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When is it NOT acceptable interview in a gray suit? Reader L, a med student, wonders…
I am in medical school, and will be applying for residency next year. Seeing applicants this year, I notice that it is a sea of black suits (women in pantsuits). I have a gray skirt suit from Banana Republic in 2004 that still fits perfectly and is unembellished. Should I be on the look out for black pantsuit like everyone else, or a grey skirt suit still in the realm of acceptable interview wear?
Wow, I’ve never heard that — let’s discuss!
Can You Wear Gray Suits to Interviews?
I think YES, you can wear gray suits to interviews!
I often feel like I take the fuddy duddy line when it comes to interview advice — wear a skirt suit (at least for traditionally conservative job interviews, which may not include medicine), wear pantyhose, wear walkable shoes — but here I’m going to be a little loosey goosey: wear whatever muted color of suit you like best.
Gray, black, navy — knock yourself out. If you’re feeling crazy, wear a beige suit, or a pinstriped suit. Honestly, I think that as long as you’re dressed in muted colors, interviewers aren’t going to notice your suit, at least in a negative way.
Readers, do you think a gray suit would ever NOT be acceptable for an interview? Have you ever thought less of a job candidate for wearing a conservative suit choice?
(Psst: In the past we’ve shared our roundup of the best suits for women right now, given tips on suiting alterations for women, and offered advice on dry cleaning women’s suits. Also check out our post on C-suite style for women if you’re interested in power dressing, or
{related: budget-friendly interview suits}
Some Of Our Latest Favorite Interview Suits
If you’re on the hunt for basic suiting, note that we did major updates to our roundups of interview suits for women, including doing roundups for eco-friendly suits for women, interview suits if you’re pregnant, and plus size suits. We also pondered whether you should button a double-breasted blazer, and which Ann Taylor suiting line is the best. We also did a major update of our guide to stylish tops under suits!
I’m guessing a med student would prefer a budget-friendly suit, but do check out our latest guide to the Best Suits for Women — we have the best suits at every price point!
Some of our favorite budget-friendly interview suits for women include stores like Banana Republic Factory*†, J.Crew Factory*†, Mango*, and Express†, as well as widely available brands like Anne Klein Executive, Vince Camuto*, Calvin Klein*†, and Tahari ASL. For a vintage vibe, check Amazon seller Marycrafts*. (* = some plus sizes also, † = petites)
Some Of Our Latest Favorite Gray Suits
These charcoal gray suits have been around for a while and are a great bet for where they’ll be in stock as of 2024… Brooks Brothers also has a classic gray suit as of Jan. 2024.
A Closer Look at Our Latest Favorite Gray Suits for Interviews
Ann Taylor
We’ve got a whole post taking a deep dive into which Ann Taylor suiting line is best — the bottom line is that while many of their suits are machine washable, the seasonless suits are best for interviews, whether it’s the bi-stretch suiting (pictured) or the
You can usually find numerous blazers (collarless! 2 button! 1 button!), numerous cuts of pants (curvy, regular, ankle, trousers), and often numerous cuts of skirts and dresses to match.
This suit was originally written in 2014, but substantially updated in 2023 and beyond as indicated.