Are black suits to interviews overly common?

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What color suit did/will you wear to your interview?

  • Black

    Votes: 61 29.2%

  • Navy blue

    Votes: 93 44.5%

  • Gray

    Votes: 48 23.0%

  • Other, comment below

    Votes: 7 3.3%
  • Total voters
    209
R

radioactive15

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What other colors of suits would you recommend a male to wear to an interview?
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Navy blue and charcoal are equivalent in "can't mess up", so long as you know what those colors actually are. Classic, and easy to pair a shirt, tie, and shoes with. If you're fashion savvy, you could pull off a gray suit, maybe even a non-navy blue. Recommendation for pattern is solid. Pinstripes just look wallstreet to me, and not a big fan in general, though that's personal taste. While other patterns I do like, e.g. windowpane, I'd just stick to a solid suit for interviews.

All that said, if you wear a black pinstripe off the rack untailored suit to an interview... you'll probably be right there with at least 2 or 3 other interviewees
 
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Navy blue.


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Bright pink pimp suit. JK, charcoal is cool
 
Navy Blue > Charcoal Grey >Mid-Grey > Light Blue > Tan > Black
Two button
Flat-front pants
Oxfords > Chelsea Boots > Johdpur Boots > Loafers > Sneakers
Remember, rounded toe, don't button bottom button on jacket, real tie-tie.
Plain shirt, semi-spread collar, simple coloured pocket square, four-in-hand-knot tie, small faced watch.
Folio, leather or plastic, plain-colour
Good luck.
 
Demosthenes1 said:
Navy Blue > Charcoal Grey >Mid-Grey > Light Blue > Tan > Black
Two button
Flat-front pants
Oxfords > Chelsea Boots > Johdpur Boots > Loafers > Sneakers
Remember, rounded toe, don't button bottom button on jacket, real tie-tie.
Plain shirt, semi-spread collar, simple coloured pocket square, four-in-hand-knot tie, small faced watch.
Folio, leather or plastic, plain-colour
Good luck.
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I'd strike off loafers and sneakers altogether. Don't wear loafers or sneakers. I'd strike the pocket square as well, just because you can be perfectly safe and appropriate without it, and people have headaches pairing it appropriately. If you know pocket squares though, go for it. And I'd lean toward a symmetric knot for a suit/interview, but frankly probably no one will notice. I'm partial to pratt knots as they tend to have the right amount of bulk for my ties / shirts
 
Demosthenes1 said:
Navy Blue > Charcoal Grey >Mid-Grey > Light Blue > Tan > Black
Two button
Flat-front pants
Oxfords > Chelsea Boots > Johdpur Boots > Loafers > Sneakers
Remember, rounded toe, don't button bottom button on jacket, real tie-tie.
Plain shirt, semi-spread collar, simple coloured pocket square, four-in-hand-knot tie, small faced watch.
Folio, leather or plastic, plain-colour
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Who the hell shows up to an interview in sneakers?
 
I like a navy blue suit with a white shirt. It conveys confidence and openness. It's also fairly similar to a typical cleancut "doctor" look
 
I wore navy because I took 15 seconds to check SDN first, but I did see a lot of black suits at my interviews.

These were overshadowed, however, by other more serious fashion faux pas like corduroy jackets and penny loafers.
 
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It really doesn't matter, in my opinion. Wear a halfway decent dark suit that makes you feel good; it's not my job as an interviewer to assess fashion sense. I've probably interviewed close to 100 applicants and I can say that suit color - be it black, brown, grey, navy, or other - played no part in my evaluation. If a suit of some particular color makes you feel more comfortable or confident, then great, go for that. If that happens to be a black suit for some reason, go for it.

Now, if someone is wearing something that makes me question how seriously they're taking the interview (i.e., sneakers, novelty tie, etc.), that's a different story.

... Personally, I go for charcoal, though. 🙂
 
If you'd like some unwarranted style advice here you go:
(Assuming you want to look good/appropriate)
-no black suits outside a funeral or evening affair
-no square-toed shoes (esp with thick rubber soles)
-forget the Windsor, half Windsor, or other stupid tie knots and just use the 4-in-hand. It's easiest and looks the best
-if you wear a pocket square it better not be cut from the same fabric as your tie
-as stated, navy, charcoal, or grey are safe. If you want to be fun get something in brown or a green tone
-no square toed shoes
-if you wear a watch, make sure it isn't some hockey puck sized abomination
-if you're even thinking about it it's going to take a lot of finesse to pull off a bow tie. Don't even think of putting on a pre tied one.
-avoid ties that appear to be printed out of coach bus seats. Stick to repeating patterns or prints/stripes
-no square toed shoes

EDIT:
Nice brown loafers are fine with a navy suit, why the hate?
Also whatever suit you buy, spend $15 and get it fitted. And measure your actual chest before buying one, you probably think you're two sizes bigger than you really are. I swam in 42s until realizing I'm a 38. Also avoid "long" unless you're like over 6'3"
Patterns:
Pins suck and make you look like a tool. If you want to be the coolest kid there show up in windowpane plaid.
 
