Odd Question: Dressing for Success Forum

[capnobvious123]

Hi all,

Hopefully this isn't the wrong place to post this thread (seemed about as close as any), but I wanted to ask for advice/tips on dressing well from people who probably have a good deal of experience in the matter.

I'm a 0L, applying to law schools this cycle, but I'm also starting as a paralegal at a small firm soon. My sense of style for formal men's attire is virtually non-existent, so I was hoping people might have advice on where to read up on picking out good looking suits/dress shirts/etc.

I'm not quite sure what the dress code is at the small firm where I'll be working, but from what I've gathered it can't be more than button downs and ties, and probably less formal than that. Still, advice for the long run in the legal field would be nice, as I'm pretty clueless.

Advice specifically catered to picking things out on a budget would be appreciated as well, although feel free to speak more broadly than this. It'd just be nice if I could get an idea of things I should be looking to pick out while on a 32k-40k paralegal salary.

Thanks! Again, apologies if this thread is totally misplaced. Fairly new here.

[lacrossebrother]

Dude don't wear a suit as a paralegal if the lawyers aren't. It's weird enough to be a male paralegal.

[capnobvious123]

Dude don't wear a suit as a paralegal if the lawyers aren't. It's weird enough to be a male paralegal.

Yeah sorry, not planning on it, although I'm not sure what the dress code is there, like I said.

I just meant for future reference, advice on suits would be appreciated.

General advice on picking out dress shirts/ties etc and where to get them would be great.

Where do people shop? Recommend a brand?

[lacrossebrother]

Allen Edmonds for shoes. Suit Supply, Brooks Brothers, or J. Crew for suits. And Brooks brothers for shirts. And thetiebar.com for ties.

[orangecup]

Allen Edmonds for shoes. Suit Supply, Brooks Brothers, or J. Crew for suits. And Brooks brothers for shirts. And thetiebar.com for ties.

Pretty accurate. My vote is Suit Supply for suits, since they're half-canvassed, solid fabrics, and already marked down. You shouldn't be buying suits from Brooks Brothers unless it's a sale.

[stannis]

Charles Tyrwhitt for shirts. Use the chat function on Customer Support to get a link to the $29 shirt sale. Get extra-slim if you are slim, slim if you are larger than average, and classic if you are very large. Or buy one of each, return the ones you don't like and buy 5-10 of the ones you like. The fewer shirts you have in your rotation, the simpler the patterns and colors should be. For example, a subdued Prince of Wales check shirt is fine every 3 weeks, but would be weird to wear every week. However, if you only want/can afford 5 shirts, stick with solid light blue or subtle patterns. Start with puppytooth, bengal stripes, and gingham (assuming business casual).

Also, don't wear a tie without a jacket. Lots of young male professionals and sub-professionals do this thinking it looks "professional." It has the opposite effect.

[AreJay711]

It's weird enough to be a male paralegal.

[capnobvious123]

Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it.

Wasn't aware there were gender conventions for paralegal jobs, but whatever, I'll be there for a year until I get into law school. Just a way to make some cash and have a law related soft to put on the resume.

[everton125]

[quote="capnobvious123"]Thanks for the feedback guys, really appreciate it.

Wasn't aware there were gender conventions for paralegal jobs, but whatever, I'll be there for a year until I get into law school. Just a way to make some cash and have a law related soft to put on the resume.[]

It is probably the case that female paralegals outnumber male paralegals, but it was fairly ridiculous, borderline sexist, and just an overall dick move by the laxbro guy to suggest that there is anything odd about being a male paralegal. I work as a biglaw paralegal and, though female paralegals do outnumber the male paralegals at my office, it is like a 60%/40% split, and males are very well represented. Maybe the split is more dramatic outside of biglaw, but there is certainly nothing wrong or even odd about males working as a paralegal before law school. I personally found the experience to be a great one, as I have detailed excessively in a previous post that you can read (you will likely be the first).

I hope you enjoy your job.

[BigZuck]

This thread is definitely one of Lax's best efforts in the on topics IMO. On so many levels.

OP- there are like 2 official men's style threads on TLS. And every summer associate thread devolves into one as well. Those should all get you where you need to go (though what Lax said is a pretty excellent cliff's notes version)

[Clemenceau]

Charles Tyrwhitt for shirts. Use the chat function on Customer Support to get a link to the $29 shirt sale. Get extra-slim if you are slim, slim if you are larger than average, and classic if you are very large. Or buy one of each, return the ones you don't like and buy 5-10 of the ones you like. The fewer shirts you have in your rotation, the simpler the patterns and colors should be. For example, a subdued Prince of Wales check shirt is fine every 3 weeks, but would be weird to wear every week. However, if you only want/can afford 5 shirts, stick with solid light blue or subtle patterns. Start with puppytooth, bengal stripes, and gingham (assuming business casual).

Also, don't wear a tie without a jacket. Lots of young male professionals and sub-professionals do this thinking it looks "professional." It has the opposite effect.

This post is spot-on from top to bottom.

[capnobvious123]

This thread is definitely one of Lax's best efforts in the on topics IMO. On so many levels.

OP- there are like 2 official men's style threads on TLS. And every summer associate thread devolves into one as well. Those should all get you where you need to go (though what Lax said is a pretty excellent cliff's notes version)

Oh. I'm an idiot. Search functions exist for a reason. My bad guys. Regardless, thanks for the feedback, this thread is obviously a little easier to sort through than those other very lengthy ones. Appreciate the condensed advice.

[J9ofDiamonds]

Charles Tyrwhitt for shirts. Use the chat function on Customer Support to get a link to the $29 shirt sale. Get extra-slim if you are slim, slim if you are larger than average, and classic if you are very large. Or buy one of each, return the ones you don't like and buy 5-10 of the ones you like. The fewer shirts you have in your rotation, the simpler the patterns and colors should be. For example, a subdued Prince of Wales check shirt is fine every 3 weeks, but would be weird to wear every week. However, if you only want/can afford 5 shirts, stick with solid light blue or subtle patterns. Start with puppytooth, bengal stripes, and gingham (assuming business casual).

Also, don't wear a tie without a jacket. Lots of young male professionals and sub-professionals do this thinking it looks "professional." It has the opposite effect.

This post is spot-on from top to bottom.