Men's Interview Clothing #3!

[username456789]

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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

You know, I used to absolutely despise monk straps (and double monks), but they are slowly growing on me.

 

[Caesar]

You know, I used to absolutely despise monk straps (and double monks), but they are slowly growing on me.

I still despise them.

 

[username456789]

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.

This.

I get the budget thing. I took out so many loans it made my head spin. I never came from any money whatsoever in the first place. Living frugally has just been what I do for so long.

That said, dressing well absolutely doesn't have to cost much. Consider what I wore to residency interviews:

1. Navy Calvin Klein suit from Marshalls - $159 (minimal tailoring ~$20)
2. White Jos A Bank tailored fit "traveler" shirt with spread collar - ~$30 on sale (I don't like Jos A Bank, but the tailored fit traveler shirt had great reviews as a shirt that could stand up to the rigors of interview season and never really need to be ironed if I didn't have time)
3. Navy wool socks - $3 at Marshalls
4. Burgundy Johnston & Murphy Melton captoe balmoral/oxfords - $29 very gently used on ebay
5. Burgundy pindot tie I've had for years, can't remember where or when I got it

A grand total of just less than $250 was spent on that ensemble, and I still don't mind saying I was probably the best dressed applicant in most rooms. The suit looked great with just a little waist suppression, and the cap-toe Meltons are a great looking less expensive alternative to more costly shoes (even more so when you buy a pair used online, and they're all over ebay). On the interview trail for residencies, you could definitely pick out the people who at least had a decent idea of what they were doing among all the people who, although about to graduate from medical school, had still barely graduated from dad's striped sack suit with slip on Rockports.

A little attention to detail (well, and the big picture) can go a long way. I am not at all saying any of this helped me in a way that dressing slightly worse could not have; however, knowing I was well dressed at interviews certainly helped me project confidence. And I realize not everyone prioritizes fashion and such, but some of this is just very basic stuff that should be reflexive and intuitive for an adult male (get a suit that fits, laced up shoes [balmorals if possible], polish your shoes, avoid brightly colored shirts, etc). You'd be surprised at how little effort it actually takes (once you know what to do) to take your appearance from "I have no idea what I'm doing in these big boy clothes" to "I make Barney Stinson look like Barney the Dinosaur." The deeper nuances you can forget about if you so choose. But at least try to take some of the basics to heart, if you care at all about the way in which you present yourself to others professionally. Whether you like it or not, appearances count for a lot in any line of work.

 

[KnuxNole]

In med school, you can just get a very cheap set of dress shirst/dress pants/tie and shoes.

The only reason to wear a suit is for residency interviews, hell maybe in 4 years it'll still fit 😀

 

[Arbor Vitae]

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.

True, my fault for posting those NSFW pics of my shoes. I am unashamed of my hideous slip-ons. If anybody needs a free pair of shoes for next cycle, PM me.

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.

This is also true, but I have an impossible time finding cheap, comfortable shoes. Usually the cheap shoes are super squeaky and the leather starts to crack in the creases. I can find everything else for cheap, just not shoes.

Where can I find these cheap, decent-quality balmorals everyone speaks of?

 

[username456789]

Where can I find these cheap, decent-quality balmorals everyone speaks of?

For the 3rd or 4th time, ebay.

 

[MedPR]

Jcpenney has some decent dress shirts. I got a couple for $15 each. Obviously not the best quality but they are comfortable, don't wrinkle much, look nice, and have lasted the whole interview season so far. I plan on buying more.

Sent from my SGH-T999 using SDN Mobile

 

[Arbor Vitae]

For the 3rd or 4th time, ebay.

I don't know how I feel about used shoes though, nasty


Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile

 

[DrKepha]

This was the first time I interviewed for medical schools and my favorite part of the interview day was dressing up! My "tell us about yourself" spill included that I am highly into fashion and I got many compliments on my attire! Grey suit, subtle but eye catching color shirt, nice tie, and brown lace ups with matching belt! My goal was to stand out right away in appearance to be memorable!

 

[Fivo]

This was the first time I interviewed for medical schools and my favorite part of the interview day was dressing up! My "tell us about yourself" spill included that I am highly into fashion and I got many compliments on my attire! Grey suit, subtle but eye catching color shirt, nice tie, and brown lace ups with matching belt! My goal was to stand out right away in appearance to be memorable!

Ummm, I don't even know how to reply to that...Please tell me you're kidding. 😱

 

[syoung]

Here's my suit, is this going to work (with white/light blue shirt + tie), or am I going to have to invest in something else?