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Saifa said:
If you'd like some unwarranted style advice here you go:
(Assuming you want to look good/appropriate)
-no black suits outside a funeral or evening affair
-no square-toed shoes (esp with thick rubber soles)
-forget the Windsor, half Windsor, or other stupid tie knots and just use the 4-in-hand. It's easiest and looks the best
-if you wear a pocket square it better not be cut from the same fabric as your tie
-as stated, navy, charcoal, or grey are safe. If you want to be fun get something in brown or a green tone
-no square toed shoes
-if you wear a watch, make sure it isn't some hockey puck sized abomination
-if you're even thinking about it it's going to take a lot of finesse to pull off a bow tie. Don't even think of putting on a pre tied one.
-avoid ties that appear to be printed out of coach bus seats. Stick to repeating patterns or prints/stripes
-no square toed shoes

EDIT:
Nice brown loafers are fine with a navy suit, why the hate?
Also whatever suit you buy, spend $15 and get it fitted. And measure your actual chest before buying one, you probably think you're two sizes bigger than you really are. I swam in 42s until realizing I'm a 38. Also avoid "long" unless you're like over 6'3"
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What about tails, tophats, and monocles? And a strong handlebar mustache?
 
bearintraining said:
I like a navy blue suit with a white shirt. It conveys confidence and openness. It's also fairly similar to a typical cleancut "doctor" look
Click to expand...
I'm a big fan of navy blue suits with a sky blue undershirt so the contrast isn't as sharp. Both are quite common so it's just personal preference of course.
 
Demosthenes1 said:
Navy Blue > Charcoal Grey >Mid-Grey > Light Blue > Tan > Black
Two button
Flat-front pants
Oxfords > Chelsea Boots > Johdpur Boots > Loafers > Sneakers
Remember, rounded toe, don't button bottom button on jacket, real tie-tie.
Plain shirt, semi-spread collar, simple coloured pocket square, four-in-hand-knot tie, small faced watch.
Folio, leather or plastic, plain-colour
Good luck.
Click to expand...

I get that SDN is way overly concerned about black interview suits.... but you're going to stand out WAAAAAAY more in a light blue or tan suit.

You'll probably be interviewed by some PH.D. faculty member wearing a Hawaiian button down and sandals anyway.
 
Navy suit, brown shoes with coordinating brown belt, white shirt (undershirt if the fabric is thin!!!), and conservative pink or red tie.

Very light blue shirt if you're wanting to mute the contrast a little.

You'll look sharp.

Edit: I went with Oxford/laced shoes. Loafers seemed a little casual for my taste.
 
Doxorubicin said:
Navy suit, brown shoes with coordinating brown belt, white shirt (undershirt if the fabric is thin!!!), and conservative pink or red tie.

Very light blue shirt if you're wanting to mute the contrast a little.

You'll look sharp.

Edit: I went with Oxford/laced shoes. Loafers seemed a little casual for my taste.
Click to expand...
I myself avoid red ties for interviews. A simple pattern of blue with another color is much safer if you aren't trying to stand out.
 
Glandzburg said:
I myself avoid red ties for interviews. A simple pattern of blue with another color is much safer if you aren't trying to stand out.
Click to expand...
Some red ties are more appropriate than other red ties*. I got a few compliments from other applicants (and interviewers) on the red and pink ties I wore, so I feel good about the color choice.

I wore a blue/white tie to one interview, and it looked fine, but I personally wasn't digging the blue of the navy next to the blue of the tie. But that's just my taste. Do what's appropriate and works for you.

* Say no to screaming colors and crazy patterns.
 
I wore a pocket square(navy blue with red dots) and a red tie with a Charcoal suit and classy black shoes.

Lets just say the pocket square was my favorite attire... Don't underestimate the personality shown in a pocket square!!

P.S: Wear a real nice watch... Those are key.
 
Charcoal suit, white shirt, blue tie, black dress shoes, black belt, black socks, gun metal tie clip. Can't go wrong.
 
Wore black and a navy suit. Recc a navy suit. I think someone looks hella sharp with either a salmon tie or burgundy tie with the navy suit. (The undershirts were white or light blue, if I recall correctly)
 
Demosthenes1 said:
Navy Blue > Charcoal Grey >Mid-Grey > Light Blue > Tan > Black

Folio, leather or plastic, plain-colour
Click to expand...

