Office Attire
Womble Partner: Suit-Wearing Lawyers Earn More?
Posted Apr 21, 2008, 11:07 am CDT
By Molly McDonough
Pressly Millen.
Courtesy of Pressly Millen.
As the big debate over appropriate office attire for a lawyer continues to rage, Womble Carlyle partner Pressly M. Millen decided to weigh in with his own observations of the evolution of attorney dress over the past 25 years and explains why, "My suit is my uniform."
On Wall Street, where Millen started, attire was rigidly tailored. All suits were gray and blue. The more edgy of the set would wear "semi-loud suspenders." And light-colored khaki suits were only to be worn in summer.
The good news back then was that there were no "what do I wear this morning?" dilemmas. "The legal wardrobe may have been a bit stultifying in those early years, but no time was wasted on any morning agonizing over what to wear," Millen notes in an opinion piece published by the National Law Journal.
The stultifying '80s turned on its head in the '90s during the "Internet Bubble." None of the young entrepreneurial clients wore ties and neither did their lawyers, Millen notes.
And that's where attire, according to Millen, slid down the slippery slope from "Casual Fridays to Casual Every Day" to a state of "fashion confusion."
Throughout, Millen says he held firm to his suits, armed with the argument that he is a litigator and needs to look the part.
"For me ... the calculus has been simple," Millen writes. "I just couldn't imagine too many clients willing to pay more than $500 an hour for legal advice to a guy wearing a knit shirt who looked as if he were going to hit the links as soon as this damn meeting was over."
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Comments
Posted by Nancy Myrland - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 40 minutes ago
I have always been a proponent of dressing professionally whenever possible. Sure, it might be the “trend” in some parts of the country to dress business casual, or some form thereof, but that’s exactly the reason I choose to NOT follow it. It’s a trend and no more.
Very few clients will ever fault you because you look too nice, but they could easily notice when someone is too casual. Business casual is much more subjective than is traditional professional attire. Dressing in suits (or comparable) for work or meetings sends a message of ultimate respect, and that you are serious about your business, so you have begun to market yourself before you even open your mouth.
Presentation is important. Presentation and packaging are marketing. The product or service within has to be great to truly impress a client, but the introduction, presentation and packaging help set the tone, and begins to build the relationship. This holds true for internal and external clients with whom we work.
Don’t be like everyone else and follow the trend. Anyone can do that.
Nancy Myrland, President
Myrland Marketing, Inc.
www.myrlandmarketing.com
317-370-9684
Posted by Robert Feldhake - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 8 hours, 24 minutes ago
I appreciated N. Myrland’s comments, they were well stated. Too often the controversy over “business casual” devolves into one of attacking “suits” or more formal dress as not “as comfortable” as slacks, casual shirts and the like. An interesting critique, but it tends to overlook that this is a profession, not a day outing, and in being “professionals” perhaps it is not asking too much to look the part. While changes in style can occur, as certainly the look of men’s suits has drastically altered over the years, to dress professionally, to dress like you are a professional, is a statement of respect for what you do, and a further expression of respect for the clients you represent.
The variances in business casual are a constant, and frankly policing style is not why I went to law school and spent 30 years in this profession. I have gone to business casual in the past and bit my lip, over and over, as I watched the attire level diminish to wear any shirt was fine, hanging out of the pants somehow OK, belts to be avoided, pants pressed last in the Stone Age, and shoes pulled straight from the last rugby match. I’ve sat in my office as employees have complained about ties, buttoned up shirts being uncomfortable, nylons or not, and wondered how do I get out of this room and go back to work. Some days I think I am a good lawyer, most days I believe I am a professional, but policing the attire of grown adults is fine for Project Runway, not a law office.
I understant “comfort” in the office, but if one assumes shoes, socks, tailored slacks, a dress shirt are appropriate business casual, then is all this over the torture of a tie? A coat is often on the door hook, ties often loosened, and the barrage of attacks over ties seems to ignore the issue of an office being a reflection of its owners, of the professional, and wanting to look professional. Women’s attire, same issues, just different garments. At times I feel the press for business casual is a statement of indifference to dressing appropriately, and at times what bothers me the most is why the people I hire cannot appreciate that it is important to me, that it is important to clients, and respect those issues as against the momentary tortures of a tie or formal garb.
