Business attire breakdown

Most experts will always tell you to wear a suit on a first interview but as I have learned compiling this information I have learned there are exceptions to the rule. I will tell the quick story of a gentleman who showed up for an interview at Tom's Shoes. The office's at Tom's are very laid back with almost every employee in shorts, sandal's, and a t-shirt. So this gentleman showed up in a suit for an interview, before he even entered the room the HR representative told the man that he probably wouldn't fit in there. It wasn't solely based on his attire, but showing up like that showed her that he did not do his research on the company and probably was not that serious about the job.
There are essentially 3 different attire's that you will need for all possible jobs; professional, business casual, and casual. In the following sections we will break these down and set you down the correct path so the interviewer can focus on your skill set and not your outfit.
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College Student’s Interview 101

With today's current economic climate ever advantage you can get when applying for a job is crucial. The first thing you have to realize is you are not just competing with other college students. You are competing against professional's with a few years of experience who because of the economic climate are willing to take your entry level job. They are going to be on top of their game and that includes dressing to kill on each and every interview they go on.
It's best to be prepared so you don't come back from your interview with a story like this: "I used to have this pretty snazzy 4-button black pinstripe suit from Jones NY. I wore it to my interview at the building supply company I was interviewing with. As soon as I walked in someone was like, "Whooooaaa, check out Don Juan here in the pinstripe suit!!" Pretty much everyone that I met with in that interview was wearing shorts and a tank top. It was definitely awkward.

At Evolution of Style we have compiled information from various companies across a large diversity of industries to find out what is actually appropriate, because sometimes a suit may be too much for the company. This is where we take the next step and cater a interview package to your individual needs because what you wear says tell's a potential employer a lot about you!
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Professional attire

Professional attire is essential for almost every career you choose. Even if you only wear it on the interview, it is still a good idea to have a good professional suit in your closet just in case that great opportunity comes up.
A good professional suit consists of a basic black, navy, charcoal, or gray colored suit. They can have pinstripes but they should be very light and not anything that will resemble a banker (or wide) stripe. Under the suit you should have a white shirt, essentially the white shirt ( Pinpoint Oxford Point Collar Dress Shirt) is like a blank canvas and will allow for the most functionality with many different ties. I would recommend owning one very nice white shirt as you can use it for many important business meetings during your career, and I can guarantee it will never go out of style! As for the tie, I would keep it to a natural color tie that has very basic with clean lines ( Black Silk Tie ). No flower ties or anything that will draw attention, remember the goal is to have your wardrobe add to your professionalism, not detract from it.
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Business casual attire

Business casual is probably the easiest to dress for as there are already set limitations on what is acceptable and you should not push those. For the interview a suit is acceptable but a white shirt with dress slacks and a sport coat will make the interviewer feel comfortable with you. Most business casual environments employee's will be dressed in dress slacks and a button down shirt. So by adding the jacket you show that you have taken your time with your appearance and bring a fresh look into the office that says you are serious about getting this job. A clean look would be a charcoal pair of pants with a navy blazer with a clean white shirt finishing the outfit.
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Casual Attire

A casual attire environment is probably that trickiest to dress for because of the temptation to dress like you do when going out on the weekends. For the interview you do not want to fall into this trap but you want to make sure you do not dress up too much as to alienate yourself from the company.
A full on suit may be a mistake for this type of company because of the fact that the company environment is more relaxed and the suit gives them the impression that you may be uptight. For casual attire a nice pair of slacks paired with a simple button down shirt or a sweater will work well. In addition you should add a sportcoat to give it a more professional feel. The sportcoat will give the interviewer the impression that you are serious about your career and about the position while not looking too uptight.
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