Interview Dress for Men: What to Wear to a Job Interview
Dress one level above the company's daily dress code. For most interviews, wear a plain white or light blue shirt, tucked, with navy or charcoal trousers, a leather belt and polished black or dark brown shoes. Add a blazer for corporate roles; drop it for startups. Keep everything pressed and well fitted.
The short answer
Dress one level above what employees wear day to day. For most interviews in India that means a plain white or light blue shirt, tucked, with navy or charcoal trousers, a leather belt and polished black or dark brown shoes. Add a blazer for corporate roles. Everything should be clean, pressed and fitted. Nobody hires a shirt, but a bad one distracts.
Interview outfits by type of company
| Setting | Shirt | Trousers | Layer | Shoes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate (banking, consulting, law, government) | White or light blue, plain | Charcoal or navy formal trousers | Suit or blazer; tie for senior roles | Black Oxfords |
| Mid-size company / IT services | White, light blue or fine pinstripe | Navy or grey formal trousers | Blazer optional | Black or dark brown lace-ups |
| Startup / tech | Plain solid or quiet texture | Chinos or dark trousers | None; an overshirt at most | Leather Derbies, loafers or clean minimal sneakers |
| Creative (design, media, fashion) | A shirt with character: texture, an earth tone, a subtle check | Well-cut chinos or dark jeans | Unstructured jacket | Loafers or clean sneakers |
Corporate interviews
Play it straight. White shirt, charcoal suit or trousers, black shoes. A tie in navy or burgundy for senior roles or conservative firms. This is not the place to show personality through clothes.
Startup interviews
A suit can look out of touch. A pressed shirt with chinos says you took it seriously without overdoing it. Check the company's social media to see how the team actually dresses, then go one step smarter.
Creative interviews
Some personality is expected, but keep it to one element: an interesting texture, a colour or a pattern. Fit and cleanliness still matter most.
Video interviews
Wear the full top half. Solid mid-tones work best on camera; very fine stripes and small checks can shimmer. Avoid pure black against a dark wall.
What to avoid in an interview
- Wrinkled shirts, especially collars and plackets.
- Short-sleeved shirts for anything formal.
- Loud prints, large logos, graphic tees.
- Sports shoes with formal trousers.
- Mismatched belt and shoes.
- Strong perfume.
- Shirts that pull across the buttons when seated; sit down in it at home first.
Interview day checklist
- Iron the shirt the night before; hang it, don't fold it.
- Polish shoes, clean the soles' edges.
- Trim nails, groom facial hair.
- Carry a spare handkerchief in summer.
For the full office wardrobe, read formal dress for men. To pair trousers with any shirt colour, use the shirt and pant colour matcher.
Interview shirts by mtsya
Manu White is the safest interview shirt we make: white with a small basket texture, soft point collar and clean placket. Hard Rain, white with burgundy and grey pinstripes, suits mid-size offices. Silt, a warm taupe, is our pick for creative and startup interviews. All are sewn at 15 to 17 stitches per inch, the formal-shirt standard, regular fit in S to XXL, and leave the studio within three working days. The only mark is the Matsya fish stitched small at the left chest, after the fish that guided Manu through the flood. See all shirts or the occasion guide.
Shop the shirts
Questions, answered
What colour shirt is best for an interview?
White is the safest, followed by light blue. Both look clean, work under any blazer and photograph well on video calls. Fine pinstripes are fine for most offices; avoid loud colours and large patterns.
Is a tie required for a job interview?
Only for conservative fields such as banking, law, consulting and government, or for senior roles. For IT, startups and creative roles, a pressed shirt without a tie is normal.
Can I wear jeans to a startup interview?
Dark, well-fitted jeans can work at relaxed startups and creative firms, but chinos are safer. Pair either with a pressed shirt and clean leather shoes so you still look prepared.
What should I wear for a video interview?
A solid mid-tone or white shirt, pressed, with a collar that sits well on camera. Avoid very fine stripes and small checks, which can shimmer, and pure black against a dark background.
Should I wear a suit to an interview?
For corporate, finance and law interviews, yes. For tech companies and startups, a suit can look stiff; a shirt with smart trousers and an optional blazer is better.
The fitting room
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