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I just know my stuff, dude. There's a reason I was in my university's calendar. Trying to tell the ultimate metrosexual about fashion is like trying to tell Kobe Bryant how to shoot a jump shot. You've just gone too far. I grew up in the fashion industry. And I grew up reading GQ, Details, Men's Vogue, Esquire, Ebony Man, Uomo Man and all of the rest, FYI! A dark Brown suit (tastefully worn) will not turn off an interviewer.

LawDog3 wrote:

biv0ns wrote:

LawDog3 wrote: Dude, I know fashion better than anyone on this site. Guaranteed.

Back off. I am too good-looking and too well-dressed for any hag on this site to try to tell me how to dress. And, mind you, I get the job nine times out of ten when I interview.

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I just know my stuff, dude. There's a reason I was in my university's calendar. Trying to tell the ultimate metrosexual about fashion is like trying to tell Kobe Bryant how to shoot a jump shot. You've just gone too far. I grew up in the fashion industry. And I grew up reading GQ, Details, Men's Vogue, Esquire, Ebony Man, Uomo Man and all of the rest, FYI!

I just want to know how you got your truck stuck in that tree

biv0ns wrote:

LawDog3 wrote:

biv0ns wrote:

LawDog3 wrote: Dude, I know fashion better than anyone on this site. Guaranteed.

Back off. I am too good-looking and too well-dressed for any hag on this site to try to tell me how to dress. And, mind you, I get the job nine times out of ten when I interview.

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I just know my stuff, dude. There's a reason I was in my university's calendar. Trying to tell the ultimate metrosexual about fashion is like trying to tell Kobe Bryant how to shoot a jump shot. You've just gone too far. I grew up in the fashion industry. And I grew up reading GQ, Details, Men's Vogue, Esquire, Ebony Man, Uomo Man and all of the rest, FYI!

I just want to know how you got your truck stuck in that tree

You are funny as hell. That's the model for my VH-1 Fashion award. lol. I drive the women crazy.

LawDog3 wrote:I just know my stuff, dude. There's a reason I was in my university's calendar. Trying to tell the ultimate metrosexual about fashion is like trying to tell Kobe Bryant how to shoot a jump shot. You've just gone too far. I grew up in the fashion industry. And I grew up reading GQ, Details, Men's Vogue, Esquire, Ebony Man, Uomo Man and all of the rest, FYI! A dark Brown suit (tastefully worn) will not turn off an interviewer.

You pop the collar on your polo shirts, don't you? C'mon, admit it, superdouche.

I'd wear either a blue pinstripe suit, white shirt and blue or burgunds tie, barrel cuff, no French cuffs for an interview. Black dress shoes, preferably lace up style. Never wear cologne on an interview, keep jewelry to a minimum. A watch and if appropriate a wedding or engagement ring. A charcoal suit will work as well.

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School? wrote:I could see him wearing two polo shirts so he can pop both collars...

or doing the popped collar polo under the popper collar button down...

don't get a black suit. you can get dark navy blue if you want or a charcoal.

get two button suits. they are the most versatile. if i could think of three must have suits, it would be the dark navy blue, grey/charcoal pin stripe, and a light (tan) suit for the summer - for outdoor or more casual events.

phillip.platt..Good advice.

schrutebeetfarms wrote:

LawDog3 wrote:

Spor wrote: When interviewing or conducting business, always go for dark suits (especially Black, Navy, Charcoal, or Dark-Brown), two buttons or three, flat-front pant is the only way to go.

Dark-brown? Thats awful advice.

No - he is right. Dark brown can be good/quite classy, but not for the novice suit-buyer. If this guy is getting his first couple of suits and he gets a dark brown suit, there are too many ways for him to make his attire look silly as you need a good pair of (brown) shoes and a cream colored shirt to pull off a dark brown (and a tie that pulls it all together). Its a lot harder to f-up the shoes + tie on a normal dark/navy suit.

The most important part of any suit is tailoring.

A really nice suit can look shitty if it doesn't fit properly and vice-versa.

The end.

Slimpee that's true. A friend of mine wore a beautiful Armani suit to an interview. One problem, he wore a short sleeve shirt with a tie. BLASPHEMY !

Don't listen to anyone who thinks that GQ is anything more than entertainment media. "Fashion" is about what designers and writers tell you to wear, but they're not the ones giving you a job. Be a GQ-reading metrosexual all you want on the weekend. It doesn't mean that you have better style.

