First Day Clothes/Beard Forum

[lolwat]

Beard is fine. I interviewed without one and showed up with a nice full beard as an SA and first year with no issue. Unless literally no one at your firm has facial hair, keep it.

I don't doubt these experiences, but in general, "I ended up doing X without an issue" doesn't necessarily answer the question of "What should I do" (or rephrased slightly, "what is likely the safest thing to do"). Unless you're heading to QE or otherwise know the office you're headed to is 100% cool with you doing something else, I would always show up first day with a suit and tie and clean-shaven -- and then adjust from there.

As for some other points:

Allen Edmonds and Aldens are both ugly in my opinion, but at least Park Avenues are generally the gold standard of safe entry-level shoes.

Backpacks are fine, but first day as an SA, a padfolio with a pen is probably enough. You're not going to do a whole lot, I'd imagine.

[SmokeytheBear]

Beard is fine. I interviewed without one and showed up with a nice full beard as an SA and first year with no issue. Unless literally no one at your firm has facial hair, keep it.

I don't doubt these experiences, but in general, "I ended up doing X without an issue" doesn't necessarily answer the question of "What should I do" (or rephrased slightly, "what is likely the safest thing to do"). Unless you're heading to QE or otherwise know the office you're headed to is 100% cool with you doing something else, I would always show up first day with a suit and tie and clean-shaven -- and then adjust from there.

As for some other points:

Allen Edmonds and Aldens are both ugly in my opinion, but at least Park Avenues are generally the gold standard of safe entry-level shoes.

Backpacks are fine, but first day as an SA, a padfolio with a pen is probably enough. You're not going to do a whole lot, I'd imagine.

Your soul and soles are ugly.

[lolwat]

Beard is fine. I interviewed without one and showed up with a nice full beard as an SA and first year with no issue. Unless literally no one at your firm has facial hair, keep it.

I don't doubt these experiences, but in general, "I ended up doing X without an issue" doesn't necessarily answer the question of "What should I do" (or rephrased slightly, "what is likely the safest thing to do"). Unless you're heading to QE or otherwise know the office you're headed to is 100% cool with you doing something else, I would always show up first day with a suit and tie and clean-shaven -- and then adjust from there.

As for some other points:

Allen Edmonds and Aldens are both ugly in my opinion, but at least Park Avenues are generally the gold standard of safe entry-level shoes.

Backpacks are fine, but first day as an SA, a padfolio with a pen is probably enough. You're not going to do a whole lot, I'd imagine.

Your soul and soles are ugly.

I think this pair is due for a resole in the next couple years, but they aren't that ugly yet.
My soul might be a different matter, not necessarily gonna disagree.

[arklaw13]

Beard is fine. I interviewed without one and showed up with a nice full beard as an SA and first year with no issue. Unless literally no one at your firm has facial hair, keep it.

I don't doubt these experiences, but in general, "I ended up doing X without an issue" doesn't necessarily answer the question of "What should I do" (or rephrased slightly, "what is likely the safest thing to do"). Unless you're heading to QE or otherwise know the office you're headed to is 100% cool with you doing something else, I would always show up first day with a suit and tie and clean-shaven -- and then adjust from there.

I think everyone is more likely to notice someone with heavy stubble than an actual beard. When growing a beard you look like you just didn't shave for a few days.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

[Nebby]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Nony I look like I'm at least 40 years old tyvm

[rpupkin]

I would shave for the first day and then let it grow out from there.

Don't do this. It's fine to have a beard, but start with one or without one. Having a a few days growth during your first couple weeks on the job is not a good look.

[Person1111]

I would shave for the first day and then let it grow out from there.

Don't do this. It's fine to have a beard, but start with one or without one. Having a a few days growth during your first couple weeks on the job is not a good look.

I agree with this.

OP, here is a good test: go on your firm's website and find at least two people in your office with beards. If you can do it, I think you are good to go.

[Pragmatic Gun]

You've combined two TLS standards- Suit up first day? and Shave or no shave? These things are covered just about every other week on TLS but I've never seen them in the same thread before!

The correct answer is suit and shave. But this is TLS, so we'll probably argue about this for 3 pages or so.

This.

[foregetaboutdre]

I would shave for the first day and then let it grow out from there.

Don't do this. It's fine to have a beard, but start with one or without one. Having a a few days growth during your first couple weeks on the job is not a good look.

I agree with this.

OP, here is a good test: go on your firm's website and find at least two people in your office with beards. If you can do it, I think you are good to go.

any advice on an office with two guys with goatees, but zero beards??? goatee is OK, but beard a no-no?

[Anonymous User]

Neatly trimmed beard is fine in that case.

[Pragmatic Gun]

Shave to be on the safe side. Do you guys have some kind of sentimental attachment to your beards??

[Yardbird]

Shave to be on the safe side. Do you guys have some kind of sentimental attachment to your beards??

Some people prefer not to shave during playoffs.

I would shave for the first day and then let it grow out from there.

Don't do this. It's fine to have a beard, but start with one or without one. Having a a few days growth during your first couple weeks on the job is not a good look.

I agree with this.

