summer associate suit advice

I've searched and found a number of "I'm going to be a first-year associate" posts, but they haven't really answered my questions. So . . .

I'm a first-year law student and will be working as a summer associate at a firm that has a business dress code (the other posts I saw were business casual, for the most part). I need a little help planning my clothing for the summer. I'm a pretty basic 42L.

What's the bare minimum number of suits for this summer? Shirts? Shoes?

So far, I've got one solid navy Hickey Freeman and a solid charcoal Abboud, which I assume will both be fine. I also have one pair of black cap-toe dress shoes, 6 white/light blue dress shirts, and 5-6 ties. What else do I need? I assume I need at least one more suit (more?), and I'm hoping to get it on a pretty tight budget. I've looked as the Joseph collection from JAB and Laurens (crappy label) on STP, but I fear those might look too cheap. Any advice would be appreciated.

The major limitation is that I live in mid-nowhere without many suit-shopping opportunities other than the local mens shop, which has Jack Victors and Laurens at retail. Also, I'm amid final exams, so I can't really travel anywhere to go shopping. I do know a decent tailor here though.

The Arnold Brants on STP are decent enough, and some now listed have Loro Piana fabric. Also poke around for a 20% off coupon.

Can you make it to an Off Fifth? If HF fits you well, they often carry those for around $600, and I think there's a 20% off coupon floating around somewhere. In any case, even if you found a Hickey Freeman Ltd. (do a search) it would be far better than your other options.
If you need something that fits well (if you are slim) and just need the suit for the summer, go to Zara or H and M and just get a couple of cheaper disposable ones that will get you through the internship. When you have more time to bargain hunt, spend more money then.

Originally Posted by Pelikan2

Click to expand...

What's the bare minimum number of suits for this summer? Shirts? Shoes?
Is it really business dress? As in more than a handful of attorneys wear suits? If that's the case, you may want to get another one, but even that might be unnecessary. Whatever the dress code, I would add a sports coat, at least another pair of shoes, and only a few more shirts. Summer associates are not expected to dress well and really should not. Starting out anywhere, the goal is to do good work and blend in while having a good time.

Yeah, I would definitely double check to see if they really have a business formal dress code. I've heard that a couple of firms out there still have everyone dress in suits every day, but they're few and far between.

Some firms I interviwed with during their weekly "caual jeans" day. That, honestly, was a major turn off. And I wasn't even into style / SF at that point.

Thanks for the advice, guys.

I'll double-check with the firm about the dress code. When I was there, everybody was in in suits - but that was also the middle of January. Perhaps summers are a different story.

Regarding a sports coat -Â what's a good style/color for a first and versatile sportscoat? Is a navy blazer the best way to go (I saw that BB has one on sale)?

Thanks again!

I'd stay away from BB. I bought my OCI interview suit from them, but that was back when I had no idea what I was doing. To my eye now, and my general understanding, is they use old-fashioned, boxier cuts. I just bought a Ralph Lauren Polo cotton blazer, and it's got a much cleaner and modern shape. I'm planning on buying some more from RL; they apparently work for my body. Of course, what works for me isn't necessarily going to work for you.

RL has a sale running from the 15th through the 19th, which an additional 20% off on the 15th. See the two threads bouncing around on this forum. If I were you, I'd definitely look into that.

If it's a law firm where everyone is wearing a suit everyday, you won't blend in too well with a sportcoat.

Dress like you're a part of the firm even if you're not. You start blending in and do a top notch job, you might get an offer eventually. Just don't dress better than the boss. You want to dress like you belong there and not like a temp or hired help.

A firm with a "jeans casual" Friday would turn me off too. I'd look elsewhere. Even if not true, it would convey to me they are in a hurry to start the weekend and not focused on the business they are there for.

I'd say one more conservative business suit and a few more ties. Black shoes go with anything and you can wear them always (even if it'snot good for them).

I concur with one of the previous posters. Arnold Brant on sale is a good bet. So is Samuelsohn on sale... Look around online and you'll find great deals.

when i was in law school requiring business dress was a big knock in recruiting efforts. curious what firms, if any, still require it. In NY I think even cravath went business casual (I have no friends there so could be wrong.)

I think you will probably need one more suit (does STP still have Corneliani these day?) and at least 5 more shirts, and another pair of shoes or two. You should just keep what you have now and wait for that first summer associate paycheck and then get some good quality stuff, instead of buying cheap crap now. You can go a couple weeks with only two suits.

Originally Posted by Master Shake

Click to expand...

Summer associates are not expected to dress well and really should not. Starting out anywhere, the goal is to do good work and blend in while having a good time.


At first I was going to disagree with this statement, but you're probably right, at least in larger firms. I firmly believe that all things being equal, the person (whether a summer associate, a CPA, a baseball player, a librarian, etc.) who is better dressed will be regarded better. But it's true that first impressions are powerful, and you don't want to come off as trying to be "better" than everyone else. A few years ago we had a summer who wore suits every day and it rubbed a lot of people the wrong way because we are "business casual" in the usual sense, which in theory means something above chinos and polo shirts, and suits only if you have a reason to wear a suit.

All that said, simply adding a sportcoat to your typical slacks/long-sleeve b/u shirt uniform can make a world of difference while avoiding most of the risk of looking like you're trying to show off. Unless your firm truly requires suits every day, I'd suggest investing in two or three sportcoats that you can match with most of your shirt/pants combos.

I work for a plaintiff's firm, so we're a little more liberal when it comes to clothes. Suits are only needed when going to court or meeting a client. However, I've noticed that the summer interns at the large firms I oppose usually don't dress too well. They'll have one wrinkled suit and some gaudy ties that they thought were cool in high school. So make sure you have one good suit, tie, shirt, and pair of shoes for going to court -- or meeting judgmental plaintiff's counsel.

Practically speaking, you may need a second suit while your one current suit is in the cleaners. So it would be good to invest in another suit. It doesn't have to be expensive. Just a decent, conservative backup suit. Wait until you've got your law license to get something really nice.

Additionally, you'll want some more shoes now. Since you're going to be wearing them everyday, you'll notice that they will quickly wear out. Buy some Allen Edmonds on Ebay. I got some great black oxfords during law school for $80 that I still wear today. I just got them resoled.

You will need some new shirts. A couple blue shirts and a couple white shirts. Maybe a windowpane shirt if you're going to go crazy.

Dress like you take your job seriously, and do good work. BigLaw firms hire based on who can crank out the most hours and not commit malpractice. Or at least, that's what my buddies at White & Case tell me.

Cravath is still business formal.

You definitely need another weeks' worth of shirts and another pair of black shoes. That will carry you through the summer without ruining your inventory-- unless, of course, you're hoping it will depreciate enough to justify re-stocking next year.

I don't know what Brooks carries these days, but they once had some pretty generic-looking separates that might work. I'd guess that even in a suit environment you're going to be spending a lot of your late hours without the jacket. Which means that one jacket with 2 prs of trousers is effectively as good as 2 suits. Just be sure to get something boring so nobody notices.