where do you purchase suit from?

[calvin&hobbes]

Contrary to what most people believe, it doesn’t really matter what you wear to your interviews. Sometimes your interviewers will forget to read your application and essays before your interview let alone remember what you wore. However, many applicants want to get that perfect outfit as a rite of passage. Compare it to prom: ladies, you search for that perfect gown but will your date remember it…the day after prom? Guys, some of you might be forced to wear the tie that matches your date’s dress.

Looking sharp may help you boost your confidence during your interview. Hey, you might out-psyche the other interviewees with your savvy outfit. However, adcoms probably won’t notice it.

Guys, any suit that is tailored will be fine. Clean shoes will be good, too. Dark suits usually look more professional. The type of suit will depend on how much you are willing to spend. If you don’t have a budget, try Brook Brothers, Nordstroms, Bloomindales. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, try Dillards, Men’s Warehouse. Although ExpressMen, J. Crew, Banana Republic sell suits, they tend to be more casual, but you could buy the shirt or tie there. Think: suits to have dinner with your girlfriends’ parents who live at the Hamptons.

Girls, well you probably know more about this topic than anything. Ann Taylor is probably the best to find a suit: skirt, pants, or mix and match. You probably want to buy a suit that you would want to wear again once interviews are over. Do you really want to buy that pink suit a la Elle Woods in Legally Blonde? You could buy other pieces (blouse, shell, accessories) somewhere else like the other popular places like J. Crew, Banana Republic, or any other department stores.

Happy hunting everyone! Remember, it’s not what you wear but how you wear it. 😀

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[tank you]

thought this thread might be helpful for interview season. 🙂
also, at express men right now, they have 1MX shirt for $20, its a full sleeve dress shirt and perfect to wear under a suit.

 

[dilated]

you should wear a white shirt. blue is not such a good choice. A windsor knot reeks of pomposity -- just go with 4-in-hand and don't be sloppy.

I don't know about that. A double windsor looks ******ed, a single windsor (provided the tie is not too thick at the top) looks good. 4-in-hand looks like you're going to your eighth grade prom.

 

[UCDavisdude]

Slim Cut Suit!!!!!!!!

 

[tank you]

Slim Cut Suit!!!!!!!!

i dont get it, can you elaborate? 🙂

 

[Turkeyman]

go nude

 

[radioh3ad]

I vouch for bachrach and SYMS. Found a $350 Hugo Boss at Syms, black and slim fitted (only if you have a slim figure) and a $420 black suit from Bachrach, also slim.

Make sure you don't put all your attention in the suit. If you have a woman interviewer she will definitely notice your shoes. Male interviewers may check to see if you've shined them well.

Bring a girl with you to shop.

do NOT wear risky tie pattern. i agree with whoever said to emulate the President. Adcoms are notoriously conservative and what better example of that than Dubya?

 

[JayQuah]

My girlfriend thinks I look absolutely irresistible (her words, i swear) when I wear my pink tie with my black suit and white shirt. Is the pink tie pushing it with adcoms? hey maybe there are a few fashion conscious members or females who would appreciate a manly guy like myself wearing a pink tie.

That's cute. I hope you guys make it, I am really rooting for you. Anywho, I've been rockin the pink tie since before you were in OChem 1. haven't decided if this rock-ification will grace the adcoms with its presence...but I'll keep you posted. In fact, I'll post a blog on mdapplicants.com..."Where I'm At As Far As My Decision To Rock The Pink Tie"

 

[JayQuah]

Where do I buy MY suit?? why, SDN of course!

WTB shnazzy lookin suit for interviews, 20 to 2000 dollar range. please email at [email protected].

 

[willthatsall]

This thread makes me feel very self-conscious about my interview attire. I don't even know how to tie my tie in more than one way. 😳

 

[MoosePilot]

This thread makes me feel very self-conscious about my interview attire. I don't even know how to tie my tie in more than one way. 😳

I tie a tie just one way too... and I forget what that way is called, but I bet it's the easy way that someone is making fun of.

Don't worry about it. Wear a conservative suit so you don't give them a reason to think less of you and the rest is all good. They'll take a quick look, say "professional" and that's it. Well, with you they might also say "damn, he's tall", but that should be the end of it!

 

[willthatsall]

I tie a tie just one way too... and I forget what that way is called, but I bet it's the easy way that someone is making fun of.

Don't worry about it. Wear a conservative suit so you don't give them a reason to think less of you and the rest is all good. They'll take a quick look, say "professional" and that's it. Well, with you they might also say "damn, he's tall", but that should be the end of it!

