Don’t let the “casualization” of office attire fool you — you should always wear a suit to an interview, even if you’re more dressed up than the other candidates or even the interviewer.

Clinton Kelly, fashion aficionado of “What Not To Wear” fame, recently spoke at his alma mater Boston College on the importance of dressing properly for job interviews. Kelly reminded college students that they are being judged on their appearances all of the time.

While Kelly’s presentation was aimed at the young college demographic, 23-and-over adults could also learn a thing or two. With times changing and “Casual Fridays” becoming “Casual Workplaces,” the formality of dressing up for a job interview has gone by the wayside. It may seem overkill or out of place, especially in a casual office to wear a suit and tie to an interview. Unfortunately, it takes stylists like Kelly to remind people of fashion etiquette when it should be plain common sense.

Why You Should Still Wear A Suit To Every Job Interview:

1. First impressions are crucial.

A suit means business. It’s rare that anyone actually looks bad in a suit, unless it’s ill-fitting or something too colorful (i.e., what Lloyd or Harry wore to the owl benefit in Dumb and Dumber). If you don’t wear a suit, the employer might not take you seriously. Brush up on the six no-no’s of a suited man.

2. It shows you care.

Going along with first impressions, dressing the part shows that you are serious about the job. This isn’t something you’re just doing for fun or for the heck of it. If you get the job, maintaining a professional dress code can set you apart from others, and maybe make you just a little more memorable when it’s time for promotions.

3. It makes you feel better about yourself– and more professional.

If you are dressed in an outfit you’ve worn a million times before, you feel comfortable, but maybe too comfortable. There’s something to be said about the way a suit makes one feel. While there’s an occasional heightened anxiety, sometimes it’s a good form of anticipation. You are professional in a suit, a master at your job. In a more average outfit, you’re the guy who watches golf on the couch with his hand down his pants. Confidence is all visual, if you look confident, the interviewer will think you are.

4. You’d rather be overdressed than underdressed.

Even when Brennan and Dale dressed in tuxedos to their interviews in 2008’s Step Brothers, it was definitely better than sloppy sweatpants and a Judds t-shirt. Not to suggest you should wear a tux to your next interview, but if you are second guessing attire, the best advice is to always look your nicest; if you underdo it, you’re the “lesser than” in a room of “more thans.”

5. Never underestimate a sharp-dressed man.

If you can turn heads on your way to the interview, maybe you can turn heads with your job performance, too. Think of it as a date. You wouldn’t want to dress crappy for a girl in the beginnings of a courtship. It would set the wrong ‘mood’. In psychological studies, women judge the same man as differentially attractive based on what he wears. The same goes for a job interview (even with dude-on-dude interviews).

It’s human instinct to judge people based on their looks. It’s simply something we humans can’t help. We’ve always been drawn to pretty things, even as babies. Unfortunately, while we can clone sheep and make kick-ass 3D movies, we can’t fix the ability to judge others. All we can do is suit up for the special occasions life grants us.

A fashion lowdown on how to look cool this summer with funky mix and match tips, jazzing itup with accessories. PHOTO:AFP

NEW DELHI: Tailored shorts with a linen jacket, t-shirts with bow-ties, Chinese collar shirts with printed pyjamas for all those men out there, a fashion lowdown on how to look cool this summer with funky mix and match tips and jazzing it all up with the right accessories.

Apparel

First rule this season, avoid denim and try skin-friendly fabrics like linen.

To make a style statement, dig out printed shirts and team them up with bright-coloured shorts. Try Chinese collar shirts in powder cotton or tricot with printed pajamas; add khakee or army green shorts with t-shirts in any colour!

If you really want to adapt high street fashion, go for linen ‘two-piece’ suits and wear with shorts and loafers.

“A lot of new print techniques can be seen this summer. Sailor, African and screen prints can be seen on shirts and t-shirts. Also, fitted lycra t-shirts with deep and big necks will be a big hit,” Lav Trivedi, stylist-cum-art director, told IANS.

“Accessorise it well. Try bow ties on half-sleeves shirts and polo neck t-shirts. You can also try formal shoes with fitted shorts and shirts. I call it the very modern Hawaii look, it makes you look sharp yet summery,” he added.

Trivedi is in tune with the latest styles, thanks to his stint on “MTV Splitsvilla”, and fashion shoots for magazines like The Man and Andpersand. He also did art direction for the movie “Yeh Saali Zindagi”.