We're expected to bring a folder/portfolio to the interview? I thought people just went empty handed. If that wasn't sarcasm in your post, then what do you make sure to bring inside the folder?
 
Just to say I personally think tie colours can matter. I know how stupid that sounds, but I think cooler colours are more calming, whereas warmer colours, particularly something like red, can inspire some more "critical thinking/questioning". There are established rationales behind the white coat and blue dress shirt combos that are so frequent amongst doctors. How much these little biases really matter is perhaps a bit of "witchcraft" and dependent upon both the interviewer and interviewee.
 
Don't bring a folder. They'll provide you with one
radioactive15 said:
We're expected to bring a folder/portfolio to the interview? I thought people just went empty handed. If that wasn't sarcasm in your post, then what do you make sure to bring inside the folder?
Click to expand...
 
medic86 said:
Some crazies up in here:

Half Windsor > Four-in-hand
Click to expand...
I think the half windsor looks a bit better but the four-in-hand is much easier to tie, so I usually end up going with that when I am in a hurry.
 
radioactive15 said:
We're expected to bring a folder/portfolio to the interview? I thought people just went empty handed. If that wasn't sarcasm in your post, then what do you make sure to bring inside the folder?
Click to expand...
I would bring a padfolio. You are going to want something to write stuff down on. It's pretty standard practice for interviews of all kinds.
 
The case against the Windsor derivitives is that they are far too freakily symmetrical to be aesthetically pleasing (counter intuitive, perhaps) because they basically give the appearance of a clip on tie. The 4-in-hand has a pleasing, hand-tied charm to it, though I can understand why some of you hard science types would want a perfectly symmetrical knot

Also, on red ties. If you're thinking of some shiny Donald Trump crap I would avoid it esp for an interview, but there are plenty of nice toned down red patterned prints out there, just avoid anything shiny that will hurt the interviewer's eyes.
 
Wear a bright orange suit like it's the NBA draft.

Yes, I have heard of a situation where someone did wear a bright orange suit.

But honestly, go with navy blue. I went 2-2 in interviews wearing navy blue, so it gets my full vote.
 
Lol I think SDN is an outlier in terms of what's worn to the interview. Most of my fellow interviewees were dressed in black and the office commented on how I was the only non-black suiting at more than 1 interview.:laugh::hilarious:
 
What's the SDN opinion on capes? If we have a knighthood can we wear our decorum? (Doesn't everyone have a knighthood? They don't let commoners in do they...)


/s

My suit is dark navy.
 
Lucca said:
What's the SDN opinion on capes? If we have a knighthood can we wear our decorum? (Doesn't everyone have a knighthood? They don't let commoners in do they...)


/s

My suit is dark navy.
Click to expand...
If you are going to wear a cape, it must be gold-trimmed.
 
Has anyone honestly been rejected because of a black suit (real question here)? Lord if that's the biggest problem in my app I would take it
 
Whyamionhere said:
Has anyone honestly been rejected because of a black suit (real question here)? Lord if that's the biggest problem in my app I would take it
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No one's rejected "over a suit" (within reason). But first impressions matter, and your appearance is a fair part of that. Being well groomed and in appropriate / well fitting clothes gives you a good start before you have to say a word
 
This is all well and good for fellas, but what do the ladies wear? Not that I'll be having any med school interviews any time soon, I'm just living vicariously here.
 
ADSigMel said:
This is all well and good for fellas, but what do the ladies wear? Not that I'll be having any med school interviews any time soon, I'm just living vicariously here.
Click to expand...
Honestly a girl at my interview was wearing a bright cotton floral pencil skirt and tan corduroy blazer (my point is both aren't the "norm") and got in. This is n=1 of course so it's pretty much as statistically sound as it comes and is completely reliable.
 
Whyamionhere said:
Honestly a girl at my interview was wearing a bright cotton floral pencil skirt and tan corduroy blazer (my point is both aren't the "norm") and got in. This is n=1 of course so it's pretty much as statistically sound as it comes and is completely reliable.
Click to expand...

I wear black suits every day and have for nearly a decade now, so I might actually end up being "that girl." Actually, I was thinking maybe a lab coat (monogrammed in magenta, natch), scrub pants, cowboy boots, and carrying a doctor's bag with peace symbol patches all over it. I mean, that basically screams "I'm so laidback, my bedside manner clearly beats that of all these other schmucks! Pick me!"
 
Make sure your lab coat says "Dr "Your last name" on it so they know to accept you
 
I'm sucker for the bolo tie. Wore something similar to my 3rd interview

January_GrammysRoundup_700x400.jpg
 
I wore a dark navy almost black blazer to my interview and I looked very good:nod:
 
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