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Some of the best dresses for work as of 2024 include options from J.Crew, BOSS, T. Tahari, and Lands' End. For really affordable options, check out Quince and Amazon sellers Miusol or MUXXN. We've also rounded up the best plus-size dresses for work!
Are you required to wear a skirt suit for an interview, or are sheath dresses acceptable? We've talked about interview attire (including what to wear beneath a suit jacket and whether you can wear a dress and blazer instead of a suit) before, but let's discuss again. Here's Reader L's question:
I have an upcoming call back interview at a big law firm. I am a 2nd year associate. Can I wear a Theory sheath dress and jacket or do i have to wear a skirt suit? I only ask because the Theory sheath dress is wonderful, comfortable, and super professional. The internet basically says absolutely not … but this is a West Coast based firm. Any thoughts are much appreciated!
For my $.02, I think that while a skirt suit is the default conservative option, pants suits are becoming more and more acceptable — and a sheath dress with a matching blazer isn't that far behind.
{related: check out our entire Guide to Women's Interview Attire!}
Here are some of the suits with dresses instead of skirts we found recently…
Here are some of our latest favorite suits with dresses instead of skirts as of 2024 — but also check these brand recommendations: Ann Taylor (TONS of dresses to match suits), Brooks Brothers, Talbots, and Boss! This J.Crew sheath almost always has a matching blazer, as well, and this J.Crew Factory dress has a matching blazer as well.
A few notes on this, though:
ONLY wear a sheath suit that has a matching blazer. This doesn't sound like Reader L's problem, but I just wanted to throw it out there. The dress + blazer combo is great for any number of things — networking, informal interviews, presentations, etc. — but for an interview I'd stick with matching pieces that visibly read “suit.”
{related: interview makeup tips}
Do the interview mirror test. Make sure that the hem (and especially the slit, if any) of the sheath dress doesn't ride up too high, that the neckline doesn't fall too low, and that there aren't any other fun problems that might occur with a sheath dress. Obviously, make sure your bra straps are not showing at all.
{related: what are “the rules” for interview shoes (if there are any)?}
Assess the office before you go sleeveless. Sadly, the acceptability of going sleeveless is still a know-your-office situation — so if you wear a sleeveless sheath dress, be careful about removing your jacket if you get too hot.
{related: what to wear to work in Silicon Valley}
Readers — particularly those on the West Coast — please chime in! Do you think a sheath dress + matching blazer is acceptable for an interview? Is it too informal?
{related: what to wear when you want a promotion at a business casual office}
Psst: these are our latest favorite sheath dresses…
Some of the best dresses for work as of 2024 include options from J.Crew, BOSS, T. Tahari, and Lands' End. For really affordable options, check out Quince and Amazon sellers Miusol or MUXXN. We've also rounded up the best plus-size dresses for work!
Stock photo for social media images (woman wearing gray sheath dress, smiling) via Deposit Photos / Goodluz.
Anon2
Yes.
Maddie Ross
I agree – definitely yes. My black sheath dress with matching black jacket seems to be to the MOST formal of all of my suits. Esp. with pearls.
mascot
I agree. It seems very formal to me as well.
Julia S.
I have to agree – the sheath suit to me is the most formal when in dark colors – black, navy, charcoal. Add a silk scarf or pearls, and it’s far more formal than a skirt suit. Just be sure to choose something in a wool or wool blend, preferably with a little stretch so it doesn’t wrinkle when sitting.
Hose and closed toe shoes are a must – no flats, but kitten heels are fine.
Kensington
Yes. I just interviewed (and got the job) wearing a matching suit dress and jacket at a large Midwest law firm. J Crew Super 120s in black for reference. I wear the same suit to court and look just as conservative as the skirt suits.
Make sure the combo matches (same color and fabric), is a conservative color (black or grey), is made of suiting fabric, and fits well. Same rules for other suits.
See also
I wore a colorblocked sheath with a black blazer (some company, same suiting fabric) to an interview and got the job too!
