law student attire Forum

[Go Bears]

I can't believe someone on here thought that polos/button-up casual shirts are overdressing.

I am 32 years old, and there is no way that I'm going to look like a homeless person in class. I would look like a tool on the opposite extreme - the oldster who is trying to look hip (I remember a scene on "Friends" - it was a sitcom back in the olden days - when one of the main characters Joey was trying to get an acting part written for a 19-year-old. He came out with a Knicks jersey, sweats pulled down around his ass and a stocking cap. I don't want to be that guy).

I mean, polos and button-ups w/jeans or very casual khakis are essentially my couch clothes these days.

I hear ya. Nonetheless, there's a wide range of button up shirts--some are clearly more casual than others. I'm definitely going to be wearing button up shirts and khakis when I go to LS, but I doubt I'll be making use of my collection of solid blue, solid white, and striped blue shirts (all very business casual and none of which can be worn without being tucked in). I'm certainly not going to be ironing my clothes on a regular basis.

Well, sure, certainly not those! I'm talking J-Crew, A&F, Banana Republic shirts that you don't tuck in. I mean, if someone thinks I'm a tool for having a "collared shirt" on, then I give up.

[Go Bears]

It definitely, however, will be nice to once again see young ladies in T-shirts and form-fitting sweats and/or jeans.

It's going to be sensory overload for this old man.

[waytofailself]

I could rant and ramble (and I actually started to but deleted it), but this is an example where parents, as others have said, have good intentions but a clear disconnect with today's times.

You are your own human...dress like a human. I see a lot of people saying they don't want to be a tool but somewhat forgetting exactly what it means to be a tool: the inability to be comfortable in one's own skin.

Seriously, there is a time and a place for dressing professionally. Every other time should be what you want to wear. For me, it's whatever magically hits my hand when I reach into the laundry mass on the floor -- but that works for me. If you're too busy trying to be someone you're not, you're going to break under any kind of pressure.

[chup]

It's true - and all the pathetic intentional battery, trespass to chattels, and conversion claims you make subsequently will fall on deaf ears as people's first question will be "Did you or did you not have a good reason to wear that tie today?" Rule 1: Prateck ya neck.

FALSE: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/fashi ... ref=slogin

Seriously though, anyone else a big fan of the tie + jeans look? If someone asked me, "Did you or did you not have a good reason to wear that tie today?" my answer would be "Yes, I had a good reason. Because it's baller. Now leave me be, peasant."

[Go Bears]

It's true - and all the pathetic intentional battery, trespass to chattels, and conversion claims you make subsequently will fall on deaf ears as people's first question will be "Did you or did you not have a good reason to wear that tie today?" Rule 1: Prateck ya neck.

FALSE: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/fashi ... ref=slogin

Seriously though, anyone else a big fan of the tie + jeans look? If someone asked me, "Did you or did you not have a good reason to wear that tie today?" my answer would be "Yes, I had a good reason. Because it's baller. Now leave me be, peasant."

No. But that's only because someone I work with does it, and doesn't carry it off with nearly the aplomb of the guy in your picture.

[MochaLaw]

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[jgarr]

The dude's name is McCracken? Anyone else remember a Bart Simpson joke about Phil McCrackin? I have trouble believing anyone with that name anymore...

[chup]

No. But that's only because someone I work with does it, and doesn't carry it off with nearly the aplomb of the guy in your picture.

I will grant you that aplomb is needed for jeans + tie.

[18488]

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[KidA23]

I'm thinking something along the lines of-

[18488]

...

[chup]

I'm thinking something along the lines of-

Also baller.

[Undecided83]

...jeans, shorts...

Jeans & shorts are fine, but stay away from JEAN-SHORTS!!

[est1980]

...jeans, shorts...

Jeans & shorts are fine, but stay away from JEAN-SHORTS!!

Unless you got to either Florida or Alabama, in which case it is completely appropriate and probably best to set off your Jorts with a nice gold chain (ala Mike Shula).

[chup]

...jeans, shorts...

Jeans & shorts are fine, but stay away from JEAN-SHORTS!!

Unless you got to either Florida or Alabama, in which case it is completely appropriate and probably best to set off your Jorts with a nice gold chain (ala Mike Shula).

--ImageRemoved--

[limegreen]

...jeans, shorts...

Jeans & shorts are fine, but stay away from JEAN-SHORTS!!

Jorts are the worst fashion crime ever. The only thing that comes remotely close is socks with sandals.

[bocifious]

I don't know why anyone would 'dress up' for class. I'll be sporting the mesh shorts as far into winter as possible.

