Do I need to buy a suit? Forum

[mrloblaw]

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[AriGoldButNicer]

Over the past few months I've developed a nice wardrobe and have business casual down to a tee. However, my fitness routine that I've done since I've had no stress has actually cut my waist to a 28" from a 32, and my shoulders are actually a bit broader rendering all 4 of my suits clown suits so I'm just gonna see where I am fitness wise by the summer, assume some fat gain and buy 1 nice suit. I don't wanna "fit" back into them as I have twice as much energy, and my excuse for women not talking to me at bars used to be cause I wasn't super rich. Since spending 2 hrs a day at the gym, and the response this gets, I've realized the bar crowd is not quite so future thinking, and refuse to go back to chubby lol.

For cheap suits, paul fredrick at the right times is good.

You were chubby with a size 32 waist?

Yeah. The body is the give away. I would always do at least a lot of walking, but if I ran even .33 miles I'd start to sweat profusely or if I played some pick up basketball. Now, I don't start sweating at all until midway into my second mile when I'm doing 8 minute miles. My face would also look bloated in pictures.

Really, a dead give away if you live in a metropolitan area is how often gay people, and older women come up to you if you're a guy. Women under 30 never accost me on the street or give me a giant smile so it'd be hard to know either way. I presume this is because they don't have to as men constantly approach them, but I get hit on by men and older women a lot, and did not before my fitness splurge. Assume there's a causation factor, and I look diff in pics now. Women prob can't use this test as men are much less selective in who they go up to.

I wasn't "fat", but I was kind of bulky and not in the p-90x way.

[AriGoldButNicer]

On this note getting hit on by gay men saying very vulgar things definitely made me feel for when girls complain about the disgusting things that guy at bars say to them. You'd think it is flattering, but it's not. It'd be flattering if a hot girl did it.... or a girl. In this context, it makes you rethink your fashion style, if something you did cued it, and does make you feel less rugged.

[DMBFan]

You may need a suit as a 1L for trial team/moot court tryouts, or if you are interviewing for some groups (ex: honor council). We were also encouraged to wear business attire for legal skills mock client interviews. So it would be good to have a suit and not have to stress in those situations when most of your classmates dress up.

[ahduth]

You may need a suit as a 1L for trial team/moot court tryouts, or if you are interviewing for some groups (ex: honor council). We were also encouraged to wear business attire for legal skills mock client interviews. So it would be good to have a suit and not have to stress in those situations when most of your classmates dress up.

Ya, welcome to my Wednesday and Thursday this week. You'll need a suit for EIW anyways, so I'd just get one now.

[jess]

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[SilverE2]

My school required suits for orientation.

wat

[luthersloan]

better than that one school that makes everyone wear the same identical tea shirt.

[leobowski]

Whatever you do, get it tailored by a real tailor.

a tailored suit from macys will look a lot better than a suit from the bank and the 1818 series from BB is not worth the money, even if it is on sale.

if you are broke, go to macys and then take it to a tailor. in fact, dont waster money on BB or the bank, they are overpriced trash.

Naw. Macy's carries only fused suits from designer brands, which are heinously overpriced. 1818 at BB are half-canvas. Signature gold at Jos Banks are also half-canvas. If you can score one of those suits for around $300, you are doing much better than anything at Macy's.

Read and learn:
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/02/12/th ... sed-suits/

[TLSNYC]

Similar question - I want to buy two nice suits from brooks brothers for OCI next yr, but I want to hold off on buying them till next sum mer, when i have a bit more money and so that they can be tailored a bit better for me. (No joke, I've put on weight and want to lose it by OCI).
My only concern w/ holding off till next summer for getting these tailor made suits is my 1L summer internship interviews. Is alright if I just wear a standard black suit from macy's?

[Veyron]

Similar question - I want to buy two nice suits from brooks brothers for OCI next yr, but I want to hold off on buying them till next sum mer, when i have a bit more money and so that they can be tailored a bit better for me. (No joke, I've put on weight and want to lose it by OCI).
My only concern w/ holding off till next summer for getting these tailor made suits is my 1L summer internship interviews. Is alright if I just wear a standard black suit from macy's?

For 1L OCI I doubt it matters much.

