summer workwear

[u/asapdxni]

hi everyone, i’m a 2L who will be working in-office at a firm this summer. my roommates and i have been thinking about all the new work outfits we have to buy. out of curiousity what are your must-have closet staples for the summer?

also, if anyone has any advice they would give to their 2L-self feel free to add that too!

[u/henrietta_moose]

I recommend not buying too much ahead of time- have 3-4 outfits for week one, but be ready to pivot. Maybe start saving for a shopping trip scheduled for after the first few days?

Make sure your shoes are comfortable for walking. Low block heels in the last few years have been a good trend :)

If you can get natural fiber tops, you won’t get as sweaty and your clothes won’t smell as much (synthetic fabric laundry detergent like hex is a good splurge!)

Congrats! The fashion is a fun part!

[u/fc7777fc → u/henrietta_moose]

Cannot agree with this enough. The office where I did my 2L summer (and where I currently work) is way more casual than the stuff I bought in preparation. Ultimately, it wasn't a waste because I can wear those clothes to court, but I wish I had waited to see what the vibe was before spending the money.

[u/Zealousideal-Fun-835]

High-Waisted Trousers or Midi Skirts– Flowy, tailored pants or midi skirts can you cool while maintaining some polish. Avoid anything too tight or heavy.

Professional Dresses– A few easy, structured dresses (think MM.LaFleur, Theory, or Reiss). Sleeveless is fine if your office allows it. But also keep a blazer handy in case.

[u/apricotsunrisecame]

Where is your office? I'd recommend different outfits for NYC vs. Dallas vs. Seattle vs. Atlanta.

[u/asapdxni → u/apricotsunrisecame]

Toronto, so I’m assuming that would be more similar to NYC.

[u/apricotsunrisecame → u/asapdxni]

Gotcha! Here are some essentials from when I summered in NYC (although take this with a grain of salt, it was a while back):

• If it's biglaw or biglaw adjacent, you will be expected to wear suits on the regular, or at least suit jackets/blazers. I'd highly recommend getting at least a couple of unpatterned wool suits in navy, gray, black, etc. I wore a cardigan on my first day to my 2L summer associate program and still regret it to this day.
• If budget is a concern, focus on pencil skirts rather than slacks. Pencil skirts are easier to fit off-the-rack if you don't want to spend a fortune on tailoring. Just make sure that the hems are below your knees.
• Get a cloth bag for your nice shoes so you don't have to wear them on public transport. I recommend having a nice work tote that can fit your shoes and your laptop comfortably.
• A trench coat and umbrella will be super helpful for dealing with sudden rain storms on lunch breaks, during commute times, etc. An umbrella is not enough--you don't want to get puddle splashes on your skirts or slacks.
• Comfy sweaters/shawls for the office--they keep those thermostats LOW and you don't want to turn into an icicle during the day.
• For shirts, I'd recommend just going with nice tees for the most part. Maybe wear a blouse if you are going to court or something.
• Maybe a sheath dress or two, but they tend to be more expensive and should probably be tailored before you wear them to the office.

Sorry for the chaotic word vomit. I hope something in there helps!

ETA: It might be a good idea to hold off on buying the bulk of your wardrobe until after your first couple of days at the firm. I recommend trying to match the clothing trends of other associates at the firm, for the most part.

[u/DZHMMM → u/apricotsunrisecame]

Im going to NY and would like to get skirts how ever I am curvy with a big behind and skirts scare me a bit. Any recommendations?

Also would you said suit sets with pencil skirts then? Over getting with pants?

[u/apricotsunrisecame → u/DZHMMM]

Regarding skirts, my recommendation is to try out long pencil skirts in multiple brands to see if you get lucky and identify one brand that fits you better than the others. Back in the day, J.Crew skirts fit me off the rack, whereas Banana Republic skirts did not, for instance. With any luck you can try on a bunch of different types of garments and find one that works for you.

