I think it's helpful for premeds, especially those without much/any professional experience, to avoid getting wrapped around the axle about the advice here. We all need to keep in mind that it's about the overall picture of the candidate. Maybe it would help to think about interview outfits like this:
A
good interview outfit: This is the starting point/bare minimum for any professional interview. Your clothing is inoffensive, you're wearing a jacket and pants/skirt that match in a neutral color, your accessories hit all the check boxes (closed-toe shoes, neutral colors), nothing flashy or tacky. You are clean and presentable (brushed hair, no wild makeup or jewelry). Perhaps your outfit tailoring and materials aren't the best quality, but you don't look sloppy or disheveled. Perhaps there's something a little inadvisable about your outfit - maybe your shoes are too casual, you forgot to take out your nose stud, you're wearing nail polish that's too dark/weird, or something fits a little funny, but nothing that's an automatic dealbreaker for an otherwise good candidate. You look pretty good.
A
better interview outfit: All of the elements of a "good" outfit, with better tailoring/quality and no "mistakes". You look really good.
The
best interview outfit: All of the elements of a "better" outfit, but with the best materials/tailoring you can afford, high quality pieces, and your hair and makeup (if wearing) is impeccable. You're put a lot of thought into wearing the most flattering colors and cuts for your body, and you're heeding all the kind advice you've received from SDN. You look amazing.
I come from a corporate background, and I’ve seen my fair share of women’s professional wear. Most candidates will range from "good" to "better." I would hire people who fell in the "good" category all the time. But the true superstar candidates I've seen tend to fall in the "better" to "best" categories. Their confidence and polish are evident not only in their outfit, but in the way they carry themselves as well (one begets the other, after all).
@gyngyn,
@DokterMom and all the other generous professionals in this thread are providing "best" interview outfit advice - the gold standard for women's professional wear. Medical school interviewees would do well to follow this advice to the best of their ability, but if they fall a little short in one aspect or another, it's not worth losing sleep over or letting it affect interview performance.