41 things to wear

What Should I Wear for a Video Interview

Plain, smart and quiet on camera: what to wear for a video interview, part by part.

Plain collared shirtSmart and plain is the whole brief from the careers services.
Plain blouseOne color, no print, nothing that moves when you talk.
Blazer over a plain topPut it on for the practice recording to see how it sits when you are seated.
Plain fine-knit sweaterSmart enough for many employers, with a collar under it or without.
Suit jacket, where you would wear one in personThe rule of thumb: the same outfit as for a face-to-face interview.
Plain dress with a jacketCheck in the recording how the neckline sits in the frame.
Shirt and plain tie, where the field expects oneChoose a plain tie. Patterns are what distract on video.
Plain roll-neckA neat line under a jacket.
Plain shell top under a jacketThe jacket does the work. The top only has to be plain.
The top half of your in-person interview outfitIf it is plain, you already own the answer.
Plain polo shirt, for a casual employerOnly where you would wear one to meet them in person.

Next step Practice an interview question

All 41 things to wear

Tops that read well on camera 11

Blazer over a plain top Put it on for the practice recording to see how it sits when you are seated.
Plain blouse One color, no print, nothing that moves when you talk.
Plain collared shirt Smart and plain is the whole brief from the careers services.
Plain dress with a jacket Check in the recording how the neckline sits in the frame.
Plain fine-knit sweater Smart enough for many employers, with a collar under it or without.
Plain polo shirt, for a casual employer Only where you would wear one to meet them in person.
Plain roll-neck A neat line under a jacket.
Plain shell top under a jacket The jacket does the work. The top only has to be plain.
Shirt and plain tie, where the field expects one Choose a plain tie. Patterns are what distract on video.
Suit jacket, where you would wear one in person The rule of thumb: the same outfit as for a face-to-face interview.
The top half of your in-person interview outfit If it is plain, you already own the answer.

Colors 9

A color that differs from your wall Sit where you will sit, record a minute and look.
Burgundy A plain color for a top under a dark jacket.
Charcoal A plain dark jacket color. Test it in the light you will use.
The color you tested on camera Record yourself in it and watch the recording back.
Deep green Plain, and unlikely to match your wall.
Gray Check it against a gray or white wall before the day.
Mid blue Our first suggestion if you own nothing you have tested.
Navy Plain and dark. Check that it does not merge with a dark chair or wall behind you.
One plain color from collar to desk Plain is what every source for this list asks for. None names a color.

Below the desk 6

Dark socks The whole outfit, as if meeting face to face.
Interview skirt Sit down in it once before the call.
Smart dark trousers The plain answer when you own no suit.
Smart shoes You may have to stand up to fix a light or a cable.
Suit trousers that match the jacket If the jacket is on, the trousers are too.
The trousers you would wear in person US careers advice: the same type of slacks or skirt as for an in-person interview.

Glasses, jewelry and sound 6

Headphones The UK careers service suggests them to improve your sound. Pick a small, plain pair.
No jewelry at all A fair choice: nothing to move, and nothing to make a noise.
One plain ring Quiet on a desk, and out of the way.
Short plain necklace One that lies flat and does not swing into the microphone.
Small stud earrings Little jewelry is the advice. Studs make no sound when you nod.
Your everyday glasses Check the recording for the lamp or the screen reflected in the lenses.

Leave off 9

No bangles or stacked bracelets They knock on the desk. Noisy jewelry is on the careers service’s avoid list.
No busy prints A UK careers site says to avoid busy patterns on screen.
No houndstooth or fine check Fine weaves can shimmer on screen, an effect called moiré.
No long, swinging earrings They move every time you nod.
No pajama bottoms Dress the half the camera does not show.
No patterned shirt Patterns distract more readily on video, US careers advice says.
No slogan T-shirt The brief is smart clothes that look professional.
No stripes Named by a UK careers site as one to avoid on screen.
Nothing new and untested Wear it for a practice recording first.

How this list was compiled

The 41 things to wear or to leave off, and the line under each, were written for this page on 2026-10-12; no list was copied. What each row rests on was read on 2026-10-12. Smart clothes that look professional, something plain that does not distract on camera, little jewelry and nothing noisy, headphones for sound, a practice recording, light and camera height: the UK government's National Careers Service, Video interview tips (https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/how-to-do-well-in-video-interviews/). The same outfit as for a face-to-face interview, with no busy patterns or stripes: Prospects, the UK careers site, Video interview tips (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips/video-interview-tips). A plain colored top, no patterned shirt and the same slacks or skirt as in person: CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Virtual interviews (https://www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/Interview/virtual-interviews.aspx). Moiré from a houndstooth jacket on screen: English Wikipedia, Moiré pattern (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moir%C3%A9_pattern). The sources say plain and name no color: the colors listed are our own picks of plain colors to test, and the rest of each line is our own advice. Left out on purpose: any video call product, brands, prices and anything about body shape. Licence: own work

How it works

What should I wear for a video interview? What you would wear in person, in plain colors, with little jewelry. These 41 things follow the advice of two government careers services and a UK careers site.

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Plain beats pattern on camera

The UK's National Careers Service says to wear smart clothes and to go for something plain that does not distract on camera. CareerOneStop, a US Department of Labor site, says patterned shirts distract more readily on video. Fine weaves such as houndstooth can also shimmer on screen, an effect called moiré, which is why newscasters avoid them.

Dress all of you

Prospects, a UK careers site, and CareerOneStop give the same rule: wear what you would wear to meet the employer face to face, slacks or skirt included. Then test it. Sit where you will sit, record a minute and watch it back, checking the light, the background and anything that moves or makes a noise.

Light matters as much as the shirt: sit facing a window, or use a lamp, so the interviewer can see you well.
Set the camera at eye level, so your collar and shoulders sit in the frame.

Questions and answers

Should I wear a suit to a video interview?

If you would wear one to meet this employer in person, yes. If not, a plain jacket over a plain top is a smart choice.

Should I wear a tie to a video interview?

Wear one if the field expects it in person. Choose a plain tie, since patterns are what distract on video, and check in a practice recording that the knot sits straight.

What color should I wear for a video interview?

A plain one. The careers services say plain and not distracting, and name no color. Navy, mid blue, gray and deep green are our suggestions. Test yours on camera against your own wall before the day.