Anon
Absolutely!
For context, former Big-Law, now in-house, and I wear a suiting-material dress and matching blazer nearly every time that suits are required.
If you’re looking for a great sleeved option, I like J.Crew’s Kelsey dress in stretch wool plus matching blazer. Available in petites, regular, and talls.
West coast lawyer
I wear sheath dresses with a suit jacket like they’re my uniform. Interviews, court, client or state agency meetings, nbd.
That said, I work for a state agency and before that worked for a mid-size firm, not one of the “big and formals.” Still, I’m generally the most formally dressed person in the room. But I detest pant suits and my height and width combined make skirt suits generally look frumpy without significant tailoring.
Oh, and they’re never “purchased together like a suit” dress/jacket combos. I either match black, or contrast.
I do think it’s a “try to scope office culture” thing, and it might be different if you’re in SF or LA, but for SD or sac, or anywhere else in the state for sure, I would be pretty confident.
anon
Similar to West Coast Lawyer, I’m not in big law or even law but am in a decidedly not business casual environment on the west coast and I have worn and will wear formal sheath dresses (black, grey) with non-matching suit jackets.
Bumparoo
I saw a lot of Theory Betty dresses with the Gabe blazer when interviewing law students for OCI this year (East Coast, very traditional BigLaw office). It looks great and frankly has fewer fashion pitfalls than finding a blouse that matches a skirt or pant suit (think gaping buttons, mannish cuts, ruffles). For interviews, I would definitely stick to Kat’s advice and only wear pieces from the same suiting line–matching things to a black blazer is good most days, but not interview days. I think the sheath dress, matching blazer, and a few good accessories can look really confident while still being impeccably professional.
At the end of the day though, if wearing the sheath dress is going to make you feel anxious, don’t do it. If you think you can own it, by all means rock it.
Anon
I agree – finding a blouse that sits right and doesn’t gape and a skirt that doesn’t turn around seems like quite the task sometimes. I feel like a sheath dress that fits right is less likely to have wardrobe malfunctions.
Anonymous
Absolutely not unless the jacket and dress match exactly like two suiting pieces (same fabric, same color, etc). Even then I would probably not do it myself – why take an unnecessary chance? – but I certainly wouldn’t think less of a candidate who did. And of course a pants suit is totally ok. I’m in a firm in California.
Anon
Yes, but that’s not unique to a dress/jacket combo. Pants/jacket, skirt/jacket… all need to coordinate completely. Assuming that is the case, as the author does, then the answer is yes all day long.
A professional woman
Agreed. A black skirt with a black jacket are equally inappropriate if the suiting material/color are not EXACT matches.
Diana Barry
+100. I also find that suit dress + matching suiting blazer is MORE formal than a skirt suit.
Claire
A woman should wear what ever makes her feel comfortable. No suffering for fashion, and trousers, jacket/no jacket, skirt, dress? What makes YOU happy?
Choose an original design, sheath dress/skirt is perfect-knee length is probably more appropriate. A jacket that allows room for movement, shaking hands, lifting resume out of briefcase etc
Concentrate on being you, being prepared for the interview and don’t worry about your clothes!
Anonymous
Are you new here? A woman, like a man, should understand the rules of professional formal attire for her field and follow them.
Senior Attorney
+1
“Don’t worry about your clothes” is, like, the worst interview advice ever!
Anonymous Associate
Agreed. That’s the problem with the comments here saying that an interviewer who is distracted by neon/bright blouses is the one with the problem. I get that neutral colors are boring-but neutrals/pastels are the way to go for an interview.
The same goes for client meetings/court. If you aren’t sure, you can ask a more senior attorney. We were doing a pitch for a very old school Asian company, and the junior associate on my team was wearing a tie with wine glasses and grapes on it. He had to go find another tie.
But a pitch for a small start-up company, a simple dress or slacks/a dress shirt/no tie are fine. It is all about knowing your environment, and you gain a sense of that through experience.
