Do you think you will wear suits again? Forum

[s200200300]

Went back to the office a few times lately and everyone was in jeans and a t-shirt. I looked at the suits in my wardrobe and I don't think I will ever wear them again. Anyone reckon we will ever go back to the suits/shirts/ties time pre-Covid?

[Anonymous User]

Any predictions for what dress code will look like at the old-school NY white shoe firms (S&C, DPW, etc.)?

[blair.waldorf]

Hopefully not. I hate working when I’m uncomfortable.

[flowersandsunshine]

Any predictions for what dress code will look like at the old-school NY white shoe firms (S&C, DPW, etc.)?

Also wondering this. Especially the ones that had an explicit business formal dress code pre-covid.

[Anonymous User]

I will never ever wear a suit again at the office unless I have to see clients (I've met my clients in person once in three years). Maybe if one of the two partners I work with (one who shows up in athletic wear at least one or twice a week) explicitly tells me to, but even then.

[Wubbles]

My firm was pretty casual before and now I don't think we'll go back to any more than a polo and jeans

[Anonymous User]

Even when my firm required suit and tie every day, I didn't wear either. So I'm certainly not going to now. I don't care about needless formalities, especially ones that get in the way of working comfortably. I was always prepared for them to call me out on it, but no one ever did. I sincerely doubt anyone is going to make an issue of it going forward.

[Anonymous User]

There are subtle markers though, right? In some groups at some firms everyone always wore a suit and tie, even if no-one else did - it showed that you were keen and serious. (The gunner senior associates would make a slight concession to late hours by undoing their top buttons at 11 pm.) At others it was unheard of. I'm curious to see if and how this changes.

[Anonymous User]

What big law firms had the majority of people regularly wearing suits to the office pre-Covid?

[Sackboy]

What big law firms had the majority of people regularly wearing suits to the office pre-Covid?

Every poster here obviously works for Wachtell.

[Prudent_Jurist]

5 days a week, baby.

How else will the plebeians at my favorite lunch spot know I’m important?

[ExpOriental]

5 days a week, baby.

How else will the plebeians at my favorite lunch spot know I’m important?

People wearing suits aren't seen as important anymore.

These days, wearing a suit signals that you're someone else's lackey.

[Prudent_Jurist]

People wearing suits aren't seen as important anymore.

These days, wearing a suit signals that you're someone else's lackey.

Clearly you’ve never seen me eat lunch in a suit.

[1styearlateral]

If suits are no longer required in biglaw, Quinn will be getting kicked while they're already down.

[ExpOriental]

People wearing suits aren't seen as important anymore.

These days, wearing a suit signals that you're someone else's lackey.

Clearly you’ve never seen me eat lunch in a suit.

I'm picturing a lone individual hunched over a cellphone, tie tucked into a once-fitting shirt, prodding forlornly at a wilted salad, and lots of sighing. How close am I?

[nealric]

5 days a week, baby.

How else will the plebeians at my favorite lunch spot know I’m important?

People wearing suits aren't seen as important anymore.

These days, wearing a suit signals that you're someone else's lackey.

I think this is becoming increasingly the case. The CEO of my F500 company doesn't wear suits to work on a regular basis. The security guards in the lobby do.

Old saying was that you should dress for the job you want. So I suppose I should wear hoodies to work, as that's what billionaire company founders do

[Prudent_Jurist]

I'm picturing a lone individual hunched over a cellphone, tie tucked into a once-fitting shirt, prodding forlornly at a wilted salad, and lots of sighing. How close am I?

You're missing the bloodshot eyes and a tan line where there was once a ring.

[TLSReturntoWork]

5 days a week, baby.

How else will the plebeians at my favorite lunch spot know I’m important?

+1, but you should be wearing a suit on saturday and sunday. communicates 24/7 importance.

And I seriously hope you haven't been wearing anything less during the pandemic. People need to know you remain a consummate professional, with a clear, crisp tie that really gives your blazer a boost.

[transferquestiontls]

Just out of curiosity, which firm required wearing a full suit pre-COVID? I thought biglaw was biz cas.

[mwells_56]

I find this thread funny because once I landed a BigLaw job my Dad asked me if I needed to start buying $600 suits. And my grandpa who spent 1 semester in law school before dropping out and working in local gov simply does not understand that I will not be wearing a suit every day.

[publius365]

Of course I'll still wear suits. What am I, a farmer?

[nealric]

Just out of curiosity, which firm required wearing a full suit pre-COVID? I thought biglaw was biz cas.

Jones Day was notorious about it for a while. Not sure where they stand today. Of course litigators will still do suits for court.

[Joachim2017]

Just out of curiosity, which firm required wearing a full suit pre-COVID? I thought biglaw was biz cas.

Jones Day was notorious about it for a while. Not sure where they stand today. Of course litigators will still do suits for court.

Yeah, we're talking about what you wear walking around the office. Doesn't WLRK also still require suit/tie pre-Covid? I think Cravath is in the same boat, tie required.