So for this suit, what kind of top coat would work best? I'm going out to a hella cold place to interview (TJU + Tufts)...

 

[nabilesmail]

What do you guys think of the following combo?

Charcoal Suit + white shirt + Maroon tie?

Also and brand recommendations, I'm 5 ft 7 inches and more on the slim slide, I've usually found that only Express/H &M brand suits fits me well, but I'm looking for a better quality suit than H & M

 

[Arbor Vitae]

What do you guys think of the following combo?

Charcoal Suit + white shirt + Maroon tie?

Also and brand recommendations, I'm 5 ft 7 inches and more on the slim slide, I've usually found that only Express/H &M brand suits fits me well, but I'm looking for a better quality suit than H & M

That is probably the most common combo you'll see. Not that it's bad. It's a good look.

 

[Fivo]

What do you guys think of the following combo?

Charcoal Suit + white shirt + Maroon tie?

Also and brand recommendations, I'm 5 ft 7 inches and more on the slim slide, I've usually found that only Express/H &M brand suits fits me well, but I'm looking for a better quality suit than H & M

Probably a perfect combo, and one that I wore at least twice. You should look at Hugo Boss if you have a Nordstrom's Rack in your area. Or you can go to Macy's and check out Bar III, Calvin Klein, and DKNY slim fit suits. And what kind of shoes are you working with?

 

[LaCroix09]

What I wore to my interviews:

Which is composed of:

the suit
the shoes
the shirt
the tie

 

[nabilesmail]

Probably a perfect combo, and one that I wore at least twice. You should look at Hugo Boss if you have a Nordstrom's Rack in your area. Or you can go to Macy's and check out Bar III, Calvin Klein, and DKNY slim fit suits. And what kind of shoes are you working with?

Not sure, I know nothing about shoes yet, any recommendations on color/ brand/type/item with my combo of colors?

Also, is a watch necessary? I don't own one and dont know if I should buy one!

Also maroon tie solid or with some kind of pattern?

 

[WorksInProgress]

Is there a rabies outbreak among tailors? Are they tasering whoever walks through their doors? Do they not shower regularly? I'm sorry, but I'm looking a reason-- ANY REASON-- why these young men refuse to wear garments that fit them properly.

FIT. That's what matters, and what's been painfully lacking. I could count the number of straight men wearing properly fitted suits at my interviews on my hands and still have one or two fingers left over. Beyond the poor color selection, the garish ties, the slip-ons, monkstraps, blazer-and-khaki combos, lack of ties, and other assorted train wrecks, I still just can't get beyond the willful lack of tailoring.

 

[ToldYouSo]

So much useful information in this thread... seriously. Kent Wang has a nice selection, although pricy. I especially like this tie haha XDD

 

[Arbor Vitae]

What I wore to my interviews:

Which is composed of:

the suit
the shoes
the shirt
the tie

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

 

[airplanes]

What I wore to my interviews:

Which is composed of:

the suit
the shoes
the shirt
the tie

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.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

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.

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

 

[nabilesmail]

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?

 

[daymann]

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?

I think Allen Edmonds oxfords go well with that but being a broke college student, I opted for JC Penny's version:

http://www.jcpenney.com/dotcom/stafford-ashton-mens-wingtip-dress-shoes/prod.jump?ppId=1b9aceb

 

[nychila]

I'm looking to buy single-color non-iron slim-fit dress shirts. What are some good places to buy them? I can spend $50-100 per shirt. I looked into banana republic and my local Macy's, neither had what I had in mind.

 

[nabilesmail]

Also I really like this watch

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/boss-bl...extualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=0

I've never been to into watched but always liked the black sleek ones, This one seems simple, elegant, and it fits my wrist (i have a small wrist, what do you think)

 

[NotAsking4Much]

Also I really like this watch

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/boss-bl...extualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=0

I've never been to into watched but always liked the black sleek ones, This one seems simple, elegant, and it fits my wrist (i have a small wrist, what do you think)

As a student interviewer, it boggles me what some people dress. An interview is NOT a place to show off. I've seen some ridiculous, crazy attires I get that was meant to be eye-catching?
Shirt: white or light blue. No ifs or buts. Quality of your shirt - just a standard one you buy at a store should be ok. You may need to get them adjusted for fitting.
Ties: Anything not of those colors. Blue or red is most common and fine. Doesn't matter if solid or patterned but should be not extravagant. I personally think patterned is better.
Shoes: Black goes better with charcoal suit. Brown shoes can be used for either navy or charcoal suit. JC Penney AE - copycats are great.
Black suits are for funerals / ceremonies, not interviews.
Watch: don't care / optional.

