In a job interview, unless you're applying for something way-out, conservative is considered the better way to go. It does very much depend on the location: if you're going off to a big conglomerate as a young executive, take a smallish clutch purse in a dark leather, ideally one that matches your shoes. Unless you're applying in a fashion-oriented company, eschew corporate logos: the guys at IBM probably won't be overly impressed with your BCBG bag. Forget fashion-forward textures or even colors that would be considered fashionable by the style-savvy: go for unobtrusive, sedate –even boring.

In general, if you're going to wear a scarf with a dress, especially your favorite LBD, make sure to get a long scarf, longer than average. The purpose of a scarf with a dress is to add flow and mystery—you can't do that with an ordinary scarf. And this scarf should probably be of silk, preferably a heavier weight silk, which looks costly. It doesn't have to be expensive: you can buy a couple of yards of silk at a second hand store and cut it into a dress, or check out the fabric stores specializing in Asian imported fabrics for gorgeous silks at good prices. You don't have to buy one ready-made: spend a couple of hours of TV-watching time hemming it by hand, and you're done.