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John Catalina, director of sales for Hickey Freeman, discusses the process of choosing appropriat

When it comes to job interviews, first impressions definitely last.

But looking good for job interviews can sometimes be more difficult than one may expect.

According to Michelle Beaudry, assistant director of the Parker Career Management Center, the right attire for a business situation – be it a job interview, a career fair or informal meetings – consists of a clean-cut, conservative look featuring darker colors.

“You don’t want your appearance to be distracting to those interviewing you,” she said.

Deciding what to wear to an interview can often be more complicated for women, due to the wider range of clothing options available.

Pant and skirt suits work best, Beaudry said, but wearing dresses with jackets may not be appropriate for a business scenario.

“Preferably, you want to wear black, blue or dark gray,” she said. “A little bit of color is OK, but noting too bright or eye-catching.”

Shoes are important to her, Beaudry said, as they are usually the first thing she notices when an applicant walks through the door.

“You don’t want to wear anything with really high heels, not only because it could look off with your overall presentation but also because you might be setting yourself up for a spill when you are nervous,” she said.

Beaudry further advised that make-up should be kept to a minimum and that all hairstyles should be limited to what interviewees usually wear.

“If you do have the tendency to unconsciously play with your hair, it’s a good idea to put it back,” she added.

For men, a similar conservative look is advised.

John Catalina, director of sales for New York-based clothing manufacturer Hickey Freeman, said the most versatile suit for male graduates about to enter the work force is a double-button solid color gray suit with a center vent – or slit – on the back.

“This has been the most traditional and best-selling suit over the past 50 years,” Catalina said in a presentation at the UCLA Anderson School of Management on Thursday.

“The color gray also tends to be less authoritative than a blue or a black and so more appropriate in interview situations,” he added.

Shirts and suits with striped patterns tend to be very fashionable today, Catalina said.

He maintained that it is important for young workers to keep their wardrobes up to date.

“Double-breasted suit coats are not as popular any more and can be seen as kind of stand-offish,” he said. “They are not suggested.”

In addition, Catalina said the best way to build a good business wardrobe is to partner up with one salesperson or tailor throughout a career.

By going back to the same person for attire-related issues, a relationship is developed by which the “wardrobe consultant” acquires knowledge of a customer’s personal tastes.

“When you start working long hours, you don’t want to fuss around finding the right tie to match your suit,” he said.

“This way you could call the store ahead of time and have the salesperson you work with lay out clothes for you.”