How many suits does a Summer Associate need? Forum

[Anonymous User]

How many suits does a male Summer Associate need? The position is for 10 weeks. Thanks in advance.

[patogordo]

1? unless biz formal, then maybe 3

[Anonymous User]

bump

[84651846190]

all of the suits

in all seriousness: 1 (at the vast majority of firms)

if you're at a DC firm where people take themselves too srsly, maybe 2 or more

[BuckinghamB]

a friend is going to a biz formal firm and was told to have about 3 or 4. this is also a southern market, so maybe it's really traditional?

[SemperLegal]

IMHO, number of suits pales in comparison with number of dress shirts and ties. Much cheaper, can be used for a dressed-down, but professional look, and are much more likely to be noticed. You really only need enough suits to ensure that you won't be screwed if you need a suit two days in a row, stained one, and don't have access to same-day cleaner.

ETA: Not a summer associate yet.

[Law Sauce]

I had several and mixed and matched. You need a number of dress pant and shirts and maybe a sports coat or 2. Then you would also want at least one full suit for sure

[Florence Night]

Even at a business formal firm, two is fine. Just have a lot of shirts and ties. No one cares that you wear either a navy or charcoal suit every day.

[masterbrowski]

1st yr. associate weighing in.

For a formal firm, you need two suits: one charcoal, one navy. You'll also need about 6-8 shirts and ties. Cycle the shirt and tie combos out, and people will forget that you only own 2 suits. You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears. Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week. They are paying you enough. Dry clean your clothes for greater justice.

At non-formal firms, you need ONE suit as a summer. Keep it hanging in your office in case a partner drops by and asks you to go to court, a deposition, a closing, a client meeting, etc. Hanging alongside the suit should be a matching dress shirt and tie. I can't stress that second part enough. It's no good that you have a suit in your office if the only shirt you have with you is a button-down gingham, and no tie to boot. On a related note, if you're at a firm that does casual Fridays, consider keeping a spare pair of cheap-o dress shoes and matching cheap-o belt. I once was approached to shadow a lawyer at court, but I was wearing boat shoes and a fat leather belt that wouldn't fit my suit's belt loops. Thankfully, another summer with similar measurements had my back. Be the good summer, don't be me.

Finally, in all scenarios, you'll need at least two pairs of shoes: a pair of black oxfords and a pair of brown oxfords.

[dead head]

You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears. Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week. They are paying you enough. Dry clean your clothes for greater justice.

Suits should be dry-cleaned as infrequently as possible, as the chemicals and processing involved are not good for them. Maybe once or twice a year. Spot cleaning and pressing when necessary is much better. Dry cleaning every 3 or 4 wears is extremely hard on your clothes and totally unneccessary unless you are the world's messiest, sweatiest person.

Dry cleaning shirts is silly, and there's a reason the care labels on most shirts recommend machine washing.

[Frayed Knot]

Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week.

Dry cleaning shirts is silly, and there's a reason the care labels on most shirts recommend machine washing.

This depends on the summer associates ability/willingness to iron competently, though, right?

[911 crisis actor]

No, just ask for them to be machine washed at the cleaners instead of dry cleaned

[kalvano]

Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week.

Dry cleaning shirts is silly, and there's a reason the care labels on most shirts recommend machine washing.

This depends on the summer associates ability/willingness to iron competently, though, right?

Brooks Brothers no-irons are the correct answer.

[wbrother]

No, just ask for them to be machine washed at the cleaners instead of dry cleaned

Why?!

[XxSpyKEx]

You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears. Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week. They are paying you enough. Dry clean your clothes for greater justice.

Suits should be dry-cleaned as infrequently as possible, as the chemicals and processing involved are not good for them. Maybe once or twice a year. Spot cleaning and pressing when necessary is much better. Dry cleaning every 3 or 4 wears is extremely hard on your clothes and totally unneccessary unless you are the world's messiest, sweatiest person.

True that they should be dry-cleaned infrequently as possible, but suits get nasty after after a few wears. I can't go more than 3-4 days without dry cleaning (and I don't sweat that much). The jacket tends to be fine, since it's worn over a dress shirt anyways, but the pants get nasty after 3-4 wears, since you actually sweat in those... I feel like it's the same as trying to wear a pair of jeans more than 3-4 times without washing them. They just get nasty because the oils and sweat from your body get on them (even if you are in air conditioning and not sweating much).

