CREDIT: FABSUGAR.COM
Ashley Olsen (or is it Mary-Kate?) rocks the red carpet in a menswear-inspired outfit.

You've handed out resume after resume. You've considered spending your summer as a cashier, waitress, walking billboard for Domino's Pizza. You need a job. You've patiently waited and wished and wondered. You've just about given up hope when you get the call. You've made it to the next stage of the hiring process, and that means the dreaded in-person interview. Now you have some important decisions to make, not least of which is what you will be wearing on interview day.

Whether or not you want to admit it, first impressions are very important, especially to a prospective employer who sees multiple candidates for the same position and has a very short time to get to know you. Dressing inappropriately or not appearing to fit in to the company's culture of dress can take you out of the running for a job before you even open your mouth.

The dress code for interviews is pretty standard across the board, but the degree of formality you need to achieve with your outfit really depends on the type of job that you're applying for. However, interview outfits don't have to be boring and standard to be appropriate and chic.

There are a few rules of thumb that apply to dressing for any interview for any job. If you could wear any part of your outfit to the gym, the beach or the bar, it's a no go. That includes any and all miniskirts, sleeveless tops, flipflops, yoga pants and stripper heels. Also included in the do-notever- wear-to-an-interview category are leggings as pants, leggings in general, anything cleavage-baring, anything backless, and anything sheer.

That being said, don't get discouraged and think that you have to dress like a senior citizen in order to be appropriately dressed for a job interview. You can still have fun with your outfit and express yourself in the way you dress and be successfully prepared for a professional rendezvous.

A few current trends to try for an upcoming interview are: menswear-inspired elements, retro glamour and ladylike looks. The ladylike trend works for interview scenarios because it is generally put-together, conservative and more on the formal side. A few pieces from this trend that would take your interview attire to the next level are peplum tops, slimfitting pencil skirts, and belted shirt-dresses that have a modest neckline and hemlines that reach the knees.

Retro glamour can be applied in terms of hair and makeup, by choosing a chic chignon updo or winged cat-eye liner to go along with your job-hunting outfit of choice. Also in the vein of retro glamour, silky bow-tie blouses, high-waisted skirts and pants and elegant matching jackets and skirts make a great first impression for prospective employers.

The menswear trend being seen on and off the runways on celebrities and models like Agyness Deyn, Kristen Stewart and the Olsen twins (because I still don't know which one's which) is ideal for an edgy interview ensemble because it consists of structured suiting, tailored blazers, slim trousers and collared button-down shirts.

Overall, dressing appropriately for a business environment can be just as fun and as sartorially satisfying as dressing for a night on the town. As long as you keep in mind that you want to appear as an intelligent, neatly put together, fashionable future employee, there are no limits to the ways you can style an interview outfit.