Cleavage & Hairy Legs a No-No at Harvard

And for male applicants? “Gentleman: don’t swim in your suit. Baggy = sloppy. You don’t have to like the slim cuts of Thom Browne, but if it looks like you dropped 30 pounds and forgot to buy a new suit, this is a problem. In the same vein, the length of your jacket should hit at the hip—there is no reason why you should ever sit on it.”

FOR WOMEN: “UNLESS YOU WON THE GENETIC LOTTERY…AN OFF-THE-RACK SUIT WILL NOT FIT YOU PERFECTLY.’ TAKE IT TO THE TAILOR.

Regarding the question of ‘fit,’ the Harbus editors write: “Here’s where a great suit can go terribly wrong. As Tim Gunn from ‘Project Runway’ likes to say, ‘a suit is meant to enhance your figure, not hide it.’ Unless you won the genetic lottery, chances are an off-the-rack suit will not fit you perfectly. This is where a tailor comes in. You may need to shorten the sleeves or lengthen the pant hem, or adjust the darts.”

FOR MEN: LEAVE THE CARTOON AND GOLF BALL TIES HOME. BUY A BROOK BROTHERS SHIRT AND HAVE THE SALESMAN MATCH THE TIE.

The editors obviously caution against wearing loud colors, noting that “loudness only detracts from your finished look. Prints should be small—no cartoons, golf balls, or impressionist paintings that consume your tie. And gentlemen, it’s best to choose an accent color for your tie (no matchy-matchy, but nothing off-the-wall, either). When in doubt, buy a shirt and tie at the same store with input from a salesperson. (We recommend Brooks Brothers.)”

WATCH THE SPLIT-ENDS AND FLYAWAYS. SHAVE YOUR LEGS.

And then there is their advice on hair. “The number one rule for hair is CLEAN…If you have biological concerns (ie. dandruff or a pet that sheds), be sure to pay extra attention to unsightly accumulations on your suit. Keep a lint roller in your bag if you are super-concerned…Girls, just check the split-end situation and shave your legs if you are wearing a skirt. We really wish we didn’t have to say this, but we will: check eyebrows, nose and ears for flyaways. That is, if your nose or ear hair is visible or you sport a unibrow, then you must apply the proper hair removal techniques.

“We personally think high ponytails are a bit unprofessional. Best to secure bangs or wispies with bobby pins or barrettes, or pull it all back into a topknot. Above all, do not fidget with your hair, and do not show up looking like you just stepped out of the shower.”

Guess all of that outside the box thinking and mold breaking will have to come from the inside.

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