Where to wear | Interviews for creative-types [Greatest Hits 2010]

[Greatest Hits 2010: Each day this week, I will be reposting a popular post from the past. This was first published July 14, 2010. See original post and comments here.]

A few weeks back, my friend T posed this question in a comment:

I would love to know what I should wear for graphic design/artist interviews. Entire suits are overkill for us. What do you suggest?

T brings up a good question -- not all business clothes are right for all businesses.  Not all interviews are alike.  We recently hired a new graphic design intern here at work, and let's face it...presentation matters in this situation, especially in such a visual job.

There is a slight caveat here.  While, yes, we don't want people judging us solely based on appearance, it can affect an interview, both positively and negatively.  And that's just the same outfit.  The first thing to ask yourself is: what is my design/creative philosophy?  Are you a minimalist that lets the content and elements speak for themselves?  Do you push the limits of what's acceptable and hope it pays off?  Are you an unabashed girlie girl designer? Are you great at dealing with in-house clients for corporate design work?

A few general rules still apply to job interviews, especially those for in-house design jobs, in which a corporate HR person will probably be involved in the process (their opinion does count in those cases).

• Keep it covered.  Skirts and dresses should be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.  Sleeveless looks should still be demure, and keep that neckline in check.
• If you are currently in a creative job, try something you would wear to the most formal day on your job.  Chances are it's still not a suit.
• Separates (blazer + pants or skirt that don't match) are your friends. 
• Depending on your style, use accessories to show your creative bent.

Since creatives are such a diverse bunch, here are some looks I found for each of the different design styles mentioned above.

The Minimalist
Minimal does not equal boring.  The key to a minimalist creative look is fit and cut.  Have fun with proportions.  I love this top with a narrow trouser, white asymmetrical blazer and some architecturally inspired heels. Minimalists can also go with mens-inspired pieces, such as a trousers and a vest (no jacket). 
I had a hard time finding looks at retail sites for this one, but think Jil Sander for inspiration...beautiful cuts and drapes with minimal frill.

The Experimentalist
Mix prints and graphics for an out-of-the-box look.  The blazer adds polish.  I would aim for a slightly longer skirt.

Urban Outfitters

The Girlie Girl
Have some fun with colors and accessories here.  I love the brightness of this look, but might go with a shorter jacket so it doesn't look like you should be taking the coat off when you go indoors.

Ann Taylor Loft

The Corporate Designer
This is the most similar to the traditional office interview look.  Try mixing a blazer with fun details with trousers or a pencil skirt.  Throw in some playful shoes and accessories.  I like this blazer, too.

Banana Republic

Do you have a creative, a traditional, or other kind of job? What did you wear for your interview?

Where to Wear | Casual work outing

Summertime is perfect for picnics; our organization has one every year at the park down the street.  It's held on a Friday, so that we can dress more casually, and there are often activities that involve physical movement (a few years back we had an Olympics, the same week that The Office did. The year before I started, it was Survivor-themed, just like The Office.  Both times the picnic happened right before the TV show).  The Casual Friday dress code is even more relaxed for that one day of the year, with shorts, sandals, and tees on the acceptable list.

But what if the dress code isn't relaxed at all for a social outing? What if it's not on a Casual Friday?  Even when allowed, you should be aware that casual for the office does not mean random weekend wear. Steer clear of torn jeans, skimpy tanks, and rubber flip flops.

For our office picnic this year I wore a ruffled plaid short-sleeve button-up, cuffed skinny jeans, and my flat black sandals.  It was perfect for the barbecue and sitting at a picnic table (and I helped set up...helloooo social committee).

There is still a good month's worth of summer left, so here are some ideas on what to wear for more casual work outings.

I love this look so much I'd wear it anyday, not just for work.

Where to Wear | Casual work outing 1 by thenewprofessional featuring Old Navy

I featured this striped dress last month, and I still love it (have I mentioned it's only $13?).  Here are two ways to style it: tough and girly.

