Appropriate attire for women?

Hi guys, I'm an incoming summer analyst and noticed most of the threads in this forum talk about men's fashion. I was wondering what is considered appropriate office attire for women? Most of my blazers and skirts are black and blue, but is it appropriate to wear other colors? Should a blazer be worn at all times, or can I get away with wearing a dress shirt and dress pants/skirt? If anyone has any advice or rules of thumb, that'd be great!

 

Why is color not appropriate? I would say try not to look too bright, but that would be for every day situation. Skirt and blazers ok, even a blouse and pants. I would suggest to put some color here and there but nothing too flashy

 

Colour is totally appropriate, unless it's lime green or some shit. It's alright to leave your blazer on your chair during the day, unless you're meeting clients. TBH, you're probably overthinking it man. Only rule of thumb is don't look like a slut. Don't wear skirts way above your knees, tank tops etc. - pretty straightforward stuff, but there are people who think this rule doesn't apply on casual Fridays.

I am NOT in denial!
 

I'd recommend wearing the jacket and taking a cab. The worst way to start your interview is to show up freezing (for you) and with cold hands (for your interviewer).

Turtlenecks are perfectly fine, although best if you aren't too busty. If you have one, mock necks look slightly better under a suit jacket as they are a bit sleeker and tend to be a lighter weight knit.

 

Hi! It's probably too late, but in case you got the job and need an office wardrobe or have other interviews to go, there is this great website, called Corporette, where they give you tips and advice about everything related to female officewear.

Good luck!

“I’m into, uh, well, murders and executions, mostly.”
 
Best Response

Corporette is great for women's fashion. It seems to have skewed a little "older" lately but people age so I understand if she has as well.

Womens interview attire is a little easier than men's, especially if you're interviewing with primarily males. You can go one of two routes and present well:

IF you have a strong sense of style: something with a jacket/blazer is acceptable with coordinating pants or a dress in a similar weight - don't worry about matching but be careful to ensure it doesn't look like a half-assed suit. Don't fall into a trap and wear accessories which scream "branding": no Coach bags with obvious logos, LV, David Yurman stacks, or Louboutin.

If style isn't your strong suit, follow the same rules as the men (with one exception: black suits are appropriate) and make sure your bra doesn't show under your shirt. This includes getting your suit tailored because much more emphasis will be placed on it than if you go the route above.

 

The striped shirt is probably fine as long as the total look is not too busy.

Some people make a fuss about skirt suit vs. pant suit: unless the company is very conservative either should be fine. If you can, make sure the pieces look good as separates while buying a suit. Hopefully you will be keeping the job for awhile and you will get a lot more use out of the pieces if they do. You will see why with my next point.

Buy the most expensive interview suit you can afford (within reason). A seasoned professional can tell a cheap suit from a solid mid-range one and the more polished look will only add to your credibility.

Accessories can be an ice breaker with female interviewers but probably will not be noticed by male ones. There are a few times that I have complimented an interviewee on her necklace, bag or shoes and we have built an immediate rapport. That said, if you don't regularly wear accessories and have little experience incorporating them it's probably best to leave them out. There is a fine line between "nice" and "busy" which takes practice to get down.

Lastly, don't be afraid to show some personal style. The great thing about being a woman is that we can incorporate damn near any individual piece as long as the overall "look" is there. Men going on job interviews cannot say the same. Obviously, the amount of leeway you get is larger as you progress in your career.

 

Hi, I have faced the same issue in my previous days. unable to find a good dress up for office. One of my friends suggested me to wear light colors for the office. Because bright colors won't give you the formal look. Try to avoid dark colors in your formals.

 

Quidem voluptas incidunt accusantium. Cum unde voluptatem iste. Voluptatem exercitationem quidem cumque enim.

Aut possimus hic sunt labore. Quo similique mollitia at est eos. Qui facere voluptas sit perspiciatis earum fugiat unde. Omnis earum harum et cumque aut autem vel. Eius eum voluptatem et sunt et commodi. Amet commodi dolorum modi quia quis distinctio voluptatem praesentium. Earum qui sequi soluta qui dolore.

Facere autem similique iste quae provident porro aut. Qui qui porro mollitia voluptatem officiis. Vel quo rem vitae odit atque. Facilis error placeat eaque qui ut.

Aut est fuga doloribus blanditiis. Ut repellendus maiores aspernatur esse. Enim tempora eligendi consectetur nihil vel accusamus est eum.

 

Accusantium itaque libero ducimus et tempora aut rerum. Quam aut molestiae sint et quaerat. A et sint soluta officiis tenetur in deserunt. Sed id vero tenetur tenetur.

Quos nemo at aperiam nihil aspernatur ipsum. Nobis incidunt autem molestiae modi autem enim dolorem. Accusamus mollitia quis quidem nostrum. Illo deserunt voluptatem magnam omnis reiciendis animi. Accusantium quae dolorem fugit cum. Quia corrupti adipisci at repudiandae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (85) $262
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (65) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (198) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (143) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
9
pudding's picture
pudding
98.8
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”