What to wear to second firm visit? (Women) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Next week I'm doing a second visit with a firm (Best of the Rest, fwiw) where I have an offer, and I'm sort of anxious about what I should wear. I will be meeting with junior associates. We'll be meeting at the firm, and the recruiter said that it's likely we'll be getting drinks and/or food afterwards.

Obviously I'm not going to go in jeans or something. But do I need to wear the super conservative interview outfit (navy skirt suit, white shirt, black shoes)? What about dresses or slightly less conservative suits?

I know this sounds stupid but I've never been to one of these before and I don't know what other people usually wear. It seems like it's a little less formal, especially since I already have an offer. So I'm worried about overdressing if I don't take that into account, but underdressing if I overestimate how much less formal this will be.

[Leeroy Jenkins]

You could ask the recruiter if you're splitting hairs over trying to figure it out?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah . . . I sort of thought about doing that over the phone when we scheduled this but I didn't want to seem clueless. Then after I got off the phone I was like, "Wait, I AM clueless."

Anyway I just thought I'd check to see if there were any general rules to this, since I don't think it's a unique situation or anything.

[Pearalegal]

From what I've seen, most people wear suits, but with a top where you can take off your jacket and still look nice (not a button down). Wear something a little more trendy and fun, and with a feminine-cut suit and you'll be fine. A suit dress and jacket would definitely be safe. Certainly, never black shoes with a navy suit.

[Anonymous User]

Seriously? It's not like a royal navy color -- like this -- but rather almost charcoal grey with a blue hue to it. So I'd looked this up (I can't remember where, maybe Corporette?) before OCI and read that black is okay with navy suits, because with the color looked wrong with brown accessories and it was stressing me out. I feel like out of the few girls with blue suits at OCI they were split between black and brown shoes, and I think my psychotic mother would have pointed it out if it looked bad.

Regardless. My only other suit is a beige pantsuit and I don't have any blazers. I guess I could wear a dress and the blue suit jacket but I don't know if I've got any that really match.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it I kind of have a dearth of "professional" clothing in my wardrobe

[Pearalegal]

Seriously? It's not like a royal navy color -- like this -- but rather almost charcoal grey with a blue hue to it. So I'd looked this up (I can't remember where, maybe Corporette?) before OCI and read that black is okay with navy suits, because with the color looked wrong with brown accessories and it was stressing me out. I feel like out of the few girls with blue suits at OCI they were split between black and brown shoes, and I think my psychotic mother would have pointed it out if it looked bad.

Regardless. My only other suit is a beige pantsuit and I don't have any blazers. I guess I could wear a dress and the blue suit jacket but I don't know if I've got any that really match.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it I kind of have a dearth of "professional" clothing in my wardrobe

I'm sure it looked fine. I normally go with tan or light camel pumps with my blue suits. I can't really picture what color you're talking about, so maybe I just have the wrong image.

I wear these with my navy suit dress (I have them in the brown and tan), they're a little lighter than the picture:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3033711?ref ... t-_-Manual

Unfortunately, after a year and a half at a V10, my ENTIRE wardrobe is business casual. And two pairs of jeans.

And some pjs.

[Matthies]

if your meeting w/junior assc.s, where a conservative suit, they don't want you to be compeatition, older married parteners show some boob and a nice ass.

[academiccricket]

From what I've seen, most people wear suits, but with a top where you can take off your jacket and still look nice (not a button down). Wear something a little more trendy and fun, and with a feminine-cut suit and you'll be fine. A suit dress and jacket would definitely be safe. Certainly, never black shoes with a navy suit.

I agree with this. Wearing something professional doesn't mean boring. Wear a nicely cut suit, but with a cute shirt underneath. Accessorize appropriately (no gaudy jewelry, no ridiculous shoes).

Plus, you can take the jacket off (if you feel comfortable doing so) for going out afterward.

[Pearalegal]

if your meeting w/junior assc.s, where a conservative suit, they don't want you to be compeatition, older married parteners show some boob and a nice ass.

