Ask Arpana: College Interview Attire

It's finally the long-awaited college season, which means it's interview time! Interview nerves plus outfit anxiety can be a little overwhelming. Fortunately, I have a couple of tips that I can share with you when it comes to tackling your closet to find the perfect interview outfit. 

For interview-appropriate attire, I follow three guidelines. First, be well-dressed. This may seem obvious, but it can actually be often overlooked. This means you have to leave your yoga pants, comfy sweatshirt, flip-flops, and frayed denim in your closet. Second, be modest. That glitter mini skirt may look great for a party, but not for an interview. Play it considerably safe here--no deep necklines or body-con dresses. As a general rule, make sure that your skirt/dress is two to three inches from your knee whilst standing up. Just to avoid those rare mishaps, make sure to wear tights with your skirt/dress regardless of its length. In addition, tights give the appearance of looking more put-together and can give a more "formal" look to your outfit. The last and most important tip is to be YOU. People can learn a lot about you through what you wear. If you're a pretty casual "jeans and t-shirt" kind of gal, wear a pair of dark-rinse jeans but opt for a sweater instead of a t-shirt. If you have a cool tunic that you brought from Africa--wear it! The college interviewers want to learn about who you are, and this is your chance to show them. Don't let the "interview" aspect discourage you from abandoning your own personal style. There are plenty of ways to make your outfit unique without compromising the first two guidelines. I've added some sample outfits below...Hope this helps!

Casual

Preppy

Boho