For job seekers, it's still dress to impress

Whenever Eddie VanArsdall ventures out to sell himself in a job interview, he errs on the side of being too dressy instead of not dressed up enough.

"Even if you get there and find that everyone is dressed in swim trunks, you've at least shown initial respect," said VanArsdall, 52, of Alexandria. A freelance technical communications consultant, he typically meets clients before securing contracts.

Clothing trends seem to have changed dramatically for hired workers, but they haven't budged much for job seekers. No matter how casual the culture is where you're interviewing, the safest bet is to dress more formally than the rest.

A job candidate arriving in proper attire demonstrates an awareness of upholding the company's corporate image. "If they were to send you out on their behalf to represent them in a professional setting, this is your statement of 'I know the look,' " said Steve Braun, president of the Maryland Recruiters Association and owner of an executive search firm, Sales Consultants of Baltimore.

Choose a conservative color that compliments you, said Marva Gumbs Jennings, executive director of the George Washington University Career Center. "If you buy a classic interview suit, you will use it again and again," she said. Alternating the shirt or blouse and accessories often makes it feasible to wear the same suit for a second interview. Women can find variety in mixing and matching a skirt or pants with a coordinating jacket. For men and women, some fabrics are suitable year-round. "Given a tight budget, they may not be able to have multiple suits in their closet," Gumbs Jennings said.

Tasteful ties help round out interview outfits. Power ties in pink and other flamboyant colors made their mark in the late '80s and early '90s, she said, but they're no longer considered appropriate interview attire for men. Steer clear of wild patterns and prints that may be overly distracting.

Then again, this depends to some extent on the position. Candidates in the banking or legal industries tend to be clad more conservatively than those in fashion, media or dot-com, said Linda Lee, the New York-based group vice president of Macy's By Appointment, a free personal-shopping service available in many major markets.

"You want to approach it from the subtle aspect, assuming that it's not a job for fashion director."

Individuality matters in Lee's work environment. A candidate with a pretty scarf tied in good taste may score bonus points. Well-maintained footwear won't detract attention, whereas serious scuffs can plant seeds of doubts in the interviewer's mind. For women, a comfortable mid-sized heel, not a stiletto, would be a wise choice, preferably in a dark color, said Christine Harriger, a career counselor at James Madison University.

A purse, portfolio or briefcase should complement your ensemble and hold the relevant tools of the trade, said Melissa S. Fireman, founder and chief executive of Washington Career Services. "If you're a tech person or a Web master, then you probably should be bringing in your laptop," she said. "You want to show people your work."

Jewelry should be minimal. Beware of bulky bracelets that interfere with shaking hands. "It's not a time to really make a fashion statement," Harriger said. "Sometimes you can get away with more if it's a creative industry -- something that might be a little bit of a conversation piece."