Biglaw Attire Forum

[Anonymous User]

This is a serious question. How should a guy dress for the office at a biglaw firm? Suits every day or business casual?

Maybe it varies by the firm. If that's the case, how would you dress on the first day? I'd kind of feel dumb if I went in overdressed in a suit. Not sure if I'd feel worse being underdressed in business casual.

[sublime]

..

[84651846190]

Do what a majority of the associates do.

[Anonymous User]

Are a majority business casual or formal? I'd like to get a new suit before the summer starts but if I'm never going to wear it then maybe not worth it

[Bildungsroman]

Are a majority business casual or formal? I'd like to get a new suit before the summer starts but if I'm never going to wear it then maybe not worth it

Nobody can tell you the office dress code without knowing the office.

[84651846190]

Are a majority business casual or formal? I'd like to get a new suit before the summer starts but if I'm never going to wear it then maybe not worth it

going to need your firm and office to give you a decent guess

[Anonymous User]

Different anon here. What's the typical attire for a NYC V5 firm (not WLRK)?

[Nekrowizard]

What even is business casual? Can I just wear the pants from my suits with a shirt? Or do I need an entirely new style of pants?

[acijku2]

What even is business casual? Can I just wear the pants from my suits with a shirt? Or do I need an entirely new style of pants?

You can wear the pants from your suits. Business casual is pretty wide ranging but at its most casual its slacks/suit pants and a tucked in button down shirt.

[Pokemon]

Different anon here. What's the typical attire for a NYC V5 firm (not WLRK)?

NYC v5 tends to be business casual. Lower ranked firms tend to have more strict codes. The idea is that the higher ranked attorneys do not need to prove their worth by getting suits and other trappings of professional life. Wlrk is just casual.

[Anonymous User]

Does one need to change their suits at least everyday and at least refrain from wearing the same blazer during the week? Is sheath dress or ankle-length smart pants allowed?

[Anonymous User]

Different anon here. What's the typical attire for a NYC V5 firm (not WLRK)?

NYC v5 tends to be business casual. Lower ranked firms tend to have more strict codes. The idea is that the higher ranked attorneys do not need to prove their worth by getting suits and other trappings of professional life. Wlrk is just casual.

I don't think the sarcasm was super necessary, but in fairness, OP asked a dumb question. Every V5 has like ~100 summer associates and ~100 first-year associates coming in the door; therefore, there's really no need to not name the firm, especially as an anonymous user. Also, assuming you're one of the incoming cogs, you could probably ask one of your classmates/alumni from your school.

EDIT: stretchedtoothin.

[whysoseriousbiglaw]

Most firms are probably business casual.

That said, I think the people who wear suits everyday for no reason are generally broke, trying too hard douchebags.

[whysoseriousbiglaw]

Different anon here. What's the typical attire for a NYC V5 firm (not WLRK)?

NYC v5 tends to be business casual. Lower ranked firms tend to have more strict codes. The idea is that the higher ranked attorneys do not need to prove their worth by getting suits and other trappings of professional life. Wlrk is just casual.

I'm not at a v5 and it's business casual. People who wear suits look soo douchey (and trying too hard).

[Poldy]

Aversion to people wearing suits is pretty stupid. 100% of men look better in a suit than in business casual attire. Maybe they just like the look? Also, it takes no extra effort and is every bit as comfortable.

[whysoseriousbiglaw]

Aversion to people wearing suits is pretty stupid. 100% of men look better in a suit than in business casual attire. Maybe they just like the look? Also, it takes no extra effort and is every bit as comfortable.

Not really. Most men in biglaw just look similarly bad regardless of what they wear...

I've met a lot of d-baggy types in biglaw though, so that might color my thinking. I come from a relatively rich background too (richer than biglawyers), and the people in biglaw are like 100 times more d-baggy than the people I grew up with.

[Anonymous User]

Wlrk is just casual.

False.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone know if DPW NY is business casual?

[stretchedtoothin]

It seems absurd that there are dozens of firm dinners/events leading up to an SA, and each T14 has anywhere from 6-20people going to each V10 firm, yet people still come onto the internet to get basic information instead of asking their future colleagues. It's such a minor point that shouldn't matter, but you all should really start being proactive and interacting with people irl

[84651846190]

Different anon here. What's the typical attire for a NYC V5 firm (not WLRK)?

NYC v5 tends to be business casual. Lower ranked firms tend to have more strict codes. The idea is that the higher ranked attorneys do not need to prove their worth by getting suits and other trappings of professional life. Wlrk is just casual.

lol

[Nebby]

This is good marketing for firms. They should tell their clients:

"Our incoming associates are so bright, they can't even dress themselves!"

[Biglaw1990]

.

[Rahviveh]

Aversion to people wearing suits is pretty stupid. 100% of men look better in a suit than in business casual attire. Maybe they just like the look? Also, it takes no extra effort and is every bit as comfortable.

You have to be tall and or in good shape to look good in a suit. Pale, short, fat/sickly men do not look good in suits.

FYI hEre is the proper attire for Skadden

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/fashi ... -firm.html

[Poldy]

Aversion to people wearing suits is pretty stupid. 100% of men look better in a suit than in business casual attire. Maybe they just like the look? Also, it takes no extra effort and is every bit as comfortable.

You have to be tall and or in good shape to look good in a suit. Pale, short, fat/sickly men do not look good in suits.

FYI hEre is the proper attire for Skadden

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/fashi ... -firm.html

They look worse in everything else. It is a relative scale.

[whysoseriousbiglaw]

Aversion to people wearing suits is pretty stupid. 100% of men look better in a suit than in business casual attire. Maybe they just like the look? Also, it takes no extra effort and is every bit as comfortable.

You have to be tall and or in good shape to look good in a suit. Pale, short, fat/sickly men do not look good in suits.

FYI hEre is the proper attire for Skadden

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/fashi ... -firm.html

lol you said it better than I did

but yeah, if you don't look good in any clothes, period, why even bother trying? it just makes it look even worse and makes you look like a try-hard d-bag.