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How many suits needed for BigLaw (business formal)?

I have three; how many do I need total? EDIT: official fi...
Cocky deep rehab
  09/02/10
3-5, preferably 5
chest-beating trailer park
  09/02/10
You shouldn't need more than five, but you should have at le...
curious big-titted codepig
  09/06/10
at least 5
pearl duck-like windowlicker main people
  09/02/10
I'm hoping that I can get away with a jacket and dress pants...
Cocky deep rehab
  09/02/10
2
Rose people who are hurt
  09/02/10
enjoy cravath or jones day.
offensive provocative den newt
  09/02/10
...
low-t high-end locus hominid
  09/04/10
I was in BIGlaw for several years. You should have 2. You c...
Pontificating Glittery Clown Reading Party
  09/02/10
Cosigned. You're never going to go to court as a first- or ...
nubile station
  09/02/10
If you really need to wear a suit every day 3 is the minimum...
alcoholic puce hospital mad cow disease
  09/02/10
I did 2 and it was fine....3 would have been nice, though. I...
Jet-lagged prole
  09/04/10
Not a summer- incoming associate. Office is biz formal.
Cocky deep rehab
  09/04/10
10 suits per season is a decent rotation.
mind-boggling idea he suggested point
  09/04/10
My company is business formal during the Fall/Winter/Spring ...
Erotic base juggernaut
  09/04/10
ty difference btw spread and point collars?
Cocky deep rehab
  09/04/10
http://www.pilot-shirts.org/pilots/pages/fitting.php#anchor_...
Erotic base juggernaut
  09/04/10
Yeah, I get the basic idea, I just have a hard time telling ...
Cocky deep rehab
  09/04/10
Brooks Brothers and most non-TTT outfitters will label them ...
Erotic base juggernaut
  09/04/10
could easily get away with three but you should have 5
appetizing shivering pit party of the first part
  09/04/10
Thanks dood. I'm editing my OP, but do you think it's reaso...
Cocky deep rehab
  09/04/10
What colors are appropriate in a hot desert environment (thi...
passionate kitty cat
  09/06/10
Just mix up the colors sufficiently, no matter where you are...
curious big-titted codepig
  09/06/10
 
Stubborn institution digit ratio
  09/07/10


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Date: September 2nd, 2010 6:46 PM
Author: Cocky deep rehab

I have three; how many do I need total?

EDIT: official firm policy is business casual, but the group I will be in wears suits most days. I'm thinking I can probably get away with blazer/dress pants on Fridays.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15950002)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 6:46 PM
Author: chest-beating trailer park

3-5, preferably 5

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15950005)



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Date: September 6th, 2010 6:07 PM
Author: curious big-titted codepig

You shouldn't need more than five, but you should have at least five. Even with five, one or two you won't like as much as the others, and you will tend to bypass them in your daily wardrobe selection. But in a pinch you would have enough to cover a full week of suits when you need them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15980435)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 6:46 PM
Author: pearl duck-like windowlicker main people

at least 5

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15950004)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 6:48 PM
Author: Cocky deep rehab

I'm hoping that I can get away with a jacket and dress pants on Fridays- reasonable? And if so, don't you think 5 suits is plenty?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15950023)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 7:13 PM
Author: Rose people who are hurt

2

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15950283)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 7:21 PM
Author: offensive provocative den newt

enjoy cravath or jones day.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15950378)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:50 AM
Author: low-t high-end locus hominid



(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962953)



Reply Favorite

Date: September 2nd, 2010 10:26 PM
Author: Pontificating Glittery Clown Reading Party

I was in BIGlaw for several years. You should have 2. You can probably get away with 1 for a while. Most firms are business casual and you probably won't need them unless going to court or certain meetings.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15951979)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 10:27 PM
Author: nubile station

Cosigned. You're never going to go to court as a first- or second-year, and you'll have few meetings that require a jacket.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15951986)



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Date: September 2nd, 2010 10:48 PM
Author: alcoholic puce hospital mad cow disease

