Summer Associate Cheap Wardrobe Forum

[Anonymous User]

My firm has announced we will be in person the majority of the time this summer. After two years pretty much remote/casual, I don't have any "business casual" clothes.

I'm looking for recommendations for medium/high quality, comfortable, and reasonably priced dress/casual shirts and pants. I'm hoping to think about this as little as possible during the summer so if you have a successful capsule wardrobe, I'd love to hear about it.

[Sleepys]

It partially depends on the region you are in (e.g., NY vs. SF), but for a summer associate, I would recommend Brooks Brothers for dress shirts (but you must take advantage of their deals/sales) and J. Crew or Banana Republic for pants.

More important than anything, however, is that you know your clothing measurements. Attire that matches your measurements will always look the best.

[Anonymous User]

Charles Tyrwhitt shirts are decent, and they frequently have ‘4 for $200’ deals. Always get my undershirts from Uniqlo.

[Anonymous User]

I've recently been converted from BB shirts and Banana/J Crew pants to Spier & MacKay. They list at the BB/CT's sale price with close to the same quality (especially for pants/suits). If you really want to pinch some pennies then wait for a 20% off sale or pick something from their sale page. Note that you'll need the pants hemmed. Just avoid some of their more trendy super spread collars and high waisted pants.

If you want an even cheaper option for pants, I have a couple J Crew Factory pairs that look okay, but have held up well. Just wait for a 50%+ sale - not worth close to the full price . Also, don't buy their dress shirts. I've heard Banana factory is okay for pants as well, but those haven't been as good of a fit for me. For super cheap shirts (others will balk) just go with Jos A Bank on a super sale (60-70% off) to get you through the 2L summer. Your average biglaw attorney won't notice a difference if they fit well and you keep them pressed.

Not sure if you need shoes, but for my non-NYC market you could get away with one pair of Weejuns in burgundy (those match literally anything short of going to court) and another pair of black balmorals. I've wanted to try Meermin shoes for some time as an affordable goodyear welted alternative to Allen Edmonds, I just haven't done it yet. Don't be tempted to get strange colors, brogues, monk straps, square toed shoes, etc. Just stick with the basics and then build from there when you graduate. Oh, and get some galoshes for the balmorals.

Regardless of what you pick, just buy a bunch of white and light blue dress shirts (skip patterns beyond maybe a striped shirt or two since those are harder to match and stand out more) and a few pairs of navy/charcoal/gray pants (skip black which looks dirty quickly) that you can rotate. With a wardrobe like that, literally everything will match with ease.

Depending on how often you want to go to the cleaners (and whether you have casual Fridays), I would say get 8-10 shirts (50/50 blue/white), 4-5 pants, 1 pair burgundy loafers, and 1 pair black balmorals. With good sales, you could get all that for $1200 or less. Depending on how much you perspire, wear the shirts 1-2x, pants 2-4x, alternate the shoes every other day, and hit the cleaners every 2-4 weeks.

[Edited to add wardrobe suggestions, etc.]

[Anonymous User]

I used to buy a lot of jos a bank stuff and while I agree that it's passable for shirts and slacks (when pressed and fit), the quality really is far below the other options listed here. You're getting paid well for the summer, you're starting a prof career. Build up a nice wardrobe. Not worth saving 8 dollars a shirt.

Another decent quality option is Paul Fredrick. Their shirts don't fit me (missing a button, I have a long torso) but for dress pants and suits it's great. The shirts are good too just not for me personally.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Adding on to what's been said, and assuming OP is male like the rest of the thread has:

- If you're buying shoes, get them at least a month ahead of time and break them (/your feet) in

- Buy some legitimately cheap buttoned shirts (H&M etc.) now, to get a feel for what kind of fit and colors you like, before dropping $250 on one of those CT/BB sales. Casual button-ups belong in your wardrobe anyway after age 25

- When trying on pants, put your phone/keys/wallet in your pockets to make sure they fit

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

[Anonymous User]

If the question is what you can get away with, I've seen partners show up in mom jeans. If you're going out to buy respectable bus casual clothes, get proper dress pants.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

Lululemon ABC slim pants are SO popular among finance bros these days they have to be office appropriate now right ...?

