Deciding what to wear for an interview with a fashion company can make your head turn. After all, fashion is a glamorous industry, so you don’t want to seem unfashionable.
Do you remember the famous dialogue from The Devil Wears Prada between Miranda Priestley and Andie Sachs?
And you have no style or sense of fashion.
Well, um. I think that depends on what you’re-
No, no. That wasn’t a question.
These words may sound funny, brutal, or even irreverent if you think that looks are not important, but they are. Why? First impressions count – especially in fashion, which values style and aesthetics. The clothes you wear offer a glimpse into your personality and indicate your level of professionalism, so you have to take them seriously.
That being said, by trying to do it right, people often fall into the extreme of overdoing it.
They think that working in fashion involves wearing designer pieces and dressing like influencers. Another mistake is to think that corporate-style clothing is appropriate at any fashion job interview.
Therefore, you can be left with the question of how to dress up properly for a job interview in fashion. If the requirements are different from another industry, and how to respect the company dress code without doing too much or not enough.
On Glam Observer, we don’t usually cover fashion trends and give you style advice. Those are not the only things to consider to break into the fashion industry. 😉 But since a job interview is a crucial moment in your career, we wanted to be your style guide for the day and help you decide what to wear for a fashion job interview.
What To Wear For A Fashion Job Interview
Before giving you a list of pieces appropriate for a job interview in fashion, I wanted to address some common misconceptions, mistakes, and rules to follow when choosing your outfit.
Rule N#1: Take into consideration the brand you are interviewing with
One thing that should influence your decision when choosing your job interview attire is the brand and the job position you are interviewing for. This may sound banal and obvious. However, I say this because the first mistake we make is choosing the same outfit for every company and position.
You probably wouldn’t wear the same outfit for a job interview with a luxury brand, a sportswear label, or a startup, right? And you wouldn’t wear the same clothes if you are interviewing for a creative job like a designer or stylist, and a business-oriented job like a buyer or marketing manager, do you agree? To give you an example, let’s say that for Chanel you would choose a business casual interview attire, and for Adidas, you would probably go for a more relaxed look (still keeping it formal though). Therefore, I recommend researching the company beforehand. So, in case you are not familiar with it, to better understand the company culture when it comes to looks.
If we look at the roles, if you are pursuing a creative career, you may want instinctively to add a creative detail. You’d want to experiment with your outfit. However, if you are pursuing a career on the business side of the fashion industry, you may want to go for something more formal. What you can do is follow fashion professionals on social media to see what they are wearing.
This doesn’t mean that there is a written law that one has to dress in this or that for a specific job or company. No, but it is still an element to consider. Also, you should play with your look depending on where you are headed. As much as we recommend sending a customized resume and cover letter for every job you are applying for, I also recommend you customize your outfit as well.
Companies don’t really have a written policy regarding interview attires. However, you can definitely find out about their preference by reaching out to the hiring manager and HR and ask for their advice. They will be happy to help you make the right decision!
Rule N#2: Use neutral colors
When it comes to dressing for an interview, I recommend going for neutral colors. You can choose from white, black, cream, gray, beige, taupe, blue, navy, and brown. You cannot go wrong with this classic palette. Plus, I personally find it more classy than neon colors. They instantly elevate your status and make you look elegant and professional, which is what we are looking for.
If you want to add some color, that’s O.K. You can go for color. However, keep it classic. You can opt for burgundy, khaki, and pale colors like baby blue or pink. Also, avoid wearing colors that are too “loud” and vibrant. This will take away the attention from what you are saying to the hiring manager to what you are wearing. You want to use your outfit as a statement piece that will reinforce your speech – not as an element of distraction.
Rule N#3: Avoid wearing clothes that are too casual
I am sure that as someone interested in fashion, you have good taste. You definitely know which clothes are the best fit for different contexts. However, let’s recall another important rule just in case. Regardless of the fashion company or position you are preparing to interview for, you should never ever wear the following items. These are flip flops, crop tops, ripped jeans, shorts, mini skirts, UGGs…the list can go on and we will talk about it more below. What I want to emphasize here is to avoid pieces that you would wear on a daily basis. These are items for leisure, parties, and sports.
Rule N#4: Don’t overdress, though
When it comes to choosing your interview attire, it’s good to keep it balanced – polished but not too formal. Of course, it’s okay to wear a white blouse with a pencil skirt. Something in the mood like a white top with a black bottom, and play it safe while staying classy. However, a corporate, working-in-a-bank style is not always the best choice.
