Bare essentials for men's law school wardrobe? Forum

[Bumi]

I would like to humbly request that this thread continue as scheduled, but also consider the additional purchases someone might have to make if they were moving from the south to the north.

I have no technology in my entire wardrobe that could make a suit warmer if it is 3 degrees outside. What do I need?

[camelcrema]

I would like to humbly request that this thread continue as scheduled, but also consider the additional purchases someone might have to make if they were moving from the south to the north.

I have no technology in my entire wardrobe that could make a suit warmer if it is 3 degrees outside. What do I need?

+1 for someone moving from California to New York.

[Ty Webb]

I would like to humbly request that this thread continue as scheduled, but also consider the additional purchases someone might have to make if they were moving from the south to the north.

I have no technology in my entire wardrobe that could make a suit warmer if it is 3 degrees outside. What do I need?

[nealric]

Bare essentials?

Three pairs of underwear
Three T-shirts
Two pairs of shorts
Two pairs of pants
A pair of shoes
A pair of flipflops
A coat of some sort if in cold climate
Three pairs of socks
One suit + accouterments

[neonx]

Tagging this.

I need major tie-tying tutorials. The ones I've found are pretty basic. I wanna try something more ambitious & elegant.

[mrtoren]

Tagging this.

I need major tie-tying tutorials. The ones I've found are pretty basic. I wanna try something more ambitious & elegant.

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/tieknots/tieknots.tem

A Half-Windsor will never treat you wrong, and a Windsor for formal events is perfect.

[blsingindisguise]

I wouldn't buy your interview suits before starting 1L. Whatever interviews you have will come towards the end of 1L, and you want to buy the suit a little closer to the interviews (maybe over winter break - great sales around then) so that you have it altered to fit your weight at the time (which may change due to law school stress). I'd say have one good charcoal or navy suit going in, a few ties, a few white or solid light blue dress shirts, three or four ties, a few business casual dress shirts and a pair or two of business casual slacks. Maybe a sportcoat if that's how you roll, but it's not essential. There aren't tons of formal events 1L year -- maybe you'll occasionally go to a firm mixer or two but otherwise you'll be in jeans and sweatshirts holed up in the library.

[Voltaire]

As far as suits go, Men's Wearhouse has a buy one get one for $100 going on right now. If you wait until next month, it'll probably be buy one get on free. They tailor your suit for free. You can pretty easily walk away with two not horrible suits for under $500. You also get a $50 store credit when you spend over $500. Perfect for loading up on ties or picking up something else you think you'll need.

They probably won't be the kind you'll want when you're a partner, but no one expects you to wear a monocle or anything right now. If you go with a flat front slack/two button suit, you really can't go wrong. It's sort of blasphemy to make it out of college without a suit anyway. You need one. Someone mentioned Lauren by RL, and I just got a couple of those last month when MW had the buy one/free option.

If you're super poor, keep an eye out at Goodwill or other second hand stores. If you find something decent and in your size, you can have it tailored to look decent. I knew a few guys in my fraternity that had pretty ok looking suits for under $30. But it can be hit and miss depending on where you live.

[Voltaire]

Tagging this.

I need major tie-tying tutorials. The ones I've found are pretty basic. I wanna try something more ambitious & elegant.

The four in hand method is all you need unless you're a lottery pick in the NBA draft.

[Veyron]

Macys for suits? For the love of all that is holy no.

Get some sweat pants, get some T-shirts, spend the rest on 2 good suits some quality dress shirts etc. No one cares what you wear to class, what you wear to receptions and interviews is far more important.

[Capitol A]

Macys for suits? For the love of all that is holy no.

Get some sweat pants, get some T-shirts, spend the rest on 2 good suits some quality dress shirts etc. No one cares what you wear to class, what you wear to receptions and interviews is far more important.

TITCR.
Spend good money on the stuff that matters. Don't worry about the rest of your clothes.

[blsingindisguise]

Also if you wait til winter break and you're willing to shell out, you can pick up a Brooks Bros suit for around $500 and the non-iron dress shirts for about $40-50 each. A BB suit is not essential while you're still a student, but it's a great interview suit if you can afford it. Otherwise you can certainly get away with a Men's Wearhouse suit. I also noticed that Lord & Taylor had some pretty good suits on sale for $250-300. Don't know how often they do the sale. The Brooks Brothers shirts are worth it imo because they last much longer and don't get as wrinkled as the crummy ones from Macy's.

[Veyron]

Macys for suits? For the love of all that is holy no.

Get some sweat pants, get some T-shirts, spend the rest on 2 good suits some quality dress shirts etc. No one cares what you wear to class, what you wear to receptions and interviews is far more important.

TITCR.
Spend good money on the stuff that matters. Don't worry about the rest of your clothes.

Yah, I bought a suit at Macys as a back-up suit. It looks ok now but I spent almost as much as the suit cost on tailoring. I can tell the damn things going to fall apart in a year, its already got loose threads, etc.

[kehoema2]

Thanks, this is some good info.

[Capitol A]

Macys for suits? For the love of all that is holy no.

Get some sweat pants, get some T-shirts, spend the rest on 2 good suits some quality dress shirts etc. No one cares what you wear to class, what you wear to receptions and interviews is far more important.

TITCR.
Spend good money on the stuff that matters. Don't worry about the rest of your clothes.

