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Can you still interview in a black suit in the summertime? When you have to attend a job interview in hot weather, is there a better, lighter alternative to the standard black or blue suit? Reader D wonders…
{related: check out our entire Guide to Women's Interview Attire!}
I had a sudden job interview this week and had to wear a suit. Although they had air conditioning, it was very hot. My suit was black and it seemed too heavy. Aren't there better alternatives to the black/blue suit when it's over 80 degrees? Thanks!
Interesting question. We've talked about whether seasonless suiting is truly seasonless, as well as discussed lightweight blazers, dressing professionally for summer, and maintaining a professional look when it's blisteringly hot — but we haven't talked about this exact question.
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Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)
I'm curious to hear what the readers say — my gut reaction here, possibly tempered by spending pretty much every summer since reaching adulthood in New York City is this: Not wear black? What're you talkin' about? So: with everything else, know your region (much like with colorful suits). Still, some notes:
- Interview in a cotton suit. Tropical/seasonless wool is usually what people interview in — but if it were me, and I doubted my ability to show up at the interview not melted/sweaty/disgusting, I would wear a suit like Ann Taylor's cotton sateen suiting.
- Interview in lighter colors. If your only objection to black is sartorial, and it just feels heavy, there are a bunch of professional ways to lighten it up — wear a white or pastel blouse beneath the suit instead of a darker color; add white details (pearls are seasonless, but my mind does go right there for an interview!), or wear a gray or navy suit instead if black feels too funereal.
- Hack the interview. If you're worried about looking like a sweaty mess for the interview, you may need to pull out all the stops. For example:
- Arrive early and plan to go to a coffee shop nearby for at least 15 minutes to cool down.
- Drink a very cold drink, and press an ice-filled glass against your pressure points.
- If there's public transportation such as a long, hot, sticky subway ride, consider a) bringing your pantyhose and blazer to change into at the coffee shop, and b) consider using something designed to absorb sweat from armpits and your bra, such as the Wick'Em bra liner or armpit shields. If you're worried about smelling sweaty, a new application of deodorant and a spritz or two of dry shampoo may also be in your future. (Please, please, please do not use perfume to attempt to cover up the smell of sweat.)
These are some interesting products to help you cool down or stay cool on your commute… see more clever products like this in our Amazon shop! (If you're suffering from hot flashes or feel like throwing money at the problem, do check out the Embr Wave cooling bracelet…)
Ladies, what are your thoughts — would you wear a black suit in a summer interview? Would you raise an eyebrow if someone interviewed for you in a black suit?
Psst: We've also talked about gray suits for interviews and suit colors in general — as well as how to deal with pantyhose in the summer if you choose to wear a skirt suit. (Yes, you probably should wear pantyhose if it's for a conservative(ish) job.)
(Pictured at top: YIP 2010.228 – Not enough road to get up to 88, originally uploaded to Flickr by Steve Mohundro.)
mnf
Caution – I once interviewed in NYC in a grey suit. Despite following the tips above to arrive “cool”, we ended up having to walk to lunch and I had dark pit stains. If you’re going to sweat either way – opt for something that will cover it.
KT
I am for a seasonless black suit regardless of the weather.
Anonymity
Speaking from NY biglaw perspective: 1. Black suits for an interview are a junior move at least among litigators. Once you’ve been practicing for a few years, you would have other suits. 2. Cotton sateen? No flippin’ way! Wool or fake wool only. Cotton or linen are way too casual for an interview.
TBK
I’m not a huge fan of black suits myself, but so often it’s hard to find other colors in quality women’s suits! Even just navy and charcoal can be hard, never mind the other neutrals that are so easy for guys to just pick up on a quick trip to the mall (in real wool no less — you’ll never convince me that synthetics have the look or drape of wool).