Lastly men, suits... The quality of your suit does not matter. The cut does. For the love of God, it looks 10x better to get a cheaper suit and get it tailored than an OTR one that fits you poor. This especially applies to men who are on the heavier or skinnier side, smaller shoulders, etc. And tailored does not mean at your local Macy's. At a legit real tailor. It really makes a difference on first impression.
A cost-effective way is doing it made-to-made. Sites like indochino, black lapel, etc. Point is - have it actually fit you and not just something you bought off the rack.

 

[gookies]

Haven't been to an interview yet, but already purchased a suit in preparation. I'm a pretty slim guy (XS and S shirts, 30 waist) and have always had trouble finding stuff that fit nice and aren't too baggy. I've recently been shopping at Express and their suits fit me perfectly. I bought a nice charcoal gray wool 3 piece suit from there and plan on wearing it with a french cuff white shirt, brown shoes, and maybe a red tie (might be too overpowering?). Only thing is that I probably need the pants hemmed, but if anyone likes slim/fitted suits, buy one at Express. Also, I have stethoscope cufflinks that I might possibly wear, might bring a nice smile to the interviewer's face, don't ya think? 😛

 

[Dick Jones]

At all of my interviews, I've only worn 3-piece suits. How do you feel about them? Do they attract too much attention or seem flashy?

 

[circulus vitios]

Who makes decent, affordable ties? I bought some Tie Bar ties for shadowing. The material is decent but the interlining is sloppy and so it's hard to make a nice knot that dimples well. I want to spend about $50 per tie, so no Kiton or anything.

 

[username456789]

At all of my interviews, I've only worn 3-piece suits. How do you feel about them? Do they attract too much attention or seem flashy?

To me, they usually say "I have no idea what I'm doing and thought this might make people think I'm being even more dressy than usual."

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Who makes decent, affordable ties? I bought some Tie Bar ties for shadowing. The material is decent but the interlining is sloppy and so it's hard to make a nice knot that dimples well. I want to spend about $50 per tie, so no Kiton or anything.

I like Brooks Brothers.

 

[nabilesmail]

As a student interviewer, it boggles me what some people dress. An interview is NOT a place to show off. I've seen some ridiculous, crazy attires I get that was meant to be eye-catching?
Shirt: white or light blue. No ifs or buts. Quality of your shirt - just a standard one you buy at a store should be ok. You may need to get them adjusted for fitting.
Ties: Anything not of those colors. Blue or red is most common and fine. Doesn't matter if solid or patterned but should be not extravagant. I personally think patterned is better.
Shoes: Black goes better with charcoal suit. Brown shoes can be used for either navy or charcoal suit. JC Penney AE - copycats are great.
Black suits are for funerals / ceremonies, not interviews.
Watch: don't care / optional.

Lastly men, suits... The quality of your suit does not matter. The cut does. For the love of God, it looks 10x better to get a cheaper suit and get it tailored than an OTR one that fits you poor. This especially applies to men who are on the heavier or skinnier side, smaller shoulders, etc. And tailored does not mean at your local Macy's. At a legit real tailor. It really makes a difference on first impression.
A cost-effective way is doing it made-to-made. Sites like indochino, black lapel, etc. Point is - have it actually fit you and not just something you bought off the rack.

was this comment for me? I'm going to wear a charcoal suite with white shirt+ maroon tie. I was just asking about the watch (which im still looking for opinions on!)

also 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?

 

[h4d]

Can somebody give advice on how to choose a professional outfit? I'm interviewing in CT, NY, KY, and FL
I have a:
Suit
-navy (I or black, but I read earlier black is too formal 🙁 )
-2 button
-slim fit, tailored, modern cut w/ shorter than traditional jacket

Shirt
-solid white OR
-solid light blue
- choice of button or french cuffs (should cufflinks match suit color?)

Socks
-cotton: black or navy
-wool: black w/ grey band at upper calf or grey/black argyle

Shoes
Black or Brown??
current brown boots arethese for colder weather. I'm worried they might be too bright.
in black I have a nice pair of monkstraps (Are they an okay style for interviews?) and these oxfords. also a pair of black leather side-zip boots

Tie
Clueless about ties, planning on going to a brooks brothers type store and picking out a tie ASAP, but what are professional patterns?

thanks!

