[mdesq]

#1 with #3 as the next best option.

Don't wear the light blue. You want a dark tie; it conveys more strength and confidence.

 

[CuffDaddy]

Don't wear the light blue. You want a dark tie; it conveys more strength and confidence.

Dark ties convey confidence if the wearer has dark hair and/or features. If the wearer has pale skin and light hair (or is bare-scalped), a dark tie against a stark white background is just going to draw the eye away from the face. See Flusser's Dressing the Man.

I've interviewed dozens and dozens of applicants for professional positions over the years. I've often noticed whether applicants were well-dressed or not, or whether they were inappropriately casual or flamboyant, but neither I nor anyone I've ever discussed hiring with has ever dinged an applicant for not wearing a dark tie. For (in part) wearing a novelty tie? Yes. For (in part) wearing a bright tie over a dark shirt? Yes. For wearing a light-colored but fundamentally conservative-in-style tie over a plain white shirt? Never.

 

[kkollwitz]

Light blue.

 

[nolan50410]

#1 or #3 with a white shirt. For interviews, it's probably a safer bet to go with dark suit, dark tie, white shirt, and black shoes. I completely agree that dark brown shoes look 10 times better then black shoes against a navy suit, but a lot of people think you only wear black with navy. If you get the job, then by all means wear your dark brown shoes and pastel ties to work as much as you want.

 

[Blueboy1938]

All but #4, which is a bit too quirky, in my opinion. A white linen handkerchief folded as a pocket square with about 1/2" showing parallel to the top of the breast pocket would relieve the dark blue a bit and would not create any problem with any tie.

I just don't believe that "brown" shoes go with navy at all. Cordovan, oxblood, cognac maybe, but plain, flat, unadulterated brown goes with brown or tan, and that's about it for me. Black is just fine, especially for an interview, where you don't want any part of the ensemble to attract too much attention.

 

[ksinc]

Some people think a rule is only wear black with navy; some others think a rule is never wear black with navy. Both are wrong, but it's hard to predict what the interviewer will think. This is one reason why charcoal is better for an interview than navy IMHO.

As you are wearing navy anyway, go with either of the striped ties that make you look better based on your coloring. Only tie #4 is bordering on not "acceptable" for an interview. I would prefer to say "not advisable."

 

[CuffDaddy]

Great post, ksinc.

Some people think a rule is only wear black with navy; some others think a rule is never wear black with navy. Both are wrong, but it's hard to predict what the interviewer will think. This is one reason why charcoal is better for an interview than navy IMHO.

I don't know how one could possibly think the rule is never to wear black (shoes) with navy, given that navy is a/the quintisential business suit and the traditional rule is indisputably that, in the city, one wears only black shoes. This rule is now obsolescent, but wearing brown shoes in the city is something of a creative choice (going by traditional rules). I do it all the time, but to think that there's a rule directly to the contrary - i.e., that one must not wear the most citified shoe color with the most citified suit color - is simply preposterous.

 

[mt_spiffy]

I like any of the first three, depending how you're feeling. However one thing that I dont believe has come up is what sort of job you are interviewing for. These days, simply wearing a tie puts you above many, regardless of the tie.

 

[charle22]

Solid navy is the most conservative tie that can be worn to an interview. A white shirt paired with your light blue white stripped tie is suitable, however. The color prism is filled with many colors of sunlight, explore as many, using ties, as will compliment your wardrobe.

 

[sucitta]

There are some excellent comments here. I am not crazy about #3, but it may be your best bet with a navy suit and a white shirt. Number 1 looks like it might work with the right light blue shirt -- too much navy in the tie to wear with white. (Someone suggested that the navy stripes are black; if so, it would look better with a gray suit). I think brown or merlot shoes are great with a navy suit but black may be a safer bet on an interview, provided they are not too casual, flashy or worn out. I don't like the light blue tie and the navy suit/light blue tie combination is becoming a bit played out in my opinion.

 

[Orsini]

The first one looks safest.

 

[stingray1381]

Generally, charcoal suit with a red or blue tie is the traditional interview combination. You can't go wrong with that.

 

[Miket61]

I am also an owner of the Ermenegildo Zegna tie at the bottom of the page, but I would not wear it for an interview. My selection would be the green stripe at the top. Lose the black shoes and go with dark brown. Make sure your shoes are shined well and stick a white linen square in your breast pocket. Attention to detail is often noticed by those conducting interviews.

I've got a Zegna tie that's very similar to #1 - the colors are dark enough to be subdued and conservative, but it also looks very deep and rich.

It's important to look "put together" like you put some thought into your clothes (but not too much), but the big thing for interviews right now is balance eagerness and confidence so you don't look desperate or uninterested.