Interview suit/tie and general attire advice for DS

[DelphiniumBlue]

DS (25) finally has an interview, for an IT type job, graduate level. The only remotely smart outfit he has is a black suit. He also has white or pale blue shirts.
He has really low confidence, and is overweight. The suit jacket looks fine undone but is slightly tight when done up. This wouldn't matter but he feels having a shirt tucked in will emphasise his belly. We can't afford a new suit, he's only worn the existing one once, and suits in big and tall ranges are expensive. So he wants to know, would a dark shirt be acceptable an interview? He feels it would be more flattering.
Also what sort of ties are current? I have no idea. In fact is a tie necessary at all? If he got the job, the dress code would be jeans and hoody. But I think he can't wear that to the interview!
He doesn't have anything between old jeans and his black ( funeral) suit.
Any ideas please?

Its relevant that in the last 5 years he has lost 10 stone and then put about half of it back on again. This means he is very body conscious, and we have spent a fortune on clothes in different sizes. I'm desperate for him to finally get a job, and I don't want his clothes being an excuse to back out of the interview at the last minute. He is quite emotionally fragile and this is a big step.If he feels he looks right, it will make a huge difference.

I'd suggest wearing the suit. Make sure it is clean and pressed if you can. Black can show up all sorts of fluff etc so use a lint roller or sellotape to remove any bits before he leaves.

I'd definitely go for the white shirt, it will look so much fresher and smarter than the black. Black shirt plus black suit can be really tricky as the two blacks are highly likely to be different making one of them look tired.

Tie fashion is in a kind of anything goes place TBH. They are slimmer than say 10 years ago, but few people wear the truly skinny type. Ideally go for some kind of stripe which compliments the suit and shirt so backs, whites, greys and or blues. I wouldn't put a plain blue tie with a black suit but if it's part of a stripe pattern it can work well.

I can understand why your son would resist tucking his shirt in. It feels a bit alien to people who are not used to it, but it really is important and will look so much better than untucked.

The jacket sounds passable. It's ok not to do it up if it's too tight, and people generally do unbutton their jacket when sitting anyway.

I appreciate that the job itself would not require smart dress, but I honestly think that a suit in an interview gives a good impression and most importantly shows you made an effort.

Having said all this if you find the suit is really creased, he insists on wearing the shirt untucked etc., he may give a Breyer impression in jeans and an ironed T-shirt.

Most importantly good luck to your son!

Thank you, Fresh!
The suit itself is fine, he's just worried about getting things wrong. He borrowed one of his dad's ties for an event a few years ago, and it was remarked on by friends that it looked like his dad's!
So the tie should he slim but not overly narrow?
He really won't look better in jeans, they're really scruffy.
The other alternative is that I buy him new dark jeans and some sort of jacket, and probably a shirt as well, which would be quite costly, though I am considering it.

I have recently left a large company where I was the receptionist. I saw lots of people coming for interviews.

Some came with trousers/shirts/ties with no jacket
Some with chino type trousers/shirt/smart jacket/no tie
Some came with trousers/shirt/jumper
Some came with full on suit

I think as long as you are smart/presentable/clean then it doesn’t matter.

Good luck to your son, it’s a daunting time doing interviews. My son has just finished uni - funnily enough he will be looking for an IT graduate post.

Thanks PUG.
What doublethink about suit but no tie? Or would that look silly?

Not doublethink! Do you think...?

I've worked in IT for 14 years and I'd say suit and shirt. Or better, if you can afford it the dark jeans + shirt + jacket. That's probably more in line with what others will be wearing. Unless it's IT in a bank, it's a fairly anti suit industry.

Suit without tie can look nice. Puts more pressure on the shirt to look good though. It is less formal which to some may be seen as less smart. Much depends on the industry and interviewer.

I'd say if you're not sure then a suit, shirt, tie is a safe option as wearing that he's unlikely to be seen as anything other than a young man making an effort.

I work in a fashion based industry. People still often come to interview in a traditionally styled suit, but would be expected to be quite fashion forward if they got a job. I'm always impressed to see a young person in a suit, says something about them that they've made an effort and possibly left their comfort zone to create a good impression.

Thanks for all advice.
I've checked the suit and it is in fact charcoal, not black, and have found a nice burgundy shirt in the back of the wardrobe, so think he'll go with that.

I’d definitely wear a suit and tie to an IT interview, slim or skinny ties are fashionable at the moment, you can get them in e.g. matalan for £6. If he feels more comfortable in the burgundy shirt then go with that. Hope he gets the job!

My son recently went for an IT interview, he wore a black suit, white shirt, red tie. TBH I think the fact that he made an effort was all that was expected. He also went to an assessment centre most wore shirts and ties, a few just shirts. I would avoid a dark shirt perhaps a darker blue but def not as dark as navy.

Could your son perhaps go along to a shirt store and ask for advice - a lot cheaper than a new suit but perhaps a confidence builder.

Good luck to your DS.

Oh dear, wondering if we should rethink. Thanks for the advice re ties, I think may be I'll get one tomorrow just in case!
And thank you all for your good wishes. He's nervous, I'm worrying, this is such a big deal, and no one I know wears formal work clothes an ymore.

OP please don't worry too much about this. It's the making an effort to look smart that counts more than anything.

Have a browse online at say Next to get an idea if you feel you need to. Not necessarily to buy from but just to get an idea.

I work with men's fashion. Trust me a charcoal suit, white shirt and almost any tie will look really classy.