Tell it how people dress where you are interviewing, and how the interview happens: the outfit part by part, the colours, the shoes and what to skip, in five career guides’ own words, with every point where they disagree.
Interview at a business casual office
Business casual, dressed upTailored trousers or a knee-length skirt or dress, a blouse or button-down, and a blazer or cardigan on top.
- Dress level
- Smart business casual
- Colours
- Navy, black, grey and other muted colours
- Shoes
- Clean closed-toe flats, loafers or low heels
Top
A button-down shirt or a blouse
- “Button-down shirt or blouse” — Indeed
- “Shirt or smart top – typically plain and either white, or pastel colours are most suitable” — Barclays LifeSkills
Trousers, skirt or dress
Black or navy dress trousers, or a knee-length skirt
Or a dress: knee-length or longer, with a blazer or a structured cardigan
On top
A blazer or a cardigan (the blazer is optional)
- “Cardigan or jacket (blazer is optional)” — Indeed
- “Depending on the workplace, a blazer or suit jacket may elevate your interview outfit as well.” — Coursera
- “Cardigan or jumper (round or V neck) – it’s best if these are plain, but can be light or dark coloured” — Barclays LifeSkills
Shoes
Clean closed-toe flats, loafers or low heels
Finishing
Simple jewelry; little or no perfume
- “Wear minimal jewelry” — Washington State University
- “Simple jewellery is acceptable” — Barclays LifeSkills
- “Too strong of a cologne or perfume can distract the hiring manager, and some people may have allergies to perfume or cologne.” — Indeed
Everything clean, pressed and well-fitting
- “Interview outfits should be clean, wrinkle-free, well-fitting, and professional.” — Coursera
- “Wear clothing that are clean, pressed and business-like.” — Washington State University
- “Ensure clothing is pressed and wrinkle-free.” — Indeed
- “Ensure your clothes are in good condition and not ripped or too faded” — Barclays LifeSkills
Colours
Navy, black, grey, white, beige, soft blue, burgundy or forest green, in solid colours or a subtle pattern
- “Good options include navy, black, gray, white, beige, soft blue, burgundy, forest green, and other muted or subtle tones that are easy to style and tend to look good both in person and on camera.” — Coursera
- “usually in dark or muted colours such as black, navy blue or grey” — Barclays LifeSkills
- “Stick with neutral or muted colors; neon and brights can be polarizing.” — The Muse
What to skip
Graphic tees, hoodies, shorts and athletic wear
Anything ripped, faded or worn
- “Ensure your clothes are in good condition and not ripped or too faded” — Barclays LifeSkills
- “If the company leans casual, choose clean, dark-wash jeans, but avoid rips or an ultra-tight fit.” — The Muse
Anything revealing: low-cut, sleeveless, very short, tight or sheer
- “Avoid sleeveless clothing, spaghetti straps, low-cut blouses, unbuttoned dress shirts or bare midriffs.” — Washington State University
- “Don’t wear anything too revealing” — Barclays LifeSkills
- “Clothing that is extremely low-cut, tight, short, transparent, or visibly worn can come across as unprofessional, and loud prints or excessive accessories may feel distracting.” — Coursera
Flip-flops and open sandals
Leggings worn as trousers
Loud prints and neon
A hat or a baseball cap
Where the guides disagree
How long a skirt
- “Skirts should be just above the knee when seated and not too tight.” — Washington State University
- “Just keep it knee-length or longer, and pair it with a blazer for a polished look.” — The Muse
- “Interview outfits for women and men typically consist of dress pants, slacks, chinos and knee-length or midi skirts, paired with button-up shirts or blouses and closed-toe shoes.” — Coursera
Facial piercings and tattoos
- “Wear minimal jewelry, take out any facial piercings and cover any visible tattoos.” — Washington State University
- “Many employers consider it acceptable to display tattoos in the workplace.” — Indeed
- “However, depending on the industry, you may want to research if tattoos are acceptable.” — Indeed
The rule the guides share: when you are not sure, dress one step up (Coursera, The Muse, Indeed, Barclays LifeSkills).
From Coursera, The Muse, Indeed, Washington State University’s career office and Barclays LifeSkills, quoted. Checked 2026-10-13. Ours: the five dress-code choices, which lines show for each, and the short line that sums up each quoted list.
Quick answer: dress one step above how people dress at the company. For a formal office, wear a suit. For a business casual office, tailored trousers or a knee-length skirt or dress with a blouse and a blazer or cardigan. For a casual or startup workplace, polished business casual, not their everyday clothes. If you don’t know, go formal. Everything clean and pressed, closed-toe shoes, muted colours.
How to use it
Pick how people dress where you are interviewing: formal, business casual, casual, creative, or I don’t know. Then say whether the interview is in person, on video or on site, and whether it is hot. The tool puts the outfit together part by part, from the top to the shoes, and shows the career guides’ own words under every line. Open Where the guides disagree for the points they do not agree on, such as jeans and sneakers. Every answer has its own link you can save or send.
Not sure how they dress? Look at the company’s website and social media, or ask. Coursera suggests “Calling or emailing your interview point of contact and asking them about the company’s dress code.” Barclays LifeSkills says the same: check the website and social media, or call HR or the recruiter.
