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Help! "business casual" for an interview...(edited...dress?)

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

So, I have an interview (NOT the one that requires traveling) at a Seattle Business Consulting firm. I got my instructions from the recruiting office today and it includes this line:

Attire: Business Casual

What does that mean? I love the simple rule of wearing business formal as an interviewee. Opening up room for other possibilities seems fraught with potential mis-steps. Does this just mean that everyone who is interviewing ME will be in business casual? Why would they need to state that explicitly?

What do you think I should wear? I'm leaning towards the suit.

ETA - what about this outfit (black dress) with my patent heels and sheer black hose? Maybe a white button-down under it?

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Dressing

35 replies

Latest reply was from Gaylene

Nadya

Veteran

Since they explicitly said business casual, I wouldn't wear a suit. It would look like you weren't paying attention and could be off-putting. How about your suit slacks or skirt with a nice blouse but no jacket? And if you have a choice, I'd choose good suiting slacks over a skirt.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

Nadya, I don't fit into many of my trousers these days. My suit has a long straight skirt that ends below the knee and has a shadow-stripe (black). Would a white and bluse striped button-down and a three-strand necklace be too conservative? I have fabulous patent kate spade heels I will wear with sheer black hose.

Gaylene

Veteran

As a card-carrying member of the "I like wearing a suit to an interview" group, I guess I'd interpret this code as way of

(a) telling some candidates that they ought not to wear their ripped jeans and sweatshirts

AND

(b) telling other candidates that they don't need to wear a corporate suit; in other words, a blazer and nice pair of pants for a man, or a less-structured jacket with a skirt or dress pants for a woman, would suffice. I think I'd avoid anything too buttoned-up, or strict-looking.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Which outfit makes you feel confidant? Lets start from there.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I think you could still do the suit if you want, but I would opt for a slightly less formal top underneath, or somehow casual it up a tad with your shoes and accessories. You could also opt for a jacket and a non-matching bottom, which I think is the safest choice as far as "business casual" interview gear.

amyreh

(website)

Veteran

I just hopped over to your blog and I would suggest perhaps your gorgeous winter white trousers with a blouse or sweater and heels, maybe a casual blazer to top it off. Something like your "Muted Winter" post. Or if you go with black pencil skirt then maybe a blouse or sweater rather than a button down. Good luck!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I hear you about wishing there were less ambiguity about what to wear! So stressful. I like the idea of wearing a jacket and skirt that aren't part of a set. Wear heels if you like, but perhaps opt for lower heels, which would be viewed as more relaxed. I wouldn't wear much jewelry. Small earrings and a watch?

Thistle

Veteran

I work in a business casual office. Khakis and polos are pretty standard for men, and i go by that as our office is 90% men. even so, I still expect to see interviewees in a full business suit unless it is for a clerical position.

I knew a candidate wouldn't fit in when she arrived with blue nails.

rachylou

Veteran

When people tell me that, I wear a business casual suit. Mine is from Target. Navy cotton with visible white stitching.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

The suit makes me feel more confident, by far. It is a black Hugo Boss skirt suit.

Here is a link that shows my suit:
http://outfitdiary.blogspot.co.....rview.html

I would wear it with sheer hose, round toe patent pumps and an orchid pink drape-neck sleeveless blouse.

rachylou

Veteran

What kind of business consulting?

I'd go with a suit personally. If I felt a need to dress it down, I'd maybe wear a tee-shirt instead of a blouse.

bj1111

Veteran

i would take the outfit you showed, remove the jacket and swap for a structured sweater or swacket. done! you get to wear an outfit that feels "suity" but adheres to their brief. i love the burgundy hose with the burgundy shirt.

that skirt is the "boss" *snarfle*

Emily

Veteran

Jeneva, I like the idea of the suit with soft blouse. I don't think you can go wrong being a bit overdressed, but if you're worried maybe swap the suit jacket for another topper?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm useless on the dress code, but I was scrolling through your outift diary and going wow, wow, WOW!!!

I do think the suit skirt with a different jacket would be terrific.

By the way, I saw your new J Crew jacket in person. It is better there than in the photos (and it's already great in the photos!) and I can imagine it must be even more stunning on you in person.

Classically Casual

Veteran

Jeneva - My experience isn't current, so filter accordingly. Back in the day, there was a certain large tech company who was "business casual". My employer was one of their vendors. "Business casual" was taken very seriously by the large company. We were a suit wearing company...traditional and all that. We were told very explicitly to never bring our suit wearing ways to meetings, etc. where they were present. Based on that experience, I would honor the dress code you've been given if you want to make a good impression. (I'm in your geographic area.)

Nadya

Veteran

Jenava, I so agree with what Angie said: wear what you feel best in and tweak it to show you "got the memo". You can just carry the attitude of that "these shoes and blouse make it business casual, don't you know?" Are you into arty or unusual jewelry? An interesting pin or necklace could get the point across that you're dressed down a bit.

Classically Casual: your story reminds me of an engineering job I had early in my career. My office was business professional (not suits only, but definitely formal). When going to see our clients at Intel though I was told,"wear your jeans, and not your GOOD jeans. If they think you're afraid to get dirty they won't take you seriously." I saw this for myself when a new male engineer showed up on site with a perfectly pressed white dress shirt on. He didn't do that again!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I really like the suit you mentioned, and I think it will work beautifully - and would maybe 'casual-ize' the top, bag, shoes etc. as a nod to their "business casual" recommendation.