A common misconception about the metro-movement is that men started caring about style. The truth is that men have always cared about style, but in a different way. Style for men used to be a grassroots phenomenon. They decided what they liked and what was acceptable. This was a problem for the industry, because it meant that style changed at a glacial pace, and men generally needed new clothes only when their old ones wore out. This has all changed now. The industry has finally managed to model the young male consumer on young women.

If you want to pay attention to "what's hot," knock yourself out. Just remember that an older generation of men will see your attire as affected and effete. Clothes are language, and while a dark brown suit may send a sophisticated message (that you are eurocentric, obsessed with aesthetics--an iconoclast), it's not the correct message for interviewing at a law firm. Black suits may have become more prevalent in a lot of workplaces, but there's nothing more conservative than a big law firm, so go with the safe choice. If you're asking yourself if you can "get away" with something, then your mentality is incorrect. Don't try to get away with anything. Try to fit in.

The guys in sack suits who will be your bosses--they don't much care for contemporary fashion--but you're fooling yourself if you think they don't know clothes.

jrs12 wrote:Don't listen to anyone who thinks that GQ is anything more than entertainment media. "Fashion" is about what designers and writers tell you to wear, but they're not the ones giving you a job. Be a GQ-reading metrosexual all you want on the weekend. It doesn't mean that you have better style.

A common misconception about the metro-movement is that men started caring about style. The truth is that men have always cared about style, but in a different way. Style for men used to be a grassroots phenomenon. They decided what they liked and what was acceptable. This was a problem for the industry, because it meant that style changed at a glacial pace, and men generally needed new clothes only when their old ones wore out. This has all changed now. The industry has finally managed to model the young male consumer on young women.

If you want to pay attention to "what's hot," knock yourself out. Just remember that an older generation of men will see your attire as affected and effete. Clothes are language, and while a dark brown suit may send a sophisticated message (that you are eurocentric, obsessed with aesthetics--an iconoclast), it's not the correct message for interviewing at a law firm. Black suits may have become more prevalent in a lot of workplaces, but there's nothing more conservative than a big law firm, so go with the safe choice. If you're asking yourself if you can "get away" with something, then your mentality is incorrect. Don't try to get away with anything. Try to fit in.

The guys in sack suits who will be your bosses--they don't much care for contemporary fashion--but you're fooling yourself if you think they don't know clothes.

+1,000,000,000

While I still don't understand why you can't wear black suits, as I see them done well all the time, and truly believe in good tailoring, the above is what I have been preaching for a long time throughout this thread.

If you don't think your future boss is going to look at you very strangely for your euro-cut suit, GQ colors, and skinny tie then you are kidding yourself. You can still look fresh (getting your stuff fitted, not wearing "old man" patterns, no pleats or shirt pockets, etc.) without looking like you're a hipster, and you'll be infinitely more respected.

Men have style, Women succumb to fashion. There are a number of guys here that need to learn the difference. Look at the "fashion-forward suits of the 70's, 80's, 90's, etc versus that typical business/banker look that has remained relatively the same. That bright red suit from the 80's with the matching red bowtie? Ya...people are going to make fun of skinny ties the same way 20 years from now.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned --LinkRemoved-- for women's business clothes. Just don't look at this week's suit, which is hideous.

This may be the best thread to ask this question, which I've gone back and forth over.

I am a bearded man. I have maintained a closely-trimmed beard with a clean neck for about 6 months now, and everyone says I look so much better with it. Probably TMI, but for example I have landed more attention/action from ladies in the last 6 months than the 6 years preceding. But the consensus seems to be against beards in the "conservative," clean-cut legal profession.

What do I do? I am baby-faced, which is why I think the beard looks better. I also 5 o'clock shadow easily, and my mustache grows faster than the rest of my face. So if I shave at 8 am, by 8 pm I have some stubble, but especially in my moustache and it looks weird.

Will having a beard really matter at all? Thoughts?

+10000 to all the comments about tailoring. If the suit isn't properly tailored, you won't look comfortable in it, and you want to give the impression that you're comfortable in business attire.

riccardo426 wrote:This may be the best thread to ask this question, which I've gone back and forth over.

I am a bearded man. I have maintained a closely-trimmed beard with a clean neck for about 6 months now, and everyone says I look so much better with it. Probably TMI, but for example I have landed more attention/action from ladies in the last 6 months than the 6 years preceding. But the consensus seems to be against beards in the "conservative," clean-cut legal profession.

What do I do? I am baby-faced, which is why I think the beard looks better. I also 5 o'clock shadow easily, and my mustache grows faster than the rest of my face. So if I shave at 8 am, by 8 pm I have some stubble, but especially in my moustache and it looks weird.

