5 Ways to Dress to Impress

The old saying goes: Dress for the job you want, not the one you have.

This is even more relevant when you’re interviewing for your dream job.

Nearly 40 percent of HR executives say the top mistake made by interview candidates is to dress inappropriately. So, how do you decide what to wear?

Appropriate office fashion is different from what it used to be. Kerri Devaney, PR specialist at Eileen Fisher, says women now create their own “version of a ‘suit’” with mixed fabrics, cardigans and stretch fabrics.

With so many options, here are the top five things you need to know when pulling together your interview “suit.”

Her advice? Make sure your look is up to date. Wearing a decades-old suit can come off as being out-of-touch with current trends.

Researching the field to determine what to wear is key, says Devaney. While a traditional suit is still most appropriate in conservative industries, nothing stops you from showing creativity in non-traditional fields with color or prints.

If you’ll be in a business-casual environment, nice pants or a knit jacket with a woven skirt might be an “industry’s version of a traditional suit,” she says.

Good news for fashionista interviewees this year! Fall 2012 fashion trends are in line with these new standards for office fashion, according to Devaney. She says there is a “confidence this season in feminine styles” – classic looks with a twist like “a slight peplum at the waist” or less structured tailoring.

Devaney suggests, “keeping it feminine but age appropriate.”

Most importantly, “wear something you are comfortable in,” says Devaney. “This will give you built-in confidence.”

We all know how important that is at an interview!

Bonus PINK Link: Find out how to master your interview here.

What’s your best interview outfit?

By Felicia Edlin

“You can wear all the greatest clothes, but you’ve got to have a good spirit on the inside.”
Alicia Keys