[Anonymous User]

Spier & Mackay for clothes

There's tons of options for good, reasonably priced shoes these days, but Grant Stone is one of the best value buys. TLB Mallorca is another great option that has more European lasts.

[MrSam]

Pants: Banana Republic or Bonobos. Both look and feel great. I often get them discounted and have them tailored (not necessary).

Shirts: Express often has great deals on their button-up shirts. J-Crew shirts are also nice. Most of the Calvin Klein shirts I own are affordable and comfortable.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

I have seen these at the DPW NYC stuffiest of stuffy offices. Dress code varies by group, but I literally go into the office in jeans and t shirts now.

[Anonymous User]

Pants: Banana Republic or Bonobos. Both look and feel great. I often get them discounted and have them tailored (not necessary).

Shirts: Express often has great deals on their button-up shirts. J-Crew shirts are also nice. Most of the Calvin Klein shirts I own are affordable and comfortable.

Going to have to disagree on the bolded. Express shirts are garbage and not worth it even on sale, and while great for casualwear, J-Crew shirt just never look appropriate to me for a business setting. Hard to put my finger on it - maybe it's the short collars that just don't fall right? I don't know enough about CK shirts to comment, but I also haven't heard of any colleagues who wear them, either.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

I have seen these at the DPW NYC stuffiest of stuffy offices. Dress code varies by group, but I literally go into the office in jeans and t shirts now.

Seeing these in an office and advising a summer to wear them are two completely different things.

[Anonymous User]

Been years since I've worn CK dress shirts, but I remember them being inferior to the Brooks Brothers I wore at the time. (currently a CT man)

[Anonymous User]

I'm a big law partner and I buy half my business casual wardrobe at Costco. Something like six years ago, I found out they sell an English Laundry five pocket stretch chino that fits me perfectly and is reasonably durable, so I got that in all three colors (blue, gray, and khaki). I just bought them all again last year as we were openingish back up, after I wore them down from constantly wearing them 4-5 days of the week.

For shirts, in the summer I do way more polos than I thought I would when I started, which I also get from Costco (it's basically a t shirt with a collar, I'm ok with some being a miss). For my long sleeve shirts I do the other three seasons, after experimentation earlier in my career they are now almost exclusively Brooks Brother's non-iron. They've held up the best for me with the least amount of maintenance. For shoes, I have fancy ones I will wear with suits, but most days I change into some generic slip on loafers I keep at the office (I comute in by either walking or on my Vespa, so I have more appropriate shoes for that).

I've felt fine with that my entire career, and I don't think its just a my firm thing. DC though, so I don't know if San Francisco or New York have different standards.

I will concur with others though that you should view this as building your wardrobe for when you start working. Get what you know you are going to actually use. Also, don't feel like you need to get your entire wardrobe set before you start. You already have a suit from interviewing, and you presumably have at least a handful of business casual clothes. If you need a few more things to get you through the first week, or are just excited, go buy an outfit. But you have time to take the temperature of your firm the first week or so, then go out and start buying stuff you think you need as you start to need it.

[theneuro]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

I have seen these at the DPW NYC stuffiest of stuffy offices. Dress code varies by group, but I literally go into the office in jeans and t shirts now.

Seeing these in an office and advising a summer to wear them are two completely different things.

*Rolls eyes* who gives a crap. The stuffy law firms who do care need to get with the program. Point is: Nobody cares about marginal differences in attire between associates and summers -- or, if they do care, they're assholes who should learn to care about things that actually matter. If you do good work and are likable as a summer nobody will care that you wore Lululemon pants or some other brand of comfortable quasi-dress pants to the office. And it'd be kind of creepy for someone to pay that close attention to dark pants. Don't look like a slob, don't wear sweats to court, and things will be fine. These stupid hierarchical demarcations between summers and associates have always been stupid, but they're even stupider now post-COVID.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

I have seen these at the DPW NYC stuffiest of stuffy offices. Dress code varies by group, but I literally go into the office in jeans and t shirts now.

Seeing these in an office and advising a summer to wear them are two completely different things.

