Suits: Solid or Pin stripe for interview?

[Truckie]

Good afternoon gents,

I will pose a question to those who are in the know more than I.

A little back ground. I have two suits, one solid dark Navy blue and the other a dark brown (almost black) pin stripe suit. Both are fitted for me and I wear them well. I have an upcoming interview for a career position. The interview will consist of a board of three Chiefs, a Union Rep and the Union President.

What would be the best pick for the interview? I used the dark Navy blue suit for the preliminary interview (Captain, Commissioner, Staff lady, union member) and obviously it went well since I am onto the final interview. Should I change it up and wear the pin striped brown? Stick with what works for me?

 

[Dangerroush]

As someone who conducts interviews, I feel pin strips are tacky and make you look like a used car salesman...sorry to all you used car salesman. The dark blue is a gentlemans suit, a timeless classic, plus brown is a crap suit colour for work, it's just....so 1973

 

[Zap85]

I vote solid navy blue. It's professional and as long as it fits you well, you can't go wrong. Subtle pinstripes can be great on a suit, but they are flashy, and might be more appropriate after you've gotten the job. No one at the interview will notice that you wore the same suit twice. You can always change up the shirt and tie if you're worried.

 

[bobfarvour]

Don't wear pin stripes to an interview.

 

[Prince]

Blue, but change up the shirt and tie from the other interview.

 

[professorchaos]

Navy. Pin stripes are ... not my favorite.

 

[Doc4]

The verdict is in, and the question (IMHO) was never really in doubt.

 

[cb91710]

As someone who conducts interviews, I feel pin strips are tacky and make you look like a used car salesman...sorry to all you used car salesman. The dark blue is a gentlemans suit, a timeless classic, plus brown is a crap suit colour for work, it's just....so 1973

Agreed 1000%

If I'm going to wear pinstripes, it will be on a Navy or darker gray.
Brown?
Maybe a brown tweed sportcoat with tan slacks... but I wouldn't wear a brown suit.

 

[Truckie]

Well thats what I was looking for. I will be heading out tomorrow to look for a new shirt and tie to accompany the Navy suit.

In regards to the pin stripe, it is a very dark brown and the pin stripes are subtle to the point in low light you wouldn't even be able to tell.

Thank you all for the response's.

 

[Argonaut]

If you are interviewing for an honest job, go with the solid. If you are applying to be a hit-man, go with the pin stripe. Leave your gun and take some cannoli.

 

[Truckie]

I was looking at the suit today. It does seem 'hitmanish' I think I found my halloween costume!

 

[Squidma]

Leave your gun and take some cannoli.

 

[eliev]

I work in a company with a strict dresscode. I wear a suit every day. I would definitely recommend the solid navy blue suit. Wear the pinstrip suit after you get the job!

 

[Devilpup]

I vote solid. I sell suits for a living and always suggest a solid suit for interviews, even though I do like pin stripe. Reserve pinstripes for another time.

 

[Devilpup]

Leave your gun and take some cannoli.

But I like carrying in a suit, and the boss says it's good for business...seriously though law enforcement types like to see the "gun linings" in use.

 

[jesperw]

Solid!!!

 

[jpakstis]

Whichever one makes you feel more comfortable and confident. I doubt that an employer has ever made a decision to hire or not hire based solely upon attire. For what its worth, unless the pinstripe is really bold (think this), I don't think it makes much of a difference. The pinstripe is traditional business attire, but then again those norms are out the window these days (like "no brown in town" and having an evening suit).

 

[Doc4]

Whichever one makes you feel more comfortable and confident. I doubt that an employer has ever made a decision to hire or not hire based solely upon attire. For what its worth, unless the pinstripe is really bold (think this), I don't think it makes much of a difference. The pinstripe is traditional business attire, but then again those norms are out the window these days (like "no brown in town" and having an evening suit).

Yes, and no.

Wearing a subtly pinstriped suit to an interview isn't "bad" like, say, picking your nose or dropping f-bombs, obviously. And it'd be silly for an employer to base hiring decisions solely on attire (unless you are hiring for fashion designer or salesman at a ritzy mensware store?), but ...