Will be curious what the WFH policies of these tippy-top stuffy firms do in terms of allowing flex WFH/attire. Will people say "no" to WLRK or Cravath if they insist on full 5 days/week in-office when down-the-line firms like Skadden put in more flexible policies?

[motojir]

There's always this guy:
https://biglawboiz.com/blogs/news/new-associate-needs

Work Clothes

CHARLES TYRWHITT OR TM LEWIN
Crazy cheap shirts. They have deals where you can get them for as little as $30/shirt. Plenty of fits, patterns and fabrics. At that price, you can replace them when you need to.

ENZO CUSTOM
This is where I get my suits. There is NOTHING like a custom suit. They start at a very reasonable price ~$500 and increase with upgrades to fabrics. It is definitely worth in investing in 2-4 nice suits. Our job is to be presentable in front of clients, the court and our employers. The initial price may suck, but they last for years, and to be honest you can afford it. Treat yourself. You are better than off the rack!

COVID LIFE
Go get yourself a shirt, sweatshirt or hat from the merch shop. Flex on the Zoom meetings. Also see athleisure below. Or go to Bloomies and get yourself some decent casual clothes. Don't be afraid to break the mold of the old you. Be bold.

SHOES
Skip the Gucci and Ferragamo. Cole Haan and Allen Edmonds are great starting points.

Allen Edmonds get the 5th ave or the Park ave. Simple shoes with a cap toe. Get at least one pair of brown, one pair of black, and make sure you match your leathers. Be wary of the factory seconds sale. Sometimes you can get lucky and get a perfect pair at a discount.

SOCKS
Make sure you have fresh socks. Calvin Kline, Gold Toe, whatever. Get some blue, black and grey. Skip the wild patterns. This isn’t a London trading floor.

Watch

You don’t need to roll up with a Rolex on day one. If you have a nice luxury watch that you like, then wear it. You don’t need to abide by that stupid rule that you must prove your worth before you wear an expensive watch. However, if you don’t have one, no need to go out and get one to fit in.

The Apple watch is becoming ever more prevalent among associates and partners alike. I personally don’t like having my fitness tracker double as a watch, but people love it and stand by it.

There are also great fashion watch options. I like MVMT. They make a nice simple watch face and they’re really affordable.

The dream is AP OpenWorks in Rose Gold. If anyone wants to be my sugar(daddy, mommy, brother, uncle, whatever), that is what I want.

Bag

Get yourself some decent luggage for when you travel. The AWAY bag is a classic. Hard shell, charger, carry on size.

Get a nice messenger bag. Something leather. School is over, no more backpacks. This isn’t tech.

[Bosque]

There's always this guy:
https://biglawboiz.com/blogs/news/new-associate-needs

Work Clothes

CHARLES TYRWHITT OR TM LEWIN
Crazy cheap shirts. They have deals where you can get them for as little as $30/shirt. Plenty of fits, patterns and fabrics. At that price, you can replace them when you need to.

ENZO CUSTOM
This is where I get my suits. There is NOTHING like a custom suit. They start at a very reasonable price ~$500 and increase with upgrades to fabrics. It is definitely worth in investing in 2-4 nice suits. Our job is to be presentable in front of clients, the court and our employers. The initial price may suck, but they last for years, and to be honest you can afford it. Treat yourself. You are better than off the rack!

COVID LIFE
Go get yourself a shirt, sweatshirt or hat from the merch shop. Flex on the Zoom meetings. Also see athleisure below. Or go to Bloomies and get yourself some decent casual clothes. Don't be afraid to break the mold of the old you. Be bold.

SHOES
Skip the Gucci and Ferragamo. Cole Haan and Allen Edmonds are great starting points.

Allen Edmonds get the 5th ave or the Park ave. Simple shoes with a cap toe. Get at least one pair of brown, one pair of black, and make sure you match your leathers. Be wary of the factory seconds sale. Sometimes you can get lucky and get a perfect pair at a discount.

SOCKS
Make sure you have fresh socks. Calvin Kline, Gold Toe, whatever. Get some blue, black and grey. Skip the wild patterns. This isn’t a London trading floor.

Watch

You don’t need to roll up with a Rolex on day one. If you have a nice luxury watch that you like, then wear it. You don’t need to abide by that stupid rule that you must prove your worth before you wear an expensive watch. However, if you don’t have one, no need to go out and get one to fit in.

The Apple watch is becoming ever more prevalent among associates and partners alike. I personally don’t like having my fitness tracker double as a watch, but people love it and stand by it.

There are also great fashion watch options. I like MVMT. They make a nice simple watch face and they’re really affordable.

The dream is AP OpenWorks in Rose Gold. If anyone wants to be my sugar(daddy, mommy, brother, uncle, whatever), that is what I want.

Bag

Get yourself some decent luggage for when you travel. The AWAY bag is a classic. Hard shell, charger, carry on size.

Get a nice messenger bag. Something leather. School is over, no more backpacks. This isn’t tech.

Lol, I've been using a backpack for years, including rolling up to depositions in a suit. Anyone trying to balance a messenger bag and a box of documents is a chump. And my socks are almost exclusively fun; I probably own plain black socks, but I would be more likely to clean with them than wear them.