Julia S.
I interviewed a woman for a serious corporate relations job, and she came wearing a cheap blazer, fitted ankle pants (and no I don’t think they are ok for work, let alone interviews) and a spaghetti strap cami. She didn’t have the qualifications, but I knew that from the minute she walked in the door.
Had she been qualified, would I have overlooked the dress? Not in this case. How can I send someone to represent our interests to key Fortune 50 executives if this is how she dresses for the interview? Polish counts almost as much as education and experience.
houda
Employers do want your personality and your brain but you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
When the hive raises questions regarding interviews, it is usually with regards to interview/professional faux-pas rather than fashion rules.
In this case, although I love my comfortable A-line and full-skirted dresses, I would still go for something less comfortable such as a sheath dress, at least during interview phase. Once I have the job, I can show my personal style a bit more within office culture.
anon
lol
anon +45
West Coast — quite likely yes. I work in high tech, but I’ve worked with in-house counsel a lot, & I do have a few lawyer friends. All are far more business casual than what’s presented as “standard issue” on this blog. It’s really a West Coast thing. Of course, interviews are always a notch more dressy than everyday work wear, but still, here, you could risk looking like a n00b college recruit if you go into an interview wearing a matchy-matchy suit to an interview. A classic sheath dress & a coordinating jacket says “professional” without saying “not much experience/just in moved from NYC” in LA, SF, & Seattle.
Or to be more blunt: http://theoatmeal.com/pl/minor_differences5/suit
Anonymous
It may be true in other professions that you can be overdressed in a suit but in large law firms (which is what the OP is asking about) that is totally the norm, even in Silicon Valley. I’d say 95% or more of our candidates wear a traditional skirt or pants suit. Actually I’m not sure I can recall ever interviewing someone who didn’t wear a traditional suit. That’s not to say you can’t get away with this dress + blazer thing, but you will definitely NOT be overdressed or look like you’re trying to hard in a traditional suit.
k-padi
Having interviewed attorneys for a large-ish Silicon Valley IP office, I would say all but one woman wore a basic black, navy, or gray suit. Some suits were better than others bit I didn’t ding them for that. It was more “Dresses appropriately?” “Check.”
The one woman who didn’t wear a suit was an old friend of the hiring partner. She wore a wrap dress and a non- matching jacket. She was guaranteed the job anyway so it didn’t really matter. But her outfit did raise a few questions. It might not have ruined her chances if she wasnt guaranteed the job but it wasn’t a good thing either.
Anonymous
As long as they’re from the same suiting line I see no problem with it.
A professional woman
As long as the colors are professional (stick with navy, black, or gray), the dress is around knee length, and the pieces are tailored match, I say yes, definitely. Personally, I think it can look better than a regular suit. I work in an East Coast office of an LA based BigLaw firm and that is 100% acceptable . I have looked askance at interview attire in the past, but only when the person looked sloppy or inappropriate (e.g., skirt too short, blouse not ironed).
roses
I interviewed for my current job (at a biglaw firm) while wearing a Theory sheath dress and matching suit jacket – so yes!
Cat
Totally fine (East coast biglaw)
Lisa
In California? I don’t know law, but in tech? It would be if anything too formal:).
Anon
I can’t imagine that this would ever be considered less formal than a skirt with a jacket (assuming proper material, matching, proper length, etc etc etc that are all issues for any suit). I think it looks more formal, personally. And I don’t think it’s common for interviewees to remove their blazer while being interviewed, so I wouldn’t worry about sleeves.
lawyerdoll
I also think the a sheath dress with a matching jacket looks more formal. I never heard of it being considered less formal until I saw this thread….
Anonymous Associate
No. I am in West Coast big law, regularly interview candidates, and I would think it is weird if someone wore this to an interview. The goal of dressing for an interview should be to wear nothing that is going to distract your interviewer. So you go very conservative. For example, I had a recent interviewee wear a blazer and skirt instead of a suit, and didn’t wear hose. Not OK because it distracted me from what she was saying (plus I thought she had poor judgment). The same story about someone who wore a bright orange shell under her suit.
