Headed out for a job interview? Not sure what to wear? Well, you’re not alone. In my professional image and career readiness classes, people ask me about appropriate interview attire more than any other question. It seems that no matter how self-assured we are, and no matter how killer our resumes look, we lose our confidence when we stare into our closets trying to compose the perfect interview outfit. So let’s tackle this topic and reclaim our moxie!

To begin, here are a few things to steer away from:

1. Workout wear. Leggings, tank tops, sweats, bare midriffs—none of these are appropriate for an interview. Even if you’re applying for a position as a fitness club manager or an exercise coach, you’ll want to dress up just a little, so that you look like you’re serious about landing the job.

2. Over-accessorizing. You want your interviewer to be focused on your stellar performance as an interviewee, and not on your personal ornamentation. A humongous, flashy necklace or long, dangly earrings can be distracting to the interviewer. Ditto for clattery, clang-y bracelets—in fact, avoid any accessory that makes noise. For both sexes, go for tasteful and understated. And be sure to remove your face jewelry unless you’re absolutely certain it’s acceptable at the organization you’re interviewing with.

3. Wild color palates or avant-garde clothing designs. An interview is not the place to make a bold fashion statement, and my advice is to err on the side of conservative. For both sexes, stick to standard colors— research shows that navy blue is a great choice, as well as neutral browns, grays, and beiges. I realize these colors may not excite you, but you can always wear that day-glow yellow camp shirt after you land the job.

4. Wearing anything that mismatches with the company culture. What if you’re not sure about a company’s customs and mores? Don’t be afraid to ask. Call up the HR department and ask someone about proper interview attire—they’ll be glad to tell you, and impressed that you inquired. Your goal is to look as if you can effortlessly slip right into the job and instantly fit in with your future co-workers. But again, even if you’re interviewing at the coolest hipster company in San Francisco, stay on the safe side—cover up any tattoos, and don’t walk in with green hair, wild nail polish, or visible body piercings. You can gradually add some personal flair after you’re settled in.

Broadly speaking, avoid wearing any clothing that’s uncomfortable, dirty/wrinkled, dated, or outrageously trendy. Uncomfortable clothing will distract you from your performance, dirty/wrinkled clothing will make you look like you don’t care about your appearance, dated clothing will make you look like you’re not paying attention to the world around you, and outrageously trendy clothing may be off-putting to the interviewer. Instead, choose clothing that’s basically “neutral.” You want your sparkling personality and brilliant mind to stand out—not your outfit.

So what should you wear? For starters, remember that every company has a dress code—even if they say they don’t—and dress codes can vary greatly. If you’re interviewing with a major NYC accounting firm, you’ll dress a lot differently than if you’re interviewing with Google. Even though we know it intuitively, we sometimes overlook this obvious and important tip: when you walk into your interview, you want to look as if you already work there.

Along with matching the dress code of the company or organization you’re interviewing with, I do have one extra, specific suggestion—not just for job interviews, but also for life in general:

For women, I believe that having a good, dependable blazer is crucial, no matter what line of work you’re in. I actually have several. When I’m standing in front of an audience, I love the look of the newest, longer blazers. But when I have to be seated for an extended amount of time (like in a board meeting), the short ones are the only way to go—otherwise, the long ones look bunched up and wrinkly at the waist. And blazers look great with pencil skirts, trousers, and even jeans—they’re the ultimate tie-in piece.

A good sport coat will do the same thing for men that a blazer will for women. You can wear your sport coat over slacks or jeans, and you can dress it up with a white shirt and a tie (Hey—you might need one someday), or go for a more casual look with a solid pastel shirt and no tie, or do the totally laid back thing with a more brightly colored or patterned shirt. I always suggest that both women and men keep an “emergency” blazer or sport coat in a closet at work, or in the trunk of your car (but don’t let it get wrinkled), or wherever—just in case you suddenly need to look killer-fab at a moment’s notice.

In summary, dress carefully, professionally, and tactfully for your next job interview. Start by shopping for what you can afford, what fits, what makes you feel attractive and confident, and what truly matches your vision of your perfect, professional self. Overall, the best approach is to be well groomed, clean, and neat—and then tailor your “personal look” to fit your personality, your line of work, your budget, and your comfort level. And the final, final word when it comes to your interview attire: be yourself! Just make sure you’re the very best version of yourself you can possibly be.