You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears. Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week. They are paying you enough. Dry clean your clothes for greater justice.

Suits should be dry-cleaned as infrequently as possible, as the chemicals and processing involved are not good for them. Maybe once or twice a year. Spot cleaning and pressing when necessary is much better. Dry cleaning every 3 or 4 wears is extremely hard on your clothes and totally unneccessary unless you are the world's messiest, sweatiest person.

Dry cleaning shirts is silly, and there's a reason the care labels on most shirts recommend machine washing.

Agreed. But definitely worth the $1.10 (or whatever nominal price your dry cleaner charges for shirts) to have them wash and press it. I'm always impressed that people actually wash and press their own dress shirts to save such a small amount of money-- I feel like all the time I save by not washing and pressing my own shirts is easily worth the $5-8 I would have saved by doing it myself.

No, just ask for them to be machine washed at the cleaners instead of dry cleaned

You don't even have to ask. Just give them your clothes. Unless you specifically ask for dry cleaning on a shirt, the dry cleaner will wash and press it (unless it's a weird dry clean only fabric). They know what they're doing (most of the time, at least); just let them do their jobs.

[UMich11]

if you're looking for a suit, check out IndoChino: http://share.indochino.com/x/M6tY8q

If you're looking for new dress shirts, I like these in addition to Brooks Brothers (slimmer fits): http://a.bono.bs/x/Nlyd1H


As much as the CDO says to go to Banks and get the basic suit; get one which fits and fits well, same with shirts. If you dress well for an interview, and also over the summer people will respect you more. Also always make sure your shoes are well polished.

user has been outed and warned for posting links without stating they're referral links

[BVest]

Brooks Brothers no-irons are the correct answer.

Always.

[Mal Reynolds]

You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears.

You should dry clean your suits as few times as humanly possible. This is terrible advice.

[schweitziro]

Shirts, on the other hand, can only be worn about twice max before they get nasty. No one expects you to have a lot of nice clothes, but your dress shirt should be very clean and wrinkle-free. That's why you keep 6-8 dress shirts, and do your dry cleaning every week.

Dry cleaning shirts is silly, and there's a reason the care labels on most shirts recommend machine washing.

This depends on the summer associates ability/willingness to iron competently, though, right?

Brooks Brothers no-irons are the correct answer.

J.Crew as well.

[splitsplat]

if you're looking for a suit, check out IndoChino: http://share.indochino.com/x/M6tY8q

If you're looking for new dress shirts, I like these in addition to Brooks Brothers (slimmer fits): http://a.bono.bs/x/Nlyd1H


As much as the CDO says to go to Banks and get the basic suit; get one which fits and fits well, same with shirts. If you dress well for an interview, and also over the summer people will respect you more. Also always make sure your shoes are well polished.

out this greedy bro for trying to make referral money without being upfront about it

[911 crisis actor]

Great catch - was just about to order 2 suits + 10 shirts using those links

[A. Nony Mouse]

Yeah, just so it's clear: you can post referral links on TLS, as long as you make clear that you receive a benefit from them (and you probably shouldn't post them anonymously).

[UMich11]

Yeah, just so it's clear: you can post referral links on TLS, as long as you make clear that you receive a benefit from them (and you probably shouldn't post them anonymously).

didn't know about having to be upfront about it. sorry about that

[kalvano]

You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears.

You should dry clean your suits as few times as humanly possible. This is terrible advice.

It kind of depends on location. When it's summer in Texas, every 3-4 wears is spot-on.

[jbagelboy]

You can re-wear the suits for about 2 weeks max, then you'll need to take them to a weekend dryclean spot. Best practice is to dry clean suits every 3-4 wears.

You should dry clean your suits as few times as humanly possible. This is terrible advice.

It kind of depends on location. When it's summer in Texas, every 3-4 wears is spot-on.

I cannot imagine suiting up in Dallas in July. What a nightmare. I suppose it's AC from the home to the car to the office without interruption, like the inverse of Minneapolis in January.