Office Attire

lalala85

I am starting my apprenticeship in June..finally..in one of the top 5! and then PPC1 in September. I was just wondering what do girls wear in the office? Will I need to buy many suits? Or is it more casual? Any help would really help! I just don't know what to buy!

thanks!

Kosseegan

Ask! Failing that stand at the door as people are coming and going and watch. Most firms are formal in any event.

blueythebear

lalala85 wrote: »

I am starting my apprenticeship in June..finally..in one of the top 5! and then PPC1 in September. I was just wondering what do girls wear in the office? Will I need to buy many suits? Or is it more casual? Any help would really help! I just don't know what to buy!

thanks!

What did you wear for your interview? Wear that. If it was good enough to get you through the interview, it'll be good enough for the office. Buy several like it and rotate during the week. Don't mean any offence by this, but this is a question you should really know the answer to already. If not, I'd go out and get some officework experience before June.

Tom Young

You could try wearing the burqa depending on your religious beliefs, but I am not sure security would let you in.

coylemj

blueythebear wrote: »

What did you wear for your interview? Wear that. If it was good enough to get you through the interview, it'll be good enough for the office. Buy several like it and rotate during the week. Don't mean any offence by this, but this is a question you should really know the answer to already. If not, I'd go out and get some officework experience before June.

I don't think that's good advice, most people dress up a level for an interview and staff (especially women) would not normally be expected to turn up in that standard of dress for normal working days.

OP, dress up to the interview standard for the first few days and as you get more confidence with your new colleagues and have a chance to see how the other women in the office dress you'll be able to gauge what is expected but do not go out now and buy a bundle of interview outfits, that would be crazy. Don't worry if you're a bit overdressed in the first few days, that is pretty much the norm in all offices. Better to be a bit overdressed on your first day than turn up looking too casual.

blueythebear

coylemj wrote: »

I don't think that's good advice, most people dress up a level for an interview and staff (especially women) would not normally be expected to turn up in that standard of dress for normal working days.

OP, dress up to the interview standard for the first few days and as you get more confidence with your new colleagues and have a chance to see how the other women in the office dress you'll be able to gauge what is expected but do not go out now and buy a bundle of interview outfits, that would be crazy. Don't worry if you're a bit overdressed in the first few days, that is pretty much the norm in all offices.

I would go out and buy a few "interview" outfits. THe OP is on good money in the position so no harm in splashing out (presuming there aren't other money issues at play) . Big 5 firms don't recruit all of their trainees at the end of the TC nowadays so the OP would want to make a good impression from day one. A good suit will last also anyway. If the OP is in a good firm, they'll be meeting clients (who would often be wealthy individuals or large companies) and attending court so looking the part is no harm.

There is always the option of dressing down in the Office if that is the culture, but if you're vying for a limited number of positions at the end of your TC, every positive thing you can do to differentiate yourself from others would be advisable, even if it's as simple as the clothes you wear.

coylemj

blueythebear wrote: »

I would go out and buy a few "interview" outfits.

Maybe she doesn't have the money right now to go out and buy a 'few' interview outfits. Better to dress up for the first week and then make a few appropriate purchases when she's gauged the lie of the land and she knows how often she will need to dress up for client meetings.

If she's working in an office with a relatively relaxed dress code and she's not meeting too many clients it would be a waste of money to have gone out now and bought a few 'interview' outfits that she will hardly ever need to wear to the office.

She should have a couple interview type outfits, go to work for a couple days in those and see what everyone wears, THEN go to the shops and buy something else appropriate

coylemj

I can see we're making progress.....

blueythebear wrote: »

What did you wear for your interview? Wear that. If it was good enough to get you through the interview, it'll be good enough for the office. Buy several like it and rotate during the week.

blueythebear wrote: »

I would go out and buy a few "interview" outfits.

bluewolf wrote: »

She should have a couple interview type outfits, go to work for a couple days in those and see what everyone wears, THEN go to the shops and buy something else appropriate

blueythebear

coylemj wrote: »

I can see we're making progress.....

I'm amazed that this topic is generating so much debate. I stand by my original statement. You are in competition with the other trainees for a job at the end of the training contract. Every edge you can get helps, even if it is just about your clothing.

Coylemj, we'll have to agree to disagree.

Sala

I would buy a couple of suits in next or somewhere, some shirts and smart tops and nice shoes. If it is business attire your suits will tide you over until the first pay day and you can upgrade your wardrobe. If it turns out business casual you can still wear the trousers and tops and maybe cover with a cardigan.

At the end of the day, its a top tier law firm, I'd be very surprised if they didn't wear suits. Unless you are starting on a Friday :-)

bath handle

Black.skirt suits.

Delancey

OP , given that you'll be working for a ' Top 5 ' firm you'd be well-advised to wear a diamond tiara

coylemj

bath handle wrote: »

Black.skirt suits.

Black might be a bit severe for the first day in the office, perhaps a sober grey suit might fit the bill......

legaleagle10

Suits suits suits! preferably black or grey only and crisp shirts (no suits that are whites or creams or reds!..you would think this was obvious but it ain't..not from what I've seen!) or if your a girl the "pinafore" dresses are good also/pencil skirts. When I worked in law the apprentices' dressed impecably well (well the majority of them).

lalala85 wrote: »

I am starting my apprenticeship in June..finally..in one of the top 5! and then PPC1 in September. I was just wondering what do girls wear in the office? Will I need to buy many suits? Or is it more casual? Any help would really help! I just don't know what to buy!

thanks!

legaleagle10

LMAO!! hahahaha, although I have seen something quite similiar floating around the office in my time!:D:D

coylemj wrote: »

Black might be a bit severe for the first day in the office, perhaps a sober grey suit might fit the bill......

legaleagle10

lalala85 wrote: »

I am starting my apprenticeship in June..finally..in one of the top 5! and then PPC1 in September. I was just wondering what do girls wear in the office? Will I need to buy many suits? Or is it more casual? Any help would really help! I just don't know what to buy!

thanks!

Grolschevik

In some of the places I've worked, knee-pads and a bib would have been appropriate...:pac:

Reloc8

Classy jobs you've had ^

OP its a cliche but go hang out near the office you'll be working in morning/evening (congrats on the job btw) and you'll see what your peers are at (it does seem like you'll be working in 'that kind of place').

amdublin

Pencil skirt suits. Black or dark grey.