Interview clothes should disappear. You want them talking about your experience, not your tie. Find out how people at the company dress, from their website, social channels or a quick question to the recruiter, then go one step smarter.
What to wear, piece by piece
- Jacket
- For office, finance, law or client-facing roles, a suit in navy or charcoal. For a relaxed or creative company, a plain navy or grey blazer still shows you made the effort.
- Shirt
- Plain white or light blue, fitted at the neck and shoulders so the collar sits flat. Add a tie for formal sectors; in a relaxed office, an open collar under the blazer is fine.
- Trousers
- Suit trousers, or dark wool or cotton trousers with a blazer. Pressed, and not bagging at the knee.
- Shoes
- Black or dark brown leather, polished. Oxfords for formal roles, Derbies or loafers for a relaxed office.
- Extras
- A belt that matches your shoes, dark socks and a simple bag or folder. Iron or steam everything the night before and check for loose threads.
What to avoid
- Bright colours or bold patterns that pull the eye.
- Anything creased, tight, or new and untested.
- Novelty socks or ties. Save the personality for your answers.
- Strong aftershave in a small meeting room.
Two ways to wear it
Charcoal suit, white shirt, navy tie with a small pattern, black Oxfords and a black belt. Right for nearly any formal interview.
For a relaxed company: navy blazer, grey wool trousers, a light blue Oxford-cloth shirt with no tie, and brown suede Derbies. Approachable, still one step up.
Quick questions
What about a video interview?
Dress as you would in person, at least from the waist up. Plain colours look best on camera; fine stripes and small checks can flicker.
Is a suit too much for a start-up?
Sometimes. A blazer with no tie is the safe middle ground. Being slightly overdressed is rarely held against you; being underdressed can be.
Black or navy?
Navy or charcoal. Black suits are best kept for evenings and formal events.