what color suit for interview?

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mindquick

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what color suit do most people wear for interview? i have an old greyish suit with squarish patterns on them. will it work?

and tie or no tie?
 
The rule of thumb I've heard is a dark suit (blue or black) with a muted color tie. I think of that as an overarching rule to encompass everyone, so you're specific suit may be fine, though I think a tie would be a good idea. When in doubt, go for the more professional look.
 
Bow tie and frilly sky blue shirt, white jacket. White shiny shoes.

You'll be a shoe-in regardless of stats.
 
Revenant said:
Bow tie and frilly sky blue shirt, white jacket. White shiny shoes.

You'll be a shoe-in regardless of stats.
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Thanks, that's what I normally wear anyway, so I'm glad I won't need to buy anything (except for the tie).
 
I wore a charcoal blackish brown suit.
 
Is it okay to wear a yellow tie for interview??
 
129dumber.jpg
 
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Try for a suit and tie--no substitutions there--that, when you present in it, the eyes of those who know you will widen (in the good way of course). I bought my new suit/shirt/tie/shoes, and the reaction I got from my wife was priceless. When I saw her face, I said, "now that is what I'm going for." (It is, by the way, taupe with pinstripes, with light cream shirt and melon-colored tie. It freaking rocks.

Anyway, the point is, as conservative as med schools tend to be, dressing well may not actually help you, but NOT dressing well will work against you. Try some different ones and get opinions!

This is the easiest part to get right 👍
 
FurmanJon said:
I bought my new suit/shirt/tie/shoes, and the reaction I got from my wife was priceless. When I saw her face, I said, "now that is what I'm going for." (It is, by the way, taupe with pinstripes, with light cream shirt and melon-colored tie. It freaking rocks.
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I think it's easier to wear lighter colors in the South. Most of the guys in my high school were obsessed with khaki pants and light colored (usually blue, cause that was our school color) button down, long sleeved shirts. Wearing a light color in NYC though, might be considered a little out there.
 
FurmanJon said:
Try for a suit and tie--no substitutions there--that, when you present in it, the eyes of those who know you will widen (in the good way of course). I bought my new suit/shirt/tie/shoes, and the reaction I got from my wife was priceless. When I saw her face, I said, "now that is what I'm going for." (It is, by the way, taupe with pinstripes, with light cream shirt and melon-colored tie. It freaking rocks.

Anyway, the point is, as conservative as med schools tend to be, dressing well may not actually help you, but NOT dressing well will work against you. Try some different ones and get opinions!

This is the easiest part to get right 👍
Click to expand...
Exactly. I didn't go nuts with my suit, but I put it together solely for the "wow... nice" effect. It's not every day that I get to dress up and if it's for something as important as med school, I want to look good.
 
Options to ensure that the interviewer remembers you:

1) Seersucker
2) Tuxedo
3) P-Diddy style 100% white suit


(Seriously.....how could anyone reject a candidate dressed like this: http://www.pdiddyuk.com/images/white.gif)
 
Light suit after Labor Day = 👎. Not to mention it looks unprofessional, according to the multiple people I asked (lawyers, physicians, CPAs, etc.).
 
I bought my suit today 😀. Got a nice darker gray suit for a little over $250 at Dillards. Now I just have to find matching shoes...
 
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Darker colors for suits. I might be old school, but I save black for funerals. And buy a suit, not just a blazer/sport coat with slacks. There's a huge difference in both style and fit. If you want to save money on a suit by buying it from some discount store like Marshalls, go a Mens' Warehouse first and they'll put a few suits on you for fit. Remember the jacket numbers and try on suits at cheaper places for a similar fit.

Navy blue, black, charcoal and gray suits were all the ones I saw. I have 5 suits, none are in black. Blue or white for shirt color; pink if you want to look stylish with a navy blue or gray suit. Solid colors, or broad strips for ties. No intricate designs, or patterns that make you dizzy, or things that draw attention.

Black shoes, or a dark brown if you buy a navy suit. Make sure the belt matches the shoe color.

The part is if you've never bought a suit jacket before:
Shoulders should be comfortable. The shoulder seam should be exactly where your should ends. Length of the jacket sleeve should end where your thumb metacarpal joint is (1/4 in. below wrist) when you have your arm at your sides. (Your shirt cuff should be slightly visible, 1/4 in. beyond the sleeve). The length of the jacket should end at the phalangeal joint of the thumb (the joint you use to strike a lighter). When you have on the suit jacket and it's buttoned, another person should be able to pull the front away from your body, and be able to fit a fist in the opening between your body and the suit. From the back, the suit fall flat against your back.

3-button suits: Top button is sometimes buttoned, middle one is always buttoned, bottom one is never buttoned.

2-button suits: top one is always buttoned, lower one is never buttoned.
 
SigEp MD Alpha said:
Darker colors for suits. I might be old school, but I save black for funerals. And buy a suit, not just a blazer/sport coat with slacks. There's a huge difference in both style and fit. If you want to save money on a suit by buying it from some discount store like Marshalls, go a Mens' Warehouse first and they'll put a few suits on you for fit. Remember the jacket numbers and try on suits at cheaper places for a similar fit.