 

[JoshuaGuit]

Hi All,

I have two interviews coming up and have been picking out shirts, ties, got a suit tailored for me, etc. If I put up pics would anyone be willing to give me a thumbs up or down? These are the only two interviews I've gotten so far so there is a lot riding on them :-(.

Also second question and somewhat related to appearance. I do powerlifting and as a result my hands are full of callouses from lifting. Does anyone know how acceptable this is or do I need to start moisturizing? haha.

 

[Mavii]

Hi All,

I have two interviews coming up and have been picking out shirts, ties, got a suit tailored for me, etc. If I put up pics would anyone be willing to give me a thumbs up or down? These are the only two interviews I've gotten so far so there is a lot riding on them :-(.

Also second question and somewhat related to appearance. I do powerlifting and as a result my hands are full of callouses from lifting. Does anyone know how acceptable this is or do I need to start moisturizing? haha.

You'll probably want to fix your callouses before you interview. When you go to shake people's hands, depending on how bad your callouses are, it might make them uncomfortable. And secondly, you also might snag your tie when you adjust it for any reason (it happened to me). So just keep that in mind. As for the suits, I'd be willing to give my opinion. Good luck on your interviews

 

[galaxyx]

You'll probably want to fix your callouses before you interview. When you go to shake people's hands, depending on how bad your callouses are, it might make them uncomfortable.

Wow...so in your opinion, anyone who works with their hands would make their interviewer "uncomfortable"...

 

[armybound]

Who makes decent, affordable ties? I bought some Tie Bar ties for shadowing. The material is decent but the interlining is sloppy and so it's hard to make a nice knot that dimples well. I want to spend about $50 per tie, so no Kiton or anything.

check the buy/sell forums on styleforum. There are some real deals on there.

for readily available, I like Brooks Brothers. I've had ok success with Jos Bank, you really have to feel them in store before getting them. I also have a Banana Republic that ties pretty nice.

 

[Mavii]

Wow...so in your opinion, anyone who works with their hands would make their interviewer "uncomfortable"...

I don't know how you came to that conclusion; are you that dense?

I lift weights three times a week and I, too, develop callouses. When you shake someone's hand, especially a female with a softer hand, and you have callouses from lifting weights, there is a high possibility that the ACTUAL handshaking will cause some discomfort. If you've ever had callouses, then you should know what I'm talking about. And if you still don't understand, then I don't know what to tell you...

 

[JoshuaGuit]

.

 

[armybound]

before you edited.. the shirts were ok. your cuffs on the shirts were a little too big, causing them to come a little too far down on your hand, but they were ok. your suit jacket was also a little long, but not too bad.

overall you look about how the typical med school interviewee looks. You could look at little bit more conservative and traditional but there's nothing there that sticks out in a negative way.

 

[JoshuaGuit]

before you edited.. the shirts were ok. your cuffs on the shirts were a little too big, causing them to come a little too far down on your hand, but they were ok. your suit jacket was also a little long, but not too bad.

overall you look about how the typical med school interviewee looks. You could look at little bit more conservative and traditional but there's nothing there that sticks out in a negative way.

Thanks! Someone just prank called me about a med school interview and I thought somehow it came from me uploading a pic from my iphone. Ended up being a friend of mine doing it, but I edited the pics before I figured that out.

I'm leaning towards the purple shirt, if you remember-- do you have a preference?

 

[nabilesmail]

So I have been looking at some Allen Edmonds shoes on ebay for 70-100$. As said earlier, I'm pretty short at 5 ft 7 inches. I don't know if I should go for the AE or get some kind of dress shoes that add height, any brand ideas. I'd like to look taller but still professional. And if anyone could comment the link to the watch I posted, that would be great!

 

[erikreinertsen]

So I have been looking at some Allen Edmonds shoes on ebay for 70-100$. As said earlier, I'm pretty short at 5 ft 7 inches. I don't know if I should go for the AE or get some kind of dress shoes that add height, any brand ideas. I'd like to look taller but still professional. And if anyone could comment the link to the watch I posted, that would be great!

Only get Allen Edmonds if you are serious about taking care of your dress shoes. And get fitted properly and select the correct last at a local place before ordering online. They come in various sizes and widths. They will last decades if you care for them. The above picture showcases how nice shoes complete the outfit. Well done!

Three-piece suits are for bankers, a two-piece is fine. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE three-piece suits, but if you are money-conscious and just at the med school interview stage, there's really no need.

Dark navy, dark gray, or a subtle pinstripe (emphasis on subtle). Jos Bank, BR, Macy's, and Nordstrom. Don't drop money on a flashy Italian brand. Absolutely DO drop money and get the suit tailored at a respectable establishment. And if you have the cash, tailor your shirts too. It feels great and gives you the quiet confidence that you are the best dressed professional in the room.