Not that this dress/blazer doesn’t look nice. This sort of things for a business meeting? Probably, as long as it is not with a conservative client. I definitely wouldn’t wear this with my Asian clients. Depo? Sure. Court? I wouldn’t risk it in federal court (or really even state court), given how weird judges can be about women’s attire.
Side note-tights are not OK for interviews in my book.
Diana Barry
What??? You make an interviewee suffer because she wore orange? That is WEIRD. I always gave interviewees who wore shirts that weren’t the regular white button-down extra points. :)
Anonymous Associate
I wouldn’t say I made her “suffer.” I still gave her a good review, and we ended up giving her an offer. I just think it is inappropriate for an interview.
MollySolverson
You dinged someone for wearing an orange shirt under an otherwise appropriate interview suit? That strikes me as a bit harsh. I guess this is a lesson to always err on the conservative side, because you just never know what matters to some folks.
To the OP, in my experience at East Coast biglaw firms, the dress/blazer combo is a bit unusual (blazer + pants or skirt is far more common) but perfectly appropriate as long as the pieces are part of a matching suit.
AnonLawMom
Yikes. You’re brutal.
Anon
I never want to work for you.
anon
same here. I’d consider not getting that job a bullet dodged.
Anonymous
You couldn’t focus on what an interviewee said because she wore orange? You are the problem.
Anonymous Associate
I expect interviewees to wear something that they think would be appropriate to wear to court. A bright orange shell is not appropriate to wear to court, at least the federal courts that the vast majority of attorneys at my firm practice in. I was definitely distracted by my thinking “that isn’t appropriate to wear to court.” But it didn’t otherwise impact my review of her. I just don’t get why there is something wrong with dressing conservatively for an interview-it’s just not the time to stand out. Once you an in an office? Sure, wear bright colors and awesome heels to your heart’s content. I sure do.
Bonnie
I practice in federal court and wear bright colors all the time. None of the judges have ever had a problem with it and some have actually complimented my style.
Anonymous Associate
Good for you. I would never ever let a more junior on my team go to court like that because the risk. Not because I don’t think it looks completely fine. I do. I like bright colors. But I don’t get why the risk is worth it to make some sort of fashion statement.
anon-oh-no
Im a partner in a biglaw firm and have been practicing almost 15 years. I wear bright blouses, dress suits etc to federal court all the time.
Anon
A bright color isn’t a “fashion statement”. And, do men ever wear different colored ties? Shirts? Patterns on their suits? Would you judge them if they strayed from a more conservative blue, yellow or red tie? What if it had stripes with purple or orange or green? Would you think poorly of them? I’m going to go on a limb and assume the answer is no. You’re not helping anyone with your one-sided, judgmental stance. I’m sorry, but wake up.
… and even if the answer is yes, you’re still way off base.
Anonymous
An interview is not the time to stand out? Certainly not as weird, but plenty of people reach for an accessory or other small touch (like an unusual color for a shirt worn under a jacket) in order to stand out a bit.
Anon
Anonymous Associate, I think you left out the critical part of a sentence. I’ll fix it for you(in all caps) –
“The goal of dressing for an interview should be to wear nothing that is going to distract your interviewer BECAUSE IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR AN INTERVIEW SETTING”.
Wearing an otherwise appropriate orange shirt is fine. I hate orange. In fact, I hate most bright colors. However, an interviewee can wear whatever color top she wants as long as the cut/style are interview-appropriate (orange silk shell good, orange halter top bad).
I mean, seriously. People don’t have to fit into my personal style definition in order to pass muster. They just have to fit into the definition of appropriate interview attire.
Senior Attorney
Can’t imagine there is anybody on the West Coast who really believes this.
I think Orange Top Interviewee dodged a bullet by (presumably) not getting an offer at your firm.