No one issue has so seemed to dominate discussions in my firm. I am at a loss to know why. Granted, other firms are in business casual, and as I watch their people enter the elevator or wait for one on a floor, I wonder who is the attorney, secretary, mail-room employee, and feel a lack of “class”—old fashioned class—being shown. It is also true, clients expect something of us. They can come in jeans, it does not matter, we are charging for the time with us, and we absolutely have calls from clients expressing appreciation for the business formal attire and looking respectable in meetings. Casual Friday is a fair compromise to support employees, but appropriate formal business attire, when your name is on the door and people are a reflection of you, is not too much to ask. After all, and for the umpteenth time, to practice law may not be the most popular profession, but like business casual it is not about being popular, it is about showing respect for what we do and being professional in how we go about it.
Posted by Nancy - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 52 minutes ago
The problem isn’t that suits are uncomfortable overall; the problem is that they are uncomfortable over the period of the average lawyer work day, which is not 9-5. That being said, I believe it is important to wear a business suit when meeting with a client and of course making a court appearance; but when doing a 10+ hour document review, it is extremely uncomfortable (particularly if you’re working from boxes and not electronic).
Posted by RJC - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 35 minutes ago
Always nice to see the “best and the brightest” take on the big issues of the day. I suppose next we’ll see a discussion of whether espresso is an appropriate alternative to coffee. Small minds offend in so many ways that worrying about appearance seems very far down the list.
Posted by Jon - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 29 minutes ago
I wear slacks and button down shirt with tie, my suit coat hangs ready. My secretary wears a skirt and blouse or dress. My office is in an area of $4M homes, we need to look sharp and professional. I don’t mind. I wore a military uniform for many years, and I agree - my suit is my uniform.
Posted by Robert Feldhake - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 15 minutes ago
Responding, and adding.
RJC’s comment is interesting, but I’ll explain (and not purport to be the best or the brightest in the process) why I commented. I’ve been in large firms, in-house, and now own my own firm, and despite all the years I remain concerned about both professionalism as well as the job satisfaction experienced by people who work for me. While espresso vs. coffee is a debate in its own right, in my firm, I offer both plus a Keurig device with all manner of coffees and drinks I did not know existed. I do so, and not debate the issue, because I try to provide an environment for employees where they know I do care about their comfort, about providing a nice office within which to work, best of equipment and materials and so on. That’s what makes this issue so interesting, because it is the ultimate conflict between an owner, let’s say even an older owner’s view of what it means to be professional, and an employer’s desire to have his or her employees happy at work and content with the environment.
I am sufficiently old at this place that I remember being told by a partner in a large firm to tell my junior associate to put his coat on when out of his office. I even remember when partners were the first ones leaving at the end of a day, and did not work through most of the weekend. So, I’m dated, and I’ll admit it, and every time I grapple with the dress code issue, it never reflects my wanting to change to business casual—it is always about wanting the people who work for me to see me as responsive to their needs, and to frankly be with people who are happy to be here. In this process, and perhaps this is a reflection of the change in the legal community over the last 10-15 years, what has been lost sight of relates to what the owners want, how the partners feel about the place they own and have names on the door, and the image we, as the people who pay and incur the risk, want our firm to make to our clients and colleagues. Despite all the protestations offered above, the irony is I continue, at the request of people who work for me who I like and respect, to call firms for their Business Casual Policy, to think on this issue, and grapple with it far, far more often then I should. I wonder some times why, if within my firm I am respected, why this preference can’t receive a little more respect as well, and with all the responsibilities we have as lawyers every day, I’ll agree with RJC that it is strange, let’s call it sad, that this issue even comes up. I do believe it reflects employers trying to do the right thing, and at the same time not sacrificing their belief in what is the right thing to do.
Perhaps, as Nancy suggests, there is a comfort factor in play. But, I’d submit, post-meetings most attorneys remove jackets, place them on door hooks, and the ultimate difference between true professional business casual and business formal is not that extreme during the sit down, work at the desk period. Regardless, I believe business casual has its own pitfalls, there is no perfect option, and as I close and honor RJC’s implicit suggestion that perhaps I do something more important right now, I’ll still sit here and wish for a little return to the class and professionalism of being an attorney, and hope today does not have too many conversations about the desire to wear a golf shirt to the office, why sandals really are a classy look depending on where you get them, and whether white pants are ever appropriate in an office.