As for color, blue or white shirts, solid or subtle pattern ties. Keep it as conservative and professional as possible. I wore a red "power tie" (but it was tasteful and worked with blues and whites) and did quite well, but blues are the most popular from what I saw on the trail.

 

[nabilesmail]

Ugh I need some help guys, I have a smaller frame 5 ft 7, 150 lbs muscularish build. I went to MACYS and nothing fit well, 38r/s were too large on the shoulders, 36s was to tight around the waste, 36r had to much shoulder . These were in the BARIII suits, everything else didn't fit either. Nordstrom rack didnt have many suits, nordstrom was 600+ for each suit. The only suit I found that fit well today was from Banana Republic for 500$ I don't know if a banana republic suit is worth that much. Also, all the shirts I tried didn't fit to well either. I may just have to go with express :/

 

[Dick Jones]

Ugh I need some help guys, I have a smaller frame 5 ft 7, 150 lbs muscularish build. I went to MACYS and nothing fit well, 38r/s were too large on the shoulders, 36s was to tight around the waste, 36r had to much shoulder . These were in the BARIII suits, everything else didn't fit either. Nordstrom rack didnt have many suits, nordstrom was 600+ for each suit. The only suit I found that fit well today was from Banana Republic for 500$ I don't know if a banana republic suit is worth that much. Also, all the shirts I tried didn't fit to well either. I may just have to go with express :/

I purchased two suits BOGO at Men's Wearhouse....both are Joseph and Feiss vested suits...regular 600$... To get them tailored cost approx. 110$... I think they're having a winter clearance sale/holiday sale....you should check them out.

 

[nabilesmail]

Yeah went to Mens warehouse today right before closing, they took my measurements but told me to come back tomorrow. Just curious , what should be the vanilla form of a suit when picking. For example, if the shoulderpads extend a bit off my shoulder, can that be tailored? I don't know what can be tailored and what canr ;/

 

[Dick Jones]

Yeah went to Mens warehouse today right before closing, they took my measurements but told me to come back tomorrow. Just curious , what should be the vanilla form of a suit when picking. For example, if the shoulderpads extend a bit off my shoulder, can that be tailored? I don't know what can be tailored and what canr ;/

I think they can find a suit small enough to fit you. The reason I say this, most modern fit suits are made for the slimmer/smaller individual... I think anything on a suit can be tailored if you ask....my suit was a little bigger because my legs are huge.....they took in my suit jacket in the back to make it fit and shortened my sleeves.. Along with the super crease and cuffs in my pants... Check with the tailor...I think they can help you out

 

[Barney Stinson]

Yeah went to Mens warehouse today right before closing, they took my measurements but told me to come back tomorrow. Just curious , what should be the vanilla form of a suit when picking. For example, if the shoulderpads extend a bit off my shoulder, can that be tailored? I don't know what can be tailored and what canr ;/

Not everything can be easily tailored. The shoulders are the most important fit off the rack because that can't be done in a cost-effective way. It's relatively easy to take in or let out the waist and adjust the length of the sleeves.

 

[nabilesmail]

So I picked up a suit for 400$ but i got a second free. Wasn't from men's warehouse, it was from another store in the mall. Tailoring costed 85$ too! I can't wait to see the final product. One thing was the pants were a good size for my thais but baggy on my calfs. The suit person said that he wouldnt risk slimming that down because everything would get too tight when i sit down. I asked if I could cut just from the knee down, and he said its possible but can look awkward. I talked to the tailor and he said he can do it and it doesn't look awkward and he does it all the time. The suit seller did seem like kind of a tool too so I did it with the tailor, hopefully it doesn't look weird!

None of the normal department shirts fit well in the sense that they are slim everywhere. Is it okay if I just buy a shirt from a Nordstroms that fits my shoulders and chest well and get the shirt tailored?

edit: Ugh Such BS- I got my suit at Bachrach's and checked out their website and all their suits are in the 200$ price range. I paid 400 (but buy 1 get 1 free) but I couldn't care less about the second suit. I'd much rather have my 200$, also sent the suit to tailoring already.

 

[gravitywave]

Yeah went to Mens warehouse today right before closing, they took my measurements but told me to come back tomorrow. Just curious , what should be the vanilla form of a suit when picking. For example, if the shoulderpads extend a bit off my shoulder, can that be tailored? I don't know what can be tailored and what canr ;/

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.