by Virginia Hess
It’s mid-January. You survived December finals. Hopefully you had some time over winter break to relax and watch spongebob squarepants in your stretchy pants. But now it’s time to get back in the saddle. Classes have started and interviews will be coming up soon. Time to find your perfect “cowboy” outfit.
This article will focus what the perfect “cowboy outfit” looks like and where to find it.
First – several general observations. No matter what kind of outfit you end up choosing, make sure it is clean. Do not wear a suit with lunch down the lapels. If you have hairy pets, invest in a lint roller. Clothes should be pressed and not wrinkly. Buy an iron if the dry cleaner is not within your budget. If you cannot iron your own dress shirt, get a permanent press brand. There are actually amazing permanent press brands on the market today. And make sure whatever you wear FITS! Some stores will tailor what you purchase, either for free or for a nominal charge. There are also many independent tailors around town who can do miracles. I would also suggest buying one very good quality suit, rather than several less expensive ones. You will be wearing this suit a lot, and cleaning it frequently. Purchase a few ties or shirts and blouses to go with the suit and you have several different outfits.
So, what kind of clean, pressed, well-fitting outfit to wear? There are two basic kinds of outfits: trouser suits or skirt/dress suits.
For trouser suits, best to stick with matching pants and jacket, in a darker, boring, fabric for your first (and maybe only) outfit. Lighter colors may not work for winter and lunch is more noticeable on a lighter suit. Dark grays, blues, blacks are good. Somehow brown just doesn’t communicate success and confidence as well as the other dark colors. A light-weight, wool is ideal for all year round. It also doesn’t wrinkle as easily as other fabrics. Stay away from linen.
The style of suit is up to you. Older lawyers often wear the more traditional-fit suits and if you like that style, that is a safe choice. “European fit” is also popular, with longer jackets and slimmer profiles. I also like the trendier slim-cut suits, with narrower pants and shoulders. Make sure the style you choose complements your body type and you feel comfortable in it. Squirming is not attractive at any age.
Next – the shirt or top. As I mentioned, any shirt must be crisp and not wrinkled. Whether it has buttons on the collar or not is up to you and the style you like. Make sure sleeves are long enough. I think initials on the sleeve are silly and to be honest, weird, on a law student. Leave cuff links for the office holiday dinner. White, off white and blue colored shirts are always good choices. I would stay away from black and pink.
Ties should be worn with a dress shirt. A dress shirt with no tie communicates the wrong message, i.e., you don’t really care about this interview. I love ties. I think they are one piece of your outfit where you can really show some personality. I like interesting and colorful ties, but don’t choose ones that cause the interviewer to fixate on them and not you! Avoid animal print ties. Wide is out. Narrow is making a comeback. Bow ties are cute but should be avoided for interviews. Whatever tie you choose, learn how to tie it properly!
If you choose a top or blouse, it should be pressed and not too revealing. If you would wear the top to “the Club,” the top is not appropriate for an interview (or work). Safe bets are neutrals but be wary of too much black as that is just plain sad. Bold solid colors and interesting prints are fun, so wear them if you look good in them and they are not too distracting. Again, don’t wear something the interviewer will be compelled to stare at.
If you like a skirt suit, the same proviso on darker colors is equally applicable, so go with the black, dark grey or blue tones. A matching skirt and jacket (long or short), is always a safe choice. However, there are some lovely skirt suits that feature a solid skirt and a patterned jacket that I think are appropriate for an interview and very professional. Also popular is a tailored jacket with a sheath dress. That is a nice trim look. The dress can be solid, striped or an interesting print. Also, remember nothing really loud or wild. You are the focus, not the outfit.
I feel obligated to comment on the skirt or dress length. No matter how attractive you think your legs are, don’t wear something too short. Choose a length that looks professional and compliments your body type.
With skirt suits, the question often comes up whether pantyhose should be worn. When I first started practicing law, there was no option. Pantyhose. But now, that has loosened up a bit. While pantyhose are still the safest bet, bare legs on a hot day or for a more casual office may be appropriate. I would stick with neutral colors and save those fun patterns until after you have the job.
