dressing for an interview: wearing black?

No, no, no. It's not just wso. You should not wear black to interviews. Black is for movie stars, cocktail parties, and funerals. Since your interviews don't fall into those categories, you should stick to navy or dark grey. You simply can't wear a back suit to an interview. If you do, you will quickly realize that you are the only one doing so, and everyone else will notice as well. I'm guessing by your name that you are French but just know that at any anglo-saxon bank, that would be a major faux-pas.

I'd actually argue it is just wso - I've never really heard anyone fuss about such a minute topic otherwise. I don't have any recollection of what the people wore during the superday at my bank, with the exception of a girl who wore a low-cut, orange shirt under her suit coat. Therefore, as long as you hold off on something like that, I think you're ok.

If you have a blue suit, sure, go with that to be safe, but I wouldn't run out and buy a new one if you only own a black one.

I feel like black suit is just an American thing. I've never heard anything like this in the UK. Either way, I have a black suit with thin peak lapels that I've worn to all my interviews.

Black is for funerals and black tie. End. All dark suits for other occasions should be midnight blue or dark charcoal. To be honest I see absolutely no reason to own a black suit, ever (not including dinner jackets).

Black is for drivers and doormen. End of.

Black is for drivers and doormen. End of.

You need a pinstripe suit (black or charcoal)

This thread is asinine. If the suit looks good on you, wear it. No one is going to comment on it as long as it looks good. Just make sure to match your shirt and tie well and polish your shoes.

I wore a black suit to the superday that landed me a FT analyst offer with a BB.

Superconnard, you probably are French, if so a black suit is perfectly fine.

I think this is typically American and does not apply to Europe. Same thing for cufflinks and white collar shirts, its standard here.

And I have often met American people wearing black suits for business, including guys at PE shops/IBD. It really isn’t such a big deal as people make it sound here.

I wore a black suit and the MD slapped me in the face with my leather folio. Then he realized it had pinstripes and apologized and I moved onto the next round.

Are you on a typical college student's budget?

I don't think there's anything worse with a black suit than with the light gray/sharkskin suit I wore to the interview where I'm currently working. If you have lots of money sitting around, go out and buy a 3-button Navy Joseph Abboud (and have it tailored for an athletic fit, if possible). If $150-$200 won't kill you, it's good to have a 100% wool navy suit from JC Penney. Otherwise, assuming it's not a tuxedo, a black suit isn't going to sink your candidacy. It may prompt an odd look or two (probably fewer than my light gray suit), but it won't hurt that badly.

I just had a bunch of BB superdays. At every single one I was the only person wearing a navy suit. All the guys had black suits and the girls too were wearing black. I thought black was too serious, which is why I was wondering why everyone had black on instead of navy or dark gray. My reasoning was as follows. I don't own a black suit since I have never been to any extremely formal events (if I did, I just rented a tuxedo). For this reason, I have two navy suits instead. Everyone else, however, might have started off with a black suit and not yet bought a navy/dark gray one since they are still in college. Nonetheless though, it does seem strange that I was the only one not wearing black...maybe everyone else thought black would form the best impression? I think I stuck out, but in a good way since I was professional but not overly serious in dress.

How do pinstripes change the equation? Mitigate the formality of black or exacerbate it?

How about an extremely dark navy suit? It looks almost black to me, so not sure if that's such a good idea.

I think pinstripes help black suits.

Yea, I haven't had a problem with wearing a black suit to an interview... Don't over think it, just be confident

I wore black to all my interviews and got offers for all. No one cares.

Yeah seriously no one cares. I wear a black suit to work (Merrill PWM, not NY), so do some of the other guys. The VPs and the MD wear what they want - contrasting collars, cufflinks, etc. The "troops" wear non-flashy business clothes - most people wear either white or blue shirt with a tie that looks good but isn't TOO crazy. The suit color really doesn't matter as long as you keep it black/charcoal/navy and it's not nicer than your MD's suit.

as a girl, I think its appropriate to wear black for an interview. any thoughts

So i've heard from a psychologist;

It's much more simple to dress a man. Black on a man is too authoritative (think FBI, police, S.W.A.T.) and that you should stick to charcoals and navys all day. A red tie is always sexy- meaning that it is a great choice on men because it shows power- not that it makes your interviewers think SEX. I know of one bank that actually requires men, as a part of the dress code, to wear a red tie when meeting with clients. Stick with a charcoal or navy suit with a red tie and of course matching socks, belt, and shoes, and you'll be golden.

NOW, if your a girl..... Do NOT wear red anything because you've just labeled yourself, psychologically speaking now, as a sex symbol, not a professional. If your a lady wear black. Conversely, black is great on ladies and better than a charcoal or navy (although that is still okay too). Under your jacket a nice and simple conservative cami looks better than a button down provided you don't remove your jacket during your interview- which you shouldn't anyway. Save the stilletos and big clangy jewelery- if that's your thing- for another day. A low heel with minimal decorations and simple jewelery with natural looking makeup and hair neatly styled or pulled back is much more becoming.

One more thing- guys, please leave the pinstripes, baby blue, and light purple at home. No joke. Your work clothes are meant for working, not looking sexy, flashy, hott, swag-licious, or any other look other than professional.

I'm sure everyone already knows most of this, but I hope this helped those of you who need it!

You going to a funeral?

Well I believe that wearing black is not so much of a problem but its handling the black color properly that becomes the actual problem when you are going for an interview. I mean the accessories you are going to use can totally change the way you look. So one should stick with something elegant as in a navy blue shirt. You know what I mean....

Do not wear black suits in America to work or to interviews. Adding pinstripes does not help in fact I think its even worse. Just because other people do it doesnt mean you should...navy or charcoal is best and lighter shades of gray are fine also. Please dont relpy with "but i wear black and i got a job"...I am not saying it ends your chances, I am just saying its not right.

Also for girls I think a black suit is fine....Angela Merkel rocks them all the time and we know how stylish she is.

If you take a look at the 44 page dress guide from UBS for it´s employees, the say three colors to be acceptable for their male employees: Navy blue, Charcoal and BLACK.

So at least if you´re going to interview at UBS you´d be fine in the black suit.