Let Your Ensemble Make a Good Impression in a Job Interview: Your Guide to Interview Dress for Men and Its Importance in the Corporate World (2020)

‘First impression is the last impression’, as they say and maybe you can get a second chance to improve your impression elsewhere; but the first impression in an interview is your only chance to progress to the subsequent rounds and finally bag the offer. The way you dress tells a lot about your personality and the interviewer would easily notice if you are dressed sloppily, aren’t well groomed or have dirty shoes. The choice of colours, accessories and shoes tells a lot about you. The moment you enter the cabin of the interviewer, they can notice in a glance how properly you are dressed and that makes the first impression about you in their mind.

Dressing nicely, formally and diligently is no shortcut to cracking an interview, but it is definitely a very important factor while you present yourself in front of the interviewer. Secondly, being dressed properly for an interview gives a certain boost to your confidence and that reflects in your body language and behaviour while you are facing the interview. Also, dressing nicely for an interview doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to wear costly and branded clothes, but wearing clean and well ironed clothes in a proper manner and having the right colour combination is the thumb rule.

Interview dressing is not only about wearing a formal attire, but there are a few important points which should be kept in mind before you get ready for an interview. Do examine your interview dress a few days before the interview and check if you are comfortable while walking, sitting and standing in that dress. Do wear clean and ironed clothes and choose a nice and subtle cologne/fragrance. Do wear formal accessories like a simple leather belt and a solid or striped tie to compliment your formal look. Polish your shoes and get well groomed before the interview, try to get haircut a week before the interview. And lastly, do wear a natural smile while giving the interview.

Don’t hesitate to invest in a power suit if the position and weather is apt for it. Don’t wear dazzling jewellery; instead try something sleek and sober like a gold, silver or platinum bracelet. Don’t wear socks which don’t match your trousers and never try to dress casually.

Formal shirts are a great way to impress your interviewer as that’s the first part of your attire which gets noticed. A solid coloured shirt paired with sleek trousers and shiny leather shoes give a perfect formal look. Let’s check out a few shirts which you can select for your next interview and leave a positive impression.

Arrow is known for its classy shirts and this pure cotton shirt won’t disappoint you either. The blue solid formal shirt is available in sizes 39 to 44 and can be paired with black or beige trousers. The full sleeve shirt has a nice shine and the stiff collar with the white buttons gives it a premium look. This 100% pure cotton, regular fit Arrow shirt can be purchased from Cilory for ₹ 1,259.00. The fabric is delicate, hence should be handled with care while washing and ironing.

A budget friendly shirt by Park Avenue, this plain slim fit white colour formal shirt is made of 100% cotton and has a slim fit design with long sleeves and a cut-away collar while the barrel cuff increases the style quotient of this white shirt. You can pair it with black, navy blue, beige or grey trousers with a matching leather belt and complete the look with a sleek pair of leather shoes. This plain slim fit white shirt is available for ₹ 674.00 on Amazon.

This blue regular fit and self design formal shirt by Louis Philippe is perfect when you are going to give an interview in hot and humid weather, but aren’t feeling comfortable in a full sleeves shirt. This 100% cotton short sleeves shirt is a formal shirt and will give you relief in summers so that you don’t feel sweaty during the interview. This elegant short sleeves shirt can be purchased from Myntra for ₹ 999.00.

Raymond, well known for their tagline ‘The Complete Man’ is a pioneer in men’s fashion for decades and due to this very reason, they have won the trust of Indian men. This pure cotton, regular fit, full sleeve pink shirt would look great with a pair of beige or grey colour trousers and will reflect your superior taste and temperament. If you have a liking for pink, then this is a great formal wear shirt for an interview and is available for ₹ 1,154.00 on Flipkart.

Allen Solly was founded in 1744 by William Hollin and Co. Ltd. and was acquired by the Aditya Birla Group under their Madura Fashion House in 2001. They also claim to have introduced ‘Friday Dressing’ in India. The Allen Solly Navy Blue Shirt is 100% cotton and can be treated as both casual and formal depending upon the way you wear it and the lower you pair it with. For a formal look, team it up with dark grey or cream colour trousers along with brown leather shoes and you are ready to face the interview. This sport fit shirt is available for ₹ 882.00 on Allen Solly.

Trousers also play an equally important part in completing your look for an interview. We have picked two sleek and stylish trousers which can be paired with different shirts to get the perfect interview dress for men look.

