No matter what you’re wearing, I’ve noticed in my career that the people who get the jobs are above all, confident, elegant and polished. One guy I knew wore a three-piece suit … does that break the “rules”? Yes, but always remember class, not crass.

MEN

Suit: Dark grey or dark blue, either is fine. Never, ever wear black. For a while the two-button suits were boxier, but that’s not the case now. I personally prefer slim two-button suits over three-button, but both are fine. Think twice about buying anything from Brooks Brothers. I have and I regret it.

Shirt: plain white or light blue with no pockets and french cuffs. Unassuming cufflinks. If you must wear a pattern, it should be a very fine pattern — so that essentially it looks like a monochromatic shirt. Don’t make the mistake of wearing white textured shirts.

Tie: either a muted pattern or a plain silk tie. You might not be able to afford a nice suit just yet, but you can at least afford a nice tie. I’d suggest Ferragamo, Hermes or even Brioni. What’s next best for people who don’t have access to Ferragamo and Hermes? How about a next best career?

Footwear: Any dark socks will do. For all you losers out there, do not wear white socks. Try to avoid wearing “muscle shoes” or shoes that look like muscle cars … i.e. anything from Kenneth Cole. You can tell a man by his shoes.

Grooming: Do not wear cologne. DO wear deodorant. Use enough product to look well-groomed, not greasy.

Bag: This is not as much of an issue for men as I imagine for women. If you’re trying to break in, I assume you don’t have a nice briefcase, so use whatever you have. And yes, it’s still important to print your resume out on nice paper.

WOMEN

Suit: I’ve interviewed women in both pants and skirts and both are fine. However, to the extent that skirts make women more attractive, let’s just say I’d be more inclined to hire a thin, good looking person — man or woman — over a fatty. Same color rules apply here — dark blue or dark grey.

Shirt: Just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean you can get away with a wrinkled shirt. Iron the damn thing.

Footwear: Suffice it to say, no open-toes. I’ve never encountered this, but again, this one is for the losers.

Grooming: Wear your hair down over pulling it back — again, when in doubt, think “what will make me more attractive?” Hair up is too severe looking.

Bag: I have no idea about this one. Ditto on the nice paper for resumes.