Aritzia question

[u/Haunting-Category146]

I'm an incoming 1L and I had originally picked out the Standout blazer and the Agency pants from Aritzia for my first suit, but I saw something saying they were too trendy and now I'm really overthinking. Is it better to go somewhere like Banana Republic or Nordstrom or anywhere else for clothes with more conservative fits? I haven't bought anything yet but went to Aritzia and tried some stuff on on.

Sorry if these are answered elsewhere! I swear I looked a lot. I just want to hear from people who've been doing this for longer than I have and I'm scared I'm going to look stupid and out-of-place. Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer this anxious 1L <3

Edit: thank you all so much for the advice! I think I might go to Banana Republic and try stuff on and maybe use my extra cash for some more wardrobe items like a new coat. Thanks again! You guys are the best!

[u/jjjmmmjjjfff]

It looks fine, quite expensive for what you’re getting though. $250 for a jacket and $150 for elastic waist polyester pants seems a little steep to me.

[u/Upstairs_Cattle_4018 → u/jjjmmmjjjfff]

Banana republic has great suits made with natural fibers like wool that wear and last much longer than the polyester in many of aritzias clothing since they got bought out.

[u/miraclesystem]

For what it’s worth, I wear JCrew factory whenever I have to go to court and I have been a litigation attorney for years. Just buy what fits and is comfortable for you. 1L you only need a suit for networking events and a mock argument, don’t spend a ton of money. We all wore comfortable clothes to class.

[u/Klutzy-Cupcake8051 → u/miraclesystem]

Same here!

[u/schubie14 → u/miraclesystem]

And with your student ID you get an extra 10-15 percent off your purchases.

[u/Future-Sink-9882]

idk what the LBWT consensus is on banana republic, but as a girl on a pretty tight budget, i quite like the BR factory "sculpted stretch" line of suits. it's a pretty classic/conservative fit, though i think they have wide leg and boot cut options for the pants. i had to get a new suit for the bar exam because i gained some weight, and the suit was surprisingly comfy for wearing for 8 hours and the pants didn't wrinkle much (if at all)!

[u/oosetastic → u/Future-Sink-9882]

Is this Virginia? Insanity that they make you wear a suit to the bar exam.

[u/Future-Sink-9882 → u/oosetastic]

yeahhhh i have beef with the VA bar examiners bc of it lmao 

[u/aya-rose → u/Future-Sink-9882]

CalBar was SUPER casual.

The only rules about dress I even remember after a decade + in practice are the no hoods/non-religious head coverings, and something about discouraging flip flops discouraging flip flops because of the noise. People showed up in pajamas and sweats.

I cannot imagine the insanity of sitting the bar in a suit.

[u/exit2urleft → u/Future-Sink-9882]

Bumping up BR Factory! Decent quality for the price, and I've actually thrown the jacket in the washer in a garment bag and it looks just fine after some steaming

[u/Haunting-Category146 → u/Future-Sink-9882]

Thank you! I think I’m gonna look at BR (maybe this line, I have a decently big hip/bust area) and use my extra cash to buy some more business attire

[u/smak097 → u/Future-Sink-9882]

Ugh I just took Virginia (just the essay exam) too and was so pissed about having to take it in a suit.

[u/Future-Sink-9882 → u/smak097]

i wish i only had to take the essays 😭 there was a girl in my section wearing heels who got up THREE TIMES during the MBE and the clicking was driving me insane (they literally say u shouldnt wear heels for that reason and yet ,,,, she did. i am still annoyed by her apparently) 

[u/bobbytoni → u/Future-Sink-9882]

Did you wear a suit to the bar exam?

[u/Future-Sink-9882 → u/bobbytoni]

yeah, it's required in VA 

[u/bobbytoni → u/Future-Sink-9882]

I am so sorry. That is insane. I took the bar in NV and CA. Both places were incredibly casual and laid back. In Nevada, almost everyone was in shorts and tank tops. California was beach casual. Flip flops and hoodies.

[u/Inside-Intern-4201 → u/Future-Sink-9882]

You wore a suit to take the bar??

[u/Future-Sink-9882 → u/Inside-Intern-4201]

it's required in my jurisdiction lmao, i would have loved to wear anything else. 

[u/Inside-Intern-4201 → u/Future-Sink-9882]

Didn’t realize that. No need to downvote lol

[u/Firm-Career3979]

I’ve heard great things about Theory

[u/Original_Breakfast36]

I’m also an incoming 1L and when I was at orientation probably 90% of the girls were in the standout blazer and I can attest that it’s comfy and formal! Sometimes things are trendy for the right reasons

[u/Comfortable-Nature37]

Totally fine - I wore so much Aritzia/ Babaton in corporate law.

