I basically read "business casual" to mean suit with no tie (even though most people consider khaki slacks and loafers to be business casual). Changing the subject a little, if you leave a couple ties in the office you can wear the suit with no tie to work if it's a business casual firm (which many are now). You can even leave a couple jackets in the office. This is especially key if you're in litigation because it means you won't be left behind to go to court at the last minute.GeePee wrote:I like suit/no tie because it's tasteful, but easily convertible into a casual look if you happen to be meeting on casual Friday.
OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread Forum
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- Bronte
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
- emciosn
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Yeah I would say to go that route as well. Pretty flexible look.Bronte wrote:Yeah I might do a suit with no tie. I pretty much wear that look any chance I get.emciosn wrote:Maybe a suit with no tie? I would probably go with a button down and slacks but its better to err on the side over doing it I suppose.Bronte wrote:No but it's in a West Coast city. We'll probably meet in a Starbucks or something. I have a feeling a suit will be overdoing it, but I'll probably end up wearing one anyway.GeePee wrote:Any idea what the firm's dress code is?
- OutCold
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Yeah, I recommend the suit without the tie then. I thought you meant "at the law firm" to mean you were literally meeting him at the firm. If it's outside the office, I would dress down a bit.Bronte wrote:It is a big law firm, but I assume we will be meeting at a cafe.OutCold wrote:I had a few of these, though I wasn't in the running for a job at the time (just networking lunches and chats). I went with the suit when I met with partners in the office, mainly because I was always taught to dress the same way that the person you are meeting would be dressed. Some would say that a suit is too formal for a casual meeting like that, but several times the partner invited friends to eat with us and all were wearing suits. I would have felt kind of awkward being the odd man out in business casual. You can always dress down by taking off your jacket once you are there, but you can't dress up.Bronte wrote:What would you wear to have coffee with a partner at a law firm? I have a formal outside-OCI interview with the firm the week before. The partner I'm meeting is a distant family friend whom I've never met before.
This is assuming a biglaw office, though I suppose my recommendation would remain the same regardless. Ultimately, it's whatever you feel comfortable with.
- Helmholtz
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
To follow up on this, try to layer outfits based upon dressiness. So suit jacket over dress shirt over polo shirt over t-shirt; suit pants over khakis over jeans over shorts over banana hammock. A quick trip to the restroom (optional, now that I think about it) is all you need to make sure you're well-dressed for 95% of occasions.OutCold wrote:You can always dress down by taking off your jacket once you are there, but you can't dress up.
- Patriot1208
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
This is why I usually wear 5+ polo's. I never know what color I will want for the occasion, so I can just take them off if I decide on a different color.Helmholtz wrote:To follow up on this, try to layer outfits based upon dressiness. So suit jacket over dress shirt over polo shirt over t-shirt; suit pants over khakis over jeans over shorts over banana hammock. A quick trip to the restroom (optional, now that I think about it) is all you need to make sure you're well-dressed for 95% of occasions.OutCold wrote:You can always dress down by taking off your jacket once you are there, but you can't dress up.
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- emciosn
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
I just interviewed with a firm that is business casual - banana hammock fridays so this should be perfect.Helmholtz wrote:To follow up on this, try to layer outfits based upon dressiness. So suit jacket over dress shirt over polo shirt over t-shirt; suit pants over khakis over jeans over shorts over banana hammock. A quick trip to the restroom (optional, now that I think about it) is all you need to make sure you're well-dressed for 95% of occasions.OutCold wrote:You can always dress down by taking off your jacket once you are there, but you can't dress up.
- romothesavior
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Suit up if meeting in the office, button down with slacks if in a cafe or just for lunch.
- romothesavior
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Just got my order from the tie bar. I am a huge fan and I strongly recommend it.