In fact, if you have an interview with an emerging brand, magazine, or a small agency or startup, or a sportswear company, you don’t have to adopt the white-collar look. Instead, it would be more appropriate to choose a relaxed outfit (sneakers and jeans are OK). But even if you are interviewing at a big company like a retailer or luxury brand, you have other options besides the traditional black-and-white look. Know your audience, and remember that overdressing is as much of a mistake as not doing enough.
One tip I can give you is to build a capsule wardrobe mixing core, timeless pieces that you can wear basically anywhere, and statement pieces and colors to create outfits of different styles and levels of formality. This way, you will find a balance between overdressing and dressing too casually.
Rule N#5: Don’t feel the need to buy luxury pieces
A common misconception people have about the fashion industry if they have never seen it from the inside is that everyone wears designer clothes. So you might feel the need to do so as well for your fashion job interview. This is the case especially if it’s with a luxury brand, but let me tell you this. No one expects you to come to a job interview with a Chanel bag, a Saint Laurent suit, Gucci loafers, or another luxury brand’s piece.
Unless you can afford it and want to wear these items because you genuinely like them. So please, don’t splurge on luxury items. You don’t have to get it if you think you have to wear them to make a good impression on the hiring manager. If your look is clean and professional, it doesn’t matter which brand you are wearing and how much you spend on your clothes.
If you want to show you know and like the brand, what you can do is create a look that gives a nod to the brand’s style. Then again, if you are comfortable with it and would wear it any day. For instance, if you are about to have an interview with Dior and you truly love the classic, feminine style, or if you have an interview with Ralph Lauren and you love the preppy, Ivy League style, you can totally create these looks without necessarily using the brands’ pieces. This is just an idea if you are looking for inspiration on how to show your passion for the brand through your own style during an interview. Remember – it’s not mandatory, and fashion companies don’t ask or expect you to wear their pieces to a job interview (nor in the office, by the way).
Rule N#6: Leave room for your personal style
Going to a job interview doesn’t mean you have to lose your personal style down the road. What’s more – it is very much appreciated in the fashion industry because to be honest – what a better place to express yourself through style, right? If you respect the basic dress code, like not wearing items you shouldn’t, feel free to experiment a little with your look. If you like colors, don’t be afraid to use them but make sure to style them properly (remember Emily in Paris?
Emily wears vivid colors and prints while maintaining a certain professionalism). If you love your jeans, as long as they are not ripped, you are good to go. Style it with a pair of loafers or another pair of your choice. You can also add a personal touch through an accessory, hairstyle, or makeup as long as it’s not extravagant. Also, if you are not comfortable wearing a certain item – then don’t. For example, if you are not the type of person who wears blazers, or you don’t feel comfortable and confident in pencil skirts and heels, don’t force yourself to put these on.
How to dress for the video interview?
Nowadays, online job interviews are not a rare thing. You might be wondering how to dress up in this case. A video interview has to be taken as seriously as an in-person interview. This means no pajamas, joggings, streetwear, prairie dresses, and Disney t-shirts but a professional outfit as if you were going to the office. Being in the comfort of your home doesn’t mean your outfit should scream “I am at home and I don’t care”. Whenever I had a remote job interview, I would wear a white top with a red or navy blue jacket. However, if the context allows you, you can lose the jacket. Just leave on a nice shirt or blouse, top it with a cardigan, or wear a smart casual dress in summer.
“Can you give an example of items that are fashion job interview approved?”
When Giada went to her job interview with AMQ, she was wearing a black blazer with golden buttons and big shoulders. Also, a white blouse, black jeans, and mid-heel ankle boots in black. This black-and-white look is a classic that is always effective and never goes out of fashion.
Now, after breaking down some ground rules of what fashion interview outfit NOT to wear, and other points to consider when picking clothes for one of the most important days in your career in fashion, let’s see some examples of tops, bottoms, shoes, and accessories you can wear for a fashion job interview.
The Top
Let’s start by choosing your top. The base should be a clean and polished button-down shirt or blouse that you can pair with a blazer or cardigan (optional). In summer, you can also wear a dress, but not the ones you’d wear on the beach, at festivals, and in the city, but a smart-casual dress, preferably knee-length or above the ankle – not too short.
If you like patterns then make sure they are discreet and minimalistic. That’s the safe zone.
The Bottom
For the bottom, you can opt for slim-cut cigarette trousers or straight pants. There are multiple options of pants that you can reuse for a job interview. Just avoid wearing low-waist trousers, cargo pants, leggings, and other types of pants that are too casual.
Jeans are also OK. They have become an acceptable item to wear for a job interview, but there are some rules to follow. First of all, ripped jeans are a strict NO. I wouldn’t recommend anything close to loose, boyfriend, or flared jeans. Stick to the classic straight or slim cut. Second of all, pay attention to the colors. I personally prefer to wear dark-washed jeans. It’s still jeans but they look more professional for an interview than light-washed jeans, unless you pair them with a formal blazer and office shoes like heels or loafers.