And dude! Have you been to state court lately? Swear to God, if the lawyers are wearing pants instead of leggings, it’s a red-letter day…
AEK
Yup. At the state court in Chicago I saw lots of lawyers who looked like they were headed to the gym, a nightclub, or maybe golfing. The relative matchiness of suiting separates is not really part of the conversation!
Anonymous Associate
I practice in federal court, so this could be where the difference arises. I have seen female attorneys reprimanded for wearing peep toes, and wearing “too revealing” of a shirt (when the shirt came right below her collar bones).
Kim
It actually doesn’t sound like you ever go to court. Once you are doing the real work, not just supporting a Biglaw partner, you won’t be so concerned with trivialities.
Anonymous Associate
I LOLed at this. Why take the risk when going to court? I really don’t get it!
I have seen a female partner I work with be asked to leave the courtroom because she her shirt was too low cut (and it came right below her collarbones!). Her shirt was honestly completely fine. And my opposing counsel was once asked to leave the courtroom because she was wearing open-toed shoes (really, just peep toes). Admittedly, both of those incidents were NOT in California courts, but were in fairly rural federal courthouses. But still….why the risk?! It’s not a “triviality” when you can’t do an oral argument in court because you really wanted to wear your peep-toe pumps.
Also, I do real work. You know what? So do the associates that I manage. No need to start insulting my practice and my colleagues’ practice. And if you define “real work” as being in court, you don’t really understand litigation. A lot of real work comes from people at all levels on a team, including paralegals.
Bonnie
Why take the risk? Because I am not a drone.
Tunnel
+1. I still don’t believe you have ever been inside Federal Court.
lucy stone
Do you practice in Utah or somewhere there is a huge religious group that is very modest? I am boggled by this.
Anonymous
I don’t believe this is true. Collar bones? Nope. Not true.
West coast lawyer
Hahahaha, exactly! I’ve seen lawyers I thought were defendants because of how they’re dressed and I would bet the judge never even noticed. Of course that’s criminal, and I’m only there about once a month, but I’ve been to most state courts within a day’s drive and almost always been the most formal (exception being one actual defendant who showed up in a (very old) tux compete with pocket square! I heard him say to presumably his attorney, “what, it’s a suit!”)
I have not been to federal court and am not likely to in my current career track. If I were to do so, I would probably err on the side of super formal, so in that respect I agree with the stick up her you know what re peep toes and bright colors.
In civil, while most attorneys know how to dress, more or less, there’s always the outliers and they are not looked upon fondly. I have heard judges reprimand attorneys for not quite but too close to flip flops, Bermuda – style “formal” shorts (so many things wrong with that phrase!) A t-shirt with logo over slacks, and this weird mumu dress thing that had an interesting keyhole in the back perfectly located to show much of her very obvious bra strap. But I’ve seen a lot that didn’t get a mention either.
Also, I almost always refuse to wear nylons and I’m pale as the belly of a fish, so there!
Anon
Since when is wearing orange poor judgement? That’s somewhat crazy.
BankrAtty
Actually, career services at my law school advised against wearing bright colors (even under a conservative suit) not only for interviews but for law firm summers, as well. In fact, I vividly remember a professor telling a story about a summer associate who wasn’t taken to a hearing because she was wearing a hot pink blouse with her suit. “Neutral colored blouses only” was the rule. I thought it was silly, but nevertheless…
Anon
Not in law, west coast high tech. The objective of dressing up for an interview is to show your interest in the interview and respect the process. I have seen many men come in dress pants and shirts (no full suits) and women in skirts/pants and blouses and I never thought much about it. I would be totally okay if women show up in sheath dress (or any appropriate dress) without a blazer. It would bother me if some one shows up in jeans, t-shirts , shorts, low neckline, too much make up etc. We had a person showed up in jeans and sneakers and all of us who interviewed him were not okay with it.