Navy blue, black, charcoal and gray suits were all the ones I saw. I have 5 suits, none are in black. Blue or white for shirt color; pink if you want to look stylish with a navy blue or gray suit. Solid colors, or broad strips for ties. No intricate designs, or patterns that make you dizzy, or things that draw attention.

Black shoes, or a dark brown if you buy a navy suit. Make sure the belt matches the shoe color.

The part is if you've never bought a suit jacket before:
Shoulders should be comfortable. The shoulder seam should be exactly where your should ends. Length of the jacket sleeve should end where your thumb metacarpal joint is (1/4 in. below wrist) when you have your arm at your sides. (Your shirt cuff should be slightly visible, 1/4 in. beyond the sleeve). The length of the jacket should end at the phalangeal joint of the thumb (the joint you use to strike a lighter). When you have on the suit jacket and it's buttoned, another person should be able to pull the front away from your body, and be able to fit a fist in the opening between your body and the suit. From the back, the suit fall flat against your back.

3-button suits: Top button is sometimes buttoned, middle one is always buttoned, bottom one is never buttoned.

2-button suits: top one is always buttoned, lower one is never buttoned.
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Good advice but I think textured ties are more stylish these days. Solid stripes seem a little bland.

At any rate, nice job using specific anatomical terms when describing where your sleeves/jacket should fall.

You know you're on SDN when... 🙂
 
http://www.totieatie.com/jobInterview.asp

Stay conservative. Darksuit and a shirt that matches your tie... nothing flashy. However, your tie should convey the image you want to express to the committee.

Red: Passionate, agressive, go-getter
Blue: Calm and cool person
Green: Down-to-Earth
Yellow: Outgoing

If your going for really flashy colors make sure your personality fits the color. If not but like the color then play it safe.

The general rule is that dark colors accentuate your face and thus make it easier for the interviewer to focus on you.

If you want to stick with the grey suit thats okay. If the squares are over the top (to big... or bright green) then no. If you do stick with gray avoid neutral ties because thats just very plain.

Black shoes and black belt are best.

PS: Sorry If this sounds repetive and over the top but I haven't looked through the whole thread and I have a penchant for fashion.
 
AKPsiMD84 said:
http://www.totieatie.com/jobInterview.asp

Stay conservative. Darksuit and a shirt that matches your tie... nothing flashy. However, your tie should convey the image you want to express to the committee.

Red: Passionate, agressive, go-getter
Blue: Calm and cool person
Green: Down-to-Earth
Yellow: Outgoing

If your going for really flashy colors make sure your personality fits the color. If not but like the color then play it safe.

The general rule is that dark colors accentuate your face and thus make it easier for the interviewer to focus on you.

If you want to stick with the grey suit thats okay. If the squares are over the top (to big... or bright green) then no. If you do stick with gray avoid neutral ties because thats just very plain.

Black shoes and black belt are best.

PS: Sorry If this sounds repetive and over the top but I haven't looked through the whole thread and I have a penchant for fashion.
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I agree with most of the above post, excluding the stringent necktie personality parameters. Wear what you think looks nice, just make sure that it's not outlandish. Sig Ep's comments are also right on the $

For those advising darker colored suits: I agree, except that young men probably shouldn't (as a general rule) wear black suits. I've always thought (reinforced by conservative, accomplished men with whom I've done business) that black suits communicate a certain, shall we say, confidence that borders on arrogance... Nothing wrong with that, but if you're wearing something flashy (black suit with a red tie) in a professional setting, you better have a history of personal accomplishment in the real world to back it up. It's been my experience that most professionals look disdainfully on "boys" in black suits trying to make a "statement" before they've done anything real. Just my $.02 of course, as things like this can be somewhat subjective. If you're going for a classic look, then a navy suit with a white shirt and a solid red tie with a big knot combines a conservative feel (navy suit) with a little flash (red tie and big knot).

Quick Edit: No bowtie unless you have a horsec*ck in the form of a 42 on the MCAT
 
THe above article mentions this too. AVOID the cologne and perfume. Some people are very sensitive to strong smells and your interview will not go well if the person sitting accross from you can't wait to get away from you.

If your suit already smells of your cologne, get it dry cleaned.
 
you guys are going to make a lot of people paranoid with these rules

I have a black pinstripe suit and I can't afford a new one..
 
etf said:
my shirt cuff is never visible when when i'm standing straight, only when i reach out or something.
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The reasoning is that the longer cuff protects the inner edge of the jacket sleeve from your skin oils. <shrug>
 
armybound said:
you guys are going to make a lot of people paranoid with these rules

I have a black pinstripe suit and I can't afford a new one..
Click to expand...
Y'know, that's fine. Here's what I think... the color = personality thing is for the most part, crap. Everyone knows that some colors just don't match your personality (green, let's say) but other more traditional colors (blue, yellow) are fine for most people.

As for the black suit, why the heck not. The goal is to look good and even though you might fit in too well, you might feel more comfortable like that. And personally, I tend to think that young people look nice in black suits. They look sharper and more clean cut, in my opinion. Go for it 🙂
 
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One thing I forgot to add last night: Tie guidelines.