TBK
This may be a know your city kind of thing, but here in DC I wouldn’t go to an interview in a cotton suit. Cotton suits to my mind are a real step down in terms of formality. Great for everyday at the office, or for casual Friday, but not for things like interviews, court appearances, Capitol Hill. Black, navy, and charcoal suits are seasonless. That said, my best black suit is staying in my closet until this horrible weather breaks! It’s sort of a midweight and is just a little too heavy for the 90 degree/90% humidity days we’re having here.
Ellen
TBK say’s it best. At an interview, at LEAST, you must look conservative (and smart). So dark blue is my go to color b/c it contrast’s VERY niceley with my blond hair and light blue eye’s, at least according to the Judge and the Manageing Partner. They do NOT like black, and they put up with Charcoal, but they realy like Blue (and RED–but this is a thread about interviewing NOT workeing). Once your on the job, you can wear what other peeople wear, but be conservative, at least until you get your first paycheck. YAY!!
BTW, when I worked in DC, it was very hot and HUMID in the summer, so you may be temted to go sleeveless. Do NOT. Men LOVE to stare at your boobie’s, so do NOTgive them the chance with a sleeveless dress. Also, do NOT wear strapless dresses in the evening, b/c guys love to pull them down to see your boobie’s when they are drunk. DO NOT give them that chance. FOOEY!
Mimi
Is this a jokey meme? I’m a little put off by the tone if it is.
Anonymous
It’s a mystery!
http://ellenwatch.blogspot.com/
Coach Laura
I agree – no cotton suits. I wouldn’t wear a black flannel or worsted suit but would wear a black, blue or grey seasonless wool suit, and I don’t find them to be any hotter than a cotton suit. I wouldn’t wear a tan suit but I might wear a light-grey wool suit, if it was very tailored and formal otherwise.
Bonnie
Agree about cotton. I don’t really get why a dark suit would be an issue since interviews are inside.
Anonattorney
Pearls must be a regional thing. No one wears them where I work.
S
I’d nix the pearls, too. I’m 42 and I think they often come across as matronly on the rare times I’ve seen. And I’m living in the Midwest. And working with finance folks, so a stodgy group.
TBK
I wear mine all the time. I see them a lot in DC.
Cat
Same (Philly) – my daily earrings are either white or black pearl studs, and I do wear a classic strand of white pearls semi regularly. I wouldn’t actually wear the necklace to an interview though, because it feels too obvious/boring.
anon-oh-no
I’m in the Midwest and I wear them all. the. time. single strands, multiple strands, strands mixed with other necklaces, long strands, short strands, white pearls, black pearls, blue pearls, pink pearls ….. you get the picture
Anonymous
As do I. But, I’m in the South. :-) In fact, I’m wearing multiple strands right now.
Cat
I would definitely not wear a cotton suit to an interview – it’s less formal and would show sweat and damp-crease-wrinkles immediately.
Navy seasonless wool skirt suit, wear hose (counterintuitive but IMO they help your legs feel NOT sticky), carry the jacket, choose a light color button down that won’t show any sweat if it happens (light blue is the WORST for this – I prefer light pink or lavender for interviewing), and plan for 10 minutes of cool-off in the nearest coffee shop as K@t suggests.
Sakina
Speaking of summer jobs – I will be in NYC for a summer job. Can’t wait! If anyone is having any ‘ette meetups I would love to know about it. Any tips for how to find (finance) networking opportunities would be appreciated.
L
This is going to sound harsh, but I don’t understand how this is a problem. Wear your best interview suit. Period. If you’re not somewhere you can drive, get in a cab.
Anonymous
Agreed
Anonymous
Black, navy, or grey wool or wool-like suit. As a junior, that’s really it. It does not look weird to be wearing back at all.
Scout
I would not go with Ann Taylor’s cotton sateen suiting for a formal interview. It looks kinda cheap and wrinkles a lot. I bought a tan one last summer and it was fine for more casual days but I wouldn’t wear it to an interview. The seams on the pants ripped the first day I wore them as well.
Victim of the Open Office
I’m an intern in an open floorplan office. You just book a random place to work each day. My manager doesn’t know where I’m even seated, and the people around me are not people are my coworkers. Some of the seniors around me are talking very loudly about vacation plans, and its distracting. Would it be rude to get up and move?
