Firstly, congrats on getting an interview – you are taking a step in the right direction. Now you just need to put together an outfit that will make you feel confident. And let’s face it, first impressions matter. Here are interview outfits for women that will make you feel professional, and polished, and leave a lasting impression – so get the callback.
If you are wondering what to wear to an interview as a female. Begin by asking yourself these three questions:
- 1) Find out the company dress code (think about the industry, ask an HR member, or stalk the company on LinkedIn and look at their team photos).
- 2) Take stock of the clothes you already own, and what could work.
- 3) Think about what outfits make you feel comfortable, confident, and empowered.
Now, we can begin to explore the best women’s outfits for interviews.
Key Takeaways
Tip: It is always better to overdress than underdress
The Best Interview Outfits for Women According to Your Industry and Career
Business Casual Interview Outfits for Women (Think Startups, Teachers, Tech, And Marketing Agencies)
Most companies are business casual these days especially if you are in marketing, a startup, and tech. You may wonder, what is business casual for women? Business casual can be confusing because it involves both business and casual elements, and boils down to how you put your outfit together. This interview attire for women involves both more business like and casual elements, and stays away from loud patterns. Plus, they feel edgy and cool.
- Darker Wash or Wide-leg jeans
- Ballet Flats or Loafers
- Blazers
- Plain T-shirt or blouse
(If you don’t have all the options in your cupboard, you can swap ballet flats for loafers and you can swap wide-leg jeans with straight-leg jeans or a long skirt)
Professional Outfits for Women (Think Finance, Executives, Government, and Corporate)
If you need to dress formally as a consultant or an executive, skip the jeans and opt for wide-leg pants, tapered trousers, and a work blouse. Include your powerful blazer and professional shoes like block heels and flats- and you will be dressed to nail your interview. If you own a power suit, you can also wear that.
- Wide-leg pants or tapered trousers
- Blouse
- Blazer
- Flats or Pointed Block heels
- Blazer
Tip for a more polished look, match your top to your blazer.
Virtual Interview Outfits for Women
Taking part in a virtual interview has become the norm, especially in the first few rounds of an interview. Just because it is a virtual interview does not mean you shouldn’t care about what you wear. In virtual settings, it is even more important as it is harder to make an impression behind the screen – so you have to put in extra effort. Plus, how much effort you put into your appearance when working from home might reflect if you are a hard worker who gets ready for the day for your future employer. Carefully choose a women’s work top that looks sophisticated, structured and office-appropriate (even if it is your home office).
- Collared Button-Down Tops
- Blazer
- Add a necklace or work jewelery
- Add a jumper of knitted vest
When interviewing remotely, don’t forget to focus on other aspects like:
Grooming (brush your hair, and teeth, and add a dash of makeup)
- Accessories (add a necklace or some earrings to add some interest to your outfit)
- Project Your Voice (speak even more confidently and clearly remotely)
- Adjust your camera to get the perfect angle (try to avoid double chins)
- Your Background (make sure your background is clean and neat if you aren’t using a virtual filter)
Tip: Make a recording of yourself beforehand to check your screen, background, voice, and appearance.
The Best Outfits for Female Entrepreneurs (Think Confidence-boosting)
Lastly, inspiring female entrepreneurs and businesswomen don’t fall into any category but they often too have to dress for success when attending meetings, at pitch, or when public speaking. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Does your personal style align with the values of your business?
Try to invest in a few, good-quality, and empowering pieces
Think about the purpose of your pitch or event, and what you aim to achieve. It is a discussion, do you want to persuade someone, or inspire someone?
Do you need to pack multiple outfits or use layering to switch it up so you can effortlessly go between events as a busy entrepreneur?
What to read next? How to Start a Business as a Woman in 2024
What Is a Good Interview Outfit for Women in 2025?
The perfect interview outfit for women in 2025 depends on your industry and career but we have noticed some trends that you can use to help you get hired.
- Collared, button-up tops
- Wide-leg pants are trending and they are really versatile and have a polished and professional look.
- Blazers are a power move and will always help you feel polished and professional.
- Shoes are a very important piece of the puzzle and loafers are a great option because they are trending and can elevate any office outfit.
Recommended Reading: The 5 Best Loafers for Women Who Work in 2024 (And How to Style Them)
Tip: Don’t erase your personal style for the office. You can incorporate your personal style by wearing interesting jewelry, choosing interesting colored or patterned blazers, and going for shoes with an edge – when you feel yourself, you feel most confident.
What Are The Best And Worst Colors to Wear to an Interview?
Interview outfits for women vary but when choosing yours, don’t forget to strategically choose what colors you want to wear. Each color communicated an idea or feeling, and they can significantly impact your interview.
Here are the best colors to wear in an interview.
- Blue communicates trust and dependability.