This is really bad advice, ignoring the last part and responding to the first

You're not competing to look the best, you're just dressing so you look great. Obviously don't go all out to the point where its obvious you were trying, but don't be boring.

A great sheath with a matching suit jacket (buy from the same line, don't try to match on your own) with some cute pumps (maybe with a little color--very dark red), understanded jewelery and a pretty, nice cardigan in your bag will have you set.

That way you can take off the jacket if you feel too formal, but not have to show your arms.

[Anonymous User]

I know this is a man's suit but it's the exact same color (mine's also Theory):

http://www1.bloomingdales.com/catalog/p ... um=organic

Haha and check it out, dude's wearing black shoes and a white shirt. I think the problem is that a warm-toned brown or camel wouldn't look right with that color and it's really hard to find cooler toned brown shoes. Those shoes you posted are pretty but definitely wouldn't fly for OCI.

Anyway, yeah, I was a Biglaw paralegal before law school and that's why I can't figure out how I managed to end up with so little professional clothing. I mostly just wore vintage and occasionally really pushed the dress code, I guess. I don't think that will serve me well for this meeting, though.

So no pants, people?

ETA: What about slacks and a really nice long-sleeved top (like cashmere knit) -- too informal? I just really don't have any dresses that I think are sufficiently conservative, but I do have a couple of nice pairs of pants.

[Matthies]

if your meeting w/junior assc.s, where a conservative suit, they don't want you to be compeatition, older married parteners show some boob and a nice ass.

This is really bad advice, ignoring the last part and responding to the first

You're not competing to look the best, you're just dressing so you look great. Obviously don't go all out to the point where its obvious you were trying, but don't be boring.

A great sheath with a matching suit jacket (buy from the same line, don't try to match on your own) with some cute pumps (maybe with a little color--very dark red), understanded jewelery and a pretty, nice cardigan in your bag will have you set.

That way you can take off the jacket if you feel too formal, but not have to show your arms.

I just know what I want to see in the new associates, there all smart, but do they look hot getting me coffee and donuts? You can't intimidate the paraleagls into have sex with you, they are too smart for that, but new assocatites, easy pickings.

[Pearalegal]

Those shoes you posted are pretty but definitely wouldn't fly for OCI.

So no pants, people?

ETA: What about slacks and a really nice long-sleeved top (like cashmere knit) -- too informal? I just really don't have any dresses that I think are sufficiently conservative, but I do have a couple of nice pairs of pants.

That would probably be fine as long as you wore some sort of collared shirt under (not button down, then you'll look like a granny), though you might stick out a little. Maybe not, especially if the firm is somewhere cold.

Just FYI, those shoes are fine for OCI. My friend borrowed them in dark red (obviously I have too many shoes) and got several callbacks and eventually offers. Really, I think you might be overthinking this, especially since you have an offer.

Good luck!

[joshikousei]

i wouldn't do the cardigan - that feels too matronly for me. perhaps a silk blouse or something instead.

also wouldn't wear peep toe shoes.

also, are men's suits always at least 1.5x more expensive than women's suits?

[Pearalegal]

i wouldn't do the cardigan - that feels too matronly for me. perhaps a silk blouse or something instead.

also wouldn't wear peep toe shoes.

also, are men's suits always at least 1.5x more expensive than women's suits?

Oops, didn't realize I posted the peep toe shoes. My attorneys wear them with tights now that its winter, but definitely not right for this situation.

For the cardigan, its more just something she could replace a jacket with like this:
http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Browse/WomenBr ... /95737.jsp

[joshikousei]

ah, i see what you're aiming for. good idea, i also dislike how the jacket can be too rigid for this kind of thing.

theory makes some nice, more slim-fitting cardigans that would be good looking and not too informal.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah my problem with those shoes was definitely that they were open-toe. The closed version would be fine, although my preference for OCI "conservative" dress are to avoid patent/shiny textures.

The top I was thinking of is a turtleneck, so I can't really wear something under it.

PS I don't have any money to buy a new outfit so as much as I'd love to have a Theory cardigan that's not happening buy next week . . .