Experts say sportswear like t-shirts, shorts and jumpers will be in vogue in men’s fashion this season.

“Most people in India wear sportswear influenced clothing because of details and designs in male clothing. Sportswear is comfortable and easy to carry, therefore never out of fashion,” Mumbai-based designer Narendra Kumar Ahmed told IANS.

The designer, who is associated with brands like Puma and Killer, said tailored shorts – knee length with little fit and pleats – would also be prominent.

Colours

Comfortable cotton shirts paired with waistcoats in vibrant colours like electric blue, neon green, pink and earthy yellow will add freshness, says designer Raghavendra Rathore.

“Cotton waistcoats in vibrant colours is the predominant trend. An array of pastel yet colourful tones in shirting is what adds to the freshness. The new semi-formal sleek appeal is the one to look forward to,” Rathore told IANS.

Kumar said that there will be lot more pastel colours as well. “You will see many colours in the bottom as well, like coloured jeans, shorts and trousers,” he added.

Footwear

To make the summer more stylish and colourful, opt for espadrilles.

Originated in the Basque, Spain, espadrilles are made of canvas cotton and linen fabric with a flexible jute rope sole.

“Male gladiators (sandals), leather sleepers and espadrille shoes will be best to go with this combo,” added Trivedi.

Headgear

Despite the heat, men are still reluctant to wear hats or caps. But men can add to their style quotient by adding some head gear in their wardrobes, say fashion experts.

“People think that it’s not fashionable or a must have accessory in a hot country like India. There are very few who wear hats, but only for night outs because they associate it to the style element, not to the functional element. They should wear caps and hats,” said Narendra.

Eyewear

Go retro this season, suggest fashionistas.

“Retro shades are big this season, you’ll see lots of retro frames, big glasses, from the era of the 1950s and 1960s,” said Narendra.

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How to quickly find your suit size

This is to address the numerous future and past questions concerning the sizing of suits, and how to choose the correct size.

For the first time buyer, the numbers and lengths on the tags are somewhat confusing to say the least.

To the person who is looking to replace their old suit for an upcoming occasion, knowing your size is not as easy as looking at the tags.  Because suits are generally not a frequent purchase, it is very understandable that after a few years and pounds lost or gained that your should call into question whether or not your size has fluctuated.  Hopefully, we can address those issues and unanswered questions here.

Suit Size: What does it mean? I’ll try to explain.  

For the numbers, and this may be a bit basic, but we’ll start with 44L.  This is a 44 Long, which means the chest measurement is 44 inches.  The L ( standing for Long) is the length of the sleeves. (Standard lengths are S (Short) R (Regular) L (Long) & XL (Extra Long) 

Suit Jacket Chest Size

This measurement is the most important.  

Take a measurement around your chest, under your arms, with the tape fitting about as snug as you would want a jacket to fit.  This is your jacket number.

Rule #1 and the only rule if you ask me: If the jacket fits, or even fits in the chest alone, then the rest of the way is simple.

The pants can be made smaller or larger in the waist, the length of the pants can be as well.  The jacket sleeve length can be made longer or shorter.  So when shopping, if you can find a 44 Long that has a waist size too big or too small, and you are set on that suit, don’t pass it up.  You have to get the pant length on any new suit altered anyway (most dry cleaners have an alteration service), so while that is being done the waist can be touched up or any other measurement that you feel needs to be tailored.

Passing up on a suit that is either a good deal or a good looking style that you love because of a 2 inch waist difference doesn’t make sense, especially if you have to opt for a suit that is higher in price over what alterations would cost.

Spending more to get the exact size waist is not a good approach, as long as the jacket is the right size you are good to go!

Suit Jacket Length

Suits come in 3 to 4 lengths depending on the vendor or retailer: Short, Regular, Long and Extra Long (there’s also portly but they account for less than 1% of all men).  The majority of people fall under the “R” (Regular) category, meaning that if your chest is a 44 you would wear a 44R or 44 Regular.  The basic rule for length of suit is that most people 5’5″ to  5’10″ usually can fit a Regular, below 5’5″ can fit a Short, 5’11″ to 6’3″ Long, and for people taller than 6’3″ an extra long will fit for the most part, but the taller guys sometimes need to get a tailor made suit just for the sheer fact the their measurements are very hard to come by for the most part (6’5″ and up)

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