OP, here is a good test: go on your firm's website and find at least two people in your office with beards. If you can do it, I think you are good to go.

Current associate here. My firm photo is clean but I sport a beard or stubble most days (currently growing a full beard out). I’m rarely clean shaven to the point that people always comment when I am.

[TheSpanishMain]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Yeah, grownups with backpacks, especially in business attire, make me think of high school students. It's just weird and incongruous. No one is actually going to care, but it does make you look sort of silly IMO.

As for beards, I imagine only the stuffiest of stuffy firms would care, as long as you're neat and groomed. If you look like an old timey prospector, that might be a different story.

[Nebby]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Yeah, grownups with backpacks, especially in business attire, make me think of high school students. It's just weird and incongruous. No one is actually going to care, but it does make you look sort of silly IMO.

As for beards, I imagine only the stuffiest of stuffy firms would care, as long as you're neat and groomed. If you look like an old timey prospector, that might be a different story.

Do either of you take public transit to work? Do you ever go to the gym during work?

[Mickfromgm]

Just ask.

In the vast, vast majority of cases, no one cares about facial hair or suit vs. business casual (assuming that's what everybody else's wearing).

[mjb447]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Yeah, grownups with backpacks, especially in business attire, make me think of high school students. It's just weird and incongruous. No one is actually going to care, but it does make you look sort of silly IMO.

As for beards, I imagine only the stuffiest of stuffy firms would care, as long as you're neat and groomed. If you look like an old timey prospector, that might be a different story.

Do either of you take public transit to work? Do you ever go to the gym during work?

I did both of those things and never used a backpack. I think I had a duffel bag for the gym that mostly lived at work.

[Nebby]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Yeah, grownups with backpacks, especially in business attire, make me think of high school students. It's just weird and incongruous. No one is actually going to care, but it does make you look sort of silly IMO.

As for beards, I imagine only the stuffiest of stuffy firms would care, as long as you're neat and groomed. If you look like an old timey prospector, that might be a different story.

Do either of you take public transit to work? Do you ever go to the gym during work?

I did both of those things and never used a backpack. I think I had a duffel bag for the gym that mostly lived at work.

Good for you?

[BigZuck]

(posting just to try and get us to page 3)

[A. Nony Mouse]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Yeah, grownups with backpacks, especially in business attire, make me think of high school students. It's just weird and incongruous. No one is actually going to care, but it does make you look sort of silly IMO.

As for beards, I imagine only the stuffiest of stuffy fnirms would care, as long as you're neat and groomed. If you look like an old timey prospector, that might be a different story.

Do either of you take public transit to work? Do you ever go to the gym during work?

Yes, there are these things called "duffel bags" and "tote bags."

[Nebby]

LJL that we're debating the difference between a backpack, duffel bag, and tote. They're all serve the same purpose, but one is more comfortable than the others. I personally don't understand why people willfully make their lives harder but this is a bort full of legal professionals so I'm not surprised.

Backpacks are a superior mode of luggage in 21st century urban America. Come at me

[A. Nony Mouse]

Backpacks are for schoolkids and students and wearing them over business attire isn't comfortable at all.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't use them if you like them. I just think they look bad (especially when it is clearly the backpack you carried all through college/law school), but who cares?

[1styearlateral]

Backpacks should be left in your college dorm. Nothing looks goofier than an associate in a full suit wearing a backpack. You don't have to spend a ton of money, but a leather messenger bag is a nice touch to your outfit and people will take your more seriously.

[TheSpanishMain]

Backpacks are chill. Only extreme weirdos have an aversion to them.

Then I am an extreme weirdo because I don't think grownups should carry backpacks to work. (I also don't think anyone is actually going to care, I just think they make people look like little kids.)

Yeah, grownups with backpacks, especially in business attire, make me think of high school students. It's just weird and incongruous. No one is actually going to care, but it does make you look sort of silly IMO.

As for beards, I imagine only the stuffiest of stuffy firms would care, as long as you're neat and groomed. If you look like an old timey prospector, that might be a different story.

Do either of you take public transit to work? Do you ever go to the gym during work?

Yes/no. I used a messenger style bag, and I work out in the morning before I leave, usually. I don't like having to deal with carrying a change of clothes/shower stuff to work.

LJL that we're debating the difference between a backpack, duffel bag, and tote. They're all serve the same purpose, but one is more comfortable than the others. I personally don't understand why people willfully make their lives harder but this is a bort full of legal professionals so I'm not surprised.

Backpacks are a superior mode of luggage in 21st century urban America. Come at me

Yeah, backpacks being for kids is totally arbitrary and based on nothing more than convention, but so are lots of rules related to workplace dress. And I'm not saying you're going to get fired or treated like a pariah if you wear a backpack in a suit. People like me might think you look a little goofy, but there's no real reason you should give a shit what I think about your backpack anyway.

[MKC]

You've combined two TLS standards- Suit up first day? and Shave or no shave? These things are covered just about every other week on TLS but I've never seen them in the same thread before!

The correct answer is suit and shave. But this is TLS, so we'll probably argue about this for 3 300 pages or so.