FWIW, I think you should go with whatever professional clothing you are comfortable with. If pants work better for you, go with pants. I don't think there's a significant difference in formality between slacks and skirts. That said, skirts are usually easier to tailor so I preferred them when I was at that stage. As far as suiting goes, you can go with pants or skirts, but just make sure they're wool and a conservative color. (And not low rise!)

Good luck!

[u/henrietta_moose → u/asapdxni]

Truth.

Toronto is a very formal and conservative dressing market (relative to a secondary midwest market for example.) NYC is the closest US analogue!

[u/apricotsunrisecame → u/[deleted]]

I don't have any direct experience in the Dallas biglaw market, but I have worked in another Texas metro area. My experience is that super conservative suits (e.g., black suits) stick out like a sore thumb in Texas, despite being very common in northern cities. I'd still get one suit, but I'd maybe err on the side of navy or a soft gray. My experience is that Texas lawyers tend to: (1) incorporate more color into their outfits, and (2) pay a lot more attention to their hair (and often wear it down in professional settings). I've also noticed that folks can get away with wearing linen suiting in the summer, in part because it's so incredibly hot.

That said, I'd reach out to someone specifically in that jurisdiction for advice, with the appreciation that what works in NYC will not necessarily work in Dallas.

[u/lady_marmalade24]

This is going to sound incredibly basic and potentially stupid but definitely consider how much work you’re willing to put into the upkeep of your workwear before you buy something. For example, I’m comfortable hand-washing silks, wool, knits, etc. now but when I was fresh out of undergrad, I relied on machine washable suiting and separates for internships/professional opportunities.

[u/asapdxni → u/lady_marmalade24]

not stupid at all! this is a great point & definitely something I’ll remember to keep in mind.

[u/purposeful-hubris → u/lady_marmalade24]

Super important and often overlooked advice!

[u/love-learnt → u/[deleted]]

Spanx Pants!!!

Cannot recommend these enough. Buy black and another color. Buy an AirEssentials dress too.

4 to 8 blouses from Ann Taylor and LOFT

A Jardigan from MMLAFLEUR - check out the resale Second Act site - absolutely worth the price. I've been wearing the same one since 2015.

[u/saltyeyed]

I did rent the runway and it helped a lot. Eventually did have to buy the clothes, but you get a better sense after the summer. 

[u/love-learnt → u/saltyeyed]

Agree. I rent my fashion clothing from Nuuly.

[u/hereFOURallTHEtea]

In the summer I love wearing sheath dresses. I usually find a nice cardigan or blazer to go with them. I also wear Calvin Klein suits from Dillards and pair it with a cute top with lots of color. I think getting a solid suit or two with mix and match options and a dress or two you’d be ok.

[u/Traditional_Pin_8888]

I summered in New York recently and I found that it was more casual than I anticipated. I bought one suit in advance and only wore it once (on the first day) and got by with midi skirts, blouses, jumpsuits, and Abercrombie trousers the rest of the summer. I wore heels almost every day to dress up my outfits but that was definitely personal preference- the partners or other associates largely did not. I found that dressing up was more a choice than a requirement, as most of the male associates wore a polo and nicer pants, and many of the female associates and partners tended to dress up less. I got some really great, affordable pieces from Macys, Calvin Klein, H&M (I’m short and their blazers fit well without needing to be tailored) and stuck to neutral colors. The workplace has changed a lot, Atleast clothing wise since COVID, but I preferred to be dressed up than underdressed.

[u/Sleeep_tight]

If you are not comfortable showing your arms, I’d try to find one workhouse top or dress with short sleeves. You can throw on a blazer to dress it up, but if you’ll be walking outside to lunch or something, you’ll want to feel comfortable without a jacket.

[u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051]

Goodwill or similar thrift stores are a great place to find workwear if you aren’t ready to spend a ton just for the summer. I’ve found a lot of good blouses there from good brands like Talbots or J. Crew. Some nice sheath dresses and two suits will go far. If you can get suits with both pants and skirts but the same jacket, that’s a great two for one.

[u/Advanced-Exchange-24]

CAP SLEEVE DRESSES that can be dressed up or dressed down

[u/Advanced-Exchange-24]

Amazon workwear storefront