You can also opt for a skirt, and in my opinion, midi skirts are the perfect option. Straight, A-line, box-pleated, flared, and pencil skirts are my favorite because they highlight the curves but the lines are simple and clean. Avoid wearing mini and maxi skirts because they have a more relaxed style. You can wear them in the office if you twist these pieces with a more formal top, but I don’t recommend wearing them at the interview stage just yet.
Speaking of colors, just like with the top, my advice is to opt for a neutral palette and use a solid color, which will create a polished look.
The Shoes
There is pretty much everything you can wear when it comes to shoes. From ballet flats, mules, kitten heels, and stilettos, to loafers, derbies, and boots, it’s quite difficult to get it wrong. However, just to make sure, these are the types of shoes you should avoid walking into the room of your job interview: flip flops, hiking shoes, UGGs, espadrilles, boots above the knee, and Wellington boots. They are a big NO.
I also wanted to leave you a note on the sandals, as they are often a subject of dilemma. Once again, it depends on the company and its dress code. Some are more open than others to employees wearing open-toe shoes. However, to avoid any confusion, I wouldn’t recommend putting on sandals that look too casual – Birkenstock-like or gladiator sandals. Open-toe shoes are O.K but in this case, I would opt for a small heel, which elevates the look.
It’s up to you whether to wear heels or not. They are definitely not a must. At some companies like a sportswear brand or a startup, they can be perceived as out-of-context and not fitting the company dress policy. If you choose to wear heels, try to keep them at low-medium height, so save high pumps for a gala. I also don’t recommend wearing any shoes on a high platform like it’s popular nowadays, because it’s streetwear.
The Accessories
Accessories are beautiful and can add a nice touch to your outfit. So, you can definitely use them to complete your look. It’s important, however, to pay attention to the style and the size; nothing too big, flashy, and calling attention. Instead, opt for discreet accessories – like a timeless gold or silver chain, bracelet, or a pair of small earrings.
Also, don’t get out of your jewelry box all the things you got as if you were dressing for Coachella. I personally like to choose 2 jewelry pieces and for me. It’s just enough to complement the look, but if you are more into accessorizing, you can add more. However, make sure they are minimalistic and of good quality so you look elegant and professional. If you want to stand out in a safe way, feel free to use a statement accessory. You can use an elegant velvet headband. Also, you can add a scarf and attach it to your hair, neck, or even a handbag.
Now that we built sort of a capsule wardrobe for your job interview, let’s see how we can mix them together and achieve different looks.
Hair & Makeup
To achieve a totally polished look, you shouldn’t neglect your hair and makeup. But don’t worry – you are not walking down the runway, so you can keep it simple.
For the hair, you can leave it down and just style it a little. Maybe with a quick blow-dry or waves. Otherwise, a ponytail or a bun also looks elegant and professional. I wouldn’t recommend experimenting with hairstyles, like different kinds of braid styles too much as a job interview is not the place for it.
As for the makeup, consider doing it natural. Eyeshadows are O.K but in a neutral palette with some gloss or a neutral lipstick. You can also just use mascara with black eyeliner and highlight the lips. However, stay with classic shades like red or burgundy – not purple, black, blue, or anything like that.
Fashion Job Interview Outfits
Interview Look #1: Timeless and Elegant
This outfit is perfect for those who want to look elegant and polished while still staying comfortable. This is my favorite. I think the old money style is a non-fault: it’s elegant, classy, not boring, and it elevates your personal branding. There are many ways to achieve a timeless and elegant look. You will need some capsule wardrobe pieces, preferably of high quality and in neutral colors.
Interview Look #2: Relaxed
Hearing the word “jeans” when talking about a job interview can sound strange. However, as we talked before, if they are paired with some formal pieces like in the photo below, they can be totally appropriate.
Interview Look #3: Creative
I know I’ve been insisting a lot on classic pieces and neutral colors. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t play it creatively without feeling like you are going to a parade. First, you can play with superposition and proportions. For example, a black dress worn over a white button-down shirt, an original cut of sleeves, an interesting neckline detail, or an asymmetrical hemline. You can even opt for loose leather pants and a leather jacket for more creative jobs. Finally, it can be a good idea to use a statement piece, as we saw in the part about accessories.
This is how you create the perfect fashion job interview look. Is it how you expected it to be, or you thought that dressing for an interview was different in the fashion industry? Anyway, I hope this style minute gave you some clarity. You are ready to dress to impress your future boss.