What is the dress code for a CEO?

It can be hard when you decide to make a career change. Especially when you have to juggle interviews and presentations around a current job. Applying for a CEO position is even more pressure. And then, when you do get invited for an interview, they’re often short notice and soon come around — leaving you with little time to decide what to wear. However, dressing for a CEO interview is not much different form any other interview, as any person interviewing will have similar expectancies.

Been invited for a casual interview?

If you’ve applied for a position at a charity or for unpaid experience, you can expect a casual interview. For these interviews, it is likely that they won’t expect you to be dressed very formally, and will be more concerned with your personality, including your punctuality. Of course, it’s always good to make a positive first impression, so still consider what you’re wearing.

Women

For one of these interviews, its often acceptable to dress simply how you would outside of work. To ensure you still look presentable, you should avoid mini-skirts with bare legs and ripped jeans. You could wear a smart dress with tights and a cardigan or a shirt-jumper combo with a smart pair of slacks or jeans.

You can expect the questions to be relaxed and chatty. Don’t worry too much about what’s on your feet. Opt for a smart ankle boot or flat pump, and perhaps avoid trainers and high heels.

Men

If you want to go casual, make sure you don’t go overly informal. Jeans are definitely appropriate, but similar to our advice for women, steer clear of ripped jeans. You should avoid wearing joggers or tracksuit tops, as these will not give off the best impression. A safe option would be a long-sleeved top, jeans, dress shoes such as Chelsea boots or brogues, and a smart jacket.

Been invited to a business casual interview?

For the majority of interviews, it’s likely that your request will state a business casual dress code. This may be because they have this dress code in the office or it may be for an assessment day where you are expected to be there all day and recruiters want you to feel comfortable. If you are unsure what to wear, it’s best to dress too formally rather than too casually to avoid giving off the wrong impression.

Women

Don’t go overly formal for a business casual interview, you can still show off your sense of style. You could wear pinstripe or patterned dress slacks with a smart shirt tucked in.

In the colder months, opt for a smart shirt with a wide collar under a jumper. This look gives off a formal impression, whilst not as professional as a shirt and suit jacket.

Men

A shirt is definitely recommended for a business casual but you don’t have to wear a full suit. Why not opt for a non-iron shirt? It stays free of creases and there’s no need to rush around with the iron the morning before the interview! Also, if you’re travelling by car or public transport to the interview, a normal shirt can become creased, but this is avoided through the non-iron garment.

Avoid wearing polo shirts and jeans as these can be seen as too informal.

Been invited to a professional interview?

Always go formal for this type of interview. These interviews could be in front of directors of the company for a graduate job or an internship. You want to look your best here; your appearance certainly counts, and with the high level of competition at this stage, you don’t want to fall at any hurdles.

Women

Women can look stylish in a suit too. When it comes to dressing the bottom half, go with what you feel comfortable in. If you decide to wear a skirt, wear one with a hemline just below the knee to avoid it rising and becoming too revealing. A suit doesn’t have to be boring — shop around and discover suits that are tailored in different ways — find one that suits your body shape. When it comes to footwear, heels are acceptable but make sure you can walk with confidence in them. If you don’t feel happy wearing heels, opt for pumps or shoes with a smaller heel.

Men

A full suit is a smart idea for a professional interview and won’t look out of place. Wear dark socks to blend in with your outfit and bring a briefcase to look professional. Brogues are a good choice of footwear — they are stylish and smart without being mundane. Choose a tailored suit that you feel represents your style — what about a stylish grey suit? A slim leg may be best suited for you and your shape too.

What not to do

There are some things that you should avoid doing when dressing for an interview:

  • Too much perfume or aftershave.
  • Too much jewellery or makeup.

When it comes to everyday style as a chief executive officer of a multimillion- or billion-dollar company, it seems many have a go-to formula.

Whether it exudes an effortless laid-back vibe of a tech enthusiast or a classic dress suit or even a fraternity brother with a hint of chic, it seems anything goes. However, this may depend on the industry.

As years go by, more CEOs have opted for a more casual everyday attire, particularly in the age of start-ups or tech. Meanwhile, the leaders of banks keep it sophisticated with their suits and occasional polo tops and slacks.

Here, WWD breaks down the attire of some of the most well-known CEOs, both past and present. Scroll on for more.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Mark Zuckerberg JS/AAD/STAR MAX/IPx

When we think of Zuckerberg, the image of him wearing a hoodie or zip-up and jeans while he was a student at Harvard comes to mind. After all, he was a college student when he founded Facebook.

As years went on, with Facebook, now rebranded as Meta, growing in immense popularity since it launched almost two decades ago, it seems Zuckerberg has not yet completely grown out of his boyish college student style.

The billionaire is almost always seen in a dark gray T-shirt paired with dark-wash jeans, only changing his shoes between sneakers, loafers or sometimes slides. But don’t be fooled — most of those said gray shirts are reportedly specially made by Brunello Cucinelli and are said to cost between $300 to $400.

