next »

[dr_prephd]

I've done a lot of reading about this in the past two or three years. Consensus seems to be that tights are fine, they can be darker than your suit, but NOT darker than your shoes. And sheer is more formal than opaque. Designs are risky, but that's field-specific.

[tortugaphd]

Thanks, bibliothecula and prephd!

I don't think I, personally, could pull off brown tights with a red floral pattern, but it's nice to know tights are considered acceptable.  I have a pair that is taupe (or maybe a bit darker than taupe, like a light brown) that looks ok with the suit and the shoes I'm planning to wear with the outfit.

[egilson]

The guy in the picture looks like he mugged a third-grader and stole her socks.

[dr_prephd]

Sure does. He seems to be a little precious; trying too hard to be different. It's a suit. It's *supposed* to look like everyone else. That's the purpose.

[tortugaphd]

Lol, I'll be the odd one out here and claim that I liked his socks.

[dr_prephd]

Lol, I'll be the odd one out here and claim that I liked his socks.

Outside of an interview situation, I would, too.

[tortugaphd]

Lol, I'll be the odd one out here and claim that I liked his socks.

Outside of an interview situation, I would, too.

Very well said!

[bibliothecula]

For my brown suit, I have brown tights with a red floral pattern running up the leg.

The discipline-specific nature of these things is always fascinating. Floral tights at the AHA would be head-turning.

Cool. Now I know what to wear there to shock the natives. ;)

[apollo]

I have worn a suit on exactly ONE job interview.  I did not get that offer.  Of the academic job interviews I have been on over the years, I have gotten six job offers.  Sooooooo, the suit didn't make the interview any better.

[fayefaye]

I'm a little surprised at the reaction to that guys socks. I'd rather see a little bit of flair than the usual thing we get, which is guys wearing suits obviously several sizes too big, or don't fit otherwise, or don't match at all, etc.

[melba_frilkins]

I'm a little surprised at the reaction to that guys socks. I'd rather see a little bit of flair than the usual thing we get, which is guys wearing suits obviously several sizes too big, or don't fit otherwise, or don't match at all, etc.

But I think his socks simply highlight the fact that his suit doesn't fit either--pants are too short (or perhaps just hiked up to look that way in the photo). Or wait, that isn't a staged photo, but a real candidate? oh.

The color scheme of the socks has nothing to do with the rest of his outfit. Matchy-matchy isn't required, but the outfit doesn't pull off a successful mix-and-match. The teal socks would be way better with a white shirt/black tie on top (instead of pastel blue and magenta).

And now I'm feeling really sorry for the guy. The article basically says he is interviewing at the MLA and is concerned with literally sh!tting himself during the process. That's a news article?!

Edit to add: oh, now I see that there's more to the article if you pay for the entire content. But the way they abridged the free version is quite unfortunate.

[dr_prephd]

And now I'm feeling really sorry for the guy. The article basically says he is interviewing at the MLA and is concerned with literally sh!tting himself during the process. That's a news article?!

Yeah, poor guy. I hope he gets a job.

This article in Sunday's NYT made me think of his photo:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/fashion/in-silicon-valley-socks-make-the-tech-entrepreneur.html

Apparently wearing cute socks is part of the fashion trend in Silicon Valley. So wear them as a subversive symbol if you want to fit in with computer programmers.