There are places where you can be more casual, but in the abstract... if you are a guy, wear a tie. Even if it is a flipflop firm, no one will hold it against you. Suits are unnecessary in all but the stuffiest corporate firms, and I am not sure that we have any of those here - maybe some of the offices downtown.

how about just 'smart casual'?
A tie is not just a tie. It talks. It says many things.
It can say :' He has no taste, he does not really like ties, but is desperate enough to hope that it will at least be read as an emblem of respect for the occasion'

It is my view that you should present the best of you to them...not a one-day substitute of yourself. If formal restraint isnt you..don't proceed with it then. You see...sometimes I see guys who wear ties , seated, legs wide apart, bent forward...and ties dangling neck to crotch. Whislt that sometimes might be endearing and sweet on occasions, I'm not sure that is always the desired effect. then there are those suits that are made to look like suits...the most awful fabric that clings where it shouldn't and lets loose where it shouldn't. And then there is the matter of how much of the shirt is tucked in and whether there is a moment force twisting the shirt's folds resulting from the tucking...a wasit coat is perfect to covers all that malarkey, and it really curtails the vulgarity of having to show ALL the tie. I mean, eventually a tie is as absurd as a penis...all that limpy length could have been economically planned to a more reserved and controlled aesthetic. and not to remind ourselves that we belong to the ape family.

depends on the firm. architects look funny in ties.

try to avoid all black clothes... unless you're a columbia grad looking to work for other columbia grads.

what is a tie? it's a noose waiting to happen.

if the firm is super-corporate, wear two ties! they will put you in charge right away!

I've never worn a tie to ANY interview and the majority of the time, non of those that interviewed me had ties.

Ties are overkill for achitecture, unless you are deciding between the tie and the bow tie, then a tie is certainly better.

Nice pants, a nice button up shirt, and nice shoes and you are all set. Most likely, you'll be wearing jeans half the time anyway!

yep. i've never worn a tie to an interview, and it never hurt me.

mbr has pretty much summed it up for you.

I just finished my rounds of interviews here in L.A. and a tie was never necessary. However, if you are meeting with corporate types and you really want that corporate job, then go with your feelings on that.

Most firms that are small to medium will probably think you're "stuffy" if you are wearing a tie, or that you are not open to ideas. A tie does place you in a certain "personality category".

If you want them to consider you for anything, I suggest NO TIE! See MBR's post above here, "nice pants....etc." that's the way to go!

do you guys have tiefobia?
whats wrong with ties? you can wear a nice narrow tie and a nice sports jacket over a jean looking really smart and hip. i bet you your boss will start to take you to the meetings instead of the other short pants and t shirt people in the office.

thanks for the tie critic, i guess the real question is whether a suit or just a jacket is the way to go.

you should be able to dress yourself by now.

uneDITed - that was an intense post that you wrote. i like your thinking.

always suit and tie. nothing worse than being underdressed.

overdressed...

There is a solution......

Avoid stares and sniggers at your fashion disasters by hitting the High Street with your very own list of shopping rules. Use the drop down menus below to select your body shape and determine your rules.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/lifestyle/style/whattowear/

Go in true brit style men ...

Colour - blues, khakis, soft pastels punctuated with brights and whites.
Details - top-stitch details, V-necked cardigans or sweaters.
Fabrics - lots of soft cotton and high-tech light weight fabrics, linen and denim strong again.
Patterns - prints, checks and sporty stripes; pigment dyed cottons.

Key Looks
Return of the Mods - Sixties styling heads up another mod revival in casual wear and suiting.
Rockers keep the balance, with New Wave styling and punky attitude prevalent.
Sporty styling and hip-hop influences are the word on the street this spring with nautical influences out there too.

I digress courtesy of http://www.tfic.org.uk

I'd wear plenty of pomade in the hair, brush those teeth and wear colored suits...it'll get you noticed. If they don't want you, f them cause LA stinks.

'Most firms that are small to medium will probably think you're "stuffy" if you are wearing a tie, or that you are not open to ideas. A tie does place you in a certain "personality category".'

This sounds pretty closed minded to me.

