Curb Your Colors
Stick with traditional colors when picking out your interview wardrobe.
by Rita Gworek

Color has the highest psychological impact of anything you choose to wear. Certain colors are traditional in clothing and some colors are used to reflect a more fashionable look.

Traditional colors
Corporate America has always used shades of blue and gray in business suits. Any time you wear another color in your suit it makes the suit more fashionable. It doesn’t mean that you don’t look good in that color. It only means that you are not dressed in the traditional colors that others readily accept. It is similar to the philosophy behind the military uniform: Everyone looks the same and reflects the same image. Once you wear another color in your suit you stand out and break tradition. Your fashionable state may intimidate some, and confuse others.

Color Tones
The shade of blue or gray also has an impact. The deeper and darker the color of blue or gray, the more power, command and authority you carry. So a charcoal gray or midnight blue suit will have the most authoritative look. As the suit color lightens into a medium tone of blue or gray the message softens to a more interactive or social exchange. A single-color stripe in a suit adds even more authority. The more dominant the stripe the more powerful the look.

Social Colors
A very light blue or gray suit sends a message of being more open and social. It can also reflect summertime. If you are interviewing in the summer, you would still wear a dark suit for a power position. Once you secure the job and have proven yourself then you could wear the light-colored summer suits.

Olive and brown suits that are in darker tones are breaking into the workplace. But they are not the traditional colors, so others may not be as open to them. They might send the message that you like to be your own person or you don’t like to conform. You need to decide if that is what you want the interviewer to think.

Colors other than the ones I mentioned would truly be high fashion. Are you interviewing for a high-fashion job? If not, then stick to the traditional colors. This way you will be wearing the same uniform.

Shirt Colors
White is always right. It can be white, off-white or cream. The high contrast of the dark suit to the white shirt carries the most authority. Next wear light shades of blue and gray. These would put you into a softer setting. Do not wear striped shirts for an interview – they can be distracting. Stay away from other colors in shirts for the interview. You want to appeal to the masses and blues and grays will accomplish this. The darker the blue or gray color in the shirt the more relaxed your suit will look.

Tie Colors
Dark red is still the most accepted color in ties. A business tie has a small pattern that is evenly spaced and consistently spaced. When the pattern is scattered the tie becomes more casual. After the dark red tie, shades of blue and gray prevail. Popular colors right now are metal colors such as gold, silver and platinum. Tan, sand and beige have a clean look too.
Stick with the traditional colors and you will be wearing the right uniform.


© Rita Gworek 2010
Rita Gworek is a presenter for the TAP and ACAP seminars on “Dressing for Success.” She has been an image consultant and personal shopper for more than 20 years in the Washington, D.C., area.