My dad thinks it's necessary to show everyone that you're sharp, motivated, and organized by dressing fashionably and neatly in semi-formal dress every day. He contends that this will be the impression you want your classmates and professors to remember about you, and that this impression would be absolutely essential later on, since they might serve as references in future jobs. It seems to me that dressing in this way would instead tell people that you're a conservative, sheltered, uptight, awkward gunner that they should avoid dealing with at all costs.

You are right, your dad is wrong. If you are using friends from school as references I would hope they know more about you then that you dressed up for school each day for no reason.

[bocifious]

It's true - and all the pathetic intentional battery, trespass to chattels, and conversion claims you make subsequently will fall on deaf ears as people's first question will be "Did you or did you not have a good reason to wear that tie today?" Rule 1: Prateck ya neck.

FALSE: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/fashi ... ref=slogin

Seriously though, anyone else a big fan of the tie + jeans look? If someone asked me, "Did you or did you not have a good reason to wear that tie today?" my answer would be "Yes, I had a good reason. Because it's baller. Now leave me be, peasant."

It is absolutely fine to dress up if you look like the models in that NYT article or on the pages of GQ. Sadly this doesn't describe most law students

for the record I like the shirt + tie + jeans look, but I don't think I can really pull it off so I don't try.

[bruinbear]

im definitely looking foward to law school even more if guys all looked and dressed like those models. i might even dress up for them.

but all i hear is that somehow one of the ugliest guy in OK sneaked into our class

[jaliebs]

but i also think it'll be pretty easy to tell whos dressed up cause thats their natural style and whos dressed up like a douche trying to iimpress

TITCR.

Don't forget: this is professional school and there will be students who are well-removed from undergrad, have been in the work force for some time already, and have already 'transitioned' into wearing business clothes. But like the quote above states, I think it will be easy to pick out the people who dress a little nicer simply because that's their thing and that's what they're accustomed to. It will also be easy to pick out the people who are all snazzed up because "I need to look like a winner to be a winner!!" The former earn my respect. The latter earn my LOLs.

Screw that. I'll be a bit older than average and I can't wait for fall so I can ditch my "nice" clothes and get back into jeans/shorts/t-shirts/flip flops. The days of paying for dry cleaning, ironing my clothes, etc will gladly be put on hold for 3 years.

[Fourttier]

I knew a law student who dressed like a slob, looked like a slob, and kinda acted like a slob. He graduated ranked number 8 in his class, of a Tier 2 school. And then was hired for the highest known starting salary in his graduating class. Seems that how you dress in law school doen't really matter in some cases.

Well yeah it doesn't matter for firms that don't see you on a regular basis, and only see you dressed up for the interview. Of course they aren't going to care that you dressed like a homeless person on a daily basis, because they don't know about that side of you.

But the OP was talking about how your peers and professors will see you.

How his profs and classmates saw him had no negative impact on him scholastically or professionally. Maybe the time not spent ironing shirts was spent on studying. But people said that he would stop screwing off and study on a regular basis when away from the law school. He sure did not act like someone who would graduate 8 in class.

[NeedAllTheHelpICanGet]

During my law school visits, I noticed that many people dressed a lot better for class than I would have expected. I don't think you will be labeled a "tool" if you dress well for class, as long as it isn't over the top.

I'm going to wear a 3-piece suit everyday for class.

You're a tool.
Everyone knows the 2-piece is what you wear to LS!

[Fourttier]

During my law school visits, I noticed that many people dressed a lot better for class than I would have expected. I don't think you will be labeled a "tool" if you dress well for class, as long as it isn't over the top.

I'm going to wear a 3-piece suit everyday for class.

You're a tool.
Everyone knows the 2-piece is what you wear to LS!

I prefer shorts and sunglasses.

[lishi]

Maybe the time not spent ironing shirts was spent on studying. But people said that he would stop screwing off and study on a regular basis when away from the law school. He sure did not act like someone who would graduate 8 in class.

No one said you have to iron your shirts to not look like a slob. If you can't wake up and have enough time to grab a clean t-shirt out of your drawer and take a quick shower because you are afraid of losing those 10 minutes of study time, I think you have problem. And I'm sure those 10 minutes can be made up at some other time of the day.

I'm not talking about always wearing khaki's and a button down, or wearing a "power suit" or anything. All I'm saying is make sure your clean, have clean clothes (and underwear just because that's good hygiene), and brush your teeth. I don't see how that would be very detrimental to your study time.

[candlelight01]

If you don't already have your wardrobe picked out for every day of class next year, and screened by fashion consultants, you are wrong.