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!

29 Comments
 

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.

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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!

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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.

 

Thank you all for such cool information. I can tell you that satin dresses are great for anyone who wants to show off their beautiful figure! Good luck to you!

 

I'd get J. Crew's Cameron pants in black and charcoal (they're a stable) maybe also camel or navy, get the matching Going-Out Blazer in black or charcoal. Then add in some basic pointed toe or rounded black flats (try Cole Haan, Stuart Weitzman or Rockport) and blouses from Aritzia, Nordstrom, Club Monaco, Reiss, Vince, Theory, Brooks Brothers etc. 

A blazer doesn't need to be worn often but it's best to have one around at all times in case a meeting comes up, the Going Out Blazer is a great one because it's flattering and not nearly as stuffy as a normal cut blazer, it also doesn't look like it's trying to be a full suit. Post-covid you don't often need blazers for a meeting but still, should have one anyway.

I'd also get some basic sheath/suiting dresses, this is basically what you wear if you're not in slacks. Ann Taylor has very reasonable prices on them, and if you're near a Brooks Brothers outlet they usually have a decent selection too. On the pricer side Theory, Club Monaco, MM La Fleur and Black Halo are the best suiting dresses.

Stick to dark colors, black, charcoal, navy, maroon and then for lighter colors stick to white, off white, pale blue and camel. Navy is appropriate but for whatever reason not very common in NYC offices.

 

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