What to wear for an on-camera interview comes down to a few simple rules: choose solid, warm or muted colours, skip tight stripes, busy patterns, shiny fabrics and big logos, keep jewellery small, and dress in layers you can take off. Most of all, wear something you feel good in. If you're comfortable in your clothes, you're far more likely to be comfortable in front of the camera.

We shoot a lot of interviews for B2B marketing teams, from executive messages to full interview-led docuseries like Equitable's Moments Matter. This is the same advice we give the people getting ready to sit down in front of our cameras.

When you meet someone new, the first thing they notice is how you're dressed. Video works the same way. In an interview, you're representing your brand, and your outfit says a lot about who you are. Formal? Approachable? Casual? Quirky? Some combination? We're not going to tell you what style to wear, but the camera sees a few things differently than people do.

Choosing what to wear for an on-camera interview

Most on-camera wardrobe choices come down to five things: colour, clothing, layers, accessories and hair.

Colours and patterns

Solid, warm colours are the safest choice for an on-camera interview. Neutral palettes work well, and so does a bit of colour if that's more your style. If you're layering with a jacket, a soft or muted neutral underneath looks best.

What to leave in the closet:

  • Tight, high-contrast stripes, like a white shirt with closely spaced black or navy pinstripes. On camera they can shimmer and distort.

  • Herringbone, corduroy and busy plaids, for the same reason.

  • Glossy or reflective fabrics, which bounce the lights right back at us.

  • Big prints and complex designs, which pull attention away from what you're saying.

  • Visible logos and branding. We like to avoid them, so plain is the way to go.

Shirts, jackets, skirts and dresses

Collared shirts and well-tailored jackets are easy wins. They look sharp on camera and give us a natural spot to clip a microphone (our audio tech will thank you).

Skirts and dresses can be trickier, depending on the seat and the camera angle. If you're planning to wear one, check the framing with us first so we can make sure it works. For a standing interview, it usually isn't an issue. When in doubt, give us a heads-up.

Layers

Layers look great on camera, and they give you an easy way to cool down if the room warms up. LED lighting has replaced the old hot studio lights, so it's nowhere near the sauna it used to be. Even so, sitting under lights for a while can push the temperature up a couple of degrees. Plan an outfit you can adjust. We want you comfortable, not counting the minutes until you can take your jacket off.

Just check with whoever's running the shoot (the director, camera operator or producer) before you take anything off. If one clip has you in a jacket and the next one doesn't, it looks like you changed outfits mid-sentence, and it gives the editor a headache. A quick heads-up lets us decide whether it'll work for the shot. And if you're feeling warm under the lights, ask for a break anytime. Step aside, grab some water and take five or ten minutes to cool off and collect yourself.

Jewellery, glasses and scarves

Keep jewellery small and simple, because big pieces can catch and reflect the lights. That goes for watches, pins and necklaces too. Jangly pieces like bracelets can also be noisy, especially if you talk with your hands. The mic picks up every clink, and it pulls attention away from what you're saying.

Glasses can reflect light as well, but if you're more comfortable in them, wear them. Many glasses now come with an anti-glare coating, and it makes a big difference on camera, so if yours have it, even better. Either way, let us know ahead of time so we can account for them when we set up the lighting.

We may clip a small microphone to your shirt or jacket, so go easy on scarves and long necklaces. They can rub against the mic or get in the way, and that's tough to deal with in the edit.

Hair

A neat, tidy style is the way to go, because bright lights and high-resolution cameras pick up everything. That includes flyaways and the occasional downright surreal shadow from big hair. If you have longer hair, braiding it or tying it back keeps it out of your face duing the shoot. As with jewellery, simple and tasteful wins.

A quick prep call before the shoot

For interviews with executives, we often offer a 15-minute prep call before the shoot. People almost always have wardrobe questions, so we use the time to talk through what to wear, what to expect on the day, and anything else on their mind. It's a short check-in that makes sure everyone feels good walking in. It also means nobody shows up wondering whether their favourite striped shirt is going to be a problem. (It might be. That's what the call is for.)

Comfort comes first

The most important thing is that you're comfortable. If you feel good in your clothes, you're more likely to feel good in the video, and that comes through on screen. As your video production partner, our job is to make sure you look and feel your best on camera. Your job is to show up as yourself, ideally in a solid colour.

Planning interviews for your team? Book a call and we'll walk you through how we'd run the shoot, prep call included.

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