Seven tips to keep in mind, straight from industry professionals.
One key thing we learned is that unlike, say, the finance sector,
various jobs within the fashion industry warrant different types of
interview outfits. So we talked to people in different fields -- PR,
editorial, and design -- about what they've seen, what worked, what
didn't, and more. Read on for what they said and what we determined to
be the seven most important guidelines. Oh, and if you're looking for a
job, you should obviously check out our careers page.
Wear something you feel comfortable in and be yourself.
"Be yourself" might be the most overused piece of advice of all time,
but enough of the people we spoke to insisted upon it that we decided
not to spare you. It's natural to want to project some super fashionable
idea of yourself for a job interview, but your interviewer will be able
to tell.
That being said, you should also reflect the aesthetic of the company you're interviewing with.
If you're interviewing for a designer or specific fashion brand, for
instance, you aren't expected to be wearing that designer head to toe,
but it doesn't hurt to try and reflect their aesthetic.
Don't overdo it.
The old Coco Chanel quote about taking one thing off before you leave
the house applies well in job interview situations. Going too far with
your lewk could get you noticed for the wrong reasons.
Be clean and get a manicure.
Perez says that wearing something visibly dirty or wrinkled or having an
overall unkempt appearance could give the impression that the
interviewee wasn't making an effort and that they weren't
detail-oriented. Plus, little things can be distracting.
When in doubt, just wear black.
"If you are at a loss for what to wear to an interview, remember: JWB
(Just Wear Black)," advises Way. "The most important thing is for you to
be yourself and comfortable in your own skin first, outfit second."
You don't have to wear heels.
In fact, don't unless you know you feel comfortable in them.
Your clothes can definitely make an impression and make you memorable, so taking risks can pay off.
Basically, if you're confident you have great style, go for it. While no
one we spoke to said that they've made a hiring decision (positive or
negative) based solely on someone's outfit, most of them admitted that
clothing does make an impact.
