Comments on: The Law Firm Interview Suit! http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/ Fashion, Lifestyle, and Humor for the Plus Sized Woman. Wed, 23 May 2012 03:10:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Cat http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-20306 Cat Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:44:49 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-20306 cjvp: I work in a business casual law firm. Nobody ever wears a suit here unless they are going to be in court or meeting with clients that day. Most of the women (attorneys and staff) wear the type of attire you can find at Ann Taylor, The Limited, Banana Republic, and the like. Nice pants and a pretty blouse or sweater are the norm around here. No capri or cropped pants, no denim, no spaghetti strap or tank tops, no sweatshirts or logo t-shirts, no tennis shoes or flip flops, but otherwise you can get away with a lot. cjvp: I work in a business casual law firm. Nobody ever wears a suit here unless they are going to be in court or meeting with clients that day. Most of the women (attorneys and staff) wear the type of attire you can find at Ann Taylor, The Limited, Banana Republic, and the like. Nice pants and a pretty blouse or sweater are the norm around here. No capri or cropped pants, no denim, no spaghetti strap or tank tops, no sweatshirts or logo t-shirts, no tennis shoes or flip flops, but otherwise you can get away with a lot.

]]> By: cjvp http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-20278 cjvp Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:00:33 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-20278 I'm just wondering what would be a good choice for business casual. Lalawyer mentioned people wear business casual in law firms. My daughter has an internship with a law firm in New York this summer and we are not sure what she should get. All of her clothes are very casual college attire. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. I’m just wondering what would be a good choice for business casual. Lalawyer mentioned people wear business casual in law firms. My daughter has an internship with a law firm in New York this summer and we are not sure what she should get. All of her clothes are very casual college attire. Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

]]> By: Blog Comment Poster http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-949 Blog Comment Poster Sun, 09 Sep 2007 00:05:21 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-949 This comment was posted automatically using Blog Comment Poster software. Would you like to make serious money in this way of advertising too? So start today! This comment was posted automatically using Blog Comment Poster software. Would you like to make serious money in this way of advertising too? So start today!

]]> By: lalawyer http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-939 lalawyer Sat, 08 Sep 2007 04:16:47 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-939 I agree with Bossy Lawyer on everything except the black. Gray is fine, navy is fine -- though I tend to think navy looks a bit *too* conservative, which may actually work against you depending on the type of firm (similarly, you don't want your shoes to be too dowdy); also, as was noted above, navy shoes are tough to match, and black shoes never look quite right to me. But the vast majority of the women in my law school class (myself included) wore black suits to interviews, east and west coast. Professional, allows for a bit more blouse color freedom, and easy to match to shoes. If it looks good on you, go for it. Avoid the brown! My brown suit is by far the nicest I own -- gorgeous lightweight wool, perfect cut -- but I don't think I've ever gotten an offer out of an interview where I wore it. A male friend of mine did the same black vs. brown experiment, with the same results. Coincidence?? Keep in mind that what you wear to an interview has nothing to do with what you will wear when you work at the firm -- most of them are business casual these days anyway! I agree with Bossy Lawyer on everything except the black. Gray is fine, navy is fine — though I tend to think navy looks a bit *too* conservative, which may actually work against you depending on the type of firm (similarly, you don’t want your shoes to be too dowdy); also, as was noted above, navy shoes are tough to match, and black shoes never look quite right to me. But the vast majority of the women in my law school class (myself included) wore black suits to interviews, east and west coast. Professional, allows for a bit more blouse color freedom, and easy to match to shoes. If it looks good on you, go for it.

Avoid the brown! My brown suit is by far the nicest I own — gorgeous lightweight wool, perfect cut — but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten an offer out of an interview where I wore it. A male friend of mine did the same black vs. brown experiment, with the same results. Coincidence??

Keep in mind that what you wear to an interview has nothing to do with what you will wear when you work at the firm — most of them are business casual these days anyway!

]]> By: Nariya http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-750 Nariya Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:24:56 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-750 Bossy lawyer - why do you say to avoid brown? I'm about to go shopping for interview clothes as well and am interviewing at an east coast law firm, coincidentally, so I'm just curious! Bossy lawyer – why do you say to avoid brown? I’m about to go shopping for interview clothes as well and am interviewing at an east coast law firm, coincidentally, so I’m just curious!

]]> By: Bossy lawyer http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-682 Bossy lawyer Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:02:23 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-682 Some highly bossy comments from an East coast lawyer. For a law firm interview, charcoal grey is absolutely fine. Preferable to black. Navy is great too. Avoid brown. Some lawyers disagree with pinstripes in summer / junior associate interview suits because they imply a certain degree of confidence and success not appropriate for the junior person. A pleated skirt looks too girlish. Personally, I wore pants back in the day as a way to screen firms, but an a-line skirt is going to be more flattering on your body type. Get the best shoes you can afford without going over the top. Female lawyers will notice. Good luck, and remember to relax (hah!) and be yourself! Some highly bossy comments from an East coast lawyer. For a law firm interview, charcoal grey is absolutely fine. Preferable to black. Navy is great too. Avoid brown. Some lawyers disagree with pinstripes in summer / junior associate interview suits because they imply a certain degree of confidence and success not appropriate for the junior person. A pleated skirt looks too girlish.

