What should my fifty-something husband wear to a creative advertising interview at a hip, west coast company?

May 12, 2008 9:43 AM

What should my fifty-something husband wear to a creative advertising interview at a hip, west coast company? It's a senior creative position in the advertising wing of the company, which markets high-tech products in proprietary retail outlets.

He's comfortable in anything, but mostly has casual and dress casual clothing. Also, should he color his gray(ing) hair? He is concerned that he not appear too old in a field that markets to and employs mostly younger people. His work product isn't an issue.

He's fit, and hip without trying, but clothing-wise, we're at sea for this occasion.
The interview is soon so there's not time for a lot of shopping/tailoring, etc. Also, money is something of an issue so using some of what he already has would be nice.

posted by mumstheword to clothing, beauty, & fashion (17 comments total)

I think wearing a full suit to an interview would almost never negatively affect the interviewer's impression of the interviewee. So I'd go for a suit.
posted by Grither at 9:48 AM on May 12

Don't let him color his hair. I've never seen a dye-job that's not blatantly obvious. They may or may not react negatively to his having gray(ing) hair, but there's nothing worse than looking like that guy who's trying too hard to hold on to his youth.

As far as dress, what city is the company in? LA has different style than San Diego, which is different than San Francisco, which is different than than Seattle, which is different than Portland.

Either way, though, if the company is "hip," I would definitely say no tie and no Dockers. No khakis of any kind. And stay away from pleats if possible. Maybe a nice, good fitting pair of high-end jeans in a dark wash, a dress shirt, and a sport-coat. Or perhaps a lightweight v-neck cashmere sweater in a dark color over a lighter-colored dress shirt.
posted by dersins at 9:54 AM on May 12 [1 favorite]

This calls the for the right suit. Not over the top.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:57 AM on May 12

I think wearing a full suit to an interview would almost never negatively affect the interviewer's impression of the interviewee

I'm going to disagree with that, especially if he is concerned that he may come across as "too old." If the interview is with an HR person, then a suit is not a problem, but if he's meeting with a creative-director type, suit might come across as too stodgy and formal, and depending on the company might make him seem as though he wouldn't be a good fit for the environment. Might. Might not, but might.
posted by dersins at 9:58 AM on May 12

The job's in the northwest, the interview is with a creative-director type. Great advice. Thanks
posted by mumstheword at 10:04 AM on May 12

I should clarify, don't wear the same suit that he's owned for twenty years and only busts out for weddings and funerals. It should be a suit that is preferably new and in style. Check out a GQ or similar magazine and find a suit that looks like the ones the guys wear in there. It doesn't have to be brand-name (since cost is an issue), but I still think that you can't go wrong in a suit. Especially since you say it is for a more senior level position, he should look respectable/professional, and not hipster/cool.
posted by Grither at 10:06 AM on May 12 [1 favorite]

My standard interview advice: It's easier to act young and hip in a suit than it is to act like you're not wearing tennis shoes. First interview, suit. Use it to gauge what people in the agency wear. Second interview, dress at least "one level" above the dress code of the agency.
posted by alan at 10:19 AM on May 12

Having worked at ad agencies in New York City for many years, some with offices in Portland, I'd say you don't want the suit. Dersin's advice is best. Make damned sure everything is well-pressed, high-quality, contemporary, and newish. A high-quality open collar shirt that is well-pressed and under a fashionable jacket will beat many suits in the ad world--among the ad people I know, trying too hard is worse than not trying hard enough. The shoes should be well-cared for and kinda hip. Above all, make sure he's comfortable in what he's wearing. It shows if he's not.

He can mitigate the greying hair by having a short haircut, keeping the sideburns high, making sure the back is tapered and not square, getting any Andy Rooney hair in the eyebrows trimmed, keeping nose and ear hair in check, and getting a bit of light sun for the skin a couple days before (not a tan, not a fake-bake, nor any kind of burn!). Also, lay off the cologne.
posted by Mo Nickels at 10:27 AM on May 12

I'm with dersins. IMO you can't go wrong with the jacket-shirt-jeans combo. This is pretty much the uniform for everyone here in the EU. Does he wear glasses? He's gonna need dark plastic frames with thick arms, of course.
posted by DefendBrooklyn at 10:38 AM on May 12

Based on Portland agency experience: jacket, shirt, trousers (not jeans), no tie.
posted by ottereroticist at 10:48 AM on May 12 [1 favorite]

I'm with dersins. IMO you can't go wrong with the jacket-shirt-jeans combo.