P.S. Remember, brooks semi-anual sale is both durring winter break and the summer (late june, early july). Best time to get a BB suit bar-none.

[Lasers]

Whatever you do, get it tailored by a real tailor.

a tailored suit from macys will look a lot better than a suit from the bank and the 1818 series from BB is not worth the money, even if it is on sale.

if you are broke, go to macys and then take it to a tailor. in fact, dont waster money on BB or the bank, they are overpriced trash.

i actually agree.

got a slim suit from macys on sale and brought it to a tailor. fits well and barely cost me, relatively speaking.

i'm just a 1L though...i'm sure i'll spring for some more expensive suits in the future.

[AriGoldButNicer]

Whatever you do, get it tailored by a real tailor.

a tailored suit from macys will look a lot better than a suit from the bank and the 1818 series from BB is not worth the money, even if it is on sale.

if you are broke, go to macys and then take it to a tailor. in fact, dont waster money on BB or the bank, they are overpriced trash.

i actually agree.

got a slim suit from macys on sale and brought it to a tailor. fits well and barely cost me, relatively speaking.

i'm just a 1L though...i'm sure i'll spring for some more expensive suits in the future.

got a suit from macy's is very vague as the different companies make their stuff so differently? is there a particular company who is solid here?

suit shopping is hard. i know i've always had a good sense of style, but so much of style is incorporating your own personality where as everything about law looks wise is fitting a cutting board.

[Bronte]

Similar question - I want to buy two nice suits from brooks brothers for OCI next yr, but I want to hold off on buying them till next sum mer, when i have a bit more money and so that they can be tailored a bit better for me. (No joke, I've put on weight and want to lose it by OCI).
My only concern w/ holding off till next summer for getting these tailor made suits is my 1L summer internship interviews. Is alright if I just wear a standard black suit from macy's?

If you're going to buy two suits from Brooks Brothers, you should buy them at their semiannual sale, when the suits are near two-for-one. This is really the only time to buy the 1818 suits, as they're a bit overpriced at $900-1000. I recommend buying two suits--a navy and a charcoal--at the semiannual sale this winter. Have at least one tailored to your current size. Then, if you lose weight, they can always be brought in by a tailor.

[vanwinkle]

You should have one suit, navy or charcoal gray, as a minimum. Suits should be basic and professional, nothing flashy or gaudy or "fashionable". You want a classic look, which fortunately doesn't always cost much.

I got lucky; at the start of my 1L year I encountered an S&K Menswear that was going out of business. I got a couple of suits for really cheap. I had them tailored, and with a good tailor an inexpensive suit can end up looking as good or better on you than an expensive name-brand off-the-rack suit. In my opinion it doesn't matter too much where you get it as long as you're comfortable with the price and don't skip the tailoring.

Find a suit or two that you like at a price you like, and then find a good tailor. That'll get you enough of a suit to last through 1L and OCI.

[NeighborGuy]

In my opinion it doesn't matter too much where you get it as long as you're comfortable with the price and don't skip the tailoring.

Word. A perfectly tailored $100 suit looks way better than an untailored $2000 suit.

[AriGoldButNicer]

I like the way a gray shirt looks w a black suit, but I imagine it's too "trendy".

[Veyron]

I like the way a gray shirt looks w a black suit, but I imagine it's too "trendy".

Save that shit for Entourage son.

[Kimberly]

I just love this thread. It is so interesting to eaves drop on men talking about their suits... not a common conversation for men, I imagine. Though, I will give you unsolicited advice from a woman who loves fashion and pays attention. Based upon the things I have read herein:

1. Suits are SOOOO not stuffy! Women love to see men who clean up well. And, people in general will respond better to you.

2. Navy blue suit is not a good suggestion. Dark charcoal or light charcoal.

3. To help with a more casual and down-to-earth feel, choose a white based shirt with a very lightly colored pattern (stripes or grids) and no tie. For a more sophisticated and get-down-to-business feel, go with a solid color (please, for the love of God, NOT BRIGHT BLUE! Everyone does that and it looks cheap). Light gray is not a bad shirt color but dark gray is too gimicky. One suit and lots of shirts makes for lots of outfits!