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Re: Lets talk OCI suits (particularly shirts)
Poor knot aside, can I swing something like this tie at an interview, or is it too flashy/shiny?Bronte wrote:
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Re: Lets talk OCI suits (particularly shirts)
If that's too flashy/shiny, then finding a tie for an interview would be almost impossible.hawkeye22 wrote:Poor knot aside, can I swing something like this tie at an interview, or is it too flashy/shiny?Bronte wrote:
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Need to pick up white dress shirts somewhere, getting desperate. Was hoping the no-irons would go on sale at JAB, but apparently my month long buying window is the ONLY time they aren't on sale. Need a tailored or skinny fit, and would LOVE to get them tailored prior to OCI, but the clock is ticking on that. Thoughts on:
Nordstrom dress shirts (at the rack):
and/or driving to a Brooks Brothers Outlet that's about an hour out.
and/or going to JAB actual store? Maybe they'll be on sale there? Or if they go on sale on the website, maybe I can pick them up in store at discount and get them tailored within the week?
OCI starts on the 24th. Would like to get a couple shirts I can wear for awhile, and would prefer no-iron, but that's looking less likely. No way I'm dropping $90 on the non-discounted JABs.
Suggestions, inputs welcome.
Nordstrom dress shirts (at the rack):
and/or driving to a Brooks Brothers Outlet that's about an hour out.
and/or going to JAB actual store? Maybe they'll be on sale there? Or if they go on sale on the website, maybe I can pick them up in store at discount and get them tailored within the week?
OCI starts on the 24th. Would like to get a couple shirts I can wear for awhile, and would prefer no-iron, but that's looking less likely. No way I'm dropping $90 on the non-discounted JABs.
Suggestions, inputs welcome.
- Bronte
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Tailoring shirts should take about five business days. The Nordstrom shirts sound like your best bet.barrydukakis wrote:Need to pick up white dress shirts somewhere, getting desperate. Was hoping the no-irons would go on sale at JAB, but apparently my month long buying window is the ONLY time they aren't on sale. Need a tailored or skinny fit, and would LOVE to get them tailored prior to OCI, but the clock is ticking on that. Thoughts on:
Nordstrom dress shirts (at the rack):
and/or driving to a Brooks Brothers Outlet that's about an hour out.
and/or going to JAB actual store? Maybe they'll be on sale there? Or if they go on sale on the website, maybe I can pick them up in store at discount and get them tailored within the week?
OCI starts on the 24th. Would like to get a couple shirts I can wear for awhile, and would prefer no-iron, but that's looking less likely. No way I'm dropping $90 on the non-discounted JABs.
Suggestions, inputs welcome.
-
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Thanks Bronte. I am thinking it's either that or the Brooks Brothers non-iron. Can go in-store and hopefully slim or extra slim will fit me well without tailoring. 6'1 180. $70 is steep, but what are you going to do. I figure the best I will get the JAB for is $40, plus tailoring of $10 a shirt... not a huge difference, even though the JAB is supposedly better from this thread.
The Nordy dress shirt is ~$20, cheap, but I guess I could buy a couple for OCI without losing out. I have 18 interviews spread over 6 days (Wed-Wed) so that could work.
The Nordy dress shirt is ~$20, cheap, but I guess I could buy a couple for OCI without losing out. I have 18 interviews spread over 6 days (Wed-Wed) so that could work.
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- Bronte
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
At 6'1 180 the extra slim Brooks Bros. shirt is not going to fit you. Not a chance. I'm about 6' 150 and the extra slim is too slim. It's just a weird shirt. The slim fit will probably fit you like a glove though. However, if you plan to get it tailored, it's probably better to get the regular fit. I got my slim fits tailored, and the tailor explained that they couldn't do what they wanted to with the shoulders because the cut was too slim to make adjustments without risking being unable to reattach the arms or something.barrydukakis wrote:Thanks Bronte. I am thinking it's either that or the Brooks Brothers non-iron. Can go in-store and hopefully slim or extra slim will fit me well without tailoring. 6'1 180. $70 is steep, but what are you going to do. I figure the best I will get the JAB for is $40, plus tailoring of $10 a shirt... not a huge difference, even though the JAB is supposedly better from this thread.