Kontraktor
Honestly if somebody is this judgey and has tastes this particular, they would probably ding anybody for something no matter what (hose too brown? dress not a shapeless sack therefore sk@nky? shoes were black patent instead of black matte?).
mascot
I got dinged in a lateral interview for not wearing a traditional neutral colored shirt under my suit. Ultimately got the job (and now understand that this particular partner is known for his fixed stance on style). So yes, lesson learned. Some lawyers think you need to look as boring as possible to be acceptable to clients.
Wanderlust
Mascot, were you, by any chance, wearing… an orange shirt?
mascot
No, but perhaps I should have now that I know of this partner’s strong allegiance to a school with orange as one of its colors.
See also
No hose was distracting? I met with a biglaw practice head and other top partners with no hose–THEY didn’t seem to have a problem.
Anonymous Associate
Female attorneys don’t tend to wear pantyhose to the OFFICE, which would explain why the partners you met were not wearing them. But this is about INTERVIEWS. I am shocked by the attitude of women here about being formal for interviews and other formal business settings.
Anonymous
Everyone here is on board with being formal!!! Everyone. The rest of us just think that actually an orange silk blouse is formal.
Scully
Surprised to hear because I clerked in federal court and work in East Coast Biglaw and have never worn pantyhose. I wore a suit skirt without pantyhose for all my OCI and clerkship interviews. It’s kind of out-of-touch to require them out here, so I’m surprised to hear the West Coast is so draconian. Can’t speak to more rural courts. No ban on bright colors in court either. I’ve even seen suit seperates (gasp!) at arraignments; the judge did not remark. For my own rules, I still draw the line at no peep-toes for court or interviews, but I’ve seen it done.
National_Anthem
The west coast is not that Draconian…. just some offices, apparently.
Kim
Were you a HALL MONITOR in junior high by ANY CHANCE?
Anonymous
I’ve learned a lot on this blog about how some people make decisions about reliability and competence based on things I consider trivial (ie: wearing a watch, even if you look at your phone or computer screen to see what time it is, shows “attention t detail”). These things make my head spin and my eyes roll. I’m glad to see some people taking a stand against an issue that fits in that category, even if it does seem a bit hypocritical of the blog in general.
That said, I wonder if the people writing ad hominem at the anti-orange interviewer (can’t be in Cali, has never been in court, lied about collarbones, etc) have stopped to think what a big and diverse state California is. There is a lot more to it than the cities on the coast, and some parts are very rural.
Emm
I wear a black sheath dress with a light gray blazer all the time for biglaw events and court. I’m in the West (but not California). Never occurred to me that I might not be “formal” enough. How is a dress with a jacket less formal than a skirt, shirt, and jacket? To me, a dress is even more formal. Guess I’ve been wrong this whole time!
Anonymous
Because if they don’t match, it’s in no way a suit. I love the dress and jacket look, but it’s not a suit unless they match perfectly. And anything that’s not a suit is by definition less formal than a suit.
Diana Barry
+1, if the pieces match then they are a suit. I wouldn’t wear it to court but other courts are less formal than here.
Stephanie
I do this all the time, also (East Coast (PA/NJ), small firm, old-school bar where everyone knows each other). I clerked here, and that’s what I wore then, too. I’m a fan of color and I’m not the only female attorney here who goes this route.
Anonymous
That’s not a suit. A suit is matching pieces in the same color and fabric. I would wear a dress suit , but not a dress and a non-matching blazer to court. That’s called separates.
Sadie
I wore a sheath and suit jacket to my (government law office) interview and got the job. I wore the same one to my initial interview and the callback.
I work in state court on the west coast, I’m in court probably 3/5 days a week. non-suited jackets/skirt or dress/jacket (aka separates) are fine for everything but trial here, in trial you wear a suit. Men are the same way, they’ll wear slacks and a sport coat for other appearances (hearings, motions, etc) but for trial you wear a suit.
Flying Squirrel
I think it really depends on the field and employer. For certain government agencies (and this is in DC), I’ve found a dress with a contrasting blazer combo to be fine as well. It depends on the position and agency, though, of course.
