The honest rule: match the company's vibe, dressed one step up.

Industry guide

  • Tech / startups: Tailored blouse + nice pants, or a sheath dress. Blazer optional. Comfortable flats or low heels.
  • Finance / law / consulting: Pantsuit or skirt suit, or tailored sheath dress + blazer. Conservative colors (navy, gray, black). Heels appropriate.
  • Government / education: Business casual to business formal. Conservative colors.
  • Creative / media: More room to express style. Tailored, polished, but you can have personality.
  • Healthcare admin: Business casual to formal.

Universal rules

  • Fits well. Tailored matters more than expensive.
  • Wrinkle-free. Iron or steam the morning of.
  • Subtle. Avoid loud patterns, distracting jewelry, neon colors.
  • Comfortable shoes. You'll walk through a building, sit, stand. New shoes will torture you.
  • Polished. Hair done, nails clean, makeup subtle.

Specific items

  • Blouse + pants: safe everywhere. Tailored pants in navy/black/gray, fitted shirt or blouse in solid color or subtle pattern.
  • Sheath dress: professional, easy. Knee-length or just below. Often the easiest single-piece option.
  • Pantsuit: formal industries. Skirt suit also fine.
  • Blazer: instantly polishes any combo. Buy one well-fitted one.

What to avoid

  • Anything wrinkled or ill-fitting
  • Strong perfume
  • Visible underwear or bra straps
  • Heels you can't walk in
  • Loud patterns or busy prints
  • Anything you'd wear to a club or wedding

Virtual interviews

Top-half rules:

  • Solid-color blouse or shirt
  • Subtle jewelry that doesn't clink
  • Hair done
  • Light makeup if applicable
  • Good lighting (lamp in front, not behind)

Below the camera: comfortable bottoms are fine, but put on real pants — your posture changes when you're fully dressed.

When unsure

  • Check the company's social media for vibe.
  • Ask the recruiter — they'll tell you.
  • Default to one step more polished than the company's daily.

The bigger pattern

Dress is a small signal. It can hurt you if you're way off, but rarely wins the job. The bigger lever is preparation: knowing the company, the role, and your own story.

Sorce gets you the interviews — 40 free swipes a day, AI agent applies. Volume gives you more chances to wear the outfit.

For more: what to wear to a job interview (general), what to bring to an interview, how to prepare for a job interview.