*Rolls eyes* who gives a crap. The stuffy law firms who do care need to get with the program. Point is: Nobody cares about marginal differences in attire between associates and summers -- or, if they do care, they're assholes who should learn to care about things that actually matter. If you do good work and are likable as a summer nobody will care that you wore Lululemon pants or some other brand of comfortable quasi-dress pants to the office. And it'd be kind of creepy for someone to pay that close attention to dark pants. Don't look like a slob, don't wear sweats to court, and things will be fine. These stupid hierarchical demarcations between summers and associates have always been stupid, but they're even stupider now post-COVID.

Sure, if OP doesn't care about those "assholes" then they can wear what they want. Someone in my summer class wore graphic tees under his button down and had about half the buttons undone by the end of the day (if the button down even stayed on at all). He didn't get fired for it, and he even got an offer. But he was also the first to leave and lots of people at the firm had a bad opinion of him when he did (whether because of his attire or otherwise, I don't know).

Anyway, you may be right that none of this should matter, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all to some people or that OP should ignore it. Fact is, whether OP like it or not some of those "assholes" will make snap judgments about OP based on what OP is wearing, so the less OP stands out the better.

But whatever dude, you go fight the man with your lulu pants.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

I have seen these at the DPW NYC stuffiest of stuffy offices. Dress code varies by group, but I literally go into the office in jeans and t shirts now.

Seeing these in an office and advising a summer to wear them are two completely different things.

*Rolls eyes* who gives a crap. The stuffy law firms who do care need to get with the program. Point is: Nobody cares about marginal differences in attire between associates and summers -- or, if they do care, they're assholes who should learn to care about things that actually matter. If you do good work and are likable as a summer nobody will care that you wore Lululemon pants or some other brand of comfortable quasi-dress pants to the office. And it'd be kind of creepy for someone to pay that close attention to dark pants. Don't look like a slob, don't wear sweats to court, and things will be fine. These stupid hierarchical demarcations between summers and associates have always been stupid, but they're even stupider now post-COVID.

Sure, if OP doesn't care about those "assholes" then they can wear what they want. Someone in my summer class wore graphic tees under his button down and had about half the buttons undone by the end of the day (if the button down even stayed on at all). He didn't get fired for it, and he even got an offer. But he was also the first to leave and lots of people at the firm had a bad opinion of him when he did (whether because of his attire or otherwise, I don't know).

Anyway, you may be right that none of this should matter, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all to some people or that OP should ignore it. Fact is, whether OP like it or not some of those "assholes" will make snap judgments about OP based on what OP is wearing, so the less OP stands out the better.

But whatever dude, you go fight the man with your lulu pants.

OP here

Would you acknowledge a degree of difference between the exposed graphic t-shirt and a pair of chinos made of tech fabric? (I think that is a fair description of the lulu pants, link: https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ ... olor=31382)

I'm not looking to make waves, just hoping to be comfortable and wondering if these are appropriate!

[Anonymous User]

OP here

Would you acknowledge a degree of difference between the exposed graphic t-shirt and a pair of chinos made of tech fabric? (I think that is a fair description of the lulu pants, link: https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ ... olor=31382)

I'm not looking to make waves, just hoping to be comfortable and wondering if these are appropriate!

Those do not look appropriate to me as dress pants. I'm not sure why you'd think they are. They're not even advertised as such, the model is wearing a t shirt and hiking (?) boots. Doesn't mean you can't get away with it, but if you're asking if it's business casual, no it's not.

[Anonymous User]

OP here

Would you acknowledge a degree of difference between the exposed graphic t-shirt and a pair of chinos made of tech fabric? (I think that is a fair description of the lulu pants, link: https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ ... olor=31382)

I'm not looking to make waves, just hoping to be comfortable and wondering if these are appropriate!

Those do not look appropriate to me as dress pants. I'm not sure why you'd think they are. They're not even advertised as such, the model is wearing a t shirt and hiking (?) boots. Doesn't mean you can't get away with it, but if you're asking if it's business casual, no it's not.

I don't know why you are being so abrasive.

They are a common, popular pant that many people wear in business casual settings. They are listed under "work" on the website above. There have been many articles written about a MORE casual version of them being popular in business settings, specifically finance settings, which to my understanding are somewhat adjacent to a law firm.

Obviously I wouldn't be wearing a t-shirt and hiking boots. To me, they look pretty much identical to chinos, but you either seem to think those would not be appropriate (I'd love to know if so) or you have a more discerning eye than I do.

