Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 This came up on another thread and I'm curious to know if this is a trend in other parts of North America or other parts of the world. Here it's quite common for men to wear nice, well tailored black or grey suits with bright socks - pink, orange, blue. More recently I've also seen more guys going a step further and matching the socks with bright colored shoelaces. Have any of you seen this? And another question that came up in the other thread - would this pass in an interview for a serious, well paid professional job? (My initial thought is that in an interview you always play it super safe and boring in general but curious to hear if anyone else would wear it.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoagy Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Coloured socks with a suit are almost as bad as Homer Simpson socks and are only worn by idiots or people who work in IT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Nope. Never seen it. But guaranteed I would be distracted by staring at the brightly coloured socks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I'm really surprised you guys haven't seen this. It must be a more localised thing. link removed I think it looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 No ,I have never seen it but I live in an extremely conservative part of the country. I would be shocked actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I would pegged that as a West Coast kind of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingFool Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Yes I have seen this a lot lately. Seems like the latest fad or trend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParisPaulette Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 Never saw that. Are we talking just when the guy is going out for a night on the town? I could see that being the case then I suppose. Never, ever do that for a job interview if it's in a more conservative profession. Maybe if you're trying to get a job in a Hollywood producer's office though. A far better thing to do is go check out what people wear at the place you're interested in being hired at to see how everyone dresses. Then dress accodingly--i.e. if everyone you see walking in and out of the office is wearing suits with colorful socks you are halfway there to being one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 A far better thing to do is go check out what people wear at the place you're interested in being hired at to see how everyone dresses. My husband is interviewing for jobs and we're in the same profession. In our profession/city this is very common. (And no, we're not in IT, lol..) Still, I would be worried that in an interview it could be perceived as too flashy. You want them to judge you by substance not wardrobe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I would not go for that for an interview. Like I said it's very distracting. All the interviewer would be doing would be staring at the socks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I would not go for that for an interview. Like I said it's very distracting. All the interviewer would be doing would be staring at the socks. I agree. Oh, and we're not on the West Coast. I wonder if it's a trend in New York. I know I've seen it in Montreal so probably.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 It might be a trend too for younger people which is why I haven't noticed. Because I am more in the middle age group. And someone middle-aged wearing funky socks with a suit I don't know just doesn't look right....lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 ...unless he was gay, in which case I think he could probably pull it off just fine. Victoria - you should replace all your husband's black socks with bright orange and see how he pulls it off. j/k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 There is no way in HELL he would wear them. He would go off the deep end. Lol. And I'm serious. He would throw them out that minute and go and buy black socks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavenderdove Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 The advice on job interviews is it is far better to err on the side of conservative if you are in a profession that requires 'business' attire. For women that means no cleavage, not too 'girly', skirts not too short, not too trendy, conservative makeup and hair, very subdued perfume (if any at all). For men that means a dark business suit with matching black socks and 'business' lace ups/loafers, a conservative tie, white shirt etc. The goal is to present a professional impression and have the focus be on your skills and abilities and not 'expressing' your wilder/non-professional side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavenderdove Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 btw, they are also evaluating you for good judgment. As in, know your audience and exercise appropriate social conventions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAmFCA Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I dig the bright socks look. I would wear them if the meeting is for a high-level, rain-making position, where a bit of leniency is granted and exuberance is expected (if indeed it is, in your industry). Otherwise, nothing trendy, cool socks included. Nice shoes, not cheap ones. Hermes tie if in the financial industry. Bright socks, maybe, on the last round with colleagues. IF you know what is "in" for your particular work group. At first: trustworthy, reliable, predictable. No surprises. Bright socks undermine that goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I completely agree with you, LD. Although I must say I also think sometimes people take these things too far. I had someone tell me a woman is never to wear red in an interview because its considered sexual, and a woman is never to wear a skirt or dress. I think that's going too far. I've never been influenced by a candidate's outfit in an interview. Never noticed anything out of place. I think other than extremes, the interviewer is much more interested in what you say than what you wear. Within reasons. It's also changing with time. We are becoming more funky in our dress and old rules often no longer apply. I was at an industry event this week - formal dress code - and I probably counted 10 guys with bright socks and even a couple with bright shoelaces. It's really not shocking here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavenderdove Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 >>I was at an industry event this week - formal dress code - and I probably counted 10 guys with bright socks and even a couple with bright shoelaces. It's really not shocking here. But that's a conference and not an interview. BIG difference. Once you are hired, you can lighten up a bit, but I don't think a desire to wear pink socks is worth jeopardizing a potential job offer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine_3 Posted January 16, 2014 Author Share Posted January 16, 2014 I agree. Even if 9/10 interviewers were ok with it, you wouldn't want to risk getting that 1/10 interviewer who cares. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BellaDonna Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I don't think it is wise for a man to wear bright socks like that for a job interview. The only exception would be if it was for an interview with a company that was looking for eccentricity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pl3asehelp Posted January 16, 2014 Share Posted January 16, 2014 I completely agree with you, LD. Although I must say I also think sometimes people take these things too far. I had someone tell me a woman is never to wear red in an interview because its considered sexual, and a woman is never to wear a skirt or dress. I think that's going too far. I've never been influenced by a candidate's outfit in an interview. Never noticed anything out of place. I think other than extremes, the interviewer is much more interested in what you say than what you wear. Within reasons. It's also changing with time. We are becoming more funky in our dress and old rules often no longer apply. I was at an industry event this week - formal dress code - and I probably counted 10 guys with bright socks and even a couple with bright shoelaces. It's really not shocking here. Jeez, some real followers in this industry eh? As an interviewer, you need to put aside your own taste and think about how your companies clients may react instead, which of course you can't predict so conservative should be the default. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue92 Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 Maybe around the office it would be fine, but not for a job interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheetarah Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 I think it looks awesome and fun. With that being said, I would err on the side of caution and go for conservative, subdued dress for an interview. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snny Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 You should evaluate what industry you are getting interviewed for before selecting your wardrobe. Unless you are going for an artistic career or fashion modeling, you should only wear conservative colors like blue, black, gray, or tan. Stay away from Red. It is a power color. Only use if you are interviewing for a management/administrative position. I learned this from my sister who works in politics. I think people try this because they want to stand out. However, you should be remembered by how you communicate in interviews and what answers you have that talks about your level of experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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