Conventional wisdom holds that maximizing your chances of getting a job means adhering to a set of wardrobe rules about suit colors, skirt lengths and shoe styles. The result often is an endless procession of numbingly similar job seekers who visually err on the side of boring, bland and assembly-line generic.

	Above: From Jhane Barnes, a Gatsby pinstripe suit in wool-linen-silk blend in blue and taupe ($975) and orange-red silk tie ($90) make a stylish statement without being over-the-top for a job interview. Below: Isaac Mizrahi for Target features a green double-breasted jacket with white pleated skirt, creating summer chic that works in the office. Click photo for larger image.

So, how do you stand out from the crowd when making that critical first impression? This is where the fashion-conscious might have an edge. It's possible to look professional while displaying just enough panache to edge yourself ahead of the competition.

"Dressing smart is not always about dressing formally," say Kim Johnson Gross and Jeff Stone, authors of "Dress Smart Women: Wardrobes That Win in the New Workplace" and the companion book for men. Paying attention to the subtleties of style may impact your appearance far more than simply adhering to an overall dress code."

Summer, which tends to be a more fashionably relaxed season than winter, is a good time to experiment with injecting a shot of personal style into your interview wardrobe.

But be careful. Some apparel and accessories are considered inappropriate when interviewing for jobs in most fields.

Those don'ts include: shorts, jeans, flip-flops, sneakers, headwear, fishnets or stockings in distracting colors or prints, garments with after-five embellishments, and jogging suits, T-shirts and other athleisure items.

Other looks to avoid: showing cleavage, bare shoulders or midriff, exposed chest hairs, unconventional piercings, indiscreet tattoos, glittery or high-shine makeup and cocktail rings and other ostentatious bling.

"Whether you like it or not -- no matter what the state of the economy -- the way you present yourself acts as a thumbnail sketch of your character, subject to instant interpretation by those around you," write Gross and Stone. "From these visual cues, others make assumptions about your dedication and competence; your personality, habits and tastes; social life, friends, and quirks. The thought and effort you put into determining what you wear will directly correlate to the strength, accuracy and consistency of the message you give out."

They describe "business-appropriate" as interview and workplace dressing that bespeaks seriousness yet allows more leeway to express individual style, especially for men. The category "has emerged as a midpoint between business casual and corporate dress codes. Silicon Valley meets the man in the gray flannel suit, and business-appropriate is the offspring."

Men are more likely than women to shy away from being fashionable during the job hunt. It can be done, but Gross and Stone add a warning: "As with the best things in life, following trends is best enjoyed in moderation: A bold shirt, a graphic tie, an eye-catching pair of cuff links."

Selection of a navy pinstripe suit for an interview isn't a repudiation of a more traditional, predictable look. Both men and women can do that, or they can opt for the more traditional navy suit and spice it up with a necktie, shirt or scarf in a color or pattern that is edgy but nonthreatening.

Choose trends carefully for your interview outfits, advises Talbots spokeswoman Betsy Thompson.

"Every trend doesn't flatter every figure," she cautioned. "And every one isn't appropriate for the job interview. You might want to err on the common-sense side."

Finally, advises Thompson, anything you wear for an interview ought to be something you can wear to work if you get hired.

"Don't buy for the interview. Buy for the job."