When it comes to the workplace, we are often told to “dress for success” and “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”. While the perfect outfit is unlikely to be the deciding factor between whether or not you land your dream job, dressing well will undoubtedly leave a good first impression on your potential employers. If your existing work wardrobe requires a much-needed overhaul, consider the following tips so you can feel professionally put together and smash the interview process with style and confidence. 

Research The Company

As a rule of thumb, the perfect way to dress for an interview is to find out what the existing employees wear and take it up a notch in terms of professionalism. To help you understand business dress codes, consider the following;

• Casual – Common among non-customer/client-facing roles. Jeans, t-shirts, polos, jumpers and most types of jewellery and other casual accessories are acceptable. 
• Smart Casual – Swap the jeans for chinos and the t-shirt for a button-up shirt, and you have smart casual. Provided outfits are neat, clean, and always styled with appropriate shoes; you can get away with relatively simple garments. 
• Business Casual – Suitable for customer/client-facing roles. Opt for suit trousers, pencil skirts, crisp shirts and minimal jewellery. Avoid garish colours and statement accessories. 
• Business Professional – This form of business attire is standard in industries like finance, politics and law. Employees generally wear suits, tailored trousers, blouses and pencil skirts.
• Business Formal – Generally reserved for formal occasions such as celebrations, corporate events and awards ceremonies, business formal is an excuse to wear your finest suit or dress. 

A Well-Fitting Suit

You can seldom go wrong with a well-fitting suit. A suit is a timeless, gender-neutral option that screams professionalism. One of the most vital factors in selecting the perfect suit is your choice of fabric. Many suits in high street stores are made from synthetic fibres such as polyester and rayon. While affordable, these fabrics are generally low-quality and lack breathability. To ensure a comfortable, durable and visually appealing product, choose a suit made from natural fibres like wool, cotton, linen and tweed. You may pay more upfront, but considering the longevity of high-quality suits, you will get more than your money’s worth. 

Statement Dresses

While a statement dress may not be the best option for business casual and business professional dress codes, it can be an effective way to make a lasting impression on your interviewers. Provided your dress is appropriate for workwear – i.e. not too revealing and free from provocative images or graphics – you can use your style to express your creativity and individuality. Statement dresses are particularly fitting for candidates being interviewed for a creative position in an industry such as fashion, teaching, media, architecture or the performing arts. 

Appropriate Accessories

Accessorising can make or break your interview outfit. You could keep things understated by adding a ladies cashmere scarf or take a risk with statement jewellery. Either way, any accessories should be appropriate and hassle-free; for instance, avoid dangling earrings and keep rings to a minimum with a simple wedding band or singular sentimental item. 

Facial jewellery is a contentious issue within the workplace. While more and more companies are opting for a modern standpoint regarding piercings and tattoos, many customer/client-facing positions prohibit excessive facial jewellery and visible tattoos. By and large, employers use their discretion to decide what is and isn’t appropriate, provided the rules are reasonable and non-discriminatory. For interviews, it is generally recommended to stay on the safe side and conceal any facial piercings if possible. 

Sensible Footwear

Sensible footwear is generally in the dress code of even the most casual workplace – if only to align with health and safety guidelines. For example, footwear should be easy to walk in, and heels should not be unreasonably high. Attend your interview wearing comfortable, clean, smart shoes such as loafers or brogues. Although business professional shoes tend to be neutral colours like black and brown, you may be able to get away with a statement red or silver. Above all, avoid trainers, flip-flops and sandals (no matter how warm the weather is), and always check your footwear for scuffs and stains before leaving the house.