The Nordy dress shirt is ~$20, cheap, but I guess I could buy a couple for OCI without losing out. I have 18 interviews spread over 6 days (Wed-Wed) so that could work.
In terms of how many shirts to get, there's really no reason you couldn't wash a shirt every night if you really had to.
- TaipeiMort
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
I don't know why everyone stresses so much about dress shirts. Is the $80 Brooks Brothers shirt really that much better for OCI than the $21 Van Heusen outlet shirt?
Also, for anyone interested, I was at an Armani location in Chicago on Saturday, and they had a $500 pair of cap toe size 9.5 (about) oxford black dress shoes discounted to $120 because they are trying to clear it out for a new style. They had one pair left and $380 off seemed like a good deal. I still wasn't convinced it was better than a pair of Allen Edmonds Fifth or Park Avenues though, but anyone interested can PM me.
Also, for anyone interested, I was at an Armani location in Chicago on Saturday, and they had a $500 pair of cap toe size 9.5 (about) oxford black dress shoes discounted to $120 because they are trying to clear it out for a new style. They had one pair left and $380 off seemed like a good deal. I still wasn't convinced it was better than a pair of Allen Edmonds Fifth or Park Avenues though, but anyone interested can PM me.
-
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
There's no real reason to get a dress shirt tailored for OCI when youre going to be having your suit jacket on for all the interviews anyway.
- Cupidity
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread

Is this tie a mistake?
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- Bronte
- Posts: 2125
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
It's certainly not mandatory to get it tailored before OCI assuming it fits reasonably well. And wearing a jacket makes the "billowing" of illfitting shirts much less noticeable. However, a well fitting shit will look better with a jacket on too.goodolgil wrote:There's no real reason to get a dress shirt tailored for OCI when youre going to be having your suit jacket on for all the interviews anyway.
As to the purple paisley tie, that would be pretty much the textbook example in my mind of a distinctly not conservative tie.
- romothesavior
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
I'll give you a reason: I've lost a lot of weight in the past year and my shirt no longer fits properly.goodolgil wrote:There's no real reason to get a dress shirt tailored for OCI when youre going to be having your suit jacket on for all the interviews anyway.
- Emma.
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
I've been dressing fairly non-conservatively for interviews and it has worked out well so far. This has included a couple different purple ties, but I'm just not a big fan of this tie.Cupidity wrote:[/img]
Is this tie a mistake?
- kalvano
- Posts: 11951
- Joined: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:24 am
Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
barrydukakis wrote:Thanks Bronte. I am thinking it's either that or the Brooks Brothers non-iron. Can go in-store and hopefully slim or extra slim will fit me well without tailoring. 6'1 180. $70 is steep, but what are you going to do. I figure the best I will get the JAB for is $40, plus tailoring of $10 a shirt... not a huge difference, even though the JAB is supposedly better from this thread.
The Nordy dress shirt is ~$20, cheap, but I guess I could buy a couple for OCI without losing out. I have 18 interviews spread over 6 days (Wed-Wed) so that could work.
I would go with the Brooks Brothers. They are my favorite, far and away over the JAB. The Nordstrom ones never fit quite right for me, but I'm not skinny, either.
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- Posts: 2489
- Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:25 pm
Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
to me it clearly screams, "I'm gay," but you could think in terms of the fact that that may help you get a job due to diversity practicesCupidity wrote:
Is this tie a mistake?
-
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
pocket square for interviews, anyone?
- GeePee
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
God no.Anonymous User wrote:pocket square for interviews, anyone?
- Emma.
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Re: OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread
Personally, I tend to think suits look stupid without a pocket square, so I say go for it.Anonymous User wrote:pocket square for interviews, anyone?
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
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