Where to Wear | Casual Office Outing 2 by thenewprofessional featuring GAP dresses

Does your office have an annual picnic or other casual outing? What's the dress code like for that occasion?

Where to wear | Interviews for creative-types

A few weeks back, my friend T posed this question in a comment:

I would love to know what I should wear for graphic design/artist interviews. Entire suits are overkill for us. What do you suggest?

T brings up a good question -- not all business clothes are right for all businesses.  Not all interviews are alike.  We recently hired a new graphic design intern here at work, and let's face it...presentation matters in this situation, especially in such a visual job.

There is a slight caveat here.  While, yes, we don't want people judging us solely based on appearance, it can affect an interview, both positively and negatively.  And that's just the same outfit.  The first thing to ask yourself is: what is my design/creative philosophy?  Are you a minimalist that lets the content and elements speak for themselves?  Do you push the limits of what's acceptable and hope it pays off?  Are you an unabashed girlie girl designer? Are you great at dealing with in-house clients for corporate design work?

A few general rules still apply to job interviews, especially those for in-house design jobs, in which a corporate HR person will probably be involved in the process (their opinion does count in those cases).

• Keep it covered.  Skirts and dresses should be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.  Sleeveless looks should still be demure, and keep that neckline in check.
• If you are currently in a creative job, try something you would wear to the most formal day on your job.  Chances are it's still not a suit.
• Separates (blazer + pants or skirt that don't match) are your friends. 
• Depending on your style, use accessories to show your creative bent.

Since creatives are such a diverse bunch, here are some looks I found for each of the different design styles mentioned above.

The Minimalist
Minimal does not equal boring.  The key to a minimalist creative look is fit and cut.  Have fun with proportions.  I love this top with a narrow trouser, white asymmetrical blazer and some architecturally inspired heels. Minimalists can also go with mens-inspired pieces, such as a trousers and a vest (no jacket). 
I had a hard time finding looks at retail sites for this one, but think Jil Sander for inspiration...beautiful cuts and drapes with minimal frill.

The Experimentalist
Mix prints and graphics for an out-of-the-box look.  The blazer adds polish.  I would aim for a slightly longer skirt.

Urban Outfitters

The Girlie Girl
Have some fun with colors and accessories here.  I love the brightness of this look, but might go with a shorter jacket so it doesn't look like you should be taking the coat off when you go indoors.

Ann Taylor Loft

The Corporate Designer
This is the most similar to the traditional office interview look.  Try mixing a blazer with fun details with trousers or a pencil skirt.  Throw in some playful shoes and accessories.  I like this blazer, too.

Banana Republic

Do you have a creative, a traditional, or other kind of job? What did you wear for your interview?

Freakin' A, it's Friday

Somehow I end up in the same place every Friday, and that place is Incredulous Island. I take weekends off from the blog, and just realized that I've never posted a Friday outfit before. This is my first job where I've had casual Friday. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning but 2.5 years in, I think I have some idea. Here are a few of the Friday outfits I haven't posted, just for fun.

Shirt: Swapped - 2010; Necklaces: DIY and old rings on a random chain; Jeans: Old Navy - 2010 - $12; Shoes: Nina (from Ross) - 2009 - $16

Blazer: Gap - 2006 - $40; Shirt: Gottschalks - 2009 - $12; Jeans: I Generation (from Renew Denim) - 2009 - $30; Shoes: Calvin Klein (from Off Broadway Shoes) - 2007 - $70

Cardigan: Ross - 2009 - $12; Necklacec: DIY gray seed beads on stretch magic thread; Black tank: Old Navy - gift; Gray tank: Target - 2009 - $8; Jeans: Rockabilly (from Renew Denim) - 2010 - $40; Shoes: Blake Scott (from DSW) - 2010 - $40

