I won't have time to do it myself, but I might get someone to make me a nice suit. I always have the trouble of small waist, large bust, and have to mix/match tops with bottoms. So I need like a size 12-14 jacket, tailored, to fit my chest and a size 8 pant to fit my waist.

IF I can swing it, I would finally love to have a nice suit made for me. This will be 10-11 months after baby, so hopefully I will be back down to those sizes LOL. I'm in 16 maternity clothes or XLs right now! I hope it's not just wishful thinking on my part I would love to wear a bright shirt. I need more jewel tones though to pull that off.

If I can't, then I'm going to buy separates and have them tailored, or tailor them myself if I have time (probably not). I always wear heels too on the interview trail. I'm kind of tall anyway (5'8") and I like being taller on the interview trail. IDK why - maybe a subconscious thing competing with guys?

I have long hair and was thinking about wearing a chignon at the base of my neck. I'll probably spend a little extra time with my hairdresser in the Spring or Summer to learn how to do it nicely, and quickly, and to make it stay.

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, so I'll probably wear my wedding ring, maybe some small earrings, and either pearls or a solitary diamond necklace I have.

Oooh... now here's a thought... I usually wear my nails clean, maybe with a little clear polish. Would it be out of line to wear a light polish, like a nude or light pink?

LOL I interviewed for med school 3 weeks post-partum, with poor planning (= thought I would be able to fit into a one-prepregnancy-size-too-big suit). Ended up taking out the lining, wearing the thing with the zipper/button open, a ridiculous muffintop, and plans to keep my jacket closed except by the end of the day I *had* to open my jacket since I was up 3 bra sizes!!! Oh and I showed up 40 minutes late! And they still let me into med school! Oh the memories.

To answer prior questions/comments:
- yes to clear/neutral nail polish
- hair either way, depending on what looks more professional on you
- hot pink totally okay (I love it too! and I did it!), at least for pediatrics, especially with a more neutral suit
- I also wear make-up *maybe* to weddings and graduation (actually, probably only to my own graduation), mostly because on regular days I'd rather sleep the extra 5 minutes, but I did wear light make-up on interviews. Light foundation, mascara, light eye shadow. I can't do lipstick, and I always mess up the eyeliner. I'm like a 10 year-old with her toy make up set. But still, I didn't feel quite put together without it.
- no to peep toes (um hello, it's WINTER anyway!), I think flats are okay but would prefer heels if you can tolerate them. Can always do a switcheroo during walking/tour time if your purse is big enough to fit flats
- pant suits okay for cold weather and more casual places, but I would wear a skirt in the South
- now the real secret: it doesn't really matter (see above!)

I love it

Agree with baby Einstein - likely it doesn't matter! Definitely fun to discuss, but don't get all nervous that your suit will make or break you at your interview. Ok, I guess you could really wear something hideous and it would matter, but probably no one here was planning to do that

When I interviewed for residency I was pregnant, tried wearing heels once and then quit. Couldn't do it. I wore black danskos with my black suit... And no one said anything bad and I got in. I didn't wear makeup since I never do and I think it was fine. Halfway through interview season I really couldn't pull off my suit pants anymore with the growing belly so I borrowed a pair of black pants from a friend and wore it with the Bella band thing. Ha. If I managed to pull that off you ladies should be fine! You sound much more put together than I do!

1. Residency interview suit: more, less or just as formal as the medical school interview suit? Must the suit be some shade of black?
Mine was black and formal. Ann Taylor. Black jacket and skirt

2. Underneath: button-down shirt required? Shell ok? Colors ok, or white only?
I wore button down blouse. I bought one in white, beige, and pink.

3. Do you feel like a granny wearing pearls? Any other acceptable necklace style--chunky rhinestones, anyone?
No jewlery other than my engagement ring and wedding ring

4. Heels: do you just want to die after a campus tour, or is it not that bad? Wedge heels formal enough? Flats ok? Open-toed? Lil buckles or flowers on top?
Formal black leather pumps with about an inch heel. Italian leather and very comfy. I could probably run a 10k in those.