- Black shows strength, and leadership abilities, and is timeless.
- Gray communicates professionalism, analytical skills, and logic.
- White shows purity, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
Here are the worst colors to wear in an interview.
Brown can come across as passive or dull
Colors you should think carefully about:
- Red is appropriate to wear if you want to show high energy and power but can also come across as jarring or domineering
- Multi-colors can be fun if you are in a creative industry otherwise they can come across as distracting, loud, and disorganized.
- Orange is a lively and vibrant color but a bright orange can be seen as unprofessional
Choose your color strategically to convey the correct emotions, whether that is openness and trust or strength and professionalism. Corporate jobs might demand more corporate colors whereas business casual for women might be more flexible and open-minded.
Must-have Interview Attire for Women
You now know how to dress to make an impression (and get the job). Hopefully, you already have a lot of the items mentioned in your closet but if you don’t, it might be a good idea to invest in some staples so you can actually make use of these interview outfits for women.
Brands And Items We Recommend
Blazer
Recommended: Uniqlo Tailored Jacket | Relaxed Fit
Ballet Flats
Recommended: VIVIA Square-Toe Mary-Jane (Margot Mary-Jane)
Discover More Must-have Business Casual Shoes for Women in 2024
Loafers
Recommended: Madison Black Leather
Explore the Best Loafers for Women Who Work in 2024 (And How to Style Them)
Button-up Top
Recommended Reading: 15 Women’s Work Tops You Will Actually Want to Wear to Work (and on The Weekend)
Tailored Top
Recommended: Banana Republic Tailored Easy-Care Shirt
Women’s Blouse
Recommended: Nellie Stretch Silk Georgette Top
Wide-leg Pants
Recommended Brand: Uniqlo Pleated Wide Pants
Need more inspiration? Here are 10 Fall and Winter Business Casual Clothing Ideas That Aren’t Boring
Bonus Section: Here Are Some Confidence Building Exercises to Try Before Your Interview
Dressing for success can be a confidence-building exercise for women. Dressing well can affect how the interviewers perceive you and, more importantly, how you feel about yourself. This can be a vital and overlooked way to prepare for your interview.
Here are some more Confidence Building Exercises for women you can try before your interview:
1. Try Power Poses for Women
A slight switch in your posture can be one of the easiest building self-confidence activities to implement and trick you into feeling and acting confident.
Smile: This simple movement can elevate your mood and foster positivity while encouraging others. Plus it can be used in a virtual interview.
2. Use Powerful Affirmations
Affirmations for women can be a powerful tool to boost confidence and self-esteem, overcome challenges, and stay resilient.
- I am capable
- I deserve success
- I focus on progress, not perfection.
Here are 50 Powerful Affirmations for Women
3. Preparation is key
Lastly, when it comes to an interview, preparation is key. You need to prepare some answers to popular interview questions and tell your story – what you can bring to the table and what is your experience. Practice for your interview by role-playing with a partner or friend.
Tip: Listen to Interview Boss, where two Aussie girls will prep you (and hype you up for your next interview)
I want to listen to more inspiring podcasts. Here are the best women in business podcasts.
Suit Up, You Got This
You now have the best interview outfits for women, the last step of your preparation puzzle. Good luck and remember to breathe, stay calm, and be open-minded and ready. By dressing for success, you will already internalize this state of being.
Recommended Reading: How to Make a Career Vision Board That Will Motivate You Daily
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Job Interview Outfits for Women
How should I dress for an interview as a female?
You should dress professionally and try to understand your industry. When in doubt, always dress smarter than you feel necessary as this will leave the best impression.
What do women wear to interviews in 2025?
Women often wear professional and trendy clothing like wide-leg pants, collared button-up shirts, and blazers with flat shoes, block heels, or boots. If you can wear business casual attire, you might wear dark-wash jeans and sneakers, but it is important to at least try and include one or two smarter elements like a blazer.
What is the best color for a woman interview?
When in doubt, stick to professional colors like blue, white, grey, and black. Blue shows openness and trustworthiness, white shows purity and transparency, and black shows leadership and strength.
Is it okay to wear jeans to an interview as a female?
If the place where you are interviewing has a business casual dress code, a pair of dark-wash and non-ripped jeans are fine to wear. If the company is more corporate and professional, opt for tailored or wide-leg pants.
What color is not great for an interview?
Stay away from red and orange, unless you want to portray very high and disruptive energy.
Is it better to wear hair up or down for an interview?
It depends but the golden rule is to have clean, neat hair. If your hair is down, make sure it isn’t in your face and styled neatly. If your hair is up, make sure it looks clean, neat, and professional.
What is the dress code for a businesswoman?
Businesswomen typically wear empowering outfits like pantsuits, wide-leg pants, blazers, and structured work tops and blazers.