I’m not a lawyer, but it’s crazy to me that a suiting sheath + matching blazer combo would not be okay. Maybe that’s part of why I’m not a BigLaw lawyer, though ;)
Anonymous 2L
Flying Squirrel, I realize this was awhile ago, but would any of those DC agencies happen to be DOJ, DOI, HHS, &/or OSC? Also interviewing with Atty Gen/DA’s offices. I have 2L interviews with them w/in the month. I already have a black Theory suit/skirt that looked great for OCI, but I broke my foot halfway through the semester and the pounds crept on from inactivity (Christmas break didn’t help, either). My suit fit well before, but definitely does not now, so obviously wearing an ill-fitting suit is out. I found a black sheath dress that looks great on – would the matching blazer be appropriate? Thanks! (I know this was from ages ago, so nbd if no reply.)
AIMS
I think the answer basically depends on what the writer means by “Theory sheath dress and jacket” – if it’s two matching pieces, wear it; if it’s a non-matching jacket, don’t wear it.
posey
the fact that a skirt suit and a matching dress + jacket could be considered two different things has never once occurred to me.
Parfait
Me neither! This is why I love this blog sometimes. It’s a peek into a foreign culture.
Signed,
wearing yet another Boden jersey dress at my tech job
Ellen
I agree. It depend’s. There are color’s that are just not accepteable for an interview. You do NOT want to have the person interviewing you stareing at your clotheing! Be conservative, and do NOT wear any kind of dress (sheathe or otherwise) that is not very conservative. You want to have the men lookeing you directley in the eye’s, but never at the boobie’s or the bodice. FOOEY!
k-padi
I am wondering if the letter writer is worried about wearing the same suit to the callback that she wore for OCI.
If so, it is perfectly appropriate to re-wear the same suit. Unless you go to court regularly, most people out here only own one suit. No one cares.
Just iron the pants or skirt, wear a different shell, and wear your most basic/classic accessories. Be sure to have shoes you can walk in. It isn’t unusual to walk four blocks to lunch during the interview.
Julia S.
Speaking of shoes, any idea what to do when the only heels I can wear comfortably are boots? I love wearing dresses and skirts, but my feet are killing me just on the walk from the garage to my office, and I can hardly walk. I’ve tried most of the “comfort” brands listed in other posts, no luck. I saw a podiatrist, and he said I have a little bone thing on my pinky toe but it wasn’t worth the surgery – just don’t wear heels! Yeah right – any ideas?
Oh, and I’d never wear a brightly colored shell to an interview. You should be far more conservative than your interviewers, but I’m NYC old school. Save it for the office. Same with hose/no hose. And no peep toes.
Anonymous
Definitely. I have worn my Theory sheath and Theory blazer for court, and I think it would be great in an interview. I’ll just second Kat’s advice re the length (on me, the dress is just barely long enough, but I am tall). Also her note re sleeveless is good. You might want to take your jacket off at lunch/dinner, and I personally would not feel comfortable being sleeveless in an interview.
(I’m at a West Coast firm based that is based on the East Coast.)
Magdeline
I did, and I got the job. I wore the beige Banana Republic version of Kate Middleton’s Reiss dress with a black blazer. (This was for my first real- meaning full-time, not doc review- job out of law school.) I love love love dresses, and I think that it really helps to feel comfortable and confident.
ETA: Oh, and I’m in LA.
Anonymous Associate
I think that Corporette is usually a good source of advice on fashion for professional women. The idea of the thread was not a bad one-to get a sense of when a dress/jacket is appropriate attire.
I refuse to respond any further to the other commenters petty comments and insults. If you want to wear a dress and jacket for a biglaw interview, then do it. Does wearing something outside the norm make you feel better and not like a “drone”? OK, good for you. My opinion was that this is not appropriate for a big law interview, and a traditional suit and shirt in a traditional color is the safer option (for both men and women). There is no need to insult others who think that think more formality is required in certain situations. If anything, this thread should serve to inform you that formality-respecting people like us are out there.