If you really need to wear a suit every day 3 is the minimum, 5 is a realistic goal, 7+ is ideal (allows a full month without a trip to the cleaners). This assumes you have a decent selection of shirts and ties.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15952170)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:40 AM
Author: Jet-lagged prole

I did 2 and it was fine....3 would have been nice, though. I was worried at first, but quickly realized that NO ONE CARES what a summer wears as long as you look presentable. Didn't have a whole lot of shirts/ties, either, but what I had was really nice.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962916)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:53 AM
Author: Cocky deep rehab

Not a summer- incoming associate. Office is biz formal.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962967)



Reply Favorite

Date: September 4th, 2010 11:45 AM
Author: mind-boggling idea he suggested point

10 suits per season is a decent rotation.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962934)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:48 AM
Author: Erotic base juggernaut

My company is business formal during the Fall/Winter/Spring

You can get by with 2, as long as you don't have to wear the jacket inside the building. Keep a hanger in your office, and hang up the jacket during the day. If you can get 2 pairs of trousers with the suit, do so.

I also wear khakis + blazer with a tie, this seems formal enough that nobody cares that it's not a suit as long as I'm not in lots of meetings.

Invest in good quality spread-collar shirts in plain white, maybe 1-2 in light blue or a thin blue stripe. The spread collar looks much more dressy than a point collar. Nobody can tell if you're constantly wearing the same 3 white shirts.

Get 4 ties in muted blue and red colors.

4 ties * (2 suits + 1 blazer/khakis) = 12 possible combinations, enough that you don't wear the same things twice more often than once every 2 weeks.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962948)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:54 AM
Author: Cocky deep rehab

ty

difference btw spread and point collars?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962976)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:58 AM
Author: Erotic base juggernaut

http://www.pilot-shirts.org/pilots/pages/fitting.php#anchor_collars

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962997)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:59 AM
Author: Cocky deep rehab

Yeah, I get the basic idea, I just have a hard time telling them apart when I'm actually shopping for shirts. I'm not convinced that they are really two distinct styles

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15963001)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 12:12 PM
Author: Erotic base juggernaut

Brooks Brothers and most non-TTT outfitters will label them as spread/point/button.

Unless you're a fat, get the slim/trim fit option.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15963047)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:55 AM
Author: appetizing shivering pit party of the first part

could easily get away with three but you should have 5

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962980)



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Date: September 4th, 2010 11:57 AM
Author: Cocky deep rehab

Thanks dood. I'm editing my OP, but do you think it's reasonable to expect to be able to "dress down" on Fridays? (e.g., blue blazer and tie)?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15962987)



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Date: September 6th, 2010 6:21 PM
Author: passionate kitty cat

What colors are appropriate in a hot desert environment (think western TX, NM, AZ, NV)?

Are there locally preferred fabrics I'm not aware of (like seersucker in the south, or linen)?

Is the answer different if you're clerking rather than working in BIGLAW?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15980554)



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Date: September 6th, 2010 6:48 PM
Author: curious big-titted codepig

Just mix up the colors sufficiently, no matter where you are. You should have some darker ones and some lighter ones. The stereotype is that darker ones in general are typically for the more defense-oriented, money-backed position in litigation. The lighter ones are more plaintiff/victim oriented, but I have seen the colors mixed so much that there's nothing certain. Sometimes defense counsel will play off the trope and wear a suit that is light in color. As far as seersucker goes, I mostly see people in their forties pull it off well, and not so much with people who are younger. You would definitely be noticed trying to pull off seersucker, and not necessarily in a bad way--but you better have the confidence for it. I would wait until you've been a few years in practice before you pursue seersucker. You have to get accessories for it too. Also, keep in mind that it takes a few years to get a decent suit collection together--it doesn't happen overnight. Ask some of the clotheshorses at your office where they shop, and what they recommend. And get a regular suit salesman, and make that person work a bit for his percentage. As far as tailors go, the best is if you can get someone who is not American-born. Sounds bad to say, but they have a better eye for details, I have found.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15980803)



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Date: September 7th, 2010 5:33 PM
Author: Stubborn institution digit ratio

 

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=1412766&forum_id=2#15988622)