So, now that you have the basic suit, what about the rest of your cowboy outfit? Sometimes it is these “accessories” that cause the biggest distraction in an interview.
Let’s start with hair: neat and clean. Don’t let your hair fall into your face. Don’t flip your hair back. If this is a problem for you, wear a simple ponytail or bun.
Makeup: simple and no hot-red lipstick. No weird eye shadow or dramatic cat eyes.
Jewelry: again, simple and not distracting. Avoid the urge to wear one of the currently fashionable “statement” necklaces with lots of jewels. And don’t JINGLE!
Nails: clean and well groomed. I can’t tell you how distracting one young woman was when she constantly kept flipping her hair back with her super long, red nails. And she had on a skirt that was way too short. I remember what she wore and not what she had to say. Not the way to make a good impression.
Purse or handbag: keep it small and neat. One young lady I interviewed showed up with a ratty, overstuffed wallet held together with rubber bands. So sad!
Briefcase: avoid bulky briefcases. Purchase or borrow a folder that can accommodate resume, writing sample, yellow pad and pen. These come in a lot of options, leather, non-leather materials and metal. It is too distracting to see someone fumbling over the locks of a briefcase or juggling a purse with a briefcase. You can invest in a slim briefcase-bag that can accommodate your essentials as well as your writing sample and resume.
Shoes: neat and clean. Avoid extremes. No really high heels or open toed shoes. Avoid leopard/snake print and bejeweled shoes at all costs. Sorry Elle Woods!
Socks: like ties, socks are a good place to show a little personality. One person I interviewed had red hot chili peppers on his socks. My husband had the same pair. It was a good conversation starter. Do not wear white athletic socks with your business shoes. Dark socks with dark suits.
Ok, now you have your outfit in mind, where to get it? If you were lucky enough to receive cash, checks or gift cards for the holidays, head over to Bloomingdales in San Francisco and have fun! Nordstrom’s is also good. Again the San Francisco store is best. They have a good selection and nice tailoring. Macy’s is worth a look as well. These department stores often have good sales and if you have their credit card or coupons, then the discount is even better. More traditional looks can be found at Brooks Brothers.
J. Crew and Banana Republic often have nice pieces and with their credit card and coupons, the prices are fantastic. Internet selection is often better than the store selection. They also carry the more modern suit cuts.
Another great source is Nordstrom’s Rack. I have found some amazing suits, shoes and purses there at unbelievable prices. If you hit one of their special hour sale times, the discount is even better.
The new Japanese store, Uniqlo, has nice dress shirts that are very inexpensive, although they need a good ironing. And they often have very reasonably priced sheath dresses that look great under a black tailored jacket.
Don’t overlook Costco. At times they carry items basic items that work for an interview ( think dress shirts and ties).
Outlet malls are another good option. There is an outlet mall located in Gilroy, about 30 miles and another one in Milpitas, about 20 minutes. I like the Gilroy one better and have frequented the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet there many times. It has amazing blowout sales. My husband has found great prices on men’ suits there. Gilroy also has a Kasper outlet that is worth checking out for basics. I have a “three piece” suit ( jacket, skirt and pants) I bought many years ago that still looks sharp and professional. I update it with new tops and scarves and it always looks good.
Designer consignment stores are another option.
Ask friends or family members who may be about to donate clothing to charity to keep you in mind when updating their wardrobes. I remember when I first started practicing law, my mentor’s father-in-law passed away, leaving many beautiful suits that were about to go to charity. My mentor kindly suggested that the suits might fit one of the young associates. And they did. A little tailoring and the associate had a new wardrobe!
Now that you look like a lawyer, we will focus on the interview in my next article.
Virginia Hess offers a full spectrum of representation for the small and medium sized business. She is able to assist a business during its whole life cycle, from its formation as a sole proprietorship, corporation or LLC, to a possible sale or winding down. In addition to her background in working for for-profit business clients, Virginia’s passion extends to the non-profit world. Her experience in non-profit agencies extends beyond her lawyer skills and into the boardroom.