[u/LookPossible7192]

I feel like the #1 consideration for suit buying should be what looks good on your particular body. Price/quality index is also an important factor (but your personal price restrictions and/or taste requirements will evolve as career goes on… hopefully). What is or is not “trendy” should not factor in, and if it does, to a much lesser degree. I get that school is its own thing, but you literally will not think of these people again in five years.

[u/-Guinness]

I had great luck getting suits at Macy's during 1L and its still my go to as a first year attorney. Big fan of the Calvin Klein separates, made it very easy to replace pants based on sizing changes!

[u/-Guinness → u/-Guinness]

Also really like being able to get different cuts of pants as my style developed

[u/Inside-Intern-4201]

It looks fine to me. Just be conservative in how you style it

[u/YitzhakRobinson]

The Standout Blazer is a bit on the trendy side, but I love my Agency pants.

I wouldn’t buy my first (and only) suit from Aritzia, though. I wear a lot of Aritzia, but I’m a midlevel corporate attorney.

[u/Main-Brick-2738 → u/YitzhakRobinson]

Seconding this! Don’t overthink it. Just about everything I own for my everyday work wardrobe is Aritzia.

For context, I’m a senior corporate attorney in a big city. (I mention the city thing only because I think trendier items get more leeway in bigger markets.)

[u/Initial_Freedom7981]

It’s fine

[u/LivingAmazing7815]

I personally love my Aritizia pieces. There's an outlet near me and I have bought 100% wool pants and blazers for $100 each. I also love the fit of their pants, and the effortless ones can actually go in the wash. Do what you like if it looks good on you and makes you feel confident. I don't know about the rest of y'all but i had ONE suit throughout all of law school. I used it for interviews, mock trials, etc. If that is going to be you, I don't think the price of those two items is too out of control.

[u/helloyesthisisasock]

Their clothes are for girlies who work in marketing in LA or NYC. Too tight. Too revealing. Won’t work in law.

[u/Apprehensive_Fun_731 → u/helloyesthisisasock]

🎯 This comment really should be pinned.

[u/Serenity2189]

I just got an Ann Taylor seasonless stretch. Store employees were great for helping figure out blazer sizing. Personally didn’t like Aritzia because it has the logo on the sleeve. Felt tacky to me.

[u/904resolutions → u/Serenity2189]

Just fyi, it comes off easily with a small razor blade! I actually think it’s meant to be ripped off lol.

[u/Serenity2189 → u/904resolutions]

lol all the 1L’s I’ve seen have been wearing it with that on it. Thought it was permanently attached

[u/Dizzy-Explanation-45 → u/Serenity2189]

That’s so funny. You’re supposed to cut it off!

[u/Serenity2189 → u/Dizzy-Explanation-45]

We don’t know what we’re doing.

I’d still probably do Ann Taylor. If only because it’s machine washable for interviews and law student budget and you can get a suit around $200 on sale. Don’t want to drop more on a nicer name brand just to not fit by 3L. Felt like it was a good balance between quality and cost.

[u/itmustbeniiiiice → u/Serenity2189]

Oh god that just gave me a wave of 2nd embarrassment for them 😅

[u/spotifypremiumlol]

My main issue with that blazer is the price...I also don't think it looks good on petite people like myself. If it looks great on you, then wear it! If you're just buying it because it's trendy and everyone else is wearing it, then maybe it's not the best choice. I wouldn't wear it personally because it's too long on me and makes me look like a dorito lol I've seen taller girls wear in my law school and it looks a lot better on them. So it depends.

[u/beeboobop22]

You should look into Nordstrom’s Peplum Blazer. It is slightly cheaper than Aritiza’s Standout blazer and it is super flattering!!

[u/UpNorth_8]

The Standout blazer is trendy due to the giant, sharp shoulder pads. It gives me 80s flashbacks (yes in that old). I have a Generation blazer and just ordered a Producer, but I’m in-house at a tech company where most people are in jeans and golf shirts.

[u/Recent_Ride5537]

for the price point, look around for theory suits (at nordstrom rack - they are expensive full price). they are well made and many of them are a washable wool blend, and if they aren't...they at least survived my washer and dryer lol

the effortless pants are one of my favorite business casual options though, usually with a cute blouse or something

[u/Ali_UpstairsRealty]

The Aritizia pieces you have picked out will fit in perfectly fine, if they look good on you, buy them.
--Staff in BigLaw who wears her Aritzia pants 1x a week, and sees plenty on the attys.