Job interview clothes for my husband

My husband Mike is finishing up his MA and will be applying to college teaching jobs in the new year. We're working on getting him outfitted for that and finding it a bit tricky! We know for sure that he does not need a suit. He'll need slacks, a jacket, a dress shirt, and probably a tie. What I'm wondering about are colour and fabrication. What type of jacket should he look for and in what colour and fabric? What about pants/slacks? Any ideas for colour combos? Are the fabrics of mens' dress clothes seasonal like they are for women? What about shoes and ties?

The two items he already has and can work with are a pair of light tan slacks in cotton, and a grey fine wool false plain Joseph Abbout sport coat with a very subtle herringbone pattern to it. He also has an awesome Dior tie that I thrifted(!!) with a neat sort of wave pattern that reminds me of a cross between Haida and Japanese art. I think it'd be a bit much for an interview, though.

Mike is 6" tall with a slim build (though he is fighting the "belly burgeon" that all men in his family seem to get) with brown hair, hazel eyes, and dark skin (he's Dutch, but there was clearly some Hispanic blood in the family a few generations back somewhere).

Thanks in advance for any advice! Mike is feeling particularly anxious about this because he grew up in a family where dressing nicely or being interested in style was kind of frowned upon, and he has a hard time with the idea of being judged by his appearance.

17 years ago

Nicole

Veteran

BLB, Are you looking for suggestions for INTERVIEW attire only? Or actual work clothes?

I'm surprised that you don't think he needs a suit though? I think men should wear suits to job interviews--even if they are in academic fields. Once he gets the job, he can dress more appropriately for the position. But it's wise to overdress for an interview.

Telly

Active Member

I agree about wearing a suit to an interview. My husband is an engineer (the Dilbert rumpled-khakis-and-short-sleeved-button-shirts type), and we still splurged on his suit at Nordstrom so that he could interview with it. It is navy with a very thin subtle pinstripe. The salesman was wonderful and showed it to us with different shirts and ties---it is truly versatile.

BLB

(website)

Nicole, both would help and be very much appreciated, but the most urgent need is for interview clothes since he'll be interviewing long before starting work.

I had initially thought he'd need a suit too, but he's asked others in his field, has gone to some workshops that talked about this, and also checked with my mom and stepdad who both work at colleges and the consensus is overwhelming: NO SUITS. Sport coat and slacks are apparently the way to go. Adding in the tie will make him safely overdressed.

Here on the west coast, professors usually dress very casually and often very very badly--nylon jogging pants and hoodies and worn-out cords and half-tucked-in patterned shirts from the 80s are two combos I remember seeing recently. I think if he were looking at jobs out east, IE in Toronto, he might need a suit.

Sidebar: a female professor I know told me that dressing well at her university is actively frowned upon. Women who dress badly/frumpily/in a worn-out or dated manner are seen as superior to those who dress with any effort whatsoever. Isn't that sad and weird?

Sport coat/jacket and slacks are big categories and not things he normally wears, which is why we're lost about fabrication, colour, etc.

Does that make sense?

Telly, your husband's suit sounds sigh-inducing. I'd love to get Mike something like that. He'd look so hot in it... mmm... OK, back to reality. I'll quintuple-check with him but I'm really very sure a suit would be inappropriate. If he could wear one, this would all be easy.

Vancouver is SO casual... people don't even wear suits for formal weddings here, except the wedding party members.

That is so interesting about women professors purposefully dressing badly...I guess not caring how you look would give people the impression that you have loftier things to think about!! :o)

Angie

Fashion Stylist

A suit or business casual is appropriate. It really depends on how much you’re willing to spend. BR is a safe mainstream option for both avenues. A good sales assistant will be helpful.

BLB, it’s interesting that you perceive Vancouver as casual as this is not my impression. But I suppose it’s all relative and depends to what you are comparing it to. In Seattle, the way of dress is often disrespectfully casual and it’s always a pleasant change when we drive up to Vancouver!

So, I sat Mike down again and said "Are you SURE you can't wear a suit?" and it turns out he CAN. He went to a workshop where they said that if you're uncomfortable in a suit, it's better to dress in a sport coat and slacks rather than fiddling with a necktie and shifting uncomfortably throughout the interview process (which can be several hours to several days long). I told him I think he should get a suit and just get used to ties by wearing them on dates with me! Heh. He really doesn't want to shell out the cash for a suit, but I'd far rather take the financial hit and not worry about him being overlooked because of his clothes. It's up to him, though, ultimately. I'll suggest we go try things on at BR and the Bay and Winners. Maybe I can convince him to let me post pictures.

Angie, that is really interest that you find Vancouver to be more dressy than Seattle! I've actually never stopped in Seattle (just driven through) so I can't compare them. I wonder if it depends a lot on what circles you travel in. Since Mike and I are/were students, we spend time on campus, in casual gathering places (pubs etc.,) doing outdoorsy things, and in neighborhoods like Commercial Drive, Main Street, and Kitsilano (West 4th). Do you tend to hit places like South Granville, Yaletown, and certain parts of downtown such as Robson street (although not the West End)? People tend to dress up more in those areas. There's more money in those areas and the stores, restaurants and so on tend to be smarter. Kits, where we live, is somewhere in between--lots of yoga gear and student wear but lots of smart casual, too. I far prefer smart casual myself, although I'm still working on getting my wardrobe to match that preference!

Makes sense, BLB. All student environments are casual. Although has anyone seen Brideshead Revisited? Food for thought. We stay in the city in Vancouver which is why my perception is so. Lots of well put together Asian people. Love it. I’m sure it’s a different kettle of fish outside the CBD!

Glad hubby is sorted

That makes perfect sense! Downtown Vancouver is so funny--there are a few places where when you cross the street, you're suddenly in a completely different "style area".

Have you been to the new Holt Renfrew?

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