I will be helping D shop for suit(s) and shoes in the next couple of weeks. I would really appreciate any advice about what to get, what not to get, and especially where to shop.
Check out the Women’s Interview Clothing / Women’s Interview Attire threads over in the SDN premed forums.
The SDN thread is full of wonderful advice.
Basically there are 2 choices–
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a pants or skirt suit in conservative (dark) colors. Solid colors are safer. Patterns are iffy.
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a dress suit (tailored sheath dress with matching long sleeve jacket) in conservative (dark) colors. This is a great option for shorter or busty women.
Some thoughts–
Make sure that all pieces of the suit are from the same line by the same designer/manufacturer. All blacks are not the same color. Ditto for navy and charcoal.
Whatever your D decides on, have it altered/tailored to fit. An expensive suit that doesn’t fit well looks unprofessional. A well-fitted inexpensive suit will make a better impression.
Don’t have the pants hemmed until she has bought her shoes. She needs to be wearing her interview shoes when the hem is marked. Ditto for the skirt if it needs to be lengthened/shortened.
Shoes--
Plain pumps. Black for a black or charcoal suit. Navy or oxblood (dark maroon) for a navy suit.
If you D is tall and is wearing slacks, she can wear flats. Plain shoe in same colors as above.
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Since D has been looking for interview suits for residency and I've been checking out suits for her, I'd suggest looking at the following
Nordstrom (Anniversary sale is on through tomorrow. D2 is ordering a dress suit to try.)
Dillards
Macys
Ann Taylor
Banana Republic (tell the sales clerk it's for a first job interview as a new college grad. They used to give a 15% discount.)
J. Crew
Express (but avoid trendy styles)
Btw, you might try looking at better second hand shops. You can often find really expensive labels for a fraction of the price of new. Take it to a tailor for alterations and you've got yourself a bargain.
And D2's BFF bought her residency interview suit at a discount chain (TJ Maxx, Steinmart)--so those might be worth a look.
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Tips and hints:
Use a panty-liner folded over the underarm seam as garment shield in the suit jacket if your D is wearing a sleeveless shell so you don't have to dry clean the suit after each wearing.
A carry-on garment bag is worthwhile investment. (D1 had her luggage--with her suit!-- end up in the wrong city on one of her residency interview trips.)
Some girls will take a pair of comfy shoes to wear for the campus tours.
Be sure to break in new shoes BEFORE interview day. Blisters are no fun! Thank you so much for taking time to write all that @WayOutWestMom. It is very helpful. I have never heard of the panty-liner idea–it’s great!
Would you suggest wool only for the suit pieces, or would a polyester/wool blend look nice enough? I don’t want it to look cheap, but we are on a budget, to say the least. She will definitely have it altered to fit.
Also, she got a nice purse for her birthday that she wants to use as her “interview purse”. It’s black… Does that mean she can’t wear navy? She looks much better in navy because of her coloring than she does in black.
I haven’t been in the workforce for 20 years, and when I was, I wore scrubs, so I feel completely at a loss. Thank you for all your help.
There are jokes on the interview trail that all the applicants look like funeral directors, all in the same black suits. My daughter opted for navy, slacks, skirt and jacket all by the same maker, as WOWM suggested. She lightened it up with her shirts, light blue and pale pink. Brooks Brothers have nice dress shirts that are no iron. Also agree with WOWM that having the garments tailored is a must. Dryel is nice to freshen up the clothing between interviews and is cheaper than dry cleaning. For the tour part of interviews, my daughter did have the flat shoes that could fold and be carried in her purse till she changed into them.
It’s important to make an effort to look professional, but you also want to look real, sincere and genuine. These are students we’re talking about. Most students can’t afford a perfectly polished look. A good fitting blazer and a pencil skirt or nice slacks is fine. A sensible hairstyle that looks professional. Well cared for fingernails, on the short side, neutral polish or naked…looks professional. No strong perfumes or products. Natural looking make-up. Whiten your smile.
You don’t have to look like a million bucks for a medical school interview…but your application does.
Worry more about what you want to say, what memorable talking points you can work into the conversation, Worry about asking intelligent questions, having a good handshake, making good eye contact and speaking with an equal measure of authority and humility. ACT like a doctor, have a strong CV…and you can wear a potato sack.
I wondered if changing shoes for the tour was acceptable. Great to know, @ CottonTales.
Navy with lighter colored shirts were just what I was thinking, so that’s a relief.
Any opinions on the purse? My mother taught me black with navy was always a no-go, but I do realize how long ago that was.
