Match the industry
| Workplace | Safe interview outfit |
|---|---|
| Corporate (finance, law, consulting) | Matching suit or tailored dress with a blazer, leather shoes |
| Business casual (most offices) | Blazer with smart trousers or a skirt, shirt or blouse, loafers |
| Tech and startups | Clean dark jeans or chinos, a good shirt or knit, a light layer, clean sneakers or loafers |
| Creative industries | Smart base with one personal piece: a print, a color or an accessory |
| Hands-on or retail roles | Neat, practical clothes one step smarter than the uniform |
Fit and grooming matter more than price
- Clothes should be clean, pressed and fit at the shoulders.
- Try the full outfit on the day before, including shoes, and sit down in it.
- Keep jewelry and fragrance subtle.
- Plan for the weather and the commute.
Colors
Navy, grey, black, white and soft blue read as calm and reliable. Add one color you look good in near your face, such as a blouse or tie in your palette, to look fresh on camera and in person. Find your colors.
Video interviews
- Solid colors work better on camera than tight stripes or small checks.
- Avoid colors that match your background.
- Dress fully: you may need to stand up.
- Test your lighting: face a window rather than sitting with it behind you.
Plan it from your closet
Ask Style BFF for an interview look ("interview, office, smart") and it builds one from your wardrobe and shows it on your photo, so you can decide the night before. How the digital closet works.
Related guides
What else should you know?
Can I wear jeans to an interview?
In tech, startups and many creative roles, dark, clean jeans with a blazer or smart top are fine. In corporate roles, choose trousers.
What are business casual outfit ideas for women?
A blazer with straight trousers and a blouse, a knit with a midi skirt, or a shirt dress with a belt, each with loafers or low heels.