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There's a couple of holiday 1L receptions in my parents' city that say they are "informal" gatherings for 1Ls to network possibly for 1L summer jobs, etc. Has anyone been to one of these? What does "informal" mean? Would you still wear a suit and tie? Or just business casual?

I don't have a suit with me, but I do have a navy blue blazer and some dress slacks. Is it worth it to go out and buy a suit for these receptions? I'll need a suit anyway for Spring OCI, but if I get one for these holiday receptions, I'll have to have the alterations rushed.

Do you really need input on this? C'mon, man use that healthy dose of common sense God gave you

I went to one in just a dress shirt, jacket, and non-matching slacks. Only to discover a lot of people in suits and ties. Err on the formal side.

Full disclosure though: it didn't seem to keep me from networking or making a decent impression because I got an offer for a 2L SA with the firm.

It is not worth buying a suit for. If you had one with you, I'd say wear it. But, since you don't a blazer will be fine.

RVP11 wrote:I went to one in just a dress shirt, jacket, and non-matching slacks. Only to discover a lot of people in suits and ties. Err on the formal side.

Full disclosure though: it didn't seem to keep me from networking or making a decent impression because I got an offer for a 2L SA with the firm.

This is what I was worried about. Although it says "informal," I don't want to be gunned to death by some people wearing beautifully tailored suits -- at least to the point where I'd stand out for not wearing one.

get a suit

Always better to wear a suit. I'd not waste money buying one just for the event though. Good slacks, and a dress shirt/tie should be sufficient. If you have a sports jacket consider wearing that.

Optimally you would wear a suit. But buying a suit just for holiday networking events does not make sense. However, if you need a suit in the future (if you don't own any, you definitely do), you should consider buying one now.

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FWIW, I went to one of these 1L year and everyone was wearing suits. I would wear at least a jacket and a tie if it were me.

Follow up:

I confirmed with the recruiting assistant that this was business casual, and yet I still wore a suit. They were able to get the tailoring done in time without an extra charge, and I need one for Spring OCI anyway.

The result: literally everyone else there was wearing a suit except for some of the partners, who were drunk and wearing nice sweaters. I went to three of these receptions tonight, and it was all the same. I'm sure buying the suit early was a good idea.