I definitely agree. I recently interviewed some folks for a designer position for our small tech start-up in the northwest. The person we hired showed up dressed like this. If they had shown up in a full suit, tie and all, I would have had some reservations about them not fitting in with our culture. I don't think many people hire/pass on dress alone, but if the choice was between someone "young and hip" and someone who seemed stodgy and out of touch, I'd go with the former.
posted by Nelsormensch at 10:59 AM on May 12

I think jeans would be pushing it. On the other hand, a suit is pushing it the other way. I understand the pressures involved here in wanting to make a good impression. I think the safest choice is the suggestion from the Portland poster a couple of posts up - sport coat, trousers, nice shirt. I also agree on keeping the grey, a close crop haircut pretty much mitigates that as a 'looking out-of-place' factor. The safe route with the clothes would prevent any discomfort during the interview and allow him to put himself in full-on interview mode and discuss his work and abilities without worrying about clothes. Best of luck!!!
posted by Gerard Sorme at 11:11 AM on May 12

Call the recruiter and ask what people generally wear in the office. They will tell you. Then dress one level more formally.
posted by Argyle at 11:52 AM on May 12

I think the right suit could work fine. Probably three, maybe four buttons. Stay away from two, too old fashioned, and any more than four will be way over the top. The shirt and Tie will be important. Absolutely no red tie. Probably no blue either, or yellow, while we're at it. Get a nice shirt and tie with a bit of sheen (not too much, again you don't want to look like you're trying too hard, and you still want to look professional, while also hip) of sheen. Sort of the style Regis made famous, but, you know, not just straight out of 2002. Go with something colored. Green, orange, purple, ummm, since I've eliminated all primary colors, that's about it. Okay, you can do primary colors. But no "power ties". The point is you want a shirt and tie that will look really nice and sort of contemporary, but professional, when if he takes his coat off. You want the suit to look generally the same as well, but if he just feels too out of place with the coat on, he can just take it off and still look professional, but more laid back.

Others have said basically the same, but rule #1 should be to just avoid anything that when he tries it on, he says "I never in a million years would wear this". He'll stick out more if he looks like he's just trying too hard than if he shows up in an old fashioned suit with a white or blue dress shirt and a power tie.

Oh. Consider getting pants that break slightly lower than has "traditionally" been the style. But, again, don't go with pants that are too long, as, a) he'll look like he's trying too hard, and b) there's a reason shorter dress pants are more "traditional": people look like fools in dress pants that bunch all together at the bottom when standing.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 12:02 PM on May 12

Okay, looking back at my post, I want to de-emphasize the Regis look. The matching colored shirt and shiny solid color tie are way out of style. But my point is, he largely brought colored shirts and ties more in style. So no matching shirt and solid tie. But yes colors.
posted by gauchodaspampas at 12:06 PM on May 12

We're in a more traditional firm than most and if anyone shows up in a suit for anything (except maybe a strategist position), there's the whole "cultural fit" discussion or there's a perception that the person is too eager/hungry/desperate.

The top creative directors here wear nice shirts - either white and heavily pressed with a stylish suit coat and dark jeans or a simple sport coat over a more "out there" shirt and Dickies-like slacks. Like anyone with style, they seem to have one piece that is a little over the top or slick and let everything else be direct and clean – from the shirt to the shoes to the quirky glasses.

Don't dye the hair. Have him get a good haircut. If it's a senior position, they're likely looking for a mix of creative genius and client-appropriate gravitas.

Honestly, he should be business casual/stylish, be comfortable and worry more about his portfolio, his work experience and his ability to lead wacky creatives towards good work. If he's friendly, smart and seems at ease enough that I'd throw him in front of a client, the clothes are secondary.

it's more of avoid the ends of the slovenly, wacky or tight-assed ends of the spectrum and direct the attention to what's really going to get him the job.
posted by Gucky at 12:15 PM on May 12 [2 favorites]

Thanks for the thoughtful answers...all of them are, btw...and each adds to the likelihood he'll not stick out like a....whatever today's term for a sore thumb is. thanks again!
posted by mumstheword at 12:58 PM on May 12