Personally, I wore pants back in the day as a way to screen firms, but an a-line skirt is going to be more flattering on your body type.

Get the best shoes you can afford without going over the top. Female lawyers will notice.

Good luck, and remember to relax (hah!) and be yourself!

]]> By: Christina http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-680 Christina Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:40:42 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-680 I've gotten fabulous suits by Tahari at Dillards (some even on sale for less than $150) and Lord and Taylor's "Context" line has done well for me also. I work in the fashion industry, and a suit from Talbot's would never cut it, as their cuts tend to be on the more conservative or "mature" side. I also love the Nine West 2" pumps - sleek line of a stiletto, but much more comfortable. I have them in both black and gray...in a size 12. I see now they only have through size 11, though. http://www.ninewest.com/n/browse/product.s?productId=11520&source=category&index=30&prodIndex=30&listSize=50&categoryId= I’ve gotten fabulous suits by Tahari at Dillards (some even on sale for less than $150) and Lord and Taylor’s “Context” line has done well for me also. I work in the fashion industry, and a suit from Talbot’s would never cut it, as their cuts tend to be on the more conservative or “mature” side.

I also love the Nine West 2″ pumps – sleek line of a stiletto, but much more comfortable. I have them in both black and gray…in a size 12. I see now they only have through size 11, though.

http://www.ninewest.com/n/browse/product.s?productId=11520&source=category&index=30&prodIndex=30&listSize=50&categoryId=

]]> By: Diana http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-650 Diana Tue, 28 Aug 2007 18:13:53 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-650 As a plus size woman and lawyer, I say navy, navy, navy all the way. And wear a skirt that hits just below the knee. Most of your interviewers wouldn't be bothered by a pantsuit, but some will. Why take the chance? Go as conservative as humanly possible. As a plus size woman and lawyer, I say navy, navy, navy all the way. And wear a skirt that hits just below the knee. Most of your interviewers wouldn’t be bothered by a pantsuit, but some will. Why take the chance? Go as conservative as humanly possible.

]]> By: La BellaDonna http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-648 La BellaDonna Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:22:30 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-648 Francesca, have you worked in a law office at some point? I only ask this because ... well, because I don't know if you have, and if you've been in a position to observe first-hand, or whether you're using advice that you've garnered from other sources. I do work in a law office, and have for ... gack. Since they first started heating up the tar for La Brea Tar Pits. Generally speaking, black suits are <b>not</b> recommended for interviews, because they're considered intimidating <i>on women.</i> Navy or grey are much better choices. She also has the option of wearing a yellow blouse, with the navy, which will give the impression of friendly openness, as well as industry. White or blue would be good with the grey. A really good resource is John Molloy's updated <i>Women's Dress for Success Book.</i> Not Clinton and Stacy, not Trinny and Susannah, not any self-styled expert, but John Molloy, who gathered a lot of data, and put it in digestible and usable form - including how women can compensate for their size in professional settings. A lot of folks get offended by the information in his book, but the book is not about his personal opinions - it's about the opinions that are held in a number of different fields in which women wish to find employment. It's like having the Cliff Notes for interviewing. Francesca, have you worked in a law office at some point? I only ask this because … well, because I don’t know if you have, and if you’ve been in a position to observe first-hand, or whether you’re using advice that you’ve garnered from other sources. I do work in a law office, and have for … gack. Since they first started heating up the tar for La Brea Tar Pits. Generally speaking, black suits are not recommended for interviews, because they’re considered intimidating on women. Navy or grey are much better choices. She also has the option of wearing a yellow blouse, with the navy, which will give the impression of friendly openness, as well as industry. White or blue would be good with the grey. A really good resource is John Molloy’s updated Women’s Dress for Success Book. Not Clinton and Stacy, not Trinny and Susannah, not any self-styled expert, but John Molloy, who gathered a lot of data, and put it in digestible and usable form – including how women can compensate for their size in professional settings. A lot of folks get offended by the information in his book, but the book is not about his personal opinions – it’s about the opinions that are held in a number of different fields in which women wish to find employment. It’s like having the Cliff Notes for interviewing.

]]> By: Lexy http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/comment-page-1/#comment-621 Lexy Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:40:55 +0000 http://manolobig.com/2007/08/26/the-law-firm-interview-suit/#comment-621 The best piece of advice I ever got for interviewing is: You will never not get a job because of something you didn't wear. (exception, if what you are not wearing is a top, or bra, but I think you get my drift) You may very well not get a job because of something you do wear. i.e. loud clothing or too many accesories. Don't forget to wear your hair all the way up if you can, and no perfume, you never know if your interviewer is sensitive to scent. Of course you already knew that. The best piece of advice I ever got for interviewing is:
You will never not get a job because of something you didn’t wear. (exception, if what you are not wearing is a top, or bra, but I think you get my drift) You may very well not get a job because of something you do wear. i.e. loud clothing or too many accesories.

Don’t forget to wear your hair all the way up if you can, and no perfume, you never know if your interviewer is sensitive to scent.

Of course you already knew that.

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