How to dress for an interview video

Behind the Scenes

"Reel-y" Insightful Key Points

When it comes to video interviews, your clothing choices can communicate a lot about who you are and what you represent. We've gathered some helpful tips to help you make sure that you present yourself in the best possible light on camera:

Choose your colors carefully. Avoid high-contrast patterns, glossy fabrics, and complex designs, and instead opt for warm, solid colors. Collared shirts and jackets are great options for men, while women should be mindful of camera angles when wearing skirts.
Keep it simple with accessories. Avoid large jewelry pieces that can reflect light, and be mindful of glasses and scarves that can get in the way of microphones. Choose a hairstyle that is nicely-styled and won't distract from your interview.
Prioritize your comfort. Layer your clothing for temperature control, and above all, choose clothing that makes you feel confident and comfortable. When you feel good in your clothes, you're more likely to come across as confident and poised on camera.

When meeting someone new, the first thing they’ll notice is how you’re dressed. This can have a big impact on how people first perceive you. So having a good outfit that compliments you and your vibe is crucial.

The same goes for a video shoot. In an interview video, you’re representing your brand, and how you’re dressed can tell people a lot about who you are. Are you formal? Approachable? Casual? Professional? Quirky? Some combination? Your clothing is one of the many signals that you send to other people about who you are and what you stand for. When you're on camera, there are a few other things to take into consideration. We’re not going to tell you the style of clothing to wear, but we can give you tips and things to consider for video. As a video production agency that shoots a lot of these interview videos, here's the advice we give to the folks who are preparing to be interviewed:

Colour choice

Walk on over to your closet and avoid wearing anything with close, high-contrast pin stripes (like white shirts with closely-placed black or navy stripes). Toss out any herringbone or corduroy and a lot of busy plaids. We always recommend wearing warm and solid colours. This could be more neutral palettes or some colour depending on your style. If you want to layer with a jacket, a soft or muted neutral-coloured base looks best.

Also make sure to avoid glossy or reflective fabrics, complex designs, or big prints. These can be distorted or distracting in the video. Branding is also something we like to avoid so solid colour options are the way to go.

A note for men

Collared shirts look great and are very easy to attach sound equipment to (our sound guy will thank you). Jackets also look really good, especially with the proper tailoring.

A note for women

Skirts can sometimes be difficult to wear on camera, depending on the seats and camera angles. If you plan to wear a skirt just double-check with us on the framing so we can ensure it will work. If it’s a standing interview this shouldn’t be an issue. If in doubt, give us a heads-up!

Layers

LED is the new standard for lighting, so the studio lights don't get as hot as they used to. But being on camera for a period of time can still cause you to get warm. Layers look awesome, but when you're planning your outfit, remember that the temperature in the room might go up a couple of degrees. We want you to feel comfortable!

Accessories

Lighting can also reflect off big pieces of jewelry. Both men and women should keep this in mind, and be smart about their choice of watches, pins, and necklaces.

The same goes for glasses, but if you feel more comfortable with them on, let us know and we’ll make sure we take it into account when setting up the lighting. And, if you're going to have a mic attached to you, be careful wearing scarves or necklaces; they could get in the way and be tough to deal with.

Hair

When choosing the hairstyle to go with that day, remember you'll be under bright lights and in front of high-resolution cameras that expose flyaway hair and the weird (occasionally downright surreal) shadows cast by big hair. Both men and women should have nicely-styled hair, with shorter styles being more appropriate for professional interviews. Braid longer hair or tie it up in a ponytail to prevent the hair from getting in your face. As with jewelry, simple and tasteful are the key.

But the most important thing is that you’re comfortable!

If you’re comfortable in your clothes, you’re more likely to be comfortable in the video! As your video production partner, we want you to look and feel your best on camera.