2L Invited to Firm Holiday Party - What to Wear? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I am a woman and was invited to the firm holiday party, along with others who accepted SA positions. It is in SF and at a bar/restaurant.

What do women wear to these? Is a dark, modest, cocktail dress appropriate? Thanks.

[rpupkin]

I am a woman and was invited to the firm holiday party, along with others who accepted SA positions. It is in SF and at a bar/restaurant.

What do women wear to these? Is a dark, modest, cocktail dress appropriate? Thanks.

Yes, that attire sounds appropriate. Also, don't feel like you need to go if you don't want to. I usually feel sorry for the 2L future-SAs who show up at our holiday parties.

[Anonymous User]

I am a 3L who was invited to my Biglaw firm’s holiday party. I didn’t summer there. Would a long sleeve, just above the knee, v neck red velvet cocktail dress with some sequins at the waist be too much? I thought it was a modest but still festive “holiday” outfit. Or will everyone be in black and navy and I’ll stick our in a bad way? I don’t want them to think I’m eccentric and give off a weird vibe since I didn’t summer there.

[RaceJudicata]

I wouldn’t over think any of this. I also wouldn’t bank on anyone remembering anything about your presence (or lack of presence) at the party. If you want to go, Wear whatever, show up for an hour, and head home.

[cron1834]

I definitely, definitely did not attend any of these in law school. It strikes me as weird to go before you actually work there, unless you’re at a small or midsized form.

[Anonymous User]

Seriously, don't overthink the dress code. If it is something you are comfortable in and would wear out to a niceish dinner/date (think good restaurant and theatre or the like) then you are totally fine. No one will likely really notice, nor will they remember when you come back for your SA/job (unless you make a really poor choice, which you will not because you are a normal human).

Our parties run the spectrum. Have seen a partner show up wearing air jordans and a sport coat, have seen a different partners date's underwear when she sat down for dinner (not that you could not already see then through the thin, tight dress... what the poor girl had to do for those red bottom shoes she was wearing). Have seen people (mix of associates and partners) get beyond shit-faced. I do not, however, remember what anyone else wore, ever.