The Reasonably Prudent Law Student

What better phrase to describe your new look now that you’re in law school, or working as an intern/extern/associate at a law firm?

One of my classmates put it well:

@BobBlahBlawg: Really, the hardest part about Law school is transforming my wardrobe from an artsy college kid’s to a business casual superstar.10:02 PM Apr 4th from web

When we were wandering around our law school during orientation with a 2L guide, she asked us if we had any questions that weren’t covered so far in the presentations. The first one asked was about dress code: more specifically, if there was one.

The short answer is no; the long answer is yes.

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There’s no official uniform or dress code; however, you will get looks if you show up in denim shorts and a baby tee on an 85F day. To help explore this confusing term, “business casual,” I’m devoting a category to it on this blawg and will be posting (female) attire that is appropriate for school and the workplace, because, chances are, the clothes you already have just don’t really cut it anymore.

Your task during the next three years (and during the course of your internships/externships/associate positions) is to become, as @BobBlahBlawg put it, a “business casual superstar.”

This obviously doesn’t mean you have to show up in a suit and tie every day. There was a student in my incoming class that showed up in a suit on the first day of orientation, complete with tie and shiny shoes. On the second day, he’d lost the tie and the jacket. On the third day, he showed up in jeans like most of the other boys, then dressed it up a little more for actual class sessions.

So formalwear isn’t necessary, but discretion is. Use your best judgment. If you wouldn’t wear it to a company outing or a somewhat casual dinner party, you shouldn’t be wearing it in law school. (I actually have seen girls at my school wearing skinny jeans and skin-tight teeny tanks with spahetti straps. Ehhh, not a good look, trust me.)

For guys, slacks or trousers and a button-down or sweater is a fool-proof ensemble. Seriously, you can’t go wrong. It’s very little effort for a look that pays off: what boy doesn’t look nice in trousers and a button-down? Maybe a cute little sweater vest tossed on. Argyle. I like boys in argyle.

Ahem.

That’s not to say that boys shouldn’t wear jeans. Many boys in our class often showed up in jeans. Just be sure you’re wearing nice jeans, and not the ones with the gaping hole right under the left butt pocket. Yes, it’s a back pocket, but all anyone will notice is your bottom peeking out through that hole. Not flattering. Some boys wore jeans with t-shirts…some boys opted to wear jeans with t-shirts that had naughty words written on them. Not the best idea. Wear jeans if you want, but make sure they’re nice jeans. Wear t-shirts if you want, but at least make sure it’s a nice t-shirt. Personally, I’d nix the t-shirt all together and go with jeans and a button down or a sweater if I was a boy, but that’s just me. Also…leave your ratty sneakers at home and opt for a cleaner, just-out-of-the-box-looking pair.

For girls, you probably don’t want to show up in tank tops and jeans. We’re actually pretty lucky: we have a wide variety of options available to us that fit very nicely in the business-casual category: skirts, dresses, slacks, (nice) jeans, sweaters, blouses, vests, etc.

During high school and college, I had a strict uniform: jeans and a tee in fall/summer/spring, jeans and a hoodie in fall/winter. I did not mix it up. Occasionally, I wore Doc Martens instead of my sneakers. Once warmer days hit, I would challenge you to find me ever not wearing Old Navy brown leather flip-flops.

When I got to law school, I figured it was time to start dressing like a big girl. That meant slacks, most of the time. I had a couple pairs of black pants, which are versatile and go with everything. Occasionally, I wore skirts and dresses. I would usually stick to nice sweaters in the colder month, and if I was wearing a camisole, I’d cover up with a wrap or a shrug or a cardigan. I had argyle vests to wear with my preppy little button-downs, and I had functional (comfortable) loafers and moderate (3″) high heeled black pumps. Since I sometimes felt a little too salt-and-pepper despite my best efforts, I’d accessorize with cool jewelry: a statement necklace, a few bracelets, or dangly earrings (hardly ever worn together, thank you very much).

Since fashion became a conscious decision for every night right before bed, I figured it was time to devote a section to it on this blawg. It’ll be female-oriented, so, sorry, fellas. I’ll be posting pictures of work and school-friendly attire and accessories, along with links and prices. If I’m putting up an ensemble, I’ll try to keep the price under $100 per outfit. After all, we’re all poor law students. If we need to get a few cheapie basics to help pull things together, we’re more than entitled to do so. We can shop exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman’s when we land a real job. :)

This isn’t to say that you’re going to need to buy a new wardrobe and start from scratch. Far from it. It just means that you’ll have to pull out the more neutral, conservative, functional pieces in your existing wardrobe (those nice slacks you wear when you have to give a presentation at school, the striped button downs that you pair with just about anything, your cute but somewhat boring black pumps that often get passed over for the stilettos, etc) and create outfits from those. You’ll also be adding pieces to your wardrobe: functional pieces, basics, usually, that are versatile and comfortable and durable. You’ll add and mix and match and you’ll be…

…a business casual superstar.