Will having a beard really matter at all? Thoughts?

Your post seems to indicate that you look "better groomed" with a beard than without one. If this is the case, then the beard could well be a better choice.

You probably shouldn't rely on friends and family, though. Most law school career centers offer mock interviews; head to one, with the beard, and once the interview is done, solicit feedback specifcally about whether the beard is suitably professional.

idk if it was already mentioned but Mens Wearhouse is having a buy 1 get 1 free sale...

chille31085 wrote:idk if it was already mentioned but Mens Wearhouse is having a buy 1 get 1 free sale...

how long does this last, do you know? i need to buy a new tux

In my experience, I usually get a better deal going into a smaller mom and pop type suit store than shopping at department like shops such as mens wearhouse.

oh and what are people's opinions on brands?

I've always opted for not well known but Italian made brands over the Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren suits. Of course I haven't ventured into the Boss and Armani sections cause of $$$

legends159 wrote:oh and what are people's opinions on brands?

I've always opted for not well known but Italian made brands over the Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren suits. Of course I haven't ventured into the Boss and Armani sections cause of $$$

Polo Blue Label is really great stuff, but it's probably not the RL stuff that your local dept. store carries. It used to be made by Corneliani (don't know if that's still the case), and the quality was really top-shelf.

Boss and Armani are often too fashion-forward (at least for interviewing).

Brooks Brothers 1818 line (middle shelf) offers a good value during their frequent sales (2 for 1). The Madison silhouette is their most conservative, and even that isn't super-boxy. The Regent is good for guys who lift a lot of weights because the drop is 7 inches instead of the usual 6 (38 jacket comes with 31 trousers). The Fitzgerald is very 50s (I happen to love it, but it's a little trendy).

My favorite suits at the moment are Samuelsohn, Hickey Freeman, and Canali. See if stores in your area carry these brands. During trunk sales you can sometimes get them made-to-measure (poor man's bespoke tailoring) for the same price as off-the-rack. This is a great deal.

With the creation of the shoes thread, I thought it only fitting to resurrect this one.

With regard to the post immediately above, my two favorite suits are Boss (charcoal) and Armani (black). Those guys make some extremely nice suits, and I don't think that anyone will fault you for wearing one. That being said, I'll be picking up some more charcoals for interviews--I understand that there's no fighting the conservative mindset of people hiring you. Nevertheless, I find that black is perfect anywhere else (so long as you're not also wearing a black tie--that would be a bit much). In my opinion, there is no substitute for a black Armani suit. However, I'm a New Yorker to the core, which may account for my tastes in this respect.

Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead in a blue, brown or tan suit. But again, that's just my preference. Your mileage may vary, especially if you're from California or the South or something.

It does save me the trouble of having to buy brown shoes, though. Yuck.

chille31085 wrote:idk if it was already mentioned but Mens Wearhouse is having a buy 1 get 1 free sale...

I went to MW for this and it's definitely not as good as it sounds. The suits that were eligible for the deal were typically $100-$200 cheaper if you bought them individually, so it's not like you save that much money. Of course, the salesman didn't tell me this, so I didn't find out that I could have saved a lot of money by not using the deal until after I picked up my suits and was carefully browsing the prices.

Also, after shopping there, I am definitely disappointed and don't think I'll ever go back for another suit. They sneaked in an extra $40 charge for adding a "supercrease" to my pants, which is a totally unnecessary service. I didn't realize this until it was too late, and I was sort of hoping they would screw it up (their tailors are not the best, and I read online that they often don't do it right) so that could reject the suits when I picked them up, but the crease came out fine. I was annoyed though, since I specifically asked the salesman if all of the charges were necessary, and he told me they were, when in reality I could have saved $40. I have no problem about being sold a bad product or service, but I want the chance to at least consider it instead of being forced to buy it without my knowledge.

Not all of their suits are bad - I'm definitely quite happy with one of the two that I got - but I don't really like their way of doing business and certainly wouldn't recommend the store to anyone. Also, their shirts and ties are a complete ripoff. I imagine they make most of their money not on suits (which are reasonably priced), but on convincing people that they need to spend $60 on a shirt and another $40 on a tie to go with it.

Thanks for the input everyone, I just started looking for a suit, never owning one before and had no idea how much goes into getting the right one.

I went to a few cheaper stores yesterday and found out I need a 46 Short sized suit. This seems to be a hard to locate size as most suits stop selling short suits at size 44. Does anyone know which stores will have suits in this size? Thanks for the help.