Anyway I'm not THAT worried. I realize nothing I do is going to be an auto-ding or something -- I mean, obviously I already have a summer offer and I doubt anyone will remember this come post-SA offer time unless I wear something wildly inappropriate. It's more that I don't want to show up and then feel uncomfortable because of what I'm wearing for whatever reason, because I think that if I feel awkward it will make this meeting less useful for me.

Also, I tend to just find "professional" dress situations stressful because my actual taste in clothing is quite quirky. So in order to blend in I actually NEED to overthink it.

And yes, men's suits are really that expensive.

[Tobias Funke]

From what I've seen, most people wear suits, but with a top where you can take off your jacket and still look nice (not a button down). Wear something a little more trendy and fun, and with a feminine-cut suit and you'll be fine. A suit dress and jacket would definitely be safe. Certainly, never black shoes with a navy suit.

HAH. Agreed - never black with blue. I usually wear my grey shoes or tan shoes with my blue suit, depending on the color shirt I wear.

[strawberrysmoothie]

Our career svcs says WEAR SUIT to 2nd visit!!! (female, too)

HOwever, I went to one second visit where the assoc. specifically said it's ok to wear jeans (Fri), so I did. It was all good (lunch 2nd visit). For another dinner visit, I wasn't sure so I called up the recruiter and asked dress code. She said biz casual. I wore biz casual, and felt a little underdressed - shoudl have at least brought blazer just in case, I thought.

be more formal if you can and it's not 90degrees. You have the offer, but a good impression is still a good impression, esp. if you're meeting w/ new folks at the firm - they'll be the ones potentially funneling you work later.

[beaverfuzz]

These are the types of moments that I love being a guy.

Good luck.

[Pearalegal]

From what I've seen, most people wear suits, but with a top where you can take off your jacket and still look nice (not a button down). Wear something a little more trendy and fun, and with a feminine-cut suit and you'll be fine. A suit dress and jacket would definitely be safe. Certainly, never black shoes with a navy suit.

HAH. Agreed - never black with blue. I usually wear my grey shoes or tan shoes with my blue suit, depending on the color shirt I wear.

Something about this paired with your tar made me giggle.

[Anonymous User]

Well, today is the big day!

I think I'm going to wear a beige pantsuit and either a white or a patterned button-down.

The blue suit is besides the point since I accidentally left it at my parents' house three hours away last week

But you all are motherfucking crazy re the black shoes thing:

http://www.bluesuitsonline.com/intervie ... guide.html

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catal ... at19670733

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catal ... at19670733

--LinkRemoved--

Neiman and Nordstrom are never wrong.

[Tobias Funke]

Well, today is the big day!

I think I'm going to wear a beige pantsuit and either a white or a patterned button-down.

The blue suit is besides the point since I accidentally left it at my parents' house three hours away last week

But you all are motherfucking crazy re the black shoes thing:
http://www.bluesuitsonline.com/intervie ... guide.html

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catal ... at19670733

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catal ... at19670733

--LinkRemoved--

Neiman and Nordstrom are never wrong.

Well then you should have just asked them first.


(edited for HTML purposes)

[Anonymous User]

Well I didn't ask the board if you can wear a navy suit with black shoes, I asked if I should wear the standard OCI getup or something else

[Pearalegal]

Well I didn't ask the board if you can wear a navy suit with black shoes, I asked if I should wear the standard OCI getup or something else

There are different types of navy, as you've pointed out. Most of what you posted had either grey and/or metallic hues, making black shoes acceptable. Though I actually think those pinstripe pants are pushing it.

A standard navy looks terrible with black shoes. Thats all.

[Anonymous User]

I don't feel like you really find "bright" navy suits very often, though.

And even then, there are these:

--LinkRemoved--

--LinkRemoved--

The point is, this isn't some general fashion faux pas. I mean, you might personally think it's ugly, but that's very different from it being a rule that you're expected to know and follow when dressing for job interviews, like not wearing pinstripe suits with pinstripe shirts or something (although even that "rule" doesn't exist in less traditional professions anymore).