Posted by Marc Dobin - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 8 minutes ago
We are a small office and have a generally informal relationship with our clients, big and small. We are also in Palm Beach County, Florida, where it is hot a lot. Our clients welcome the idea of not wearing suits just to meet with us. I have met with walk-in clients in shorts and flip-flops. Corporate clients may think a suit is impressive, but individuals are more relaxed when their lawyer is dressed like they are.
And my dry cleaning bills have dropped dramatically.
Posted by blackburnrfc1 - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 7 minutes ago
Unnecessary post. This is duplicative of a WSJ post from a couple days ago, with the same photo of that dude in that hilarious 1987-era suit. If I had to work with him in that suit in a professional context, I would already hold the upper hand.
Posted by Hadley V. Baxendale - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 7 hours, 3 minutes ago
I think it was Dilbert who described casual dress as an opportunity to appear unprofessional and unattractive at the same time.
One distraction in this discussion is the extreme. Professional wear does not have to be a dark wool suit; dark slacks/skirt and a blazer works fine for wearing around the office and to a friendly or surprise client meeting. Many women can get away with not wearing hose or at least slipping them off at 5. And this varies by location; in many cities you could wear the slacks/blazer to court, closings, etc.
Things have changed; the vest (3 piece) that used to be part of the ensemble now makes one look artificially dressed. (In my father’s day, 1950’s Southern city, he had to keep the wool suit coat on and buttoned, in August, while doing research in the firm library.
And to be practical, I have had enough surprise meetings and even court appearances not to be ready for them, not to mention your appearance if you go to lunch, walking around the office and coming and going.
Posted by babaloo - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 56 minutes ago
What would you expect from PRESSly?
PS I wear suits most of the time.
Posted by David R. - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 55 minutes ago
(A) if you’re billing at $500 or more, then you’re damn right you better be wearing a suit every day, heck you should probably be wearing a suit to bed at that hourly rate.
(B) something needs to be said for the trend in law firms for associates and partners to NEVER updated their photos. This guy who says he bills $500+ per hour has a photo that appears to be pretty out of date. I’m not quite sure if I agree that it’s circa 1987 as the prior comment said. Yes, we age, but our clients laugh when they’ve seen website photos of attorneys and then when they meet their attorney for the first time, that person looks nothing like their photo.
Posted by Dan - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes ago
The people advocating for dress down all sound like 12-year-olds complaining to their mommy about having to wear a tie on Easter Sunday…
Geez people - put a suit on. It’s work. If it was supposed to be “relaxed” and “comfortable” they’d call it vacation.
Posted by Sean H. - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 37 minutes ago
All I can say is, GOOD POINT!
Posted by Jill B. - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 25 minutes ago
I don’t see much here from female attorneys, for whom--from my observations at the courthouse--there appear to be much more interesting options. For me, the typical lawyer uniform is drab and boring and, while it reflects my role, it doesn’t say much about me. I find it refreshing when I find a lawyer who can wear the suit but with the perfect blouse or scarf, so there’s some liveliness about it.
When I practiced law in Florida, I remember a conversation with a local attorney who never wore a tie. I asked him why, and he replied, “If I thought a tie would make me smarter, I’d wear seven.”
Posted by Bullshark - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 6 hours, 7 minutes ago
Biz casual is not a “trend” rather it is the way it is now along with Jeans Fridays. Those of you waiting for the return of the days when America got dressed up to board airplanes, trains and go to baseball games, don’’t hold your breath. Biz casual is how it is, and if you do work in a Firm with minimal (if any) client visits, meetings and your senior partner is cool with Biz casual, are you supposed to wear a suit daily on some imaginary principal that I’m a lawyer, I must wear one? I’ve never been a fan of jeans Fridays because there are some people who will never be able to metally check-in at once they go to work in jeans, but if people are just as productive, and don’t face clients, or have to make appearances who cares? The profession is disrespected or compromised. Should we monitor what they wear at home also? Technically, your still a member of the Bar on Saturday and someone could see you getting the mail…
Posted by Big G - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 56 minutes ago
I predominantly do coverage work, which means I come into the office and bang out research and coverage opinions for 10-12 hours a day. I infrequently go to court, and rarely meet with clients (as they’re far-flung adjustors that only have 5 minutes to talk to me on the phone anyway). I always wear suits when I’m in front of a) a judge, or b) a client, but the rest of time, darn skippy I’m dressing in office casual. If my computer gripes about me not being in a tie, I promise I’ll put one on.