Anon
If you can book another workspace for the afternoon, or just simply move, go for it. They probably aren’t even paying attention to you.
Victim of the Open Office
In this type of setup would it be appropriate to move different places during the day anyways? Because that helps me when I study for school
Anonymous
I’d still wear black, just drive or take a cab to the interview. I made the mistake of metro-ing to an interview once and I definitely didn’t not feel my best. Got the job, but still…Also about waiting in a coffee shop advice. I don’t do this anymore! I once waited in a starbucks and definitely smelled like starbucks for the interview.
Anonymous
In the vein of an intern looking too rich – is a Tossot watch (gift from parents) okay? Grandma’s gold earrings?
TBK
yes
Anon
I had to google the brand, and it showed a number of classic stainless steel link styles, all of them under $1k. I think you’re fine with a classic, unobtrusive style. Mine’s $1k, but you’d never know it unless you peered at the size .02 font to read the name on the face. I was self-conscious of the luxury of it when I first got it at 24, so I bet that’s where you are. I’ve had this watch for 10 years old now and I’m positive no one ever gives it a thought.
Grandma’s earrings will also be fine, provided they look natural on you and not like Grandma’s Earrings. You have to feel confident wearing them.
Good luck with the internship!
Victim of the Open Office
Thank you! The earrings are small and pretty classic, and the watch is plain stainless steel. I’m 21, so even more conscious of it, and I’m not really used to wearing a watch, but I love this one
Anon
Wear a gray tropical wool suit. Do not wear cotton (least of all, shiny cotton). Do not wear tan. Wear gray for summer interviews and black for winter.
My favorite pairing with my gray suit is a navy shell and black pearls. It says formal without saying Men in Black extra.
SteelCityMagnolia
I am an accounting professional in the construction field, so I had the blessing of interviewing in a less-formal field. Even when I was laid off and was looking in other fields besides construction, it seemed a lot of the places I was interviewing at were less formal, so I was able to get away with less traditional styles, colors, and fabrics. My 2 go-to interview suits are a dark navy (almost to the point of being black) pinstripe wool blend suit with 3/4 length sleeves and a flared skirt, and a wool blend herringbone print suit (can’t remember if it has 3/4 length sleeves or not). Tropical wool or lightweight wool blends are your best bets in summer, especially in high-humidity areas. No cotton, or linen because they wrinkle the second you walk out of the house and you will look like you slept in them. Sateen looks more evening-ish than interview-appropriate IMO.
If the idea of wearing hose makes you all but want to die in summer heat, try thigh-highs. Nobody will know and they aren’t nearly as suffocatingly hot. Just make sure the elastic on them is good so they don’t slip and bag and you’re not tugging on them!
Pearls are always, always appropriate.
hd
hand sanitizer will also kill any BO.
Catherine Scholze
I can’t wear black because it makes me look ill, but I do agree with the rest of the posters that a dark color is still a must for an interview, even in summer. Navy or a darker gray are great–they hide sweat. A light blouse is OK, but make sure it doesn’t show sweat–I have had trouble with lavender and anything in the blue family. I tend to stick with ivory, or a dark blouse like navy. Also, try to find a top made from silk crepe de chine as it is polished and hides sweat better than silk charmeuse. Avoid polyester! My favorite trick for helping to prevent chafing (if it’s really hot, that is still a problem for me, even with hose) is Winter Silks silk shorties. Love these!
Anonymous
What about a black suit with a black blouse? Too much? I have a screener for a summer associate position at a Big Law firm (bay area office) and plan to wear a black skirt suit but I’m torn between white or black for the blouse. White, I could wear black pearls, but black I’d have to do whatever mall store silver necklace I have lying around. I really want to look conservative because even though I’ll be putting clear retainers in, I’m afraid they’ll notice my double nose piercings. This sounds even dumber now that I’m typing it. Regardless, any advice would be appreciated.