5. Did you have 2 suits (or two shirts) and switch them out? If you were gone on an extended run, did you find a dry cleaner in between interviews? Did you have to iron every time you traveled?
Just 3 shirts. Dried cleaned as I went, but pretty rarely. It's hard when you are on an interview trail.

6. Do most people wear their hair down?
I wore my hair back in low pony tail.

7. I already bought my suit (couldn't lose the baby weight enough to fit comfortably in the med school one ), but could someone comment on her favorite brand and what she thinks is a reasonable price?
Ann Taylor. They have awesome sales.

1. Residency interview suit: more, less or just as formal as the medical school interview suit? Must the suit be some shade of black?

Same level of formality I think. Actually I suspect the code of formality is perpetuated by generations of terrified applicants, more than imposed by selection committees. I don't think the selection committees give a hoot about the color of your suit actually. I had two suits for residency interviews - a chocolate brown and a sage green. I got compliments on both but especially on the green one. Anne Klein and Elie Tahari both super cheap at Filene's Basement.


2. Underneath: button-down shirt required? Shell ok? Colors ok, or white only?
I had both depending on the climate in the interview area. Cream or maroon for the brown suit, cream or brown for the green suit.


3. Do you feel like a granny wearing pearls? Any other acceptable necklace style--chunky rhinestones, anyone?

I wouldn't do anything too big. I only wear earrings generally, I think I might have worn pearl ones actually. don't remember.

4. Heels: do you just want to die after a campus tour, or is it not that bad? Wedge heels formal enough? Flats ok? Open-toed? Lil buckles or flowers on top?

Again, the selection committee will not care as long as nobody remembers you as the ditz in six-inch stilettos who fell on the interview tour. I wore comfortable two-inchers, which were fine for walking.

5. Did you have 2 suits (or two shirts) and switch them out? If you were gone on an extended run, did you find a dry cleaner in between interviews? Did you have to iron every time you traveled?

I think I just packed carefully and steamed lightly in the shower. I actually had three suits because I used my black one from med school interviews as a backup a couple of times.


6. Do most people wear their hair down?
Don't remember. I don't think I did anything special with my hair (meaning down alternating with ponytail in elastic band). As long as your hair is neat it's fine. If you have super wild hair I would tie it back.

There was a makeup question also - I don' wear it generally (maybe once a year for a big occasion) and didn't for interviews. As with the jewelry, I don't think you can do too little but you can do too much. I wouldn't wear anything people would *notice* IYSWIM.


Good luck on the interview trail!!!

You guys are blowing my mind here. When you say you don't wear makeup, you don't actually mean none, right? Right? You literally get out of the shower, slather on some sunscreen/moisturizer and some Chapstick and ... leave the house?

If so, I'm impressed by this. For one, y'all must have gorgeous skin. For two, I wish I had that kind of confidence. I find that the further I get from, oh, 18, the more I like makeup. (And facials! And weird snakeoil skin creams!) On a typical day, I wear foundation, blush or bronzer, eye shadow and mascara or liner, sheer lip color. Heck, I'm sitting here at home, three days post-partum, and I'm wearing eyeliner! For reals.

Um, I shower in the evening. So I get up, put on clothes, eat a bowl of cereal, brush my hair, put on deoderant, brush my teeth, and go. That's it. No make-up, no moisturizer, no chapstick (might bring some with me in winter).

I am blessed with crystal clear skin (never had acne as a teen), though if my mother was any indication it will wrinkle and spot eventually.

I wear nothing at all. Not even lotion. I don't even wash my face in the morning with anything other than some water. Then I live in WA where it is not very sunny. I used to have a strict skin regimen (but no makeup) before my son. Now I just don't have the energy to put on lotion. I do wear makeup on girl's night out and such. My husband actually prefers my face bare, so I don't wear makeup on our dates.

I did wear makeup during interviews, though. Foundation, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, eye brow make up, and light lipstick. Just enough to not stand out. My attire was pretty formal because I interviewed in the South some, and I didn't have the energy to have more than one outfit.