Ah, to be a man. Life — er, sorry, I mean fashion — is so much easier. Just throw on your old jeans or khakis and a button down and you’re pretty much good to go anywhere. Well, anywhere but an interview, that is! Yes, guys, even though you may not care about clothes, you must make an effort when you’re trying to get a job. The question I often get is: how much of an effort? Can you wear cufflinks and still be taken seriously? What about facial hair? Women lawyers aren’t the only lawyers with style questions.
The good news is that dressing for an interview is relatively easy for men. There is less room to make mistakes, and as unfair as it may be, you don’t have to worry about the whole “being too sexy” thing.
So first things first: start with a suit. See? Simple. As I advised your lady friends a few weeks ago, feel free to experiment, within reason. Try a subtle pinstripe (no giant stripes, please, lest you appear to be a professional jailbird), navy, charcoal or black. A single-breasted, two-button suit is best — it’s conservative, classic and flattering on all body types (though double-breasted suits are coming back into fashion, and you may be able to find a nice one). Avoid pleats, and stick with a slimmer cut.
Add a crisp, 100% cotton button-down shirt. Personally, I like a coloured shirt on a man: blue, lavender, pale green or a traditional stripe are good options. Obviously, you can always go with white, but why look like a waiter when there are plenty of muted colours to try? Coordinate with a solid, striped or small-print tie in the same colour family for a stylish look. If you’re clueless about what colours go together, enlist the help of a salesman (try Harry Rosen — though a bit pricey, my male friends swear they know what they’re doing. And Ermanno Clothing for Men, at Yonge and Lawrence, has tons of great options at a range of price points). Tuck in your shirt, of course, and add a nice leather belt that complements your shoes. And notwithstanding my above advice, if you really, really hate wearing colour, then don’t. There is nothing worse than feeling uncomfortable in an interview — it will affect your performance. Finally, avoid bowties. For whatever reason, in the legal world, that right seems to be reserved for older men only!
Like it or not, you’re going to have to accessorize. Pocket squares can work, but be careful, as you can come across as pompous, especially if the rest of your outfit is really dressy. Stick with simple sterling silver cufflinks: you don’t want to be too fancy or give the impression that you think of yourself as really important/entitled. Wearing a watch conveys professionalism, as long as it’s not too sporty or casual. And it’s best to avoid wearing bracelets, necklaces and earrings, as they can be distracting. I know, I know — it’s an obvious double standard. Finally, carry a classic leather briefcase or portfolio in black or brown.
What about facial hair? This is a toughie. I have a friend whose facial hair grows so quickly that he’s got stubble by 5 p.m. Here’s the thing: you need to do your best to tame it. If it can’t be avoided, or you’ve always rocked a goatee or beard, just keep it neat and polished. And trust me, I’m not judging — I love a beard. Sometimes I think I was meant to live in the woods with Paul Bunyan. But unfortunately, a massive amount of facial hair can be distracting for the interviewers. You want them to picture you closing a transaction or advising clients, not chopping down trees (other than myself. I would love to picture you chopping down trees. But back to the topic at hand). So, in summary, you need to find a happy medium between being yourself (if you’re hairy, you’re hairy) and the need to manscape.
Finally, we come to the easy part: socks and shoes. Stick with a polished, lace-up mens’ dress shoe in black or brown, whatever shade goes best with your outfit. Stick with dress socks in the same colour as your shoe — now is not the time to bust out your fave white athletic socks.
Lest I alienate my fashion-appreciating male readers, I’m going to make some shameless assumptions about most of you: you may not care about your clothing now. You may hate shopping and you may not give two flying freaks about what colours go with what. But when it comes to interviewing for legal positions, dressing in an outfit that makes you feel confident, professional and pulled-together will make you feel different — special, even — from the moment you put it on. You’re playing a part, and you need the uniform to go with it. Good luck, gents!
Emma Williamson is a fashion-obsessed corporate commercial lawyer at FMC. Her mission is to inspire Precedent’s female (and in this instance, male) readers to break out of a style rut while obeying obvious and not-so-obvious workplace dress codes. Follow her on Twitter: @EmmaWorkStyle.
Have questions or a column idea for Emma? Send them to tips@lawandstyle.beta-site.ca.
Image: Victor1558 via Flickr Creative Commons