At the end of the day, there is a huge variety in the ways one can dress. This discussion is, whilst interesting, a little pointless in that respect. I'd give more credit to the guy or gal who knew what he or she was doing when they wore something, than to the dope who awkwardly tried to adapt to a convention. Some of the ideas here elucidated seem, frankly, awful. If you frame yourself as you would like (including and beyond appearance) then surely that will help you fall into a position you could like - firms that dislike what you seem to be about would probably also work in ways you are uncomfortable with.

ass-less chaps

I'd wear a stupid Trucker Hat from Hollister, then all the fake LA people will think you are money

how about girl?! what i should wear if interview in LA or surrounding areas.. may be in SF as well?!

i would recommend a bolo tie

"ass-less chaps" !!! mdler you owe me a clean keyboard

hollister is the bomb? what are you 12?

what about something kinda traslusent, like, if you can sorta make out my nipples but it is a nice shirt.......is that bad?

"what about something kinda traslusent, like, if you can sorta make out my nipples but it is a nice shirt.......is that bad?"

not at all...wanna wear that on our next date?

DEFINATELY BOLO TIE . BUT I REALLY THINK THE IMPRESSION MADE FROM YOUR PORTFOLIO AND PERSONALITY COUNTS MORE THAN YOU RALPH LAUREN OR DOCKERS

The answer for a man is simple

shirt - white or kinda of an off-beat white, long sleaved and partially rolled, starched collar (and well ironed)

pants - solid colour simple pleats, tan, light brown, grey - avoid black (they might think you are serving lunch)

shoes - to match belt (the point where you can have fun), red, black, brown - something with a heel but doesn't make a sound, rubber sole but doesn't leave a mark - I tend to prefer Kenneth Coles - don't wear sneakers even those that are made for the office.

not to wear - tie, jacket, suit (unless of course its that kinda place)

IMPORTANT - do your research before...stop the office (not in) glance and see what the blokes are wearing. Then replicate

DJ:

are you a dude? cause I am and, if you are, I am not interested.

but I am flattered!!

"not to wear - tie, jacket, suit (unless of course its that kinda place)"

at any proffessional interview isn't a suit a standard item or am I missing something? (probably LA style).

This is the best tip that will apply to all types of Practice

"IMPORTANT - do your research before...stop the office glance and see what the blokes are wearing"

I have to say that I think a suit is a safe way to go for an interview. My day job is at a body jewelry company, where there is no dress code or code of behaviour. At all. I regularly wear jeans and t-shirts that say "oprah for president" that are cut up a la jennifer beals in flashdance with birkenstocks. I've even worn that ensemble to interview prosepective employees. But, if they show up wearing a similar outfit, or really anything less than a suit, they lose buku points. One girl showed up wearing jeans and I sent her home without an interview. I think it's important to look like you're making an effort, to look like you're serious about wanting the job.

But, maybe things are different here, in NYC.

aeaa
hahaha I thought you were a girl!!

Note to self - get tattoo at dgg day job

haha, sorry jam-arch, we're just wholesalers... I can't get you a tongue ring as a consolation prize though.

err, I can, rather

design geek-girl
offer a prince albert ring

jam-arch
you can show it in situ at interview to break the ice!

Well, I do have a lovely selection of P.A. rings if it suits your lifestyle. I just didn't want to make any assumptions.

design geek-girl
do you have a preference? ;-)

I prefer the stainless hoop with 4mm hematite ball... ;)

it's about as close to "understated elegance" as one can get when selecting jewelry for the prince albert.

assumptions how dgg? If I'll like it? If the freak fits wear it!

jam-
Well, obviously these things don't scandalize me. But, some people are taken aback by piercings in certain regions. Clearly you are not part of the prudish group. good for you... ;)

please naw... your are forever tarnished when your first project management gig was for a nudist resort :)

hi, my name is ______. i would like to work for your architecture firm. what do you think about the peircing in my penis?

how can someone not hire you on the spot with an introduction like that?

note to self...get prince albert peircing

hmm, sounds vaguely traumatic

Naw you need to find a way for them to notice it first

jam - how does one go about doing that? by pointing and laughing? I'd be good at that.

post - I can get you a discount on the jewelry once you cross that off the to do list

sounds like a plan design geek-girl

if you can help i'm looking for something that will bring out my eyes

Oh, I'm sure we can find something in a natural stone that will do the trick.

stone? is that safe for the little guy?