If you wear a regular collar, do a single Windsor knot. Spread collars usually require a double Windsor (unless it's a thick fabric tie). The tie point should be slightly longer than the top of your belt buckle (your waist line). After you knot the tie, create a single dimple in the middle immediately below the knot with your finger. This helps the tie fall flat with no arch near the knot.
 
A black suit (for men) is not at all appropriate. Its a fashion taboo. Its doubtful that wearing one will actually hurt you on an interview, but if you come across an interviewer who is even superficially familiar with fashion, it may be looked down upon.

This advice is probably more relevant in the high end business world where wearing a $900 Brooks Brothers suit is considered cheap and tacky. But if you want to be extra safe, stay away from the black suit.
 
armybound said:
you guys are going to make a lot of people paranoid with these rules

I have a black pinstripe suit and I can't afford a new one..
Click to expand...

Have someone who has a good eye help you choose a shirt and tie that "warm up" the black pinstripe and you'll be fine. (Blue pinpoint shirt, not button-down, with a tie that's not a "power tie"?) I think men in black suits who have beautiful shirts and ties are sharp. My personal belief is that it's far far better than a brown suit---brown is too Ronald Reagan and doesn't look good on anyone (can you say used car salesman?). You really just need to think you look your best so you can focus on the interview. I doubt most interviewers would look down their noses at you if you are well-groomed and not in really odd clothes.

this is a black suit (ignore the pants in the photo)
8248e.jpg






or you could do this
get_image.php

:laugh:
 
this is actually what I just bought. I wasn't going for a power-tie, I just wanted something that matched the light blue shirt (that is light blue, not white).

suit.jpg
 
I think you'll look good. Don't read any more posts about how to dress. :laugh:
 
How much would/did you pay for a good suit? I found one that I really like but I should have looked at the price first, I'ts $600. Then I would have to get shoes, shirt, and tie which would add to the price. Who here spent the most on their suit?
 
inaminute said:
I think men in black suits who have beautiful shirts and ties are sharp. My personal belief is that it's far far better than a brown suit---brown is too Ronald Reagan and doesn't look good on anyone (can you say used car salesman?).
Click to expand...

do you mean brown suits don't look good on any GUYS or anyone in general? because i definitely have a brown, subtly-pinstriped suit and i've gotten multiple compliments on it😉
 
todbaker37 said:
How much would/did you pay for a good suit? I found one that I really like but I should have looked at the price first, I'ts $600. Then I would have to get shoes, shirt, and tie which would add to the price. Who here spent the most on their suit?
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It depends on where you go. But I think you can get a good suit for under $200, but you might have to look a bit.
 
do you guys have any pictures on what i should look for in terms of shoes?
 
I have 5 suits and my brown one is my favorite!!! It is deep dark chocolate brown and it rocks. It makes the color of almost any shirt look richer. 🙂
 
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2008orbust said:
I have 5 suits and my brown one is my favorite!!! It is deep dark chocolate brown and it rocks. It makes the color of almost any shirt look richer. 🙂
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Yep. Dark coffee bean brown for me. $400 at Macy's with another $100 in gift cards where I bought a shirt and a tie. I think it's a nice Fall/early Winter suit due to the color.
 
todbaker37 said:
How much would/did you pay for a good suit? I found one that I really like but I should have looked at the price first, I'ts $600. Then I would have to get shoes, shirt, and tie which would add to the price. Who here spent the most on their suit?
Click to expand...

i am reasonably certain that i spent more on my suit than most people will spend on their entire application process, including an mcat prep course and flights/hotels at interviews. but there is no reason for you to spend $600 on a suit, especially if it's just for med school interview purposes. honestly, if you're willing to do some work, you can get a suit that will hold you over from the goodwill. also, you can hit up macys/the mens wearhouse for ideas, and then head on to outlet stores or whatever. just make sure it fits right. most importantly, it's not what you wear, but how you comport yourself that matters anyway.
 
I meant men re brown suits. Don't like em.


shoes:
Leeds_thumb.gif
 
etf said:
i am reasonably certain that i spent more on my suit than most people will spend on their entire application process, including an mcat prep course and flights/hotels at interviews. but there is no reason for you to spend $600 on a suit, especially if it's just for med school interview purposes. honestly, if you're willing to do some work, you can get a suit that will hold you over from the goodwill. also, you can hit up macys/the mens wearhouse for ideas, and then head on to outlet stores or whatever. just make sure it fits right. most importantly, it's not what you wear, but how you comport yourself that matters anyway.
Click to expand...

oh, cmon, you can't do Kaplan and apply and interview for $200! :laugh:
 
mindquick said:
hmm that does not look comfy, as i have really big toes. anything else?
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Oh that shoe has a wide toe (assuming that really is the one I own). As for comfort, you can't beat Ecco shoes and they make an okay range of styles. I'd check out Macy's/Nordstrom's shoe departments to get a feel. They all start looking the same after a while, though. If your shoe size is more common, outlet stores might work out well too.
 
I wear Florsheim most days and will on the interview day. Their Milford oxford has built in gel "inserts" right in the sole! So comfortable and looks sharp. Highly recomend.
 
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