Okay, as a current MS-1 who just interviewed last year, here are a few of my answers to some of the recurring questions:
For girls:
1) If you want to be 100% conservative and on the safe side, go with a dark or neutral colored skirt suit (yes, that does mean matching jacket and skirt), with a skirt that is just above knee length, give or take an inch. That is a pretty standard business skirt length, so it wouldn't be considered too short (to whoever asked that question). This all being said brings me to point #2...
2) Pants suits are fine as are long skirts. In fact, in my opinion, they are great! They're comfortable, they still look professional, etc. Again, I would stick with a dark or neutral (ie, tan or wheat) color on this. The big no-no on varying the standard business suit look would obviously be a skirt that is too short -- no matter how much you like the Ally McBeal look, just say no for the interview.
3) Non-matching jacket and skirt/pants, business casual separates, etc. can be fine. As always, the key is to look professional, and you should be dressed a little nicer than just "business casual" even if that's how your interviewers are dressed. In general, I think it is "safer" to go with matching pieces, and is probably a good investment anyways -- you can always use these suits again for residency interviews, etc.
4) If you are wearing a skirt, pantyhose is a must. Go with whatever color looks best with your outfit -- brown, black, nude, opaque, whatever, no one will really care as long as they aren't fishnet stockings or have seems up the back. It probably goes without saying, but I would avoid anything that is a non-neutral color, ie, red, purple, etc.
5) Jewelry -- minimize, minimize, minimize. Take out the extra earrings, the earcuffs, the eyebrow rings, etc. Maybe it's part of who you are, but some patients will probably be turned off of multiple earrings in unusual, visible places, and same goes for your interviewers.
6) Don't wear perfume -- a lot of people have allergies, or react strongly to perfumes and you don't want to have your interviewer concentrate on that rather than your interview.
For guys and girls -- what to bring to the interview:
You can probably get by with just a folder, or a nice portfolio to hold a pen and some paper if you want to jot notes to yourself during the presentations, write down your interviewer's name, whatever. Some people brought backpacks, which is fine. I had one of those black canvas shoulder strap bags -- I found it to be a little more professional looking than a backpack, but held all the stuff I thought I needed. Some girls just bring their purses, and that's fine too.
As for research materials, I have three publications, but chose not to bring any of the materials with me. Most schools were pretty explicit during the secondary stage about NOT submitting any extra materials, so I sort of assumed the same was true with interviews. (Please note, I am only speaking from my experience with MD interviews, not MD/PhD). My research did come up in a couple of interviews, but I was never asked for copies of the papers, and I honestly don't think my interviewers would have wanted to see copies if I had them. Again, that's just my experience.
