but the most giant of men. Whatever you decide to go with, make sure you tie it well. It should have a dimple, and it shouldn't be loose on your neck. It should extend past your waist band but not below the lower edge of your belt buckle when you're standing straight.

Shoes:

Style: You need lace-up shoes. Period. The standard would be either cap-toe or plain-toe balmorals. Wing-tips are completely acceptable. Leather soles tend to be a bit classier, but there are good shoes with a rubber covering on the soles that can be good too. Just make sure it isn't a thick rubber sole, ans they look cheesy. Also, most leather-soled shoes can be resoled, meaning a good pair of shoes can last your 20+ years with a bit of care.

Color: Black is the standard, so long as you didn't get a black suit, brown will work with most suits too. Oxblood is also excellent. Brown shoes will go with more outfits than black will, and if you get a good pair of brown lace-ups I'm sure you'll find they'll come in handy on the wards (at least, on those rotations with a minimal body-fluid-on-shoes risk).

Cost is always the issue here. Everyone wants to spend less than $100 on shoes, but there simply aren't good men's shoes that retail for that range. If you're really tight, go on ebay and look for Allen Edmonds shoes there.

Don't do these things:

• slip-on shoes
• square toe shoes
• super flashy shoes (e.g., blue suede)
• sneakers (of any kind)
• Air Force Ones

Accessories:

Socks: though some may disagree, here's a place you can add a little flash. Don't go overboard, but you can introduce some color here. If you're going to go basic, your socks should match your pants.

Belt: The belt matches your shoes.

Pocket square: The best advice I ever heard on pocket squares was this: "if you have to ask, don't do it."

Watch: Optional, but if you do it you should have a leather band.

Other tidbits: Keep things clean and simple. Be careful of introducing too many patterns. One big mistake I see a lot of people making is that they think they should match their patterns. If your suit has pinstripes, your shirt should be unpatterned or it should have simple checks. If your shirt is striped, your ties shouldn't be. You get it. At the same time, no colors should match too exactly. Your tie shouldn't be the same color as your shirt. If you use a pocket square, it shouldn't be the same color as anything else you're wearing.

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TheShaker said:

How do you guys feel about the front pocket? I kinda wanna change up my outfit for my next interview but my other dress shirt has a front pocket on it and I just think it looks a bit awkward, especially in a suit.

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CityLights said:

Bumping this thread for some suit shopping advice....

I'm super skinny... have about a 17 BMI. I've tried all of the major men's retailers and have discovered that basically, my only option is a custom suit.

Anyone do this? What's a reasonable amount to spend? Any tips?

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CityLights said:

Bumping this thread for some suit shopping advice....

I'm super skinny... have about a 17 BMI. I've tried all of the major men's retailers and have discovered that basically, my only option is a custom suit.

Anyone do this? What's a reasonable amount to spend? Any tips?

Click to expand...

CityLights said:

Bumping this thread for some suit shopping advice....

I'm super skinny... have about a 17 BMI. I've tried all of the major men's retailers and have discovered that basically, my only option is a custom suit.

Anyone do this? What's a reasonable amount to spend? Any tips?

Click to expand...