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[Dress for male]

I have an upcoming interview at a RI university and wanted to gain some insight on whether I need to run out and buy a suit or whether I can wear a nice sportcoat and tie?  If a suit is needed, what color is appropriate?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[thoughts]

I personally think that a suit is better, but not absolutely essential, as long as your pants and sportcoat are very nice.  

Get something neutral, like blue or black or brown (depending on your skin tone, hair color, etc...--pick a color that will look good on you).  You probably should get a woman or with-it male to help you on this.  

Do NOT wear camel, beige, or light grey.  You do not want to blend in with the wall, the way some candidates have in the past.  Olive is risky for a man, but potentially okay if you have the coloring to pull it off.  (The last male candidate I saw in olive shouldn't have done it.)  Don't go for an interesting color, unless you are really into fashion and know exactly what you're doing.

[readymade]

Believe it or not, I think this is probably discipline specific.  Historians to me seem to favor suits; other disciplines like things less formal.  I think generally a sport coat and tie is fine--you just want to look well put-together, and a nice well-fitting coat and tie are better than a cheap suit.

[Roger R.]

I have always worn a nice sportcoat and tie on many interviews over the years, and no one has complained that I was underdressed. Remember that you will have to do a lot of walking during the campus tour, to and from lunch or the dean's office etc, and so comfort is almost as important as looking good. I also recommend wearing nice but comfy shoes and stashing away an umbrella, just in case of rain.
Although I often wear a suit when presenting at conferences, I find a sportcoat a better choice for interviews. But choose a flattering color, as others have noted.
Follow the old job search mantra: the search committee should remember you and your qualifications once the interview is over, and not what you wore.

[haberdasher]

If you have the resources, you should have at least one suit in your wardrobe. Go with a three-button charcoal gray, and you'll be able to wear it for virtually any necessary ocassion--weddings, funerals, fancy restaurants, job interviews--for years.

While a nice sportcoat and tie wil often suffice, I have never heard of a candidate described as being overdressed for wearing a suit.

A decent suit, by the way, can be purchased for between $200 and $500 at many retailers. I've bought two good suits for reasonable prices at Men's Wearhouse. Others have had good experiences with Jos. A. Bank. I usually would not recommend a department store, unless it's a high end store like Nordstrom. But if you're shopping at Nordstom, then you're probably not lacking for a suit.

[anon]

What is appropriate attire for a CC interview?  (I'm trying to advise my mate, who believes a suit would be over-dressed).    

      Is it acceptable to wear a nice dress shirt/ conservative sport-coat, but no tie?  Do expectations regarding attire vary according to region--- ie, would appropriate attire be a bit less formal at colleges on the west coast than in the midwest or east coast, etc?   Or is a suit and tie always the safest bet, regardless of location or climate?

[Get a better suit]

If you need a suit get a better one.  Men's Wearhouse is a mass production high pressure sales place.  The suit I purchased for a large state university system associate vice chancellor interview was pretty pathetic.  As I was waiting in the airport,  I felt something on my shoe.  The bottom of the pocket had failed and the handful of coins I got in change were falling out.  I would have been better going to  a better department store and buying one good suit.  MW high pressured me and I ended up buying two crappy suits.  Having a suit that I was not comfortable in (was worried what was going to fail next) probably didn't help my interview.
   Bottom line is get decent quality, and above all else make sure it is something you are comfortable with that doesn't distract you from presenting your self well.   The academic interview I have done best on was sport coat and dockers.

[JK]

Suit and tie for the CC also! Don't give the committee a chance to think that you're looking down on the school.

[Zarkov]

anon wrote:

> What is appropriate attire for a CC interview?  (I'm trying to
> advise my mate, who believes a suit would be over-dressed).    
>
>       Is it acceptable to wear a nice dress shirt/ conservative
> sport-coat, but no tie?  .....

A tie is a MUST.

At least until the DaVinci Code movie comes out, and then we guys can all begin dressing like Prof. Robert Langdon (suit, dark shirt, no tie, hair long in back).

PS: In the book, Landgon wore a tweed sportcoat; the classic prof look.

[anon]

    So I guess the Davinci Code style would not be well received?   It seems like a nice compromise--  definitely dressier than everyday attire, but not excessively formal, like the suit and tie.  

     Tweed sportcoat with tie would be okay?  Does everyone agree that the tie is essential?

[R1 baby]

I always wore a suit on the day of my job talk, and a sportcoat/tie for other days.

[anon]

I've never worn a tie to any interview, but then I'm an ecologist.