Interview Fashion: Simple Tips for Presenting the Best You and Landing the Job of Your Dreams

It fills most of us with dread: the job interview with all the concerns about what to say ("I've heard great things about your company") or what not to say ("I see myself in your job a year from now"). With all that on your mind, what to wear should be the least of your worries.

There's no need to fear, though. According to the fashion design faculty of The Art Institutes, you can look put together, confident and land a great job offer by following a few simple rules.

To put your best foot forward, start with a beautiful suit, says Christie McGregor of The Art Institutes International at San Francisco. "Suits say 'professional' in both appearance and demeanor. If you're purchasing a new suit for the interview, buy the best quality you can afford, in a color and fabric that flatter you," she says.

For women, a crepe, lightweight wool or rayon-polyester blend drape nicely and stay relatively wrinkle-free. For men, choose worsted or lightweight wool with a tight weave for long-lasting wear and good looks.

McGregor suggests trying on suits in several different colors to see what works best with your skin tone and hair color. While black, navy or charcoal are always good choices, you may find a color you hadn't considered before, such as brown, olive, or stone that also looks great. Take a friend along for a second opinion when you shop.

Once you've invested in the perfect suit, it's time to add a few carefully chosen accessories. "Accessories are a wonderful way of adding expression and individualism to an interview outfit," says Eileen Celentano of The Art Institute of Portland. "Accessories are like the punctuation in a sentence -- you need good ones to make your look complete," says Celentano.

For women, a beautiful silk scarf worn neatly around the neck or an antique or contemporary-looking brooch on a jacket can make you feel confident. For men, a beautiful silk tie with simple graphics or stripes can have the same effect. Shoes, handbags or briefcases should be polished or cleaned before you go to an interview. And if you're buying new shoes, says Celentano, buy the best leather you can afford -- it's a smart investment.

If you've recently added blue streaks to your hair or had fingertip decals put on in honor of your favorite sports team, remove them before a job interview. Obvious advice for most, says Jacqueline Peterson with The Illinois Institute of Art Chicago. But for young people who may be going on their first interview, "What might be hip fashion among your friends is usually not what's appropriate for a job interview," she explains.

Other no-no's include visible body piercing such as nose rings, or excessive earrings, tattoos or unkempt nails. Make sure your hair is simple and clean looking, and your nails neatly filed. Peterson also recommends going easy on the perfume or cologne since many people are allergic, and for women, don't forget pantyhose.

Remember, Peterson says, "When you're sitting across from an interviewer, they're taking you all in. They don't know you, so what they see, how you present yourself, is almost as important as what you say."

The Art Institutes' system of 23 educational institutions is located nationwide, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary professionals. The Art Institutes system of schools has provided career-oriented education programs for over 35 years, with more than 125,000 graduates. For more information visit The Art Institutes Web site at www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information contact Barbara Vilanova, 1 (412) 242-0796or Jeff Durosko, The Art Institutes, 1 (412) 562-0900 ext. 232.