Anonymous
A colored shirt is not informal. You are just wrong.
Anonymous Associate
You know, I used the wrong word there. Thanks for picking at it!
You are right that a neon shirt is not necessarily less “formal.” But it sure is less traditional and less conservative. And some people feel that traditional/conservative apparel is what is appropriate for an interview. I would have thought most people would have thought that this, but this thread is proving that belief wrong. So if you disagree, go ahead and wear your hot pink shell to an interview or court.
Anonymous
I will ! And do ! And how about in light of the overwhelming determination that you are wrong, you consider not counting it as a negative if interviewees wear normal clothes?!? Maybe ?!!?!???
peasy
I’ve worked for big law in SF and Silicon Valley for the past 5 years. I wouldn’t even notice if a candidate had this on instead of a suit, assuming neutral typical interview colors (if bright colors, I might notice the dress more and how it is not a standard suit).
Sarah
People who hyperfocus on interview attire are working out other issues by displacement, and it ain’t pretty. Having interviewed potential hires in very formal and very casual East Coast Biglaw offices as well as for federal clerkships, I wouldn’t look twice at a woman in a matching dress + jacket. And while I still feel weird in a skirt suit without hose, realistically, no one wears it anymore, so unless there’s something odd going on with your legs, hose is just not mandatory. I would draw the line at wearing boots with it, though, no matter how good they look.
Anonymous
Vault.com says Yes! http://www.vault.com/blog/vaults-law-blog-legal-careers-and-industry-news/on-campus-interview-style-simplified/
E
I think it’s crazy to say pants suits are becoming “more acceptable” they are just as acceptable as skirt suits.
Anonymous
WOW! And this entire line of comments is why I left BigLaw and Litigation. I interviewed for my (current) sweet, in-house gig in a navy, cotton Banana Republic pants suit with a blue and pink cotton t-shirt underneath. Granted, you couldn’t tell it was a t-shirt, but it certainly wasn’t a classic white button down, or a black shell. I looked 100% professional, and capable. And got the offer. Here I sit in my biz-casual office not giving 2 dambs about potentially being kicked off the team by a pretentious partner, or being kicked out of court by a judge that doesn’t respect a peep-toe.
And we wonder why women have a hard time thriving in the corporate and legal worlds. We expect young professional women to know all the rules of the game, and punish them when they don’t (by HARSHLY JUDGING them in interviews). What we should be doing is picking their brains for new ideas, instead we criticize their wardrobes; as if they have the salaries, experience, and knowledge to make the best fashion choices all the time. If 10 professional women can’t agree on whether a sheath dress is appropriate to wear to an interview imaging the conflicting info that must be circulating throughout law schools. Why not choose to mentor them in the law (or whatever) and show them the fashion ropes. Seeing your newly hired associate go from clumsy first year with an ill-fitting jacket who doesn’t know how to file a motion to a sharp, tailored mid-level would be so much more rewarding.
Anonymous
I am a seasoned trial attorney in the deep south, checking out this blog because I will soon start a 2 week jury trial in federal court, for the first time in about 5 years. When I started out, most rural jurors “ain’t never seen no girl lawyers” and, obviously, told me so. There was certainly no one to ask about appropriate clothing! For many years, two of my staple courtroom outfits were a navy long-sleeved, knee-length coat dress, and a navy silk Talbots sheath with matching blazer. Juror feedback was always complimentary.
I am now getting outfits ready for my upcoming trial, and I am considering a Boss black sheath with a hip-length non-matching blazer; either in black and white or charcoal gray, together with black low-heeled pumps and pearls. Just something to break up the parade of black skirt suits. The trusty navy silk is long gone, and the black sheath and matching black blazer make me look old, tired and drawn. (think undertaker) The Judge will not have a problem with this choice, it’s the expectations of the jury that I am concerned with. I would welcome feedback.