Top Law Schools

I have been reading the clothing thread about OCI and summer associate attire, but I haven't found it particularly helpful for when you're an actual associate. (I'm starting at a V10 in the fall.)

Are the rules different for when you're an actual associate? My assumption is that one can afford to be slightly less conservative and regimented because you're not worried about getting no-offered.

For example:

(1) Can I wear a non-wool suit as an associate when not in court? It's going to be hot and I would like to wear linen/cotton/etc.

(2) Can I wear leather penny loafers to the office?

(3) I was thinking about getting a proper briefcase and was interested if someone had some suggestions.

To piggyback on this: About how many suits do you need in rotation at a business attire (not biz-casual) firm?

I wore business formal everyday for my judicial internship last summer and got by pretty well with two suits. I steamed them every weekend, never had a problem. I don't think any more than three would be remotely necessary. The important thing is to have a solid rotation of shirts/ties to break it up.

(Posts new thread seeking advice from Biglaw associates b/c summer associate thread unhelpful)

(Gets advice from 1L judicial intern)

ncc5 wrote:I wore business formal everyday for my judicial internship last summer and got by pretty well with two suits. I steamed them every weekend, never had a problem. I don't think any more than three would be remotely necessary. The important thing is to have a solid rotation of shirts/ties to break it up.

Keep up the good work TLS

i mean, since its a v10 I guess you should get really nice suits %100 wool no loafers please. its not a v50 or even a v20

Don't look like a damn slob. Dress professionally and you'll be fine. Keep you shoes clean and shined and make sure your suit is made out of some type of cloth.

I would also speculate that penny loafers are out for a V10.

Actual associates want to chime in about how many suits generally rotate through and whether or not they own 'summer suits' of one kind or another?

Also - silly-ish question, but how many pairs of shoes? I had one black, one brown for the summer, but was worried about destroying them with such constant use (in particular because I walked about a mile each way to work).

TheDogWhisperer wrote:i mean, since its a v10 I guess you should get really nice suits %100 wool no loafers please. its not a v50 or even a v20

Is this forreal. I mean, maybe the priorities are different here in the South thanks to weather, but are people really gonna walk up you, pinch your suit, and say "no wool, no shoes, no service?"

I'd like to think this is a troll, but I agree that loafers are atrocious for work, or anywhere else for that matter, so...

(sorry to not really be able to contribute to the thread)

Was at V5. Wore suits about 15 times in 2+ years. Owned 3 suits when i started but only 1 fit by the end =/

Anonymous User wrote:Was at V5. Wore suits about 15 times in 2+ years. Owned 3 suits when i started but only 1 fit by the end =/

Skadbro?

Loafers are awesome. Laces are the devil's handiwork.

If v10 you need to be wearing Only Allen Edmonds lace ups

V10 you can probs get away w wing tips tho

MyNameIsFlynn! wrote:(Posts new thread seeking advice from Biglaw associates b/c summer associate thread unhelpful)

(Gets advice from 1L judicial intern)

ncc5 wrote:I wore business formal everyday for my judicial internship last summer and got by pretty well with two suits. I steamed them every weekend, never had a problem. I don't think any more than three would be remotely necessary. The important thing is to have a solid rotation of shirts/ties to break it up.

Keep up the good work TLS

1) Go eat breakfast waltjr

2) Suits don't magically lose their luster while walking into biglaw.

V38- I wear khakis and polo shirts even in winter.

The shear level of infancy that grown adults who are about to begin a professional career show on this site is astounding. Next you'll be asking, "I am about to go on a yacht event--are dress shoes and shorts acceptable?"

I'm about to get a handjob in Vietnam -- are cargo shorts acceptable?

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Was at V5. Wore suits about 15 times in 2+ years. Owned 3 suits when i started but only 1 fit by the end =/

Skadbro?

nope. dee pee dub bro

Minimum 3 all-weather wool in solid or light stripe, one chalk stripe, two flannel, one tweed, two linen, one "fun" plaid, one heavy tweed, and one chambray.

blsingindisguise wrote:Minimum 3 all-weather wool in solid or light stripe, one chalk stripe, two flannel, one tweed, two linen, one "fun" plaid, one heavy tweed, and one chambray.

Need more tweed/flannel, especially at a v10

1 Seersucker for DC

so this is what i did and i think it worked reasonably well. I'm at a biz casual NY firm and yes, you can get by on two suits but you will probably want to have more. You'll want them for meetings, some departments can be more formal than others, etc.

So in your first year, buy one nice suit that actually looks good, and then load up on the Jos. A Bank / Mens Wearhouse cheapies; wait for one of those buy 1 get 5 kind of deals. Then, as you start to have more disposable income you can gradually replace the cheap suits with nice ones, one by one.

masque du pantsu wrote:so this is what i did and i think it worked reasonably well. I'm at a biz casual NY firm and yes, you can get by on two suits but you will probably want to have more. You'll want them for meetings, some departments can be more formal than others, etc.

So in your first year, buy one nice suit that actually looks good, and then load up on the Jos. A Bank / Mens Wearhouse cheapies; wait for one of those buy 1 get 5 kind of deals. Then, as you start to have more disposable income you can gradually replace the cheap suits with nice ones, one by one.

Any specific advice on this?

Hikkomorist wrote:

masque du pantsu wrote:so this is what i did and i think it worked reasonably well. I'm at a biz casual NY firm and yes, you can get by on two suits but you will probably want to have more. You'll want them for meetings, some departments can be more formal than others, etc.

So in your first year, buy one nice suit that actually looks good, and then load up on the Jos. A Bank / Mens Wearhouse cheapies; wait for one of those buy 1 get 5 kind of deals. Then, as you start to have more disposable income you can gradually replace the cheap suits with nice ones, one by one.

Any specific advice on this?

Buy something off the rack that's 100% wool, probably super 100 or higher and then get it tailored. Do a conservative color since it's supposed to be all purpose - charcoal grey or navy should be fine. I wouldn't do black - some people think those are only for formal or funeral. Just make sure the shoulders fit and unless you are super jacked or super fat a 6-7 inch drop in the waist will be fine and you can tailor it up or down 1-2 inches. Shouldn't be more than $500 all in if you're doing it right.

Don't get a bunch of suits until you're sure you need to wear them often. Few firms require suits and it's not really a good use of your disposable income (unless wearing nice suits is your thing, in which case go ahead and splurge).

Dillards' store brand (which is labeled as a Ralph Lauren line) is a good option for a starting "good" suit if they still have them. Sometimes they do 2-for-1's I think; and I want to say they run $500 or so each including tailoring.

So get 1 - 2 of those and then the 3-for-1 Jos A. Bank deal, which will get you three mediocre workhorse suits tailored and ready to go for $1000 or so if you buy their higher-end ones (which still aren't that good, but are serviceable).

Do it right and you'll have 4-5 suits for $1500 and that will get you by for a long time.