When you’re preparing for an interview, every detail matters. Your handshake, your answers, your body language — and yes, the colour of your shirt. The right shade can project professionalism, confidence and reliability, while the wrong one might send a message you didn’t intend.
I’ve been in interviews where I felt sharp and ready, and others where I wished I’d chosen differently. The truth is, picking the right interview shirt colour isn’t about fashion — it’s about strategy.
With a few clear guidelines, you’ll know exactly which colours give you the edge.
What Colour Shirt Should I Wear to an Interview?
If you’re ever in doubt, white or light blue will always serve you well. Both colours pair effortlessly with suits and ties, while ensuring you look polished and professional.
For more relaxed fields like tech or design, a pale grey or soft pastel could work, but avoid anything loud or overly saturated. The aim is to look sharp, not distracting.
Interview Shirt Colours That Work
Neutral, professional tones are your safest choice. A crisp white shirt is the timeless standard, projecting confidence, reliability and attention to detail. It works with any suit colour and is rarely out of place.
Light blue is equally professional but feels slightly more approachable, with a softer edge that makes it ideal if you want to appear confident without being too formal.
Pale grey or muted pastels can also work, especially in industries where creativity and individuality are encouraged, but the key is subtlety.
Is a White Dress Shirt Appropriate for an Interview?
Yes, and in many industries it remains the gold standard.
A white dress shirt is safe, timeless and versatile. Its strength is in its neutrality: it doesn’t draw attention away from you, but it shows you’ve taken care to present yourself properly.
Just remember that the effect is ruined if the shirt doesn’t fit correctly. An ill-fitting white shirt can look careless, no matter how crisp the colour. That’s why our tapered cut makes all the difference.
Is a White or Blue Shirt Better for an Interview?
Both have their place. White tends to feel more traditional, the colour of choice for industries like finance, law and management where formality is expected.
Blue gives a more approachable and contemporary impression, ideal for interviews where personality and confidence matter just as much as your CV.
If you’re not sure, consider the role you’re applying for: do you want to lean into tradition or come across as open and engaging?
What Is the Best Colour Shirt to Wear for a Job Interview?
The best colours are white and light blue. Colour psychology studies show that blue is associated with trust and dependability, while white signals honesty and attention to detail.
Together, they remain the most reliable choices for almost any interview.
What Colour Shirt to Wear on a Zoom Interview?
On video calls, presentation works a little differently. White can sometimes glare under bright lighting, washing out your features. Light blue, pale grey or even muted pastels often look sharper on screen and give you more definition.
Avoid bold checks or patterns — cameras can distort them and make your outfit look messy. A quick test on camera before the call is the easiest way to see what works.
Can I Wear a Black Shirt for an Interview?
Black is tricky. While it can look sleek and formal, it often comes across as too severe or even funereal in a professional setting. If you choose black, you’ll need to pair it carefully with a lighter suit and tie to soften the effect, but generally white or blue will give you a more approachable presence.
Is a Black Shirt Too Formal for an Interview?
A black shirt can be formal, but formality doesn’t always equal suitability. Unless you’re interviewing in a creative or fashion-led field, it’s best to avoid it. In most cases, lighter tones look sharper and more professional.
What Colour Shirt to Wear with Black Suit for Interview?
A black suit works best with white or light blue.
These colours create the right contrast and prevent your outfit from feeling too stark. Black-on-black might look sharp at an evening event, but for an interview it can appear overly dramatic.
What Not to Wear: Colours to Avoid
There are a few colours that are almost always best left in the wardrobe:
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Bright reds and neon shades, which look aggressive or distracting.
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Bold patterns, which take attention away from your face.
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Head-to-toe black, which often feels too harsh for an interview setting.
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Fashion-forward or novelty shirts, which might look great socially but undermine professionalism.
The golden rule? You want your skills and personality to stand out, not your shirt.
Why Fit Matters as Much as Colour
Colour sets the tone, but the fit determines the impression. A perfectly chosen shirt in the wrong fit looks sloppy. Too loose and you’ll look careless, too tight and you’ll seem uncomfortable. At Tapered Menswear, we’ve engineered shirts for men with broad shoulders and narrow waists — solving a problem no other brand addresses.
That means your shirt looks like it was made for you, even if it came straight off the hanger. And when you feel comfortable and confident, that shows in the way you carry yourself through the entire interview.
Best Colour Men’s Shirts for Interview
When it comes to interview attire, the safest and most effective shirt colours are white and light blue. They balance professionalism with approachability, ensuring you look sharp without being distracting.
Other muted tones like pale grey can work in the right industries, but bold colours or heavy patterns are best avoided.
At the end of the day, though, colour is only half the story — fit is what truly sets you apart. Even the perfect shade loses its impact if the shirt balloons at the waist or pulls at the chest. That’s where we come in.
Our revolutionary cut provides a 10" drop from chest to waist.
Fully fitted in chest and shoulders whilst tapering sharply down, giving a tailored look. No more bagginess in the waist.
Enhanced Darts
Expertly tailored darts at the back, for the perfect fit.
Stretch Cotton
Super soft, breathable and allows complete freedom of movement.
Perfect for the office.
With our non obtrusive logo stitched subtly on the wrist makes our TAPERED Fit Shirt ideal for formal occasions.
Tapered Fit Shirts are the true solution to your shirt fitting problem. If you want a shirt that fits your body like it should, check out or best selling shirt here