... look at it this way ...

Think of an interview as a "formal" occasion. Not formal in the "black tie or white tie?" sense, but formal in the "there is an established expectation" for what happens and how the applicant presents himself (in all aspects ... behaviour, grooming, dress, all that stuff.) In this sense, an un-pin-striped suit of dark blue or grey is going to be "better" than a similar one with pinstripes. It shows a fuller understanding by the applicant of the expectations, and an ability/willingness to comply. It's like following a recipe with precision ... the guy who can nail all aspects down to the last detail shines brightest.

Two resumes cross your desk ... one is laser-printed on substantial 25-lb stock with 25% cotton content (very nice!) and the other is hand-typed on thin, cheap office paper. Before you ever get to read the two resumes, you have already formed opinions about the two individuals, and the guy with the nice paper is farther ahead.

Ditto when one applicant has nicely shined shoes and the other doesn't ... do you hire the guy with the attention to detail or the guy without? All these little things add up.

 

[jpakstis]

Think of an interview as a "formal" occasion. Not formal in the "black tie or white tie?" sense, but formal in the "there is an established expectation" for what happens and how the applicant presents himself (in all aspects ... behaviour, grooming, dress, all that stuff.) In this sense, an un-pin-striped suit of dark blue or grey is going to be "better" than a similar one with pinstripes. It shows a fuller understanding by the applicant of the expectations, and an ability/willingness to comply. It's like following a recipe with precision ... the guy who can nail all aspects down to the last detail shines brightest.

Two resumes cross your desk ... one is laser-printed on substantial 25-lb stock with 25% cotton content (very nice!) and the other is hand-typed on thin, cheap office paper. Before you ever get to read the two resumes, you have already formed opinions about the two individuals, and the guy with the nice paper is farther ahead.

Ditto when one applicant has nicely shined shoes and the other doesn't ... do you hire the guy with the attention to detail or the guy without? All these little things add up.

But all of those examples are a comparison of attention to detail/pride in your appearance. Of course the applicant who shows more attention to detail is going to have a leg up. But in this case, the choice between pinstripes vs. non-pinstripes is a purely stylistic choice, and if the pinstripes are subtle enough to not give an adverse reaction (like the one I linked to - I have a similar one and it barely comes out of the closet), then it makes no difference. Personally, I have an offensive lineman body and when I wear my nice pinstripe suit, I feel slimmer and when I feel like I'm not a gorilla, I act less self-consciously, and, etc., etc., etc.

However, all things being equal, personally I would wear solid suit, because a good rule of thumb is to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. But my original point is that the OP should wear whatever gives him the most confidence. If each suit fits equally well, then I would go with the solid (following the maxim above). But what if the solid suit just doesn't fit that well, or he has to "fight it" a little while wearing it, or any other issue that it has, then I would go with the one that allows him to exude the confidence and comfortability that made him one of the final candidates he is. And if its the pinstripe, then so be it.

 

[Doc4]

But all of those examples are a comparison of attention to detail/pride in your appearance. ... But in this case, the choice between pinstripes vs. non-pinstripes is a purely stylistic choice ...

I suggest that it's not purely stylistic, as in one is as good as the other ... there's a "proper way to dress" for an interview, and the closer one gets to attaining that, the better.

Just as if one chap wears black captoe oxfords to his interview, and the other chap wears brown captoe oxfords ... both well shined ... the chap who knows he should wear black to this formal occasion is a step ahead.




We can, of course, carry this on to the most minute detail of appearance. And for many of these details, in many interviews, the interviewer probably won't care. Show up in a suit looking neat and tidy, and you are good to go. But some interviewers will care, and will notice. I have a friend ... a well educated professional ... who always gives me crap when I wear brown/tan shoes with my grey or blue suits ... I'm happy to debate the point with him & it's a bit of a running gag with us, but ... if he were interviewing me for a job, and I showed up with brown shoes ... without opening my mouth he's got a funny feeling about me as soon as I walk through the door.