Ok, so that last outfit was actually worn on a Thursday, but would probably fly for a casual Friday in a more professional office than mine.  As you might be able to tell, I love the bootcut/trouser jeans and pointy-toed heel combo...comfy and chic.  I get my jeans mostly from Old Navy, but do have a few more "designer" pairs (so the store says) from a denim boutique that specializes in providing designer duds for $99 and under (think like a TJ Maxx -- buying designer overstock -- but just jeans, and an adorable boutique environment).  I'm talking Paige, Sevens, Rock & Republics, J Brand, etc.  Those are mainly the $79-$99 ones, so I stick to the sample side, which is how I snagged the I Generation and Rockabilly jeans.  If you are anywhere near Davis, California, and like denim, I'd encourage you to check them out (for what it's worth, I am not affiliated with the store in any way, just a very happy repeat customer).  I have a few other pairs from them, too, since they are actually on my block.  Shopping diets suck when you walk past your favorite store on the way to your car every morning.

What do you wear on casual Fridays?  Are you a designer denim fan or will any ol' jean do?

Where to Wear | It's all about the presentation

So I've been thinking about this post for a while and every time I do, I think of Iron Chef (or Iron Chef America, since that's what's on more often nowadays).  It's not at all food-related, but it's the principle that when two dishes are about the same quality, the presentation is what puts the winner on top.  I'm making my first conference presentation today at a national conference for a professional group that I'm a member of.  I've been preparing content for months now, honing my slides, and practicing my lines.  But I've also been planning what I'm going to wear.

As a young professional, I've often been mistaken for a student intern or recent college grad*.  The last time this happened to me was just a few months ago on my 26th birthday, by a new colleague on her first day of work.  Honest mistake--I was wearing a fun kelly green A-line dress, black tights, and jeweled flats since it was my special day.  The same day, other coworkers that had known me for a while took guesses on the other end of the spectrum.  29?  30?  I couldn't possibly be younger than 29.  WHAT? (That last one is a direct quote from my CEO.) *Not that it's a bad thing to be mistaken for a student or recent grad. It's just that those days feel so far behind me.

Building up to this day I knew I definitely did not want people up looking at me thinking "What's that intern doing up there?"  But what is appropriate garb for a presenter at a national conference? I made it my goal to finally buy myself a black suit.  It had been on my wish list for years, but I knew which one I wanted (Banana Republic lightweight wool) and it was pricey.  So I was saving the purchase for a really special occasion.  And this is it. I took the plunge on Superbowl Sunday (before we watched the game, not in lieu of), headed down to BR on a weekend when all their regular priced merchandise was 25% off.  You didn't think I'd pay full price, did you?  Tsk tsk.

I had the suit, now what?  A black jacket and black pants, black hair...that's a lot of black.  And I am not a head-to-toe black kind of dresser.  So the week after, I went and bought myself a pair of red pumps (also a wish list veteran).

But what to wear underneath?  That had always been my crux.  A buttoned blouse would look too corporate (I'm in a pretty creative field).  A slinky cami too suggestive.  I came to Albuquerque with plenty of options in tow.  Don't want to bore you so here is the quick version.

 

Suit: Banana Republic - 2010 - $300; Gray jeweled shirt - JC Penney - 2009 - $7;
Green neck-tie shirt - Ann Taylor Loft - 2005 - $12

 

Yellow ruffle shirt - Ann Taylor Loft - 2007 - $20; Floral ruffled blouse - Gottschalks - 2009 - $12

And here is the winner:

 

White studded shirt: Calvin Klein outlet - 2009 - $30

A detailed shot of the shoes.  They're a smooth leather in a not-too-bright red.  Perfect with jeans or slacks.  Inside are some Dr. Scholl's For Her High Heel Insoles.  They make my feet happy (no, they're not paying me to say that).  Try some if you wear heels all day, especially if they're 3" or higher.

 

Blake Scott (from Off Broadway Shoes) - 2010 - $40

What's your favorite way to style a classic black suit?