Posted by go with the flow - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 36 minutes ago
It depends. Some clients are actually more comfortable being around lawyers that are more casually dressed. The culture of the particular firm and its clients varies, so there’s no one-appearance-fits-all way to dress as a lawyer. One reason lawyers get stereotyped so heavily is because we’re all just people in cookie-cutter, stuffy suits.
Posted by Bob - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 27 minutes ago
New lawyers tend to say they don’t have to dress up to do their work. The problem is they start their careers focusing on what they don’t have to do, instead of focusing on what extra things they can do to become good lawyers
Posted by Donald R Tracy - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 19 minutes ago
Great article. Mr Millen and Mr Feldhake say it well. To me, a suit is a lawyer’s uniform. Everyone looks professional in a suit (men and women). Not everyone looks professional when casually dressed. To some clients and potential clients, but certainly not all, casual dress may suggest a casual approach to the work at hand or people in attendance. In a competitive field, looking like a lawyer may be an advantage when competing for legal work.
Posted by Jill Miller - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 9 minutes ago
I have a small trusts and estates law firm in Manhattan and have a fairly strict dress code policy for all employees (lawyers and support staff): proper suits M-Thrs and Fridays are business casual (what you would wear to your Mother’s Day brunch in a nice NYC restaurant). I feel that this somewhat conservative and (some may call it uptight) policy is what is required for the image/marketing of my business. I recognize that the needs of other businesses and practices can differ substantiallly. I honestly do think that a book is judged by its cover and that first impressions do count. If a meet a professional person for the first time and they are put together well, it will give me an impression that they will do the same for the work that they perform for me. That is the message that I would like to convey to my buiness friends and colleagues. I wish I could say that I do not care what impressions that I give to others but that is not the case. I do care and I care a lot and I also believe that it can effect the bottom line at least in the case of the type of practice that I run and the clients that I serve.
Posted by S. Graham - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours, 58 minutes ago
I am currently in law school. I’m part of the younger crowd (26), who has also worked in non-profits, where a nice (and plain) t-shirt and slacks were acceptible attire.
For one, I have tattoos. A lot of them (30+ hours). However, I refuse to show them at school, and would never do so at work. I don’t think visible tattoos, even though I have them, are appropriate or professional. I am surprised by how many of my classmates have not taken this into account. When choosing to put a tattoo on the top half of my arm, I made sure it stopped before the elbow, so that a 3/4 length shirt would cover it, even without a jacket on. When tattooing my legs, I knew that I would be resigning myself to a life of slacks at work, but I weighed the options, and I don’t wear skirts much anyway. Sure, I might be a little warm in the summer, but to me, it’s the respectful and professional thing to do.
When having to dress “professionally” for our lawyering skills exercises, I’m surprised by how many of my male and female classmates do not wear full suits. It makes me feel “more like a lawyer” to be in one, and that helps me learn the part. I’m sure, when I start working 10 to 12 hour days, I won’t always want to wear one, and I’m sure the jacket will come off, but I cannot imagine meeting a client without one.
Maybe it’s because my mother always forced me to dress with professionalism in mind (I wasn’t allowed to wear jeans to school until 7th grade...), but I think it’s paying off now.
Posted by Michael - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours, 51 minutes ago
As a 30 year practictioner, I fully support this article. You never know when you will be called for a motion or an important meeting with a client. You do not guess what to wear when you have a suit, or a coat and tie for that matter. I also regret that I do not introduce many of my clients who visit the office to other “casual partners” as they often dress less professionally than our runners. Further, it sets a bad example for associates.
Posted by Calvin Bellamy - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 4 hours, 51 minutes ago
Sure it’s comfortable to dress causally ( almost wrote something worse). But take this simple test: Look at yourself in a three way mirror with and without a suit. That’s how other people see you. Think about it.
Posted by David - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 3 hours, 48 minutes ago
The real problem here is lawyers not being able to imagine a practice different from theirs. My practice area is different from Big G’s, but similar in its contact. I work in Chicago, my court is in New York. I absolutely will not think twice before donning a suit for a meeting with the court, or one of the agencies I deal with.