Yeah, I also noticed I was the only person wearing brown shoes. And my suit is kind of a dark olive color, with some navy in it. But hey, it's what I have so I'll take my chances.

 

[jbrice1639]

for anyone in the midwest, marshall fields has a sweet collection of suits, and also has very helpful salespeople who tend to be relatively conservative and can offer a lot of assistance picking out a suit for an interview...especially useful to those who have mentioned not really being sure what they should be looking for.

also, having worn suits and dress clothes for jobs, i would definitely not advise anyone to shop at express men for an interview suit unless they have worn express dress clothes before. i have a suit from there that i picked up because it was a lot cheaper than most department stores, but it has never really fit right, even after tailoring...the cut of the pants is too similar to a jeans cut. additionally, express seems to have an obsession with putting lycra and/or spandex into the blends of their dress shirts (the 1MX shirt) which is pretty bad for anyone prone to getting overheated or sweating since you're putting a layer of unbreathable water-proofing under your suit jacket.

my last bit of advice is definitely go blue over black. think about people you see on tv, on the news, in business meetings...no one wears black suits for those types of things. black suits are for events, not interviews.

also, this happens to be one of my favorite suit brands, and they have a good section on fashion advice that might be helpful...you can also email the guy, and he'll respond in a day or two if you have any specific questions...seems like a useful resource:
http://www.hartschaffnermarx.com/index_flash.php

 

[stoleyerscrubz]

I always forget how to tie a tie since I do it so infrequently. I usually have to practice a few days before I will need it or I do the old pre-tie and slip it off for later use.

🙂

I tie a tie just one way too... and I forget what that way is called, but I bet it's the easy way that someone is making fun of.

Don't worry about it. Wear a conservative suit so you don't give them a reason to think less of you and the rest is all good. They'll take a quick look, say "professional" and that's it. Well, with you they might also say "damn, he's tall", but that should be the end of it!

 

[jbrice1639]

This thread makes me feel very self-conscious about my interview attire. I don't even know how to tie my tie in more than one way. 😳

yeah, i only tie my tie one way too...and, while i think it would probably hurt any of us to walk in with a green shirt and a polyester suit, i really can't believe that an adcom is gonna be like "did you see that guy's tie?! i mean, he did the easy knot...i'll be that is a reflection on how lazy and careless he is in all aspects of life...we can't have someone like that attending our school..."

 

[MoosePilot]

my last bit of advice is definitely go blue over black. think about people you see on tv, on the news, in business meetings...no one wears black suits for those types of things. black suits are for events, not interviews.

Except that many of the interviewees there are in black. It's just not going to make a difference.

I sat and talked to the office staff in one of my interviewer's offices. One of the ladies eventually said, "You look sharp. I mean everyone interviewing looks sharp, but there's sharp and then there's *sharp*." Black suit, light gray shirt, silver and black patterned tie - I look good and I know it.

Get someone's opinion on your outfit. For those who aren't doing interviews this year, wear the suit you're planning on wearing to your pre-med interview if you have one. Ask them, "What do you think of this suit?". They'll answer it honestly, because they're trying to help you get in!

 

[tkim]

1) It doesn't matter which way you tie your tie - only that you know *how* to do it. True story: one of the people interviewing with me at a school did not knot his tie and only somehow pinned it or something into place. It looked neat enough, and not being the king of fashion, I though this was some kind of new style. Later, after the interviews, we were all standing in the parking lot and I asked the guy what kind of style that was - and he told our group that he didn't know how to knot a tie. We were all floored. To make things worse, his interviewer picked up on the tie and the guy had to admit he didn't know how to knot his tie.

2) Dark grey will get you through almost anything, though go with the best color for you. I happen to be a winter, so dark is good for me.

3) Men's Wearhouse will press any suit you buy from them - free, repeatedly. And, if there's a Men's Wearhouse in the city that you're interviewing in, you can get it done there after unpacking.

4) If you overheat easily - like me, a 'summer weight' suit or fabric will help out a lot. Nothing worse than pouring out during the interview in some stuffy office.

 

[MoosePilot]

3) Men's Wearhouse will press any suit you buy from them - free, repeatedly. And, if there's a Men's Wearhouse in the city that you're interviewing in, you can get it done there after unpacking.

Dang! I didn't think of that! Good idea.

 

[63768]

i got a suit from foleys. it's by jones new york and cost me $300. fits better than any suit i've worn. i would not suggest going with an express suit (since i used to work there and most of their clothing is pretty shoddy material) or a jcpenney suit (you get what you pay for). my suit fits well, breathes well, and looks great.

i'd also suggest to guys to make sure you get a single breasted suit because double breasted is for older men.