Recruiters were randomly assigned to rate female candidates for managerial positions. The women were all pictured in identical outfits, except in half the pictures their skirt was slightly shorter, and two blouse buttons were left undone. The women wearing the more revealing outfit were rated as significantly less competent. Even a small change in dress can have a big impact on perceptions of your competence.

Campus recruiters in my study preferred to hire women wearing conservative attire (e.g., pant suit or skirted suit with skirt to the knee and no cleavage) but reported that female candidates were unlikely to wear conservative outfits.

Why does it matter...?
Are you doing yourself a disservice by dressing “fashionably sexy”. If you want to dress to maximize your probability of success, choose clothes that will most effectively communicate

If you had to choose between fashionably sexy and classic conservative dress for an interview, which would you choose? Why?