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Perfect Spring Interview Styles: How to Fab Up the Drab Interview Attire

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Chapel Hill chapter.

Interview no longer means boring style, ladies. There are many ways to appropriately dress up outfits for every type of interview. Interview attire is alway hard to determine but a few key tips on what to look for out of your interview outfit will send you on the road to a perfect interviewing experience! Most important thing to take away however is regardless of the trends dress in something that speaks to you. Try and channel what is fashionable into your style, so that you will be confident when you step into the interview!

1. The Basics.

Every girl has to know the basics of building an outfit if they are trying to stand out. When preparing for an interview make sure your clothes fit. Wearing clothes that are too tight gives an unprofessional appearance and can result in discomfort during the interview. To check if an article of clothing fits make sure there is no pulling or discomfort anywhere. If you have to “suck in” in order to stay in the skirt, you should opt for a different interview outfit. In the same respect wearing baggy clothing can give off an unkempt look that could portray a lack of consideration for your appearance. In addition to finding clothes that fit properly try not to wear newly purchased clothes to an interview. Wearing new items always opens the door for wardrobe surprises! It would be unfortunate if during an interview you discovered certain items do not fit or feel the same after extended wear. Pulling and tugging at your clothes is the last thing you want to do while trying to land that awesome internship or dream job!

2. Add Color!

Hey business bombshells! The classic black pant/skirt, white blouse and black blazer is out and color is coming in with a splash!  Adding color is an appropriate way to express yourself for a more conservative and business oriented interview.  The best way to mix up the color for your interview is to remove one item and replace it with a nice, non-distracting color. Hot colors for this spring are pastels. So you could start swapping out the basic white blouses with soft pinks, blues, or greens. Paring these blouses with the original black suit is a great way to spice up a spring outfit for business oriented interviews. Below is an example of a go to color pairing. A blush with turquoise can make for an appropriate interview outfit that pops!   

 

3. Consider the Cut.

If you are set on the basic black and white go for it! Those colors are classics for a reason. However if you do want to keep it original then consider the cut of your suit and your shape before wearing it to your interview. A suit with a hot cut that fits your shape will knock them dead be it black, white, or neon green (though I advise against the neon green). If you have narrow hips, try boot cut pants to help your body present an even look from head to toe. If your midsection is your problem area, peplum skirts and tops are a great option! They conceal the problem area and slenderize your smaller areas! If you are busty wear your best bra that day. Good bras result in your clothes looking and feeling better. Also try and make sure your top conceals everything so you give off a very professional appearance.  If you have shorter legs elongate them with heels and avoid skirts and pants that hit near your shin. Women with thicker thighs should wear heels with a pant that shows off your ankles. This elongates and accentuates the most slender portion of your leg. Dressing for your shape can do wonders for your overall appearance! The cuts below are great examples of fashionable ways to wear black and white!

 

3. Pick a Pattern.

Glamorous girls this one is for you! If the interview requires you to show off your fabulous personality or creative side, do not be afraid to throw in some patterns! We know that these can be tricky so if you stick to the one-and-done motto your patterned outfit will work out perfectly. Picking one article of clothing to replace with a patterned article can result in an outfit that comes to life. Instead of going with basic bottoms chose a nice patterned pant. You could also spice up your outfit with a patterned blazer or top. These items will catch your interviewers attention in a good way, opening the door for your amazing personality, resume, and intellect to land you the job.

4. Accessorize.

Every girl’s best friend and worst enemy is her accessories. We always feel we need them, but never know which ones work best, or if we are under-, or worse, over- accessorizing. It is easy to under-accessorize for an interview because you do not want to have a distracting outfit. Remember one-and-done? It applies here too! Choose one accessory that you want to stand out and let the others be subtle. Necklaces are great ways to spice up your interview outfit. So pairing a necklace with studs would be a perfect way to dress up your plain black suit without being distracting.

 

5. Shoes ALWAYS Matter.

I know a lot of the time I do not consider my footwear until after I have made the perfect outfit. Then I realize I have no shoes that match. Shoes can bring alive a boring business suit, or offer perfect balance to the creatively patterned outfit. Every girl needs a pair of basic black and nude flats and pumps. These four pairs of shoes can get you through formal and casual occasions during both spring and winter. Keeping it simple is sometimes the best thing to do and for an interview simple shoes never let you down.

Bringing it all together:

A great outfit that uses pastels, accessories, and patterns together!

Like what you’ve read? Sound off a comment below!

 

University of North Carolina at Chapel HillMajors:Journalism and Mass Communications (Advertising Sequence)History (Third World Countries Concentration) 
Megan McCluskey is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. with Distinction in Journalism and Mass Communication, and a second major in French. She has experience as a Campus Correspondent and Contributing Writer for Her Campus, a Public Relations Consultant for The V Foundation, an Editorial Assistant for TV Guide Magazine and Carolina Woman magazine, a Researcher for MTV, and a Reporter and Webmaster for the Daily Tar Heel. She is an obsessive New England Patriots and Carolina basketball fan, and loves spending time with her friends and family (including her dogs), going to the beach, traveling, reading, online shopping and eating bad Mexican food.