Hah! Yes, D is working on all the important stuff. Her mother is working on finding the clothes.
But thanks for the reality check @MaryGJ. 
Review some photos of young female doctors at medical conventions, speaking engagements, etc.
https://www.amwa-doc.org/students/leadership-3/
Sometimes Moms, though very well intentioned, are the blind leading the blind…in young women’s career fashion.
(No criticism meant, btw…I think it’s really lovely you’re trying to help! I’m just as bad…I’m forever picking things out for my kiddo that I just KNOW are fashionable and correct for her position…and I’m almost always wrong. LOL Just put yourself in her shoes. Think of the stuff your mom picked out for you!)
@Belle315, my daughter had a black purse. The days of shoes and purse matching were a thing of our generation. I don’t even think my daughter owned a purse until she went on the interview trail. She either had her backpack on campus, or a wristlet type thing for her phone, ID and debit card if going out somewhere. One thing she did find useful was to make notes about the interview either during, on a break or in the bathroom, or immediately after before she forgot details, names, etc.
Poly-wool is fine as long as it doesn’t have a shiny finish or coarse texture.
Is it a purse or more like a portfolio? If it’s the latter, then it really doesn’t matter.
I’d have her wear the color that is most flattering on her. I don’t know what to say about the purse. Could she stash it somewhere–like in her suitcase-- for the actual interview? For the campus tour, financial aid talk, and luncheon I don’t think anyone will notice or care.
Also with navy, she can wear a nude pump as well as the oxblood or navy. Navy blues are really, really hard to match.
Here’s the SDN thread for women’s interview clothing–
https://■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/threads/womens-interview-attire-4.1220512/
As for the panty shield idea–credit to Bloomsberg Businessweek.
This is all very, very helpful. Thank you!
@MaryGJ, I shudder to think about the things my mother picked out for me…
The problem is, asking D to find clothes to wear for an interview is like asking her to pick out her favorite dental work. I figure if I can at least have the ball rolling, she will let me know what she can tolerate, which is the best I am hoping for.
Plus, tbh, if I tell her that all this information comes from the knowledgeable moms at CC, she will believe it. If she thinks these are all just my ideas, forget it.
Hear you. D2 hates, hates, hates shopping. Her patience lasts about 15-20 minutes. She typically just grabs the first thing that comes to hand and if it fits, she’s done. And even if doesn’t fit, she’s done.
Your d needs to look neat, professional and put together.
Google business interview attire women images.
Both Ds toned down the severity of a black suit with small patterned, soft blouses or colorful shells (teal, blue, coral)
Have your daughter wear her entire outfit–suit, heels, hair, make -up-- around the house or out and about a bit to get used to the feel of it. She needs to own the look and feel comfortable wearing it.
Excellent advice has already been given. I would only add that at the time we let a department store employee help us and she was wonderful in tying together items that would mix and match for back to back interviews. The majority of items were from a brand a bit more pricey than planned but D wore the same outfits for residency interviews and has only had to add a couple of blouses as she interviews for fellowship. Everything still looks great. #moneywellspent #itneverends
Btw, better department stores will usually do alterations free or for a nominal fee. Ask when trying on the suit.
And some don'ts imported from the SDN thread--because people sometimes don't think---
no cleavage
skirt is long enough so you can sit without showing off your undies to everyone.
neutral colored bra & panties that don't show through the blouse, shell or dress (e.g. no black or hot pink bra under a white shirt)
visible bra straps should not a be a fashion statement
(You think this stuff would be a no-brainer, but, I dunno.... some of the dresses the girls were wearing while sitting on elevated stage at the most recent white coat I attended ....@-) )@Elleneast, I completely agree. My mom was a career businesswoman and a very smart dresser (and built like a model, lucky her). She taught me that a good, quality piece is always worth it. I’m prepared to spend what I need to, I just want to spend wisely.
@WayOutWestMom. Yikes is all I can say. Not good. Not good at all.
Quick Update–
I got an email from Nordstrom’s this week. Nordstrom’s will do alterations on women’s clothing NOT bought from their store.
Wow, that’s really great news. Thank you!
Maybe OT, but have her take her interview outfit in a garment bag on the plane. That can be her carryon, and everything else can be in her backpack, aka as a purse.
Yes, thanks @CottonTales. We got a nice carry-on garment bag just recently to replace an older one, so it should do nicely.
BUT…this makes me think about ironing. D does not know how to iron (hanging my head in shame as I type). Will she need to press her pants after they have been in the garment bag?
(Yikes, she leaves Sunday. Hate to spend our last day ironing, but I’ll do what I have to do)