Soften up the suit a wee bit, and you're in business, imo. I'm not sure exactly how you'd do that, but certainly a more casual top with the suit ...no starchy shirt or what have you. You don't want to look banker-ish when they've explicitly suggested 'business casual.'

Take that fab suit, and see if you can find a way to kind of 'un-crisp' the crispness of a suit, somehow. I know you're a fan of blush colours - is there a way to incorporate this bit of softness into the strict-looking suit?

I'd still go with a suit for the interview, and I'd try to incorporate a bit of casual, relaxed, fun and easy-going-ness into the mix. Instead of trying to de-bombshell a pencil skirt, we're looking at how to un-stuff-if-y a corporate suit. Take a bit of the starch out, so to speak.

Start with the suit, and ' business-casual' it from there.

Deborah

Veteran

Jenava you look great in that suit. I would find it very hard to attend an interview in anything too casual. My current work place is 'anything goes' as far as dress code goes. For my interview (it was summer) I wore a tailored dress and topped it with an unstructured jacket. I was more dressed up than my two interviewers. After I got the job my colleague told me how unimpressed she was with the presentation of the other candidates!

I was an employment consultant for a number of years and my expereience says that a smartly dressed person will have little trouble 'acclimatising" to her work environment and achieving a more casual but still smart work look if necessary, however a person who comes to an interview inappropriately or under dressed is less likely to know how to "smarten up".

I'd wear the suit.

Adelfa

Veteran

I have interviewed dozens of people in a business casual environment. To me the look that strikes the right note, over and over again, is a jacket on top of an unmatched bottom. With great shoes (definitely wear the Kate Spades) and a great bag or tote.

Wearing the suit skirt without the jacket is also a viable alternative if you're polished on top as I'm sure you would be.

I agree that the "business casual" is a warning note. A relative of mine once wore a suit to interview in a casual environment and it turned out to be a big distraction, garnering lots of not very favorable comment.

Just what I've seen, fwiw--have a great interview.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Deborah is so smart.

christieanne

Veteran

I tend to agree with Adelfa - mix up the suit into separates to dress it down a notch but still look professional. If they spell out the dress guidelines as business casual, they want the interviewees to appear at home in their company culture right away. Good luck - you will knock em dead with your skills in any case!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I think adding "business casual" to their interview information is such a male-oriented comment. To me this is written at men, it tells them: guys, you don't have to wear a suit and tie. You can wear slacks and a button down shirt, maybe a blazer. Men immediately understand these rules.

As a female, you have way more leeway. I would pay attention to the industry that this firm operates in, and let the degree of conservativeness guide you. Following Angie's rules how to casualize a skirt or dress may help. http://youlookfab.com/2011/07/.....an-outfit/

In particular her example #2 where she's dressed down a strict suit, would apply to your situation.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Jenava, I think since your suit is a relatively formal/conservative cut and colours (like Angie's, in the link from Denise), it probably does need some firm steering in the direction of 'dressing down' on this occasion.

You probably can't do casual belt and booties with a skirt suit; but maybe choose a fun coloured or patterned shoe, rather than say black pumps? Definitely a bigger, bolder or colourful bag. A relatively casual top --- Angie does the unbuttoned button-down, but I suspect even that may be harder to casualize in a dark skirt suit...

Using a different blazer --- ie, breaking up the suit, a la the men's option of dress pants with standalone blazer and not matching suit jacket --- would be a big step in this direction too, I suspect.

kkards

Veteran

is the recruiting office that you mentioned an external head hunting firm? if so, they should tell you exactly what that means, and give you feed back on what experience others have had.
if the recruiting office is part of the organization that you are interviewing with, is there a recruiter there that you have been talking to? if so, i would reach out to them and ask.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

In my understanding it means no jeans. Suit is not required for this code but it is acceptable so if you want to wear the suit go ahead. I think it is always safe to err on the more conservative side.
Good luck!

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

OK, this is great feedback! On the one hand, given the type of company it is I would be surprised if they were concerned about candidates not knowing they need to dress up for an interview (although...it IS seattle....). So I am kind of taking this as a "hint" to NOT wear a suit.

I will try on different jackets. I mostly have leather jackets, though, which might not be great. I can try my tweed jacket with the skirt and see how that feels. I can also try on a couple of trouser outfits and see how those are with the trousers that aren't too small. Unfortunately I wore my tweed trousers to work yesterday and they are looking a little rumpled and need to go to the cleaners before I'd wear them for this interview. Plus, with trousers comes the need for PPL...

ETA, and I've just emailed the recruiter's assistant, who sent the instructions, for some guidance on wearing a suit or not. That was good advice as well. I mean, if you are concerned you should speak up, right? cocolion, this is TOTALLY a male-oriented statement...ugh.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

What did the assistant say about wearing a suit?

I was going to suggest the BOSS skirt and your new tweed jacket!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Your new jacket would be perfect!

ManidipaM

Veteran

I like the dress. Smart. Snappy. Not a suit so certainly more casual though businesslike

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