The Interview Suit

[Moderator1]

Not sure if this should go here or journalism board but I'm choosing here because it has little to do with the journalism aspect.

I have a meeting tomorrow that, if successful, will probably set Harris Media Services up to be very successful. I want it to be successful.

Do the old white-or-light-blue shirt rules still apply? I've picked out something that has just a touch of flair. I don't want to go overboard but I don't want to be bland, either. It's a light stripe Brooks Brothers shirt with a patterned tie that picks up some of shirt, pants and jacket.

It would look damn good on someone not as ugly as yours truly. On me, well, it will look like it is on me.

I'm OK with this, right? I interviewed lots of people and never said, "Don't like the shirt. Sorry." During or after.

I feel like I'm back in college going in for my internship interview. I really want this to work.

ps - my shoes are standard black business.

 

[playthrough]

Brooks Brothers doesn't make any dress shirt that you should be embarrassed to wear to an interview, unless the tie has Christmas lights.

Go with it.

 

[JackReacher]

I wouldn't overthink it too much. What you have sounds good.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

A man ought to have a lucky tie.

The shoes are more important than the shirt.

 

[GB-Hack]

I think if it's Brooks Brothers, you are going to be absolutely fine, and most likely will look very dashing.

 

[goldglovechipper]

If you feel confident while wearing what you picked out, go for it.

 

[Moderator1]

Brooks Brothers doesn't make any dress shirt that you should be embarrassed to wear to an interview, unless the tie has Christmas lights.

Go with it.

Although I have one of those, I'm not wearing it here.

Black cashmere sport coat (a gift from my brother), charcoal gray pants, black shoes. Like I said, it would be grand on anybody else. Doesn't look quite the same on me as it does the Brooks Brothers models but it makes me look as good as I can possibly look.

Key contract here. Make or break? Definitely make, hopefully not break.

 

[Moderator1]

A man ought to have a lucky tie.

The shoes are more important than the shirt.

Funny you should mention the tie.
This is how much I love my son (or why I love my son): It is HIS lucky tie. It's 3-3 for interviews. I've had some tough luck lately so he wanted me to wear this. I 'bout cried.
Only thing is, I hate to kill the karma of the kid's tie. My karma has been way off since my dog died and I don't want it to affect my kids.
Nice tie, though, and works well with what I've selected.

 

[93Devil]

Shoes.

Be sure you are wearing new or freshly polished shoes.

Good luck

 

[Matt1735]

Best of luck Moddy... you and the outfit will join the tie in closing the deal!

 

[Killick]

This is the part I hate most - interview wear. The mature side of me knows it's time to, as Barney Stnison says, "suit up!" and go all out. The ****-and-moan side of me always wants to go business casual (dress slacks and tie, to be sure, but no jacket). I mean, if they're going to hire or not hire on the basis of whether I stroke their ego to put on the ritz, **** 'em... and it just feels vane as hell to have to spend anything over two seconds on what constitutes a "power tie."

... but then, I *really* would like a gig...

Aw, ****. (shuffles off, dressed to the nines.)

 

[Buck]

I'd go white shirt.

 

[Herbert Anchovy]

I understand, Mod. I wear my old man's favorite tie. Interviews, weddings, funerals. I inherited a Vuitton elsewhere that costs more than my shoes and a lifetime of dry cleaning, but I'm just not feeling it with that one. Go with the gut.

 

[mustangj17]

Not sure if this should go here or journalism board but I'm choosing here because it has little to do with the journalism aspect.

I have a meeting tomorrow that, if successful, will probably set Harris Media Services up to be very successful. I want it to be successful.

Do the old white-or-light-blue shirt rules still apply? I've picked out something that has just a touch of flair. I don't want to go overboard but I don't want to be bland, either. It's a light stripe Brooks Brothers shirt with a patterned tie that picks up some of shirt, pants and jacket.

It would look damn good on someone not as ugly as yours truly. On me, well, it will look like it is on me.

I'm OK with this, right? I interviewed lots of people and never said, "Don't like the shirt. Sorry." During or after.

I feel like I'm back in college going in for my internship interview. I really want this to work.

ps - my shoes are standard black business.

You always want to have a light colored shirt. You don't want to make the person you are meeting with think you just came from a wake.

If you have some sort of design on the shirt and a design on the tie, make sure you know what you are doing. Your shirt and tie patterns are dependent on your suit pattern.If your suit is a solid, then you can get flashier with the shirt and tie. If the suit has a pin strip, make sure you arrange your stripes accordingly.

You can do stripes with stripes, you just have to do it right. For example: Don't couple a black suit with a white pinstripe with a black shirt with the same sized white pin stripe, you will look like Al Capone. Shirts and suits can have the same sized pin stripe - but the colors of stripe should be different (I hope that makes sense). More importantly, your tie stripe size should be opposite of your shirt or suit. If your shirt has a small pin stripe, your tie needs a big stripes or vice versa.

And I'm glad you decided not to wear the red shoes.

 

[JackReacher]

Or just wear a white or blue shirt with a dark jacket. :)

 

[The Big Ragu]

Just wanted to add good luck, Moddy. If you feel good about yourself in the outfit, go for it.

 

[Bubbler]

I wore the same suit for every interview I had from 1995-2004. By the time I had my last interview, I had gained weight. My suit was so tight, I think I got the job on sex appeal.

 

[Moderator1]

Thanks, I do.

I'd feel a lot better if I was 6-4. If I weighed 170. If I had my full head of hair. If I was 25 years younger.
But I gots to go with what I got so I'll make it happen with that.

I got a check today that I was waiting on FOREVER. This freelance junk has its pitfalls.

 

[Birdscribe]

Brooks Brothers doesn't make any dress shirt that you should be embarrassed to wear to an interview, unless the tie has Christmas lights.

Go with it.

Although I have one of those, I'm not wearing it here.

Black cashmere sport coat (a gift from my brother), charcoal gray pants, black shoes. Like I said, it would be grand on anybody else. Doesn't look quite the same on me as it does the Brooks Brothers models but it makes me look as good as I can possibly look.

Wore a black cashmere J Crew sport coat on my Jeopardy appearances. Even Trebek complimented me on my coat, saying "Very nice coat, I hope you win enough to pay for it..."

So good karma on the black cashmere, Moddy.

 

[Boom_70]

Not sure if this should go here or journalism board but I'm choosing here because it has little to do with the journalism aspect.

I have a meeting tomorrow that, if successful, will probably set Harris Media Services up to be very successful. I want it to be successful.

Do the old white-or-light-blue shirt rules still apply? I've picked out something that has just a touch of flair. I don't want to go overboard but I don't want to be bland, either. It's a light stripe Brooks Brothers shirt with a patterned tie that picks up some of shirt, pants and jacket.

It would look damn good on someone not as ugly as yours truly. On me, well, it will look like it is on me.

I'm OK with this, right? I interviewed lots of people and never said, "Don't like the shirt. Sorry." During or after.

I feel like I'm back in college going in for my internship interview. I really want this to work.

ps - my shoes are standard black business.

Are you not wearing pants?

If not with the striped shirt go with crisp white boxers and over the calf black socks to highlight the black shoes.