Q: My daughter is 20, a college junior, and soon will be interviewing for internships in the medical field. She's about 5 feet tall, 100 pounds with fine bone structure, gold blond hair and big blue eyes. What should she wear to interviews that would make her look age-appropriate.

So far, everything she's tried either makes her look too juvenile or like a little girl playing dress-up in her mother's clothes. (She likes to wear boots, dresses, or jeans and sweaters, no ruffles, lace or pink.)


Teri Agins describes the perfect interview outfit for a 20-something go-getter. Margarete Gockel

A: Your daughter sounds lovely. She should channel actress Hope Lange in the 1959 drama, "The Best of Everything," who played a delicate, ambitious blonde, straight out of Vassar, who began her career at a book publisher. Ignore the dated, white-glove fashions from that era. Ms. Lange's timeless sophistication had less to do what she wore and more to do with her mannerisms, including perfect posture, eye contact and a low-pitched voice, without chatter or giggles.

Your daughter's clothes should play up her petite size, while making her look polished and grown-up preppy, like the models in Ralph Lauren ads. She can go for shorter (not mini) dresses and fitted clothes, including straight skirts and hip-stitch pleats. Or not-too tight skinny pants. What will give her interview gravitas: a well-cut, cropped jacket (perhaps a trendy motorcycle-style jacket in fabric or leather) over a fitted, boat-neck sweater or crisp shirt.

I like her in black boots, flat or with heels, and always with black tights, to give her the taller, unbroken line. Her best colors: camel, navy, aubergine, dusty gray, as well as dark, small prints, such as leopard. Along with pink, she should ditch the other pastel shades and the debutante pearls.

The ideal business handbag is a midsize satchel with a top handle, or flat leather shopper-style tote. No collegiate backpacks or shoulder bags.

Her hairdo is decidedly controlled and stays put. It could be a layered, shoulder grazing style, side parted. Or longer hair in a casual updo. When she's outdoors, sunglasses will impart an urbane edge.

Write to Teri Agins at askteri@wsj.com