What to wear for each dress code
| How they dress there | What to wear | The outfit | Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal (bank, law, corporate office) | A suit | A suit in a dark colour: the jacket with matching trousers or a skirt, a plain shirt or blouse, polished closed shoes. | Dark, polished closed shoes: pumps, flats, oxfords or loafers |
| Business casual office | Business casual, dressed up | Tailored trousers or a knee-length skirt or dress, a blouse or button-down, and a blazer or cardigan on top. | Clean closed-toe flats, loafers or low heels |
| Casual (startup, tech, shop floor) | Polished business casual | Smarter than the everyday casual there: chinos or tailored trousers, a smart top or sweater, clean closed shoes. | Clean closed-toe flats, loafers or low heels |
| Creative (design, fashion, media) | Polished, with personality | Neat and well cut, with room for one bolder colour or one statement piece that fits the place. | Clean closed-toe flats, loafers or low heels |
| I don’t know | Go formal | When you can’t find out, dress up: a suit, or a blazer with tailored trousers or a skirt. Ask the recruiter if you can. | Dark, polished closed shoes: pumps, flats, oxfords or loafers |
Each line is put together from Indeed, Coursera, The Muse, Barclays LifeSkills and Washington State University’s career office. The five dress-code choices and the short line for each are ours; the tool quotes the guides under every one.
The rule they share: dress one step up
Coursera: “Dress one step up from what those in the workplace environment wear.” Its example: where people wear jeans and T-shirts, your step up “might include a pair of non-denim pants and a tucked-in shirt”. Indeed: “Even if their dress code is casual, it may benefit you to look more professional than the employer requires.” The Muse: “When in doubt, dress up a notch.” And when you cannot find out at all, Barclays LifeSkills has a golden rule: “Go formal.”
What not to wear to an interview
- Graphic tees, hoodies, shorts and athletic wear. (Coursera, The Muse)
- Anything ripped, faded or worn. (Barclays LifeSkills, The Muse)
- Anything revealing: low-cut, sleeveless, very short, tight or sheer. (Washington State University, Barclays LifeSkills, Coursera)
- Flip-flops and open sandals. (The Muse, Coursera)
- Leggings worn as trousers. (Coursera, The Muse)
- Loud prints and neon. (Coursera, The Muse)
- A hat or a baseball cap. (The Muse, Coursera)
What colours to wear to an interview
Muted, solid colours. Coursera lists “navy, black, gray, white, beige, soft blue, burgundy, forest green”, and says “Solid colors or simple patterns usually work better than loud prints and neon shades.” Barclays LifeSkills: suits “usually in dark or muted colours such as black, navy blue or grey”, with a white or pastel shirt. For a creative role there is more room: Coursera says “Bolder colors, modern silhouettes, and more distinctive styling can work well in these industries”, and Indeed suggests “a bright-colored top with neutral pants” if you like bold colours. Need help matching colours? The Outfit Color Matcher shows what goes with each one.
Video and on-site interviews
On video, the guides agree on solid colours and disagree on how formal to be. Coursera holds you to the same standard as in person, “from head to toe”. The Muse says “you can scale down a bit—but not too much”, and to stay fully dressed anyway. Both warn about busy patterns on camera: The Muse, “Busy patterns or neon colors can look distracting on screen.”
On a job site, in a clinic or for a hands-on part, be practical and ask first. The Muse suggests “clean chinos, sturdy boots, and a button-up shirt” for a field interview and to confirm whether “scrubs or boots” are needed. Coursera: for a medical facility, “business casual or a step above, even if you’ll be wearing scrubs or a lab coat on the job.”
Where the guides disagree
- Dark jeans at a casual or creative company: The Muse, Barclays LifeSkills and Indeed say dark jeans can work; Coursera’s step up from jeans is “non-denim pants”.
- Sneakers: The Muse says clean, understated sneakers “can work in some casual or creative settings”; Coursera lists sneakers among what not to wear.
- Skirt length: Washington State University says “just above the knee when seated”; The Muse says “knee-length or longer”; Coursera says knee-length or midi.
- Facial piercings and tattoos: Washington State University says to “take out any facial piercings and cover any visible tattoos”; Indeed says “Many employers consider it acceptable to display tattoos in the workplace” but to check for the industry.
Where they disagree, the safer side is the more formal one, which is the rule they share.
Outfit ideas
For outfits that fit these lines, see NeedleStyle’s business casual outfits for women, business casual summer outfits, black blazer outfits for work and stylish work outfits. Building a work wardrobe after the offer? Try the Capsule Wardrobe Planner, and for other events the Dress Code Decoder.
FAQ
What should I wear to a job interview?
One step above how people dress at the company: a suit for a formal office, business casual with a blazer or cardigan for a business casual office, polished business casual for a casual one. Clean, pressed, well-fitting clothes, closed-toe shoes and muted colours in every case.
What should a woman wear to an interview?
A suit with trousers or a skirt for a formal office; tailored trousers, a knee-length skirt or a dress with a blouse and a blazer or cardigan for business casual. A dress works when it is knee-length or longer, with a blazer. Closed-toe flats, loafers or low heels.
Can you wear jeans to an interview?
The guides disagree. The Muse, Barclays LifeSkills and Indeed say dark, clean jeans can work at a casual company; Coursera suggests non-denim trousers even where staff wear jeans. Never ripped jeans, and not for a formal or business casual office.
What not to wear to an interview?
Graphic tees, hoodies, shorts, athletic wear, anything ripped or revealing, flip-flops, leggings as trousers, loud prints and neon, and a hat or cap. Go easy on perfume and jewelry.
What colors to wear to an interview?
Muted, solid colours: navy, black, grey, white, beige, soft blue, burgundy or forest green. For a creative role, one bolder colour can work, such as a bright top with neutral trousers.
What to wear to a video interview?
The same outfit as in person, top to toe, in solid colours: busy patterns and neon look distracting on screen. The Muse says you can scale down a little for video; Coursera keeps the same standard.
What does business casual mean for an interview?
Tailored trousers or a knee-length skirt or dress, a blouse or button-down shirt, and a blazer or cardigan, with closed-toe shoes. Coursera describes business casual as mixing formal and casual pieces, such as non-denim trousers, blazers and skirts that are not part of a suit.