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Elon Musk Patrick Pleul/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Musk, who is the CEO of multiple companies, has experienced an interesting evolution when it comes to dressing. Originally from South Africa, the entrepreneur initially started off as your typical chief executive officer, wearing suits for the most part.

In recent years, Musk has not been shy about his eccentric personality, somewhat humorous online presence, particularly on Twitter, and his Leonardo DiCaprio-esque style of dating. When he was with singer Grimes, he was no longer hiding his unique personal style on the carpet (i.e. Met Gala 2019).

Though he still likes to opt for high-end designer pieces when it comes to suits and blazers, he isn’t opposed to a nice graphic T, pair of jeans and sneakers.

Steve Jobs, Apple

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Steve Jobs in 2007 ASSOCIATED PRESS

After wearing only black turtlenecks for most of his tenure at Apple, the staple piece is now synonymous with the late businessman.

Jobs was known to have worn this ensemble for at least a decade, from the ‘90s until his death in 2011, exceedingly loyal to the black turtleneck, Levi’s 501 jeans and white dad sneakers, particularly New Balance.

Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Elizabeth Holmes in 2015 Greg Allen/Invision/AP

Inspired by her idol in Steve Jobs, Holmes copied his everyday style by also wearing a black turtleneck with black trousers almost every day when she was CEO of the now-defunct tech company Theranos.

In dressing like him, Holmes hoped to be as successful as Jobs in his innovations and creations while he was at Apple.

To have people take her more seriously, she almost always also had her hair in a messy updo and reportedly lowered her voice to sound more authoritative in a still male-dominated industry. To top it off, she also wore a red lip every day.

A new Hulu series “The Dropout” about the now-disgraced founder and Theranos premiered on Thursday, with Amanda Seyfried playing Holmes.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez at the 2021 LACMA Art + Film Gala Sipa USA via AP

Bezos initially started off like your typical CEO of a multibillion-dollar company, wearing the usual suits, polos and blazers.

However, in recent years, Bezos has been undergoing a more eclectic makeover, wearing some of the most interesting choices such as Casablanca silk ’70s boogie printed blouse on New Year’s Eve.

Bezos also upped his style since he started dating Lauren Sánchez.

Satya Nadella, Microsoft

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Satya Nadella AP

When Nadella took over as CEO, the businessman was immediately recognized for his grasp of elegant and professional style.

Though he dresses similar to other tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, such as polos, button-downs, trousers and nice blazers, Nadella distinguishes himself from his counterparts in his shoes. Instead of the casual loafers or white sneakers, he opts for none other than Lanvin.

Arianna Huffington, Thrive Global and The Huffington Post

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Arianna Huffington at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Sipa USA via AP

Huffington, who stepped down from the CEO role of The Huffington Post in 2016 to focus on Thrive Global, is distinguishable from her elegant long-sleeved dresses and perfect blowout hair.

She also urges other women to repeat their outfits, as she does herself, wearing the same dresses at events, conferences and even red carpets, emphasizing that in doing so would save time and energy.

She even posts on Instagram about wearing the same outfit, along with the hashtag “repeats” as a campaign to “encourage women to repeat outfits they love to counter the competitive advantage men have when it comes to dressing.”

Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Jamie Dimon AP

In the endless pools of “finance bros” in this world, Dimon tends to stand out a little bit more due to his more European chic grasp of a professional and out-of-office sense of style.

Of course, in the banking industry, it makes sense the businessman is constantly in suits, but when he cheers on his favorite tennis players in the U.S. Open, which JP Morgan sponsors, he opts for a simple, form-fitted polo.

It also helps that in 2016, the company loosened their dress code for their employees to wear business casual attire as opposed to just the suit-and-tie.

Jane Fraser, Citigroup

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Jane Fraser AP

Fraser makes history as the first woman CEO of Citi as well as the first woman to head a major U.S. bank. Like Huffington, Fraser keeps it professional and sleek in her midi business dresses. It seems Fraser also has an affinity for different hues of blue.

Tim Cook, Apple

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Tim Cook AP

Like his Silicon Valley counterparts, Cook’s wardrobe as the CEO of Apple is simple and straightforward in his cashmere pullovers, button-downs and trousers, and the occasional formal tuxedo.

However, his variation in his everyday closet is much more diverse than his predecessor in Steve Jobs, who mostly opted for a black turtleneck.

Jack Dorsey, Twitter and Block Inc.

What is the dress code for a CEO?

Jack Dorsey AP

Mostly private and low-profile about his goings-on during his tenure as CEO of Twitter (he stepped down in November 2021, with Parag Agrawal taking over), Dorsey somewhat resembles the highly intelligent kid in school who mostly kept to himself.

His outfits during his outings have for the most part been almost all-black, whether it be a black hoodie and black jeans or a black leather jacket, which complemented his more scruffy facial hair.

Dorsey also founded and is currently the CEO of the company Square, now known as Block Inc.

READ MORE HERE:

WWD Report Card: The Jeff Bezos Style Crisis

Meta Shares Insights on the Current State of Women-led Small Businesses

Jack Dorsey Leaves Twitter CEO Role