We’ve talked about suits and what to wear under them, but what about your feet? When you’re going to a job interview, you want to be sure that from head to toe, you look professional and capable, which means that you want to choose shoes that are the right heel height and style for your suit AND are appropriate for the office and the job.

A couple of general guidelines: interview shoes should not be too sexy, nor should they be too flashy. Toe cleavage and fabulous embellishment are both completely appropriate in a work shoe, but not in an interview shoe. The idea is not to draw attention to your shoes but to create an overall impression of competence and professionalism. For this reason, your shoes should be clean and polished; this is a good time to take are of any repairs that you have been putting off, like new soles or heels or a good cleaning.

Beyond that, you have four basic choices; go with the one that fits both your style and the office’s style, and that works best with your interview suit.

Classic pumps
You really can’t go wrong with a pair of classic dress pumps. A pointy toe is dressier and will extend your leg line, making you look taller, but there are also some great square and round-toe options out there. Choose a heel that you can walk and stand in comfortably. I do not recommend a very skinny stiletto heel for an interview, though; you want shoes that look professional, not sexy. Pair with sheer stockings that match your skin for the sleekest, most professional look.

Kate Spade ‘Katie’ pump, $295.00

Flats
Flats are fine, as long as they’re not too casual. Look for pointy-toed or modestly embellished flats, for a dressier look. And keep hems slightly shorter; skirts should hit just above the knees, and trousers should break slightly across the top of the foot. If bare legs are appropriate and acceptable, feel free to skip hose; otherwise, choose either an opaque tight that matches your shoe or a very VERY sheer stocking that matches your skin.

Anne Klein New York ‘Baden’ flat, $195.00

Boots
If you will be interviewing for a job during Boot Season (that’s right now!) feel free to pair your suit with a great pair of knee-high boots. No Uggs, please — you want the same kind of line as you would get with a great pair of pumps. Look for boots with a pointy toe and a little heel, which is dressier than an equestrian boot. Look also for a boot that hits close to the knee; anything shorter will cut your legs off at the widest point. Keep skirt or dress hems slightly shorter than the top of the boot, and wear opaque tights or dark stockings.

Sudini ‘Torrey’ slender boot, $199.95

Peep toes
I love the look of a great peep toe with a suit, particularly for a more casual or creative office; it’s the perfect unstuffy dress shoe, although you want to be sure to pedicure or to invest in some really great opaque tights if you want to work this look. However, if you are interviewing somewhere that frowns on open-toed shoes or bare legs, think twice about the peep toe, for obvious reasons.

Joan and David ‘Karin’ pump, $159.95

All shoes available at Nordstrom.