You can spend less when you dress for success

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At one point during my first year as a lawyer, I was scheduled to meet with a prospective family law client. It was a Friday, and at my office we observed casual Fridays. I especially observed it. No one hates nylons more than I.

I was wearing a cotton sweater and a khaki skirt, bare legs and flats. The prospective client, and her parents, took one look at me and asked where the lawyer was. I assured them I’d completed my J.D. and tried to carry on with learning about the case. They weren’t having it. Within minutes, I summoned my boss, a smart and kind man, who also happens to wear bow ties. As luck would have it, he was bow-tied on that Friday and the client ultimately retained him.

At Wisconsin Law Journal, we pride ourselves on the thoughtful legal analysis we provide our readers. Don’t look for it in what follows, however. This is an article about finding bargains for professional wear, and it’s a topic I love.

As a new lawyer, I was really naïve about the importance of professional dress. Clothes make the man or woman, and like it or not, people do judge books by their covers.

First impressions are important, agrees attorney Terrence R. Berres, with American Family Mutual Insurance Company in Waukesha. He says that, when a trial lingers on for hours, days or weeks, jurors start to notice things like whether one’s tie and socks match.

Similarly, attorney Catherine R. Grogan, of Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, says that women especially need to pay attention to maintaining a professional appearance. She spent seven years in the big-firm, litigation world before joining the academic world.

Despite all the progress that women have made in the legal field, there still aren’t many women litigators, and, to the new women lawyers and law students reading this, she urges you to look the part, if you don’t want to be mistaken for the court reporter.

Grogan recalls reading a book many years ago that said women lawyers should not wear pants to court. We agree that this advice is a little outdated. But, that same book also said to err on the side of dressing conservatively, and when in doubt, more clothes are better than fewer — still smart advice.

Thrift Shopping

Most people start building their professional wardrobes while in law school, when the dollars are especially tight. To those newbies, Grogan says to start by investing in dark, solid pieces — she loves her black DKNY jacket that she got for $100, that she can pair with a multitude of skirts and slacks, and it looks nice with all of them.

While at Marquette University Law School, I found several nice separates, both new and used. For good-looking pre-loved items, I often turned to my neighborhood thrift shop at St. Sebastian’s on the west side of Milwaukee. Sadly, it’s no longer in operation.

Consignment stores are another option.

Thrifting and consigning are very personal matters, though. Some people won’t wear other people’s clothes, period, and maybe that’s one of the many reasons they chose law — so they won’t have to. I’m not one of those people. I was the sixth of seven kids, so hand-me-downs were a way of life. Although the older and busier I get, the less time and patience I have for that kind of shopping.

New Clothes Bargains

For new clothes, Grogan says the places to find great bargains for women include T.J. Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Ann Taylor Loft, Kohl’s and the outlet malls. For shoes, she likes DSW, Macy’s and Goldi in Shorewood.

“I head straight for the sale racks. I never pay full price for anything, except groceries — and gas,” she says, especially lamenting the price of that last item.

Grogan isn’t much of an online clothing shopper, because she likes to try things on. The exception to that rule is Ann Taylor Loft, at www.anntaylorloft.com/home.jsp, where the items tend to be very consistent in their sizing, so the same size you fit in at the store always fits when you order online, too. She and I agree, if you want to feel skinny, ladies, shop there, because we both wear a size smaller with Ann Taylor than we usually do elsewhere. Plus, they send coupons in the mail once in a while.

T.J. Maxx has always been one of my favorites, too, and anyone who frequents their various stores knows that some are better than others; clearly, its management considers the median incomes of people living within that ZIP code and stocks their stores accordingly. The T.J. Maxx in the Loop in Chicago always has designer labels and lots of professional wear, for example. That having been said, I’ve found some very nice pieces at the T.J. Maxx in less affluent areas of town.

Slashing $299.99 to $39.95

For men, Berres (who fears being labeled a “fashionista” now that he’s talked to me for an article about affordable professional attire), says he finds high quality, reasonably priced clothing at Bachrach’s, Men’s Wearhouse and the Land’s End catalog.

But the crown jewel in his closet is a blue Brooks Brothers suit, originally at $299.99, marked down to $79.90, which he bought for $39.95 at a half-price sale at its factory outlet store. It needed about $10 in alterations. That particular store was in Freeport, Maine. There are Brooks Brothers outlets in Kenosha and Jefferson, as well, and he has found bargains there, too. However, none that compare to the deals in Freeport, he notes, where there’s also an Allen Edmonds outlet store a few blocks away.

Speaking of Allen Edmonds, its Shoe Bank at the Factory in Port Washington has great deals as well, he says. And, he says that he’s heard rumors that the staff there is very accommodating. For example, when you can’t find the style or color in the size you need among the factory seconds, they might substitute first quality merchandise.

Ask. Use those negotiation skills you’ve honed as a lawyer. The worst case scenario is they say no and you leave empty-handed.

In addition, Berres says he’s bought both the “pricey” reading glasses, and those for sale at the Dollar store. Guess what? He’s found no difference in quality or selection.

Finally, I must mention the strategy that a CPA friend of mine, Mary Anne Marciante, regularly uses to buy gorgeous clothes. Her two favorite stores lately are Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. She chooses the best items, when they are in season at whatever price, and saves the receipts. She then returns over the coming weeks, and when the clothes go on sale, she asks for a price adjustment. She’s never been turned down yet. Only once or twice has the item never gone on sale. And, in case that should happen, remember that we’re talking about two stores where nothing’s outrageously priced, even when it’s first put on the racks.

Although I began this piece by admitting it’s a slightly frivolous topic, I also believe that when you feel like you look good, and you’re comfortable too, that will show in the way you do your job. So, here’s some unorthodox advice: If you want to be a better lawyer, go find yourself some good-looking bargains!

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