I came here asking if I was off base, not making a broad assertion that they would be perfect, which is the argument you seem to be typing against.

[theneuro]

OP here

Would you acknowledge a degree of difference between the exposed graphic t-shirt and a pair of chinos made of tech fabric? (I think that is a fair description of the lulu pants, link: https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ ... olor=31382)

I'm not looking to make waves, just hoping to be comfortable and wondering if these are appropriate!

Those do not look appropriate to me as dress pants. I'm not sure why you'd think they are. They're not even advertised as such, the model is wearing a t shirt and hiking (?) boots. Doesn't mean you can't get away with it, but if you're asking if it's business casual, no it's not.

I don't know why you are being so abrasive.

They are a common, popular pant that many people wear in business casual settings. They are listed under "work" on the website above. There have been many articles written about a MORE casual version of them being popular in business settings, specifically finance settings, which to my understanding are somewhat adjacent to a law firm.

Obviously I wouldn't be wearing a t-shirt and hiking boots. To me, they look pretty much identical to chinos, but you either seem to think those would not be appropriate (I'd love to know if so) or you have a more discerning eye than I do.

I came here asking if I was off base, not making a broad assertion that they would be perfect, which is the argument you seem to be typing against.

Those are the ones I wear to work. And those are also the ones I wore as a federal law clerk where my judge cared about looking professional at work. They have literally never been a problem and partners have thanked me for the recs.

[theneuro]

Has anyone tried the lululemon Commission or ABC pants? are they appropriate for biglaw? people say they are very comfy.

I don't think those would fit in at my east coast V20. Sure, you wouldn't get told to go home and change, but I wouldn't want to stand out like that. Maybe those would be better in CA or DC during the summer? I wouldn't recommend for a summer associate unless they were sure something that casual is normal (not just okay).

I have seen these at the DPW NYC stuffiest of stuffy offices. Dress code varies by group, but I literally go into the office in jeans and t shirts now.

Seeing these in an office and advising a summer to wear them are two completely different things.

*Rolls eyes* who gives a crap. The stuffy law firms who do care need to get with the program. Point is: Nobody cares about marginal differences in attire between associates and summers -- or, if they do care, they're assholes who should learn to care about things that actually matter. If you do good work and are likable as a summer nobody will care that you wore Lululemon pants or some other brand of comfortable quasi-dress pants to the office. And it'd be kind of creepy for someone to pay that close attention to dark pants. Don't look like a slob, don't wear sweats to court, and things will be fine. These stupid hierarchical demarcations between summers and associates have always been stupid, but they're even stupider now post-COVID.

Sure, if OP doesn't care about those "assholes" then they can wear what they want. Someone in my summer class wore graphic tees under his button down and had about half the buttons undone by the end of the day (if the button down even stayed on at all). He didn't get fired for it, and he even got an offer. But he was also the first to leave and lots of people at the firm had a bad opinion of him when he did (whether because of his attire or otherwise, I don't know).

Anyway, you may be right that none of this should matter, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter at all to some people or that OP should ignore it. Fact is, whether OP like it or not some of those "assholes" will make snap judgments about OP based on what OP is wearing, so the less OP stands out the better.

But whatever dude, you go fight the man with your lulu pants.

You just described a slob -- something I expressly said *not* to look like. What you describe is quite different from someone who is put together but who, apparently in your firm, would become an outcast because, "OMG did you see he is not wearing 100% wool navy pants, but rather a tech fabric!?"

[Anonymous User]

OP here

Would you acknowledge a degree of difference between the exposed graphic t-shirt and a pair of chinos made of tech fabric? (I think that is a fair description of the lulu pants, link: https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ ... olor=31382)

I'm not looking to make waves, just hoping to be comfortable and wondering if these are appropriate!

I'm the anon to whom you were responding. Yeah, there's definitely a difference - these are all for lack of a better phrase shades of gray. But I still wouldn't have worn a tech fabric pant as a summer, and I didn't see many of them (if at all) in the office before COVID. I can't speak to post-COVID as my office is currently transitioning to RTO and doing a casual attire thing in the meantime (those pants are fine for that).

To the point I made earlier - you're not going to get fired or no offered for wearing these pants. But there's a non-zero chance you make a bad first impression to someone in the office.