Yah, I bought a suit at Macys as a back-up suit. It looks ok now but I spent almost as much as the suit cost on tailoring. I can tell the damn things going to fall apart in a year, its already got loose threads, etc.

IMO, tough to beat J.Crew for the quality/$, and their fits are pretty solid off the rack (at least for me).

[clintonius]

As far as suits go, Men's Wearhouse has a buy one get one for $100 going on right now. If you wait until next month, it'll probably be buy one get on free. They tailor your suit for free. You can pretty easily walk away with two not horrible suits for under $500. You also get a $50 store credit when you spend over $500. Perfect for loading up on ties or picking up something else you think you'll need.

In general I tell people to stay away from Men's Wearhouse. Their alterations are not free unless the policy has changed since I bought a suit there (admittedly back in '07). It was around $350 to start and wound up about $500 when they were done with alterations. If they do still make you pay for tailoring, the buy-one-get-one-for-X deal will double up those costs. My experience with the salesman and tailor (who did a poor job) was also not good, though that will vary by location.

[Veyron]

As far as suits go, Men's Wearhouse has a buy one get one for $100 going on right now. If you wait until next month, it'll probably be buy one get on free. They tailor your suit for free. You can pretty easily walk away with two not horrible suits for under $500. You also get a $50 store credit when you spend over $500. Perfect for loading up on ties or picking up something else you think you'll need.

In general I tell people to stay away from Men's Wearhouse. Their alterations are not free unless the policy has changed since I bought a suit there (admittedly back in '07). It was around $350 to start and wound up about $500 when they were done with alterations. If they do still make you pay for tailoring, the buy-one-get-one-for-X deal will double up those costs. My experience with the salesman and tailor (who did a poor job) was also not good, though that will vary by location.

You shouldn't be getting your suit tailored at Men's Wharehouse anyway. If you live in a big city, there are these people called, hmmmmm, oh, TAILORS. They are the ones you want to be taking a suit to after you buy it.

[lukebyalibi]

I plan on packing around 7 different color banana-hammocks just so I know what day it is.

[Capitol A]

I plan on packing around 7 different color banana-hammocks just so I know what day it is.

you could also buy the ones that have the day of the week printed on the back.
while I admire your integration of the term "banana hammock," I much prefer "grape smugglers"

[lukebyalibi]

I plan on packing around 7 different color banana-hammocks just so I know what day it is.

you could also buy the ones that have the day of the week printed on the back.
while I admire your integration of the term "banana hammock," I much prefer "grape smugglers"

I believe the terms are interchangeable. I have not found the day of the week ones yet! Hmnnn custom made ones! Screw law school I am starting a business with this!!

[Capitol A]

I plan on packing around 7 different color banana-hammocks just so I know what day it is.

you could also buy the ones that have the day of the week printed on the back.
while I admire your integration of the term "banana hammock," I much prefer "grape smugglers"

I believe the terms are interchangeable. I have not found the day of the week ones yet! Hmnnn custom made ones! Screw law school I am starting a business with this!!

My wife has underwear with the days of the week on them. came from UrbanOutfitters. Of course, those are neither banana hammocks nor grape smugglers.

[geoduck]

I would like to humbly request that this thread continue as scheduled, but also consider the additional purchases someone might have to make if they were moving from the south to the north.

I have no technology in my entire wardrobe that could make a suit warmer if it is 3 degrees outside. What do I need?

First, you need a good overcoat. Beyond that, good thermal underwear is important. They aren't the long-johns your grandpappy wore. Now you can get tights and shirts that keep a lot of warmth in while adding no bulk and still breathing. I like Underarmour myself.

[clintonius]

As far as suits go, Men's Wearhouse has a buy one get one for $100 going on right now. If you wait until next month, it'll probably be buy one get on free. They tailor your suit for free. You can pretty easily walk away with two not horrible suits for under $500. You also get a $50 store credit when you spend over $500. Perfect for loading up on ties or picking up something else you think you'll need.

In general I tell people to stay away from Men's Wearhouse. Their alterations are not free unless the policy has changed since I bought a suit there (admittedly back in '07). It was around $350 to start and wound up about $500 when they were done with alterations. If they do still make you pay for tailoring, the buy-one-get-one-for-X deal will double up those costs. My experience with the salesman and tailor (who did a poor job) was also not good, though that will vary by location.

You shouldn't be getting your suit tailored at Men's Wharehouse anyway. If you live in a big city, there are these people called, hmmmmm, oh, TAILORS. They are the ones you want to be taking a suit to after you buy it.

oh, I agree. I thought the alterations were included with the suit. Had I known they were extra I would've just gotten a real suit somewhere.

[YaSvoboden]

I would like to humbly request that this thread continue as scheduled, but also consider the additional purchases someone might have to make if they were moving from the south to the north.

I have no technology in my entire wardrobe that could make a suit warmer if it is 3 degrees outside. What do I need?

First, you need a good overcoat. Beyond that, good thermal underwear is important. They aren't the long-johns your grandpappy wore. Now you can get tights and shirts that keep a lot of warmth in while adding no bulk and still breathing. I like Underarmour myself.

I like underarmor coldgear a lot for the bottoms, but when I tried the tops with them I would be far too warm inside. I know they have different levels of insulation and I don't remember which one I had, perhaps a lite one would do better. Either way, the coat should keep your upper body plenty warm outside.

[romothesavior]

Underwear

Never mind.