However, my clients are generally manufacturers, and they do not ever wear suits. They generally don’t expect (or in some cases) want us to differentiate ourselves from them and their employees by wearing suits. So we don’t. Because it is our job to serve them.
As for what your dad wore in a 1950s Southern city . . . hey, that’s super. I am not sure it is relevant to the issue at hand, but it is super.
Bottom line, you need to dress for your job, and “lawyer” is too broad a category. If you have emergency court appearances relatively frequently, put a suit on. If not, there may not be any reason for one.
Posted by David - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 3 hours, 37 minutes ago
Oh, and I am very impressed with Nancy Myrland’s efforts to drum up some business among the Stogier than Thou crowd. Nice touch including the contact info.
Sheesh, you couldn’t pay me to use her servcies now.
Posted by R - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 2 hours, 29 minutes ago
Dammit, why can’t we just do like doctors and judges do and get a standard “lawyer’s coat” that all lawyers wear during the day? And we can wear whatever the heck we want under it. Instead of being white like doctors or black like judges, ours could be dark grey pinstripe.
End of problem!
Posted by Steve M - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 1 hour, 29 minutes ago
If your clients want you to play dress up and that is the service you choose to provide, then by all means dress up.
But don’t confuse that with the practice of law. The practice is about applying intellect to legal issues. The “wrapper” the intellect comes in is completely irrelevant.
Posted by Diego - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
If you find wearing a suit all day too uncomfortable, either you need to wear a different fabric or get a better fit. Professional attire that is properly fitted and made of quality fabrics is comfortable. Even on a 10 hour doc review.
Posted by AS - 5 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 1 hour, 9 minutes ago
RE: David’s comment of “Dammit, why can’t we just do like doctors and judges do and get a standard “lawyer’s coat” that all lawyers wear during the day? And we can wear whatever the heck we want under it. Instead of being white like doctors or black like judges, ours could be dark grey pinstripe.”
-- I think they do have such a “standard lawyer’s jacket”. Its worn in the UK and other commonwealth countries, the drab black robe (and sometimes the schoolmarmish white wig).
Posted by Bryan - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 23 hours, 51 minutes ago
Remember: back during the last mini-ice age without central heating, a suit WAS comfortable and practical. The shirt, vest and coat were WARM....and, when you went out, out came the overcoat. The more layers the better!
The tie was actually a BIB, a cheap scrap of cloth to protect your (frightfully expensive because of all that cloth) shirt from stains from food and whatever you worked with (ink gets blotted, food gets spilled, etc).
Now the ties sometimes cost more than the shirts, we work in room temperature or warmer buildings, and we haven’t adjusted.
That said, well, the suit IS my uniform, and I wear it in court or when meeting clients...unless and until they say otherwise. I’m just glad we ditched the wigs.
When doing research? well, a suit is always available....but I fear my programming days taught me that a t-shirt (complete with obscure and not always appropriate statements and pictures) and shorts and bare feet increase my productivity if nobody’s looking...or a golf shirt, khakis and sneakers if they are.
Posted by Anon_Associate - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 23 hours, 45 minutes ago
I’ve been thinking about this article, but more about the comments for the better part of the morning, and came up with a few thoughts.
First, this is a very regional discussion. If you live/practice on the “coasts” or in a large metro-area, the standards for attire are much different than in the rural communities, particularly the rural western U.S. (I can’t speak for other rural parts of the U.S.). Walking into a court room in a community where the median income is less than $40,000/year wearing a $5000 Armani (I assume that’s the going price for an Armani) will not go over well. Rather, walking in a pair of nice trousers and a tweed jacket with suede elbow patches, that’s perfectly acceptable.
Granted, a $300 suit is just as acceptable as a $5000 suit in major metro areas, I simply utilized that example as an extreme to demonstrate that there truly is a difference, particularly considering the demographics of your client base, the community, and particularly a jury. I do agree with the underlying principle - presentation is important.
Secondly, I think there is a significant disconnect between the acceptable attire standards and the age groups of attorneys. Right, wrong or indifferent - society as a whole is lowering the standards for acceptable attire (p.j.’s and slippers in public anyone?). To me (I’m in my mid-30’s) a nice dark wash pair of jeans and a nice sweater or shirt is an acceptable “work casual” outfit. My grandparents, and even some individuals just slightly older than my parents (no offense dear partners) so - older individuals - jeans were not acceptable clothing options. They were for lower level workers and certainly should never be worn in a work environment, especially a professional environment. Standards have relaxed, and what is viewed as inappropriate by one generation is accepted by another.