4. If you are thin and/or well built (AKA in-shape) think about a Theory suit. They have some very well-priced suits that are nicely made and fit well-put-together bodies quite nicely. If you are "chubby" or pudgy, you gotta choose baggier fit pants and really make sure that your jacket isn't too long! When a wider man puts on a longer jacket, it just makes them look like a box, or like they are wearing a bell on top because their belly projects the suit outward. Get it slimmer on top and baggier on bottom- gets closer to atleast tricking the eye to believe that you are buff on top and thinner on bottom.

Thats it. Carry on, gentlemen.

[Veyron]

I just love this thread. It is so interesting to eaves drop on men talking about their suits... not a common conversation for men, I imagine. Though, I will give you unsolicited advice from a woman who loves fashion and pays attention. Based upon the things I have read herein:

1. Suits are SOOOO not stuffy! Women love to see men who clean up well. And, people in general will respond better to you.

2. Navy blue suit is not a good suggestion. Dark charcoal or light charcoal.

3. To help with a more casual and down-to-earth feel, choose a white based shirt with a very lightly colored pattern (stripes or grids) and no tie. For a more sophisticated and get-down-to-business feel, go with a solid color (please, for the love of God, NOT BRIGHT BLUE! Everyone does that and it looks cheap). Light gray is not a bad shirt color but dark gray is too gimicky. One suit and lots of shirts makes for lots of outfits!

4. If you are thin and/or well built (AKA in-shape) think about a Theory suit. They have some very well-priced suits that are nicely made and fit well-put-together bodies quite nicely. If you are "chubby" or pudgy, you gotta choose baggier fit pants and really make sure that your jacket isn't too long! When a wider man puts on a longer jacket, it just makes them look like a box, or like they are wearing a bell on top because their belly projects the suit outward. Get it slimmer on top and baggier on bottom- gets closer to atleast tricking the eye to believe that you are buff on top and thinner on bottom.

Thats it. Carry on, gentlemen.

Are you talking navy like you can tell its blue or navy like most people would think it was black?

Also, although I like the no-tie look myself, most of the chicks I know dig ties - accessories for guys or something like that.

[AriGoldButNicer]

Kimberly, maybe it's a northeast thing but men talk about clothing as often as liquor, food and working out.

On chubby suits, Jos A Bank is great. I tried the pants on.... Wow do they stink. They're so baggy they're like clown pants, and there's no 28" or 30". In the pics, their models even look like they're in clown suits.

[SilverE2]

I like the way a gray shirt looks w a black suit, but I imagine it's too "trendy".

Save that shit for Entourage son.

Plus it looks fucking awful anyway.

[Kimberly]

I just love this thread. It is so interesting to eaves drop on men talking about their suits... not a common conversation for men, I imagine. Though, I will give you unsolicited advice from a woman who loves fashion and pays attention. Based upon the things I have read herein:

1. Suits are SOOOO not stuffy! Women love to see men who clean up well. And, people in general will respond better to you.

2. Navy blue suit is not a good suggestion. Dark charcoal or light charcoal.

3. To help with a more casual and down-to-earth feel, choose a white based shirt with a very lightly colored pattern (stripes or grids) and no tie. For a more sophisticated and get-down-to-business feel, go with a solid color (please, for the love of God, NOT BRIGHT BLUE! Everyone does that and it looks cheap). Light gray is not a bad shirt color but dark gray is too gimicky. One suit and lots of shirts makes for lots of outfits!

4. If you are thin and/or well built (AKA in-shape) think about a Theory suit. They have some very well-priced suits that are nicely made and fit well-put-together bodies quite nicely. If you are "chubby" or pudgy, you gotta choose baggier fit pants and really make sure that your jacket isn't too long! When a wider man puts on a longer jacket, it just makes them look like a box, or like they are wearing a bell on top because their belly projects the suit outward. Get it slimmer on top and baggier on bottom- gets closer to atleast tricking the eye to believe that you are buff on top and thinner on bottom.

Thats it. Carry on, gentlemen.

Are you talking navy like you can tell its blue or navy like most people would think it was black?

Also, although I like the no-tie look myself, most of the chicks I know dig ties - accessories for guys or something like that.

