← All style guidesStyle guide
What to wear to a job interview
Dress one step above what people wear to work at that company. For corporate roles that means a suit; for most offices, business casual; for startups and creative teams, smart casual. Clean, well-fitted, and understated beats expensive every time.
Free · no account needed
Skip the guesswork. Get your outfit.
Pick womenswear or menswear and Tailr designs a complete look for the occasion from real, in-stock pieces in about ten seconds.
The dress code, decoded
- Corporate (finance, law, consulting) — A dark suit, a light shirt or blouse, and polished shoes. A tie for men is still the norm.
- Business casual (most offices) — Tailored trousers or a skirt with a blouse or button-down, plus a blazer you can take off.
- Startup and tech — Dark jeans or chinos, a crisp shirt or fine knit, and clean leather sneakers or loafers.
- Creative (design, media, fashion) — Smart casual with one considered detail that shows your taste, such as a great jacket, a strong color, or interesting shoes.
What women can wear
- A tailored blazer over a simple top works for nearly every interview; remove it if the room is casual.
- Trousers, a knee-length skirt, or a sheath dress are all appropriate; choose what you can sit and move in comfortably.
- Keep jewelry and makeup polished and low-key so the focus stays on what you say.
- Closed-toe flats, loafers, or low block heels are the safest shoes.
What men can wear
- For corporate roles, a navy or charcoal suit, white or light blue shirt, and a simple tie.
- For business casual, a blazer with chinos or wool trousers and an open collar.
- For tech, a crisp shirt or merino sweater with dark jeans or chinos is enough; skip the hoodie.
- Get anything that's too long or too loose hemmed or tailored before the day; fit reads as care.
What to skip
- Anything wrinkled, stained, or that you need to keep adjusting.
- Strong fragrance; interview rooms are small.
- Loud logos, slogans, and athletic wear, even at casual companies.
- Wearing something for the first time; try the full outfit on the day before.
Season by season
- Summer — Lightweight wool, cotton, or linen blends; bring the jacket and put it on just before you walk in.
- Winter — A tailored overcoat over your outfit; avoid puffy parkas if you can, or take one you can check.
- Video interviews — Solid mid-tone colors read best on camera; avoid fine stripes and small checks, which flicker.
Good to know
Questions
- Should I wear a suit to a job interview?
- Wear one for corporate roles like finance, law, and consulting. For most other offices, a blazer with trousers is enough, and for startups a smart casual outfit is right.
- How do I find out a company's dress code?
- Look at photos on the company's careers page, LinkedIn, and social accounts, or ask your recruiter. Then dress one step above what you see.
- Can I wear jeans to an interview?
- Only at companies where jeans are clearly the norm, such as many startups. Choose a dark, clean pair and dress the rest of the outfit up.
- What colors are best for an interview?
- Navy, charcoal, gray, and black read as credible and calm. Use color in one piece, like a shirt or blouse, rather than head to toe.
More style guides
Have the event, not the outfit?
A free account styles the clothes you already own first, adjusts for your body and the weather, and plans looks for what's on your calendar. Free forever, no credit card.
Create my free account →