These flat front and tapered fit trousers by Arrow look chic and trendy and can be worn as formals. The mid-rise waist trousers have button and zip fly closure with four pockets and is made of 80% polyester and 20% viscose fabric. Pair it with a light coloured formal shirt, a pair of lace-up leather shoes and finish the formal look with a sober leather belt. The navy blue coloured trousers by Arrow can be ordered from NNNOW for ₹ 1,100.00 and they recommend going for one size bigger than your normal size.

This beige colour, textured slim fit formal trousers by Louis Philippe (a brand of Aditya Birla Group) can be paired with a dark or light shirt to get ready for the interview. Complete the look with black colour cotton socks, a pair of leather derby shoes and a dark brown colour leather belt. The slim fit trousers are made from polyester blend fabric and are available for ₹ 1,999.00 on Lifestyle.

If you are going to face an interview in winters, then it may be tough to decide about what to wear – a pullover, a sweater, a suit or a jacket. Well, we would recommend wearing a blazer over a nice formal shirt and a pair of trousers if it’s mild winters and when winter is in full bloom you can go for a two piece suit with a complementing tie.

This slim fit matte finish formal blazer by Shaftesbury London is made from fine fabrics with the outer layer made from 70% polyester and 30% viscose while the inner layer is made from 94% polyester and 4% viscose due to which the apparel is breathable; sweat absorbing, comfortable, softer and smoother. The slim fit blazer fits snugly and makes you look slimmer and gives a dapper look. You can order this budget friendly blazer from Amazon for ₹ 1,599.00.

This black two piece suit by Peter England doesn’t disappoint while providing an interview ready look. The suit is tailored from high quality fabric (65% polyester, 35% viscose) and the blazer has a notch lapel, single breast design with two buttons while the trousers are mid-rise and slim fit. Pair it with a white shirt and brogues to get the perfect corporate look. You can also complement the suit with a dark colour solid or striped tie. The two piece suit by Peter England is available for ₹ 4,499.00 on Peter England.

Accessories add a certain charm and garnishing to the interview dress for men. Just remember to keep them simple and formal to match your interview attire.

The navy blue and red striped broad tie is a masterpiece which can be worn with a white or blue colour shirt and would add panache to your personality and the interview dress itself. Made from microfiber fabric, the striped pattern tie by Van Heusen has a length of 149 cm and a width of 7 cm and can be purchased from Myntra for ₹ 1,299.00.

You wouldn’t want to be asking for a pen in case you have to write something or sign an important document during the interview process. And taking out a cheap ball pen is the last thing you would like to happen during the interview. So, carrying this classic Parker Vector Standard CT Roller Ball Black Pen for an interview is a wise thing to do as it would not only be useful for writing, but the arrow of the pen clip peeping from your pocket acts as an attractive accessory as well. The gloss finish pen is made of ABS plastic and has a tungsten carbide ball tip. The ink colour is blue and this pen comes with a 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects. You can order this cool looking pen from Amazon for ₹ 281.00.

A tie fluttering around your chest doesn’t look nice, so why not tame it with this Gold-Toned & Black American Crystal-Studded Enamelled Egyptian King Tie Pin by Peluche? The lead free and rhodium coated tie pin is 1.03 cm x 0.7 cm in dimensions and made from brass. This elegant tie pin can be ordered from Myntra for ₹ 682.00.

An elegant masculine fragrance enriched with the aroma of rosemary and neroli with hints of tonka beans and white woods. The Wild Stone Grey Perfume is formulated to last long in Indian conditions which makes it perfect as an office wear fragrance. The 100 ml bottle of this perfume is available for ₹ 630.00 on Wild Stone.

You would be surprised to know that you can get this pure leather reversible formal belt by Hidekraft for just ₹ 685.00 at Amazon. This belt has a premium chrome buckle, has black shade on one side while the other side is dark brown, so it can be paired with different outfits which are appropriate as an interview dress. The genuine leather belt comes in a beautiful gift pack with a 6-month warranty.

Last but not of least significance, nice and attractive shoes are an equally important part of the interview dress for men as are the clothes and accessories. Let’s check out two sleek leather shoes to complement your formal look for the interview.

This classic derby never goes out of style and always complements an interview or office look. The pure leather shoe by ID has a PU sole and is available in sizes 40 to 45. The black formal derby shoe by ID can be purchased from Metro Shoes for ₹ 2,985.00.

Bata has always been a trustworthy name for Indian men when it comes to shoes and footwear. The brown formal shoes for men have an intricate brogue design crafted on the pure leather upper part and the sole is made of TPR material. You can complete your sharp look for the interview with these shoes paired with a pair of beige trousers and a stiff white shirt. The Brown Formal Shoes for Men from the house of Bata are available for ₹ 2,999.00 at Bata.