# Ladies, what would you wear to a winter job interview? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 6, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937 "2012-10-06T20:51:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/1 "2012-10-06T20:51:01Z")
I don’t have a job interview, but the expected dress for a November 30th work event prompted my boss, whose favorite shirt is tie-dyed, to say “we’ll need to be dressier than usual. Think job interview attire.” But I’ve never had a job interview during the colder months before… My biggest problem brainstorming what to wear is that I’m _always_ cold by then. A skirt is a given, and I’m hopeful that I can find tights that aren’t too babyish so my legs stay warm. It’s what to wear as a top that I’m concerned about. Any recommendations about what would be both warm and formal enough? I’d like to avoid wearing a blazer of any type since I’ve never even owned one before and think they look silly on women. I’m open to the idea of a dress instead of a skirt, though. What did you wear to your wintery-weather job interviews? ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/2 "2012-10-06T20:59:58Z")
A black pant suit. However, if you object to a blazer, perhaps a black pencil skirt with a nicely coloured sweater set would be a better way to go. I think you can wear an opaque black tight at that time of year, and probably a black book would be reasonable as well. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/3 "2012-10-06T21:00:58Z")
I wore a suit with a knit turtleneck (not a cottony lands end type, heavier and also slinkier) to my last interview. How are you with scarves? I find that wearing one, even if it’s thin material, around my neck keeps me very warm. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/4 "2012-10-06T21:32:43Z")
If it were an actual interview, I’d advise a suit jacket and sheer hose in nude or black. For a professional attire work event, you can probably get away with a very polished and well fitted turtleneck or cowlneck sweater. Something like [this](http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=86856&vid=1&pid=233785042). You’ll want to put very nice belt at your waistline. An alternative would be a crew neck or boat neck sweater with a scarf. Again, these must be perfectly fitted- no slouchy or baggy sweaters, and don’t get too thick or it will start seeming casual. You can do a thinner sweater with a pencil skirt and a wider belt, as long as it fits very well. A longer sleeved [professional dress](http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=69885&vid=1&pid=423606002) would also be an option. Be careful with this one, though. Keep it neutral, structured and well fitted. It should look like it’d go with a suit jacket. They make very good and warm microfiber tights. If it’s still cold, you can double them or wear them over silk long underwear. I wear knee-high dress boots all winter. Those would be too casual for an interview, but would be okay in other settings And remember, use your layers. A silk undershirt does wonders. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/5 "2012-10-06T21:54:16Z")
Don’t underestimate the ability of accessories to “dress up” what would normally just be nice work clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/6 "2012-10-08T15:26:24Z")
Skirt suit: modest pencil skirt, not too tight or too short. Lightweight mock turtleneck. Jacket or blazer (I don’t know what the difference is). Thick tights with low-heeled or flat boots. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/7 "2012-10-08T16:10:03Z")
Why is a skirt a given? For a winter interview, I’d wear a pants suit. For that matter, I’d wear a pants suit to a summer interview. Interview clothes aren’t about being comfortable. Otherwise, I like the dress Even Sven linked to. Here’s another [option](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/dresses/weartowork/PRDOVR~16104/16104.jsp). I think you could probably wear tights with that. Or maybe [this](http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi29535&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80018&sortKey=Default§ion=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008), with some nice accessories? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/8 "2012-10-08T16:51:09Z")
Do you have dressy boots? I have worn skirts with turtlenecks and boots - you can even wear tights, since they won’t be able to see anything… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/9 "2012-10-08T20:14:09Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > Why is a skirt a given? > > For a winter interview, I’d wear a pants suit. For that matter, I’d wear a pants suit to a summer interview. Interview clothes aren’t about being comfortable. > > Otherwise, I like the dress Even Sven linked to. Here’s another [option](http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/dresses/weartowork/PRDOVR~16104/16104.jsp). I think you could probably wear tights with that. Or maybe [this](http://www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi29535&rootCategory=cat70008&catId=cat80018&sortKey=Default§ion=Regular&conceptIdUnderSale=cat70008), with some nice accessories? I wouldn’t say it’s a given, but I think a skirt-jacket combo looks more professional than a pants suit or a dress. Totally a matter of taste/style/preference. Pants suits and dresses can be perfectly appropriate and professional for an interview. Maybe I’m just old school that way, but I think that’s the most polished, put-together look. Or perhaps that’s how I feel when I’m dressed that way and I’m more comfortable in pants so my attitude comes off as a bit too relaxed for an interview situation. Same with a dress. There’s something about the skirt suit that makes me feel all Corporate and shit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/10 "2012-10-08T21:06:34Z")
Is the interview being held outside? If not, I wouldn’t worry about the weather itself, as it’ll probably be cool indoors, but it’s not as if you need to dress for the weather at the interview itself; just wear a coat 🙂 Winter’s my favorite time of work-year, as I love black tights with boots, skirts and a jacket/cardigan look. Yeah, I can/do do that in the summer, too, but I get looks. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-what-would-you-wear-to-a-winter-job-interview/636937/11 "2012-10-08T22:06:16Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Is the interview being held outside? If not, I wouldn’t worry about the weather itself, as it’ll probably be cool indoors, but it’s not as if you need to dress for the weather at the interview itself; just wear a coat 🙂 > > Winter’s my favorite time of work-year, as I love black tights with boots, skirts and a jacket/cardigan look. Yeah, I can/do do that in the summer, too, but I get looks. 😛 Taomist, it’s cold _inside_, too (the event is held in another part of the same building complex). I’ve been wearing hoodies or sweaters for weeks already.