So, I am a jeans-and -tshirt and hightop-converse type of gal. Grown-up tomboy, I supppose. This year I’ve managed to feel fairly natural in a couple of wool sport jackets I have, and can do ‘professorial’ fine (the bar is set pretty low, isn’t it?), but I still detest wearing skirts and hose and heels and makeup. Hopefully in February I’ll have some job interviews, and I know I need to pretty-up.
I’ve been reading interviewing tips sites and they suggest that you always wear a skirt suit to interviews rather than suits with pants-- is this true even for academia? Do I have to wear heels and hose rather than sane shoes and socks? I know I should look cleaned up, but I don’t want to feel like I’m in drag. Again, are acceptible trends in academia different from high-business/ politics/ law settings?
In this setting as well in mind (I work on the flakey-arty-humanites side of campus). . . normal interview sites say “it’s impossible to be too conservative” regarding colors and things of that sort. Is this true? Do I need to go with a white blouse or can I use a more interesting color with a dark, plain suit? Can I get away with plum-colored suits or velveteen fabrics or anything like that?
Any color suggestions (suits, blouses, etc) for sort of gerbil-honey-blonde hair and gray-blue eyes. Not especially palid or pink-skinned. What should I look at when I head to Nordstroms or whatever? Is being blonde a strike against me?
Can’t speak to your field, but slacks and a jacket and normal shoes and socks are a perfectly acceptable job-interview clothes for physics and astronomy. (Okay, well, speaking of a low bar, as long as your clothing doesn’t have holes in it and there’s no food dribbled down your front, you’re probably okay in physics. And you can get away with some food stains if you’re brilliant enough. 
) White shit is certainly not manditory, and with a dark suit it would actually make you look really plain and boring.
I do recommend that you go with a conservative suit, just because it’s more versatile. A good suit that fits you well is a really good investment. You’ll need one for interviews, award banquets, conferences, and many other academic occassions, and you can get a lot of wear out of a nice subtle suit by wearing different shirts underneath it.
Don’t hesitate to ask a salesperson for help finding a blouse that will look good with your coloring. If you just go in and say you need a suit for an interview they’ll think ka-ching! and be happy to spend quite a lot of time to help you find something that looks great on you.
Another excellent source of advice would be a woman you respect in your field. If you know someone who always looks put-together and professional, tell her that you’ve always admired her fashion sense, and would she give you some advice on how to dress for job interviews? IME, women are always very flattered by this, and very helpful.
I have some phone interviews next week. Nice thing about those is I can do them in a t-shirt and jeans. If I get to the physical interview stage, though, I’m gonna need a new suit. sigh
Good luck with your job search!
My experience is primarily from business, but even there the skirt is definitely no longer required. In general the women executives I’ve worked with are in well-tailored pantsuits and look ready to spring into action any second. I would recommend a pantsuit with hose/trouser socks and the absolute best quality dress shoes you can find. Shoes should have a heel, but not have any cutouts, open toes, etc.
The color should be conservative. Navy blue is always a popular choice, and seems like it could work OK with your coloring. Stay away from green, brown, or anything purple-ish. These colors tend to diminish perceived credibility. For a shirt, you should probably look for a silk shell to go under the suit. A good sales person can help you find the shade of white that goes with your coloring. I need bright/optic white, but you may need more of a cream or ivory. Since you are on the artsy side of the house, it may be appropriate to add a colorful touch with a brooch or scarf. Again, these accessories are no place to skimp on quality. Treat yourself! Get guidance from the salesperson on where to place the accessory so it is not awkward in any way.
Also, if you haven’t been wearing makeup much lately, go to a makeup counter and ask them to give you a natural look for a job interview and show you how to apply it. Then buy the stuff they recommend. Allow about $125-150 for this.
You can get away with pants, as long as they’re well tailored and fit you perfectly. If you don’t know how they’re supposed to fit, bring a fashion-conscious friend or ask a good salesperson.
Go with simplicity- I always wear a black jacket, black slacks, white or cream blouse, and some necklace that gives it color without being too wacky. I think a colored blouse would be okay, as long as it’s a dignified color and looks good on you.
I’m not trying to show my personality with a interview suit- my outfit says, “I’m professional, and I’ll conform to the expectations of this job.” I’ll show who I am through my words and my resume.
Don’t wear a skirt or heels if you can’t walk gracefully in them. It’s better to walk in confidently in low heels and pants than to wobble into the interview in a skirt and high heels.
Thanks for the input, guys. I won’t worry TOO much about all this, then. I’ll pick up a nicely fitting black suit and maybe a shirt of some very subtly complicated color and some decent shoes, at least. I suppose if I’m going to stand out from the crowd in an interview I don’t want it to be the clothes that are doing it. I’ll try to make sure it’s my hyaena-like laugh and offensive manner of speech.