Yes, navy-looking-black could be alright but still looks too old-fashioned IMHO. If the navy suit is slim-fit then that gives it a more up-to-date appeal and that is good. But, if you are just looking for an average suit, navy just makes it look WAY TOO AVERAGE. Also, the downside to navy is this: if you are going only to own one suit, people will remember your navy suit the last time you wore it. Further, your shirt choice does not have as large an impact on changing the look of a navy suit. With a charcoal suit, your shirt and tie choice have a large impact on changing your look and giving the appearance of an entirely different suit. Can't as successfully hide the fact that you are wearing the same suit over and over if it is navy

Boring Navy: http://brettpelletier.wordpress.com/200 ... ican-male/

Good Navy: http://www.bestylish.org/blog/index.php ... -navy-suit

BAD suit for large man (See first pic on this page): --LinkRemoved--

Unfortunately, a cursory search didn't yield any examples of Good suit for large man... I will post if I can find later.

Finally, I do love ties in most cases. But, no tie is better for more social type situations and lends a little hint of comfortable confidence... love that.

[Bronte]

I just love this thread. It is so interesting to eaves drop on men talking about their suits... not a common conversation for men, I imagine. Though, I will give you unsolicited advice from a woman who loves fashion and pays attention. Based upon the things I have read herein:

1. Suits are SOOOO not stuffy! Women love to see men who clean up well. And, people in general will respond better to you.

2. Navy blue suit is not a good suggestion. Dark charcoal or light charcoal.

3. To help with a more casual and down-to-earth feel, choose a white based shirt with a very lightly colored pattern (stripes or grids) and no tie. For a more sophisticated and get-down-to-business feel, go with a solid color (please, for the love of God, NOT BRIGHT BLUE! Everyone does that and it looks cheap). Light gray is not a bad shirt color but dark gray is too gimicky. One suit and lots of shirts makes for lots of outfits!

4. If you are thin and/or well built (AKA in-shape) think about a Theory suit. They have some very well-priced suits that are nicely made and fit well-put-together bodies quite nicely. If you are "chubby" or pudgy, you gotta choose baggier fit pants and really make sure that your jacket isn't too long! When a wider man puts on a longer jacket, it just makes them look like a box, or like they are wearing a bell on top because their belly projects the suit outward. Get it slimmer on top and baggier on bottom- gets closer to atleast tricking the eye to believe that you are buff on top and thinner on bottom.

Thats it. Carry on, gentlemen.

Kimberly, if you love this thread, you'll really love this thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 23&t=63606. As you'll quickly learn from the 120 odd pages therein, your advice might be good advice as to what to wear on a date, but it's not got advice as to what to wear to an interview and thus not good advice for first purchases. A midnight navy suit is the classic business suit, and is always an appropriate choice for an interview. Likewise, light charcoal is not a good choice for an interview. Finally, men should not wear patterned shirts to interviews.

[leobowski]

I just love this thread. It is so interesting to eaves drop on men talking about their suits... not a common conversation for men, I imagine. Though, I will give you unsolicited advice from a woman who loves fashion and pays attention. Based upon the things I have read herein:

1. Suits are SOOOO not stuffy! Women love to see men who clean up well. And, people in general will respond better to you.

2. Navy blue suit is not a good suggestion. Dark charcoal or light charcoal.

3. To help with a more casual and down-to-earth feel, choose a white based shirt with a very lightly colored pattern (stripes or grids) and no tie. For a more sophisticated and get-down-to-business feel, go with a solid color (please, for the love of God, NOT BRIGHT BLUE! Everyone does that and it looks cheap). Light gray is not a bad shirt color but dark gray is too gimicky. One suit and lots of shirts makes for lots of outfits!

4. If you are thin and/or well built (AKA in-shape) think about a Theory suit. They have some very well-priced suits that are nicely made and fit well-put-together bodies quite nicely. If you are "chubby" or pudgy, you gotta choose baggier fit pants and really make sure that your jacket isn't too long! When a wider man puts on a longer jacket, it just makes them look like a box, or like they are wearing a bell on top because their belly projects the suit outward. Get it slimmer on top and baggier on bottom- gets closer to atleast tricking the eye to believe that you are buff on top and thinner on bottom.

Thats it. Carry on, gentlemen.

Navy suits are great, light blue shirts are fine, patterned shirts are generally a bad idea, and theory suits are overpriced trendy garbage. Carry on.