Should I get a tie for business formal?

[Natalie9250]

Hi! I just got a job interview at a investment bank in London. The HR told me that the dress code is very conservative business formal. Most employees are male and they all wear a suit and a tie. Do I need a tie?
I have a www.tmlewin.co.uk/womens/shirts/fitted-blue-twill-double-cuff-shirt-59801.html and a [[https://www.tmlewin.co.uk/womens/workwear/positano-navy-trouser-suit-52840S.html]] from TE Lewin. Do I need a still tie?

If you are dressing as a man, then yes definitely a tie. It's basic business attire, even for more relaxed workplaces; and definitely something you cannot do without for formal.

If a woman, then no; better a good jacket (or suit) over a fairly unmemorable top. Perhaps with good scarf or necklace.

yes, you need a tie and the suit must be navy with broad pinstripe. red tie would look best with matching pocket square jokes .

yes wear a tie if a man. nothing too old for you or cliched. pale blue shirt, navy tie?

if you are a woman, no, don't wear a tie, wear a nice blouse with something at the neckline, like fully buttoned with chunky silver necklace.

@EdithWeston

We may have a very different idea of relaxed business casual. I've been working in offices for the last 20 years and haven't worn a tie or worked with any men apart from one older gentleman who wore a tie.

Generally dress code was shoes, smart trousers and a collared shirt.

I've noticed a distinct shift towards even more casual with my last contract having people wearing sandals, shorts and t-shirts to the office including reasonably senior management (yes it was IT)

However, if working in a conservative financial or legal office then I agree for men a jacket and tie would be normal.

I can't say I've ever seen women wearing a tie though, I associate that more with early 2000s skate punk, Avril Lavigne style.

As unfair as it seems, I think if you are female (as your username suggests) it would be actively inappropriate to wear a tie. If the workplace is as conservative as that, even wearing trousers might be seen as controversial,.

No!

Traditionally masculine clothing worn by a woman isn't going to go down at all if the dress code is " very conservative business formal". The standard women's version is something like a skirt suit, plain blouse, nude tights and low heeled court shoes. Neat, unfussy hair.

I wasn't talking about business casual any point - just degrees of formal. OP had specified 'conservative business formal' and I was (in case OP was a bloke) pointing out that for a man, all degrees of business formal for interview, even if more relaxed than one which bills itself as conservative, definitely means a tie.

My apologies for being insufficiently clear.

Do not wear a tie unless you want to make a statement that you are a butch lesbian. There's nothing wrong with butch lesbians of course, but sexuality statements are usually best left until after interview...

Standard city dress for women these days is a tailored dress (or skirt/trousers and top) with a smart jacket (either matching or contrasting). A suit would be perfectly suitable but pretty unusual these days.

Standard city dress for women these days is a tailored dress (or skirt/trousers and top) with a smart jacket (either matching or contrasting). A suit would be perfectly suitable but pretty unusual these days.

This.

I've worked in investment banking for 2 decades and would strongly suggest you go with a dress & jacket or skirt suit if you're interviewing somewere very formal/conservative. Women wearing trouser suits to interviews in investment banking are rare in my experience (and I've done a lot of interviewing).

I work somewhere with a very formal business dress code and most women seem to wear dresses with jackets these days. Suits seem to have fallen out of favour.

Hundred that's an interesting point. I'm in law rather than banking but I do a lot of interviewing. Ten years ago you saw a lot of women in trouser suits in interviews. Now it is rare. I hadn't clocked it until I read your comment.

It’s not traditional business wear for women to wear ties. It would be, as others have said, quite a striking statement.

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