Red toned dress shirts for men

[mjkacmom]

I don't think a red shirt is appropriate for a job interview. DH works in financial services, and doesn't own one. Many white and light blue shirts though, and a couple of darker blue ones.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I sort of agree, not because I think it should matter but because I'm a "play it safe" kind of person in general. And that's just what I would do - not what I think everybody needs to do. I wouldn't take pause at all at a candidate wearing a bright shirt. I might even slightly admire the sense of flair, especially if the look was very put-together and spiffy.


Good question - I've been thinking the same thing. Truth is, I think interview attire is more of a minefield for women. There's not too far wrong a guy can go in a suit, shirt and tie; bright colours not withstanding. There are lots more choices for women to make, short of wearing a simple business suit themselves. In the 6 years I've been a hiring manager I don't think I've ever seen a lady in one, but I have seen the rest of the gamut.

I wear jeans and flip-flops to work most of the time lol, but I have one business suit that I keep on hand for interviews or formal business events. I've never worn it at my current job as there's never been a need; a typical office dress has been fine for all more corporate events.

I work in an industry that skews casual for sure and is male dominated so I've just found a basic women's cut suit works really well for interviews. There's not a lot of room for interpretation of clothing choice when it's a basic for either gender.

I don't have a problem with any color dress shirt if it's worn the right way. I also think a woman wearing a red dress to an interview (unless it's very very conservative) will bring more negative attention since (in the US at least) has a more provocative connotation.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't think a red shirt is appropriate for a job interview.

I'm on the side that simply doesn't understand what makes it inappropriate. If they ONLY thing they remember about you is the red shirt, that's not the fault of the shirt. However, if everything else is equal, the red shirt may be enough to distinguish you.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm on the side that simply doesn't understand what makes it inappropriate. If they ONLY thing they remember about you is the red shirt, that's not the fault of the shirt. However, if everything else is equal, the red shirt may be enough to distinguish you.

I copied this from an article about what colors you should and shouldn't wear to a job interview: Red

You’ll definitely convey that you’re both bold and assertive if you wear red to a job interview, but in most cases, hiring professionals think the color can come off as domineering, and even worse, rebellious. There’s an exception to every rule, and red can be a great color in fields like sales and the law, where being aggressive is considered a positive.



Read more: http://stylecaster.com/colors-you-should-and-should-not-wear-to-a-job-interview/#ixzz49s5aWZHZ

 

[Christine]

I'm on the side that simply doesn't understand what makes it inappropriate. If they ONLY thing they remember about you is the red shirt, that's not the fault of the shirt. However, if everything else is equal, the red shirt may be enough to distinguish you.

Maybe the words appropriate/inappropriate aren't correct. So, the idea would be that when you are interviewing, your appearance makes your first impression. In that interview room, you are going to have one or many interviewers that come from all walks of life and have been varying thoughts on what certain types of clothing convey. So when you are the person going for that interview, you need to think about a few things: 1: what type of business is this (financial/banking = conservative, tech field = more casual, design/art = flair); 2: realize that you *may* have much older people interviewing you versus what is in their staff (more conservative); 3: always dress a step above what you would wear daily in that job.

Taking those three things into consideration, you want to play it safe. I don't consider red a safe interview color and the first post of this thread, right or wrong, tells you why. You can offend with a white or pale colored solid shirt. In an interview, you want to give yourself the best chance and reduce all possible negatives.

 

[sam_gordon]

I copied this from an article about what colors you should and shouldn't wear to a job interview: Red

You’ll definitely convey that you’re both bold and assertive if you wear red to a job interview, but in most cases, hiring professionals think the color can come off as domineering, and even worse, rebellious. There’s an exception to every rule, and red can be a great color in fields like sales and the law, where being aggressive is considered a positive.



Read more: http://stylecaster.com/colors-you-should-and-should-not-wear-to-a-job-interview/#ixzz49s5aWZHZ

Maybe the words appropriate/inappropriate aren't correct. So, the idea would be that when you are interviewing, your appearance makes your first impression. In that interview room, you are going to have one or many interviewers that come from all walks of life and have been varying thoughts on what certain types of clothing convey. So when you are the person going for that interview, you need to think about a few things: 1: what type of business is this (financial/banking = conservative, tech field = more casual, design/art = flair); 2: realize that you *may* have much older people interviewing you versus what is in their staff (more conservative); 3: always dress a step above what you would wear daily in that job.

Taking those three things into consideration, you want to play it safe. I don't consider red a safe interview color and the first post of this thread, right or wrong, tells you why. You can offend with a white or pale colored solid shirt. In an interview, you want to give yourself the best chance and reduce all possible negatives.

I think what I bolded is key. Is red the best choice to wear for a job interview? Probably not. Does that mean it's "inappropriate"? IMO, no. The article mjkacmom linked even said wearing red can convey you're bold and assertive.

 

[Christine]

I think what I bolded is key. Is red the best choice to wear for a job interview? Probably not. Does that mean it's "inappropriate"? IMO, no. The article mjkacmom linked even said wearing red can convey you're bold and assertive.

I agree. But in keeping with the statement about wearing red and being bold/assertive: that may not be a favorable thing to display to some people and in some fields whereas in other places it might be the way to go.

 

[sam_gordon]

I agree. But in keeping with the statement about wearing red and being bold/assertive: that may not be a favorable thing to display to some people and in some fields whereas in other places it might be the way to go.

Still doesn't mean it's "inappropriate" though.

 

[CPanther95]

Still doesn't mean it's "inappropriate" though.

It's inappropriate if there is anyone in the interview process who feels it is inappropriate or unprofessional - regardless whether or not it is justified.

... assuming you actually want the job.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Is Santa Clause wearing a power suit?

The red bell sashes make his animals power reindeer. They can't fly without em.

 

[mummabear]

 

[Planogirl]

I'd hire this guy. He was famous for his red (and black) shirts.




To me it really depends on the office. If it's a bank or other financial institution it might be better to be as conservative as possible. If it's a more casual office I see nothing wrong with red.

 

[ms.yt]

OP here. I'm glad to see that most people also found the comments about the shirt bizarre. To answer some people's questions, the secretary is a very brand conscious person. Everything she or her kids wear has to be the currently "in style" brand or it's just not acceptable. I've never understood why people care about that.

As far as the protocol at our school, it's a very, very casual work environment. Most teachers frequently wear jeans, as does the principal at least a couple of days a week. While I know that wouldn't be acceptable for an interview, I've heard the principal say that he doesn't expect interview candidates to come in anything other than a shirt and tie, not a jacket.

 

[pryncess527]

OP here. I'm glad to see that most people also found the comments about the shirt bizarre. To answer some people's questions, the secretary is a very brand conscious person. Everything she or her kids wear has to be the currently "in style" brand or it's just not acceptable. I've never understood why people care about that.

That makes her comments even funnier to me -- i'd consider a bold red shirt a very "in style" and hip type of choice. In fact, I think that's the problem with it for some jobs that tend to favor more conservative dress (like lawyers -- American lawyers moved away from the formal, specific required robes/attire of British courts, but historically favored conservative dress in that spirit, and I imagine that trend remains strong).
So for a person who considers herself fashion forward to call a bold jewel tone shirt "dorky" strikes me as a bit ironic.