Don’t take this as an excuse or justifying poor choices in selecting one’s attire, but I do think it cannot be overlooked that perspectives have changed.
I think the most important thing for attorneys to keep in mind is their audience - it’s like drafting anything - to whom are you presenting? If you’re meeting with 20-something entreprenuers you may wear something different than if you’re meeting with a 70-year old widow regarding her estate planning.
I think the moral here is dress for your audience.
Posted by Ace - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 21 hours, 52 minutes ago
This is an interesting exchange. I have pracrticed for 53 years; beginning on Wall Street and since with a sizeable Southern firm. I began my career wondering if I should wear a felt hat to the office, as many others did. I took an extra shirt in my briefcase in Summer because associates’ offices didn’t have air conditioning and Wall Street was hot and humid. Now I wear a tie only rarely. I notice no difference in either clients’ or colleagues’ esteem. Tmies change. Wear what you’re comfortable with, and provide sound, creative advice and service, and your clients will be fine with your attire.
Posted by Ace - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 21 hours, 47 minutes ago
Oh, and as for earning more - that’s not why I’m doing this.
Posted by Miriam - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 16 hours, 54 minutes ago
At least regarding shoes, I think there is a difference between what men and women are expected to wear to dress formally. Women’s formal shoes range from merely uncomfortable to dangerous high heels.
Posted by blahblahblah - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 16 hours, 53 minutes ago
wow, the same old tired article and tired responses. i’m done with this subject. look nice if you want. don’t look nice if you want. everyone dresses with a cost benefit in mind. look nice / be complimented / be paid more. look casual / look cheap / be paid less. at the beginning of the day, everyone in this profession weighs the pros and cons of what they select to wear all within a split second and no article or replys are going to make a hoot of a difference. :)
Posted by ccbl - 5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes ago
I prefer suits. One of the best pieces of advice that I ever received was that the internal temperatures in buidlings are set to accommodate men in suits. It’s true. I find a well-fitting suit to be just as comfortable as jeans. In terms of shoes, I’ve always done a modified Mr. Rogers routine: leather flats for walking and mid-height heels for court.
Further, business casual is a completely losing proposition for me. First, I hate the “business casual” look; it’s ugly and boring. I don’t want to pay the extra money for dowdy looking suits in off colors like pink or teal that I would never wear afterhours. Further, as a petite woman, even wearing an expensive well-tailored dark suit is no guarantee that other people will realize that I am an attorney.
Posted by uhinteresting - 5 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
I find that even men (or women) who wear wear and keep on full on suits in an office (with no client coming in, no deposition, no nothing) look down right fruity.
And, I’m talking full on suit with no variation like taking off your jacket. It looks so stiff to have that attire on while typing out a brief or doing some research.
Thank goodness I have the air control in my office. I can put it at whatever I want it to be, which is still usually on the cool side even without the jacket. A central unit with no control could leave anyone uncomfortable since we all have different tolerance to artifical air controls. So that comment above makes no sense to me.
Posted by ohand - 5 months, 2 weeks, 2 days, 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
Oh, and, who in the hell buys pink or teal suits. I work in a large office and don’t even see the staff wearing those colors. Nothing wrong with some charcoal slacks, nice black pumps, and a long sleeved crewneck in black. business casual doesn’t have to equal dowdy. Just learn how to dress better. Hell, I even cam make jeans look sharp paired with some black boots and black sweater.
Posted by TG - 5 months, 2 weeks, 21 hours, 31 minutes ago
I love how this particular article incorporates a picture of the guy in the suit. The heading should be, “Would you buy a car from this man?”
So the take away here should be that someone in a tailored suit who is incompetent should command more respect and money than a competent person in a knit shirt.
That is stupidity that invalidates the whole suit/shirt sleeves debate.
At the end fo the day, ask yourself if you were charged with a serious crime and facing prison, would you rather hire some guy who dresses nice and pay for his suits, or would you rather have Gerry Spence in a buckskin jacket and western hat?
If this guy is good enough not to care, then he wouldn’t spend so much time bemoaning what people wear.
People trying to make up or their shortcommings by what they wear scare me a lot more than what anybody is wearing.