8 Job Interview Fashion Blunders

Mostly good advice but no one outfit or style works for every setting. I'm an Engineer who has worked in heavy manufacturing for 20+ yrs and the most important reminder is to dress appropriately for the work setting. During a tour of a Shipyard for example, wearing a pants suit is definitely more appropriate than a skirt. If in doubt, you should inquire as to what is appropriate especially if you will be touring the facility.
I also agree with several comments that you shouldn't be judged on your style during an interview (I have "long-ish", well groomed nails and wear jewelry) but unfortunately, first impressions are difficult to overcome. The good news is - alot of times, how you conduct the interview (and yourself AFTER you get the job!) overrides any first impressions concerns of many interviewers! Having nails has never impeded my ability to do my job including in a Naval Shipyard where I had to climb up 50+foot vertical ladders through holes from the floor of a dry dock to the flight deck of an aircraft carrier!

Ladies for years I was on the other side of the desk - conducting the interveiws. You would be surprised by what people wear to interveiws. Sandals, piercings, tatoos are all a matter of self-expression but they do turn interviewers right off. You want to convey the impression that this interview is the most important thing to you not something that you threw yourself together to come to.
Now being the one interveiwed I try & keep in mind all the things that turned me off to a potential candidate. On the matter of carrying a purse - I don't carry one into the interveiw - one less thing to fumble with when entering/leaving the interveiw. I do carry a professional looking portfolio with copies of my resume and paper in case I want to take notes.

I must say, I don't see how open shoes, wearing pantyhose's, and most of all the color of your brief case or purse should have any impact on how you are perceived in an interview...as long as it is all tasteful. I see this very things as the one place you can truly distinguish yourself today and show uniqueness and originality, not boring conservatism. Perhaps things are perceived differently in the US, since I am from Canada.

As far as I have seen, and I am currently interviewing a lot for a new job, the workplace has gone way to casual, and I wish it would come back to some sense of smart and professional work-wear, leaving room for personal expression in accessories, as long as they are always tasteful and work appropriate.

I don't see how your purse can affect your job interview-it's your job skills that should matter-not what purse you carry day to day. If I got turned down a job for the purse I carry then I wouldn't want that job anyways!

No slingbacks?? Hmm...

Great article. Nice reminders.

Great article. I used to teach an image workshop and these were at the top of the "Don't Wear This" list.

More interviw fashion mistakes:

Wearing skirts that have splits that go higher than your knee; too-long skirts (can look matronly); anything see-through; blouses or shirts that show too much cleavage; sleeveless dresses without jackets (looks too casual); sneakers and other casual shoes; tattoos; gold teeth; clothes that aare too tight or too loose; anything that doesn't look right for your age or size; denim

I can't believe that you have to explain this to people.