Interesting WSJ Article

[MHH89]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123380523253950975.html

Gecko's style is Back

 

[philosophe]

Shined shoes and good suits, yes. Yellow power ties, nooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[MHH89]

What about Red suspenders? Haha

 

[grimslade]

I like yellow ties.

 

[crazyquik]

Originally Posted by grimslade

I like yellow ties.

 

[vitaminc]

didnt they just have an similar article on the same subject?

 

[crazyquik]

This article has 49 comments on the WSJ Law Blog, which is a huge amount for a story there.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/02/05/...year/#comments

 

[Standard Toaster]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

This article has 49 comments on the WSJ Law Blog, which is a huge amount for a story there.

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/02/05/...year/#comments

There's a lot of suit hate there.

 

[mafoofan Jr.]

Nothing new. People who knew better have always dressed sharp, regardless of the times.

 

[babygreenspots]

They've been talking about the "return of formal dressing" for nearly a decade. Complete with impassioned denunciations of the rebellious mediocrites, the fever for formality came right on the heels of the fever for business casual.

 

[youngScholar]

Originally Posted by Standard Toaster

There's a lot of suit hate there.

Really. I'd like to hear the opinions of the lawyers here on Style Forum. From the comment thread, it seems that one would get a lot of flack for suit wearing. Does it really just depend on the particular firm and/or area of the country?

 

[bluemagic]

Originally Posted by youngScholar

Really. I'd like to hear the opinions of the lawyers here on Style Forum. From the comment thread, it seems that one would get a lot of flack for suit wearing. Does it really just depend on the particular firm and/or area of the country?

In the real world, you cannot deviate too much from the average unless you are a total baller.

 

[HORNS]

Originally Posted by youngScholar

Really. I'd like to hear the opinions of the lawyers here on Style Forum. From the comment thread, it seems that one would get a lot of flack for suit wearing. Does it really just depend on the particular firm and/or area of the country?

I would think that the geographic issue is the greatest decider. I would think that this type of dress regimen, while working in Dallas, would not work in Texarkana.

But, on another note, I appreciate the idea of what dressing formally at work represents to me - a stronger discipline in hard times. In my opinion, this type of dress is the top layer of an overall ethic that has to be implemented to get us out of this mess. Well, at least that's what I would hope this represents.

 

[NaturalShoulder]

Originally Posted by youngScholar

Really. I'd like to hear the opinions of the lawyers here on Style Forum. From the comment thread, it seems that one would get a lot of flack for suit wearing. Does it really just depend on the particular firm and/or area of the country?

I don't know that anyone gets flak for wearing suits in the legal community. I think that many who post the negative comments just don't like to wear suits. The article also points to the sense of entitlement some younger attorneys (or other professionals) feel that the firm or organization is lucky to have them and that they should be able to "express themselves" and dress as they see fit.

I understand the argument that many successful people do not wear suits and that it is possible to produce quality work in jeans and a tee shirt. While I agree with both thoughts, these arguments miss the point. Attorneys, as well as others in service professions, rely on the image they present. Maybe it is my bias toward dressing well, but I think that most people selecting a professional are likely to pick one dressed in a suit over one dressed in khakis and a button down shirt. The attorney attired in the khakis and button down may, in fact, be a better attorney, but the client's perception may be different.

I remember an attorney was asked why he continued to wear suits when all of his clients continued to wear business casual. The attorney responded because I am not my client; I am my client's attorney. That quote has stuck with me.

 

[Patrician]

When Im out of law school (****, I'm not in yet) I'll be sure to wear a suit, I think it goes with the profession. But then again I've never understood why you 'mericans have casual Friday, it's ugly.

Anyone heard of this firm before? Are they high-rollers or do they just want to be like the "big guys"? I think it's a bit tacky to say that "at our firm we only sport suits and shiny shoes". I see it as a necessity to keep the professions rep. How would it look if a lawyer walked into a negotiation wearing slippers and a washed out BD shirt? Or maybe they (you?) do...