<p>I'll be working at a big firm in NYC this summer, and I'm thinking that I should take advantage of all the sales going on. The issue, however, is that I DON'T want to spend money if I don't have to.</p>
<p>Since the office dress-code is business casual, how many suits should I have? At the moment, I have a three year-old suit, which is still in excellent condition (though it is a designer polyester suit); I also have a 9 month-old suit. It's dark navy, made of wool and silk. Ideally, I would prefer not to buy another suit, as I feel this is enough. Any members here have advice?</p>
<p>I realize I'll need a suit for court appearances and client meetings, but I think that I can put the above two suits "in rotation." Bad idea?</p>
<p>I would have said two-three suits, and they don’t need to be designer suits. Seven-ten shirts. Lots of ties. Of course, if it’s business casual, you may not need to buy a full suit, but rather some more pants and a sports jacket if you really wanted to, along with shirts.</p>
<p>It just depends if you want to get invited back later for a real job interview. It’s one thing to be a starving undergrad interning in the Big City, but another to be a starving LS who wants to impress the heck out of every partner, administrative assistant, and in-between, not to mention potential clients. And, IMO, a poly suit was a poor initial investment. (They don’t wear well.)</p>
<p>sorry- you’ll have a hard time finding summer suits on sale now. But you might be able to get winter suits on sale as the season is almost over. The best sales are at end of season/clearance time. So think ahead and buy off season.
Don’t they teach you guys any useful info at T-5 law schools? </p>
<p>anyway- check out century 21 (by Trade Center) or Syms. Also check out K & G (?)right by Grand Central. I’m not as familiar with men’s wear bargains- but it’s a start.
Also- best advise: Get friendly with a “real new york” classmate who dresses well. They’ll know where to shop and know the best bargains.</p>
<p>There used to be a bunch of factory warehouse stores around 5th ave and the 20’s- but I have no clue if they are still is existance.</p>
<p>That’s not how being a summer associate works, BlueBayou. You either get a full-time offer after the summer or you don’t (usually 90%+ do, and many are near 100%), and there is no future “real interview”. Of course you don’t want to give a bad impression, but usually the odds are greatly in your favor</p>
<p>If the office dress code is business casual, why do you think you need suits at all?
Suits are not business casual and were customary before the whole “casual” thing started.</p>
<p>If you need suits- figure out your size and buy on ebay.</p>
<p>In essence, the whole summer becomes the interview. All it takes is one senior partner to say ‘heck no’ for whatever reason. And do you want to take that chance over your dress code?</p>
<p>There is a rule of thumb in Dress for Success: dress for the job you want (senior partner), not the job you have (groveling grad student). Of course that doesn’t mean that you have to wear custom tailored suits, but I can guarantee you that no partner has a suit made out of polyester. Heck, I’d be willing to bet that the Administrative Assistants don’t wear poly.</p>
<p>But agree with the others, if the dress code is business casual…</p>
<p>Yes, I realize that the dress code is business casual, which is why I was asking whether I could survive with two suits (one poly, but the other a genuine, wool and silk suit).</p>
<p>Haha, I didn’t think it would be a big deal whether I bought a summer suit or a winter suit, but I guess it makes a difference (are my days in biglaw limited, given how unrefined I am?)</p>
<p>I guess I’ll wait it out then. One of my favorite designers is doing 40% off, which is why I thought I’d down to midtown now, rather than later. But if there are deals to be had on more relevant styles just before summer, I’d rather make the trek up there when the weather is warm.</p>
<p>Not that I entirely disagree with your sartorial device, but–9 times out of 10–if I’m deemed unworthy of a permanent offer, it’ll be because of my work product or “fit,” not the quality of my suit.</p>
<p>The best advice that I can give to future Biglaw summer associates is to dress in a manner such that what you wear will never be what people remember when they think of you. In other words – be boring, but in a well-matched, well cared for kind of way. Don’t let your shoes be scuffed, your haircut look scraggly, and never ever let your clothing be too short, too tight or too trendy.</p>
<p>Guys (or gals), I have NO intention on standing out. My second suit got me through the recruiting process, so I assume it’ll be good enough for a job.</p>
<p>My only question is whether, in a business casual environment, I can get by with one (maybe two, the polyester one being the backup) suit; the suit will be used for client meetings and court, in which I probably won’t be participating, but which I will definitely want to observe.</p>
<p>I work in biglaw. Flowerhead, if you want to make a good impression, you’re doing yourself no favors by wearing that polyester suit, even at a place with a business casual dress code. At a client meeting, the client might not notice your polyester suit, but the partner introducing you to the client MIGHT. My advice – take it or leave it as you wish – is to have two decent (wool) suits for the summer, so that it is not noticeable that you have only one. You are getting good advice from sallyawp and TheRoad; you want AVOID being noticed for wearing substandard clothing. Even if the office is business casual, investment in one or two decent (top dollar is not necessary) suits will be worthwhile this summer, and will serve you for some years to come.</p>
<p>Phew, thanks, auspicious. That was just the advice I was looking for.</p>
<p>Alright, I’ll go suit hunting. I hear the Woodbury Outlets have great prices too. Guess I’ll burn the polyester suit… well “burn” is the wrong word in this context, but you get the picture.</p>
<p>Don’t think that people aren’t watching, because they are. Sometimes, business casual is never really “business casual” as there is an unwritten protocol as what one should be wearing. I remember reading an article in Above the Law that Kirkland Ellis held a dress for success program where they strongly encouraged employees to attend. To them the way you dress does matter.</p>
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<p>If you can, bite the bullet and get you a really great suit. It is going to be an investment that will take you a long way. Make sure that your suit is well tailored.</p>
<p>And don’t underestimate the value of purchasing a good accessories
(belt, cuff links if you have some french cuff shirts) and a good pair of shoes.</p>
<p>There are a couple of threads on the parents forum about buying suits.</p>
<p>If you can get the no-iron shirts at brooks brothers (especially on sale you can get them for ~$39) they are really great. Definitely truth in advertising and they always looks good</p>
<p>There is a Brooks Brothers outlet at Woodbury. They really stand behind their clothes. If you purchase something from them and need it tailored, you can get the tailoring done in NYC (in addition to returning something that does not work out).</p>
<p>If you don’t want to pay that much for a shirt, Century 21 has a great selection of shirts and ties at all price points.</p>