Suit and tie with no overcoat...

[hito]

I have a interview in a few days for a programming developer position. I already have a suit and tie, however I do not have a overcoat. If I do not purchase a overcoat, I will be going to the interview in a suit and tie with a black down jacket instead...

Is this appropriate attire, or should I go with a overcoat? I'm being told it's normal for me to wear the down jacket over the suit and tie. However, I just think it looks odd. What do you think?

 

[oboeguy]

I'd say better with the overcoat, but it depends on the company. Sometimes you can get lucky shopping for this sort of thing, though. My co-worker, for an important clientmeeting, scored a snazzy Christian Dior overcoat, which, BTW fits him perfectly well, at a vintage clothing shop in Willaimsburg (NYC). $40, amazing!

 

[FoBoT]

leave the "coat" in the car

 

[spidey07]

A suit is matching pants/coat made with the same fabric?

As long as the coat matches you should be fine. It would be better if you wore a suit though.

 

[xanis]

Helps a lot to have one, but if it's not a huge company you'll probably be fine without one.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

OVERCOAT?

I will admit that I am from California, but I know a bit about interviewing.

A suit is a matching set of formal pants and a jacket. An overcoat is a heavy coat that does not match the suit but can look formal.

In traditional times, a gentleman would wear a suit, and have an overcoat on when he went out on the town (esp at night).

However, NO ONE requires an overcoat for an interview today, not even a law firm or an investment banking firm. The only sort of job that would benefit from a formal overcoat might be a Fortune 500 CEO job, but you would probably check the overcoat in at the door of the building anyway.

NEVER EVER wear a "black down jacket " over a suit during an interview. NEVER.

Do you understand what a suit is? It comes with its own matching jacket. Leave the heavy coats at the door.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: hito
I have a interview in a few days for a programming developer position. I already have a suit and tie, however I do not have a overcoat. If I do not purchase a overcoat, I will be going to the interview in a suit and tie with a black down jacket instead...

I have a hard time imagining you not looking ridiculous. You can usually find overcoats in thrift/consignment stores. I found one for $10 that goes well with my gray suit.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Since when do people wear overcoats along with suits? Unless it is freezing, then you check it at the door right?

 

[Emrys]

Originally posted by: LordSegan
Since when do people wear overcoats along with suits? Unless it is freezing, then you check it at the door right?

I've been wearing one the past month over my suit when I am going to/from work. The temperature has been in the single digits with a wind chill below zero. The overcoat helps. And yes, I take it off at the door.

 

[hito]

Thanks for the replies all. I guess I was in the right in thinking a down jacket was a bad idea .

As for the suit, yes it does indeed have a matching jacket, however I was thinking of getting myself one of those wool topcoats. Just has to keep me warm, as it's pretty chilly out there right now in the city (NYC). I would remove whatever coat I was wearing over the suit at the door, but just didn't want to look odd doing it.

 

[Captante]

Yon don'r need an overcoat, but the black down jacket will look kinda goofy, so unless thats the image you are going for I'd suggest leaving in the car, or at least taking it off & carrying it over your arm ... the office will have somplace for people to hang coats & thats the best place for it.

 

[Deleted member 4644]

Originally posted by: hito
Thanks for the replies all. I guess I was in the right in thinking a down jacket was a bad idea .

As for the suit, yes it does indeed have a matching jacket, however I was thinking of getting myself one of those wool topcoats. Just has to keep me warm, as it's pretty chilly out there right now in the city (NYC). I would remove whatever coat I was wearing over the suit at the door, but just didn't want to look odd doing it.

I think you are fine wearing almost any sort of jacket up to the door. What is important is the suit you are wearing inside during the interview.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

lol, how did i know this was someone from NYC? I guess most other people wouldnt have the question because they would leave the coat in the car, but obviously you don't drive in NYC. so yes, if its too cold go get an overcoat or freeze your ass off on the walk, either should be fine

 

[LegendKiller]

Interviewed at a large hedge fund and a german i-bank in NYC the past few months. Every time I flew up there for the interview it was cold. Not once did I wear an overcoat and I got the job at the german i-bank.

 

[oboeguy]

Lucky you it's been warm in NYC all of a sudden. Did you do the interview yet? Anyway don't listen to these dummies who don't understand what it's like here in NYC. For those of you who don't get it, you don't wear the stupid coat during the interview but to get there and cut an impressive figure, you don't show-up at Lehman Brothers or wherever with some everyday winter coat if it's cold outside.

Edit: LegendKiller obviously did well without it, but that's a single case. At my current job I was told NOT to wear a suit, go figure. Anyway, it's a nice touch to wear a decent overcoat.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
leave the "coat" in the car

:thumbsup:

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: oboeguy
Lucky you it's been warm in NYC all of a sudden. Did you do the interview yet? Anyway don't listen to these dummies who don't understand what it's like here in NYC. For those of you who don't get it, you don't wear the stupid coat during the interview but to get there and cut an impressive figure, you don't show-up at Lehman Brothers or wherever with some everyday winter coat if it's cold outside.

Edit: LegendKiller obviously did well without it, but that's a single case. At my current job I was told NOT to wear a suit, go figure. Anyway, it's a nice touch to wear a decent overcoat.

Being from MN, I can tell you that I do understand. However, not everybody is the same and most of the time you are only cutting a figure for the receptionist. I saw that in both the Fortress and the position that I took.

As far as showing up at Lehman like that, I have a friend at Lehman and I showed up there without an overcoat and I wasn't alone. Nor does she care much (she is an MD), but whatever.

I don't easily get cold, so I usually don't care. But each to his/her own.