The Law School Fashion Statement: Law Student Shopping Experience

by A Fellow GGU Law Student

During my 1L year, amid the stress and worry, I realized I needed a formal suit. It was time to tear away from the books and go…shopping.

My first thought: Where do I get a formal suit and business attire?

I knew I had some basic expectations: comfortable, affordable, modern, simple. I did a lot of browsing and lot of research and realized it was more difficult than I anticipated to find the right suit. Business casual was easier since the selection was greater. After an extensive search, found what works for me. Below is what I gathered from this process. Keep in mind this was a personal experience, you might have a different one.



Macy's: This department store has a wide selection of suits. The prices are somewhat decent, considering you can usually get 20% off your purchase, and the quality is decent as well (somewhere between average and above average). I found it difficult to find the right size, but they offer free shipping online when you spend $99 so if they don’t have your size, you could order it at the risk of guessing the wrong size. I also found it difficult to match the suit jacket and pants/skirt (the fabrics seemed different). I eventually was able to get past these hurdles and made a purchase. However, because the suit I purchased was not lined, it was really itchy. I ended up returning. For business casual clothing I did not find this store useful because there were not many plain options and everything seemed to have too much design.

Gap: This store offers decent prices (offering up to 40% off on certain days). The quality is good and the items are very simple and modern. I found it difficult to find the right sizing in-store, but they offer free shipping online when you spend $50. Also, matching the fabric of the pants to the jacket was nearly impossible. The sizes are a bit irregular, running larger than average, resulting in a non-fitted look. For business casual clothing this store has a limited, but nice selection if you’re looking for a nice sweater or collared blouse.

Banana Republic: This company is under the same ownership as Gap and is their "higher-end" store. The prices are more expensive than Gap, but the quality is higher as well. They also offer up to 35% off on certain occasions. I had similar issues with this store as I did with Gap. For business casual clothing this store has a wider selection than its sister store. There were plenty of lovely blouses to choose from, but the prices can become overwhelming for a law student.

Express: This company has prices that fall between Gap and Banana Republic. The stock in this store was much better, but the options were very limited. The quality is a bit above average and they offer a very modern selection. They often have promotions, usually on holidays or weekends. The sizing runs a little small, resulting in a more fitted look, which I found not to be professionally appropriate. However, if you are more on the slender side, this might be a good option. For business casual clothing this store was limited in selection.

Ross: This store has really decent prices and the quality ranges from below average to above average. The look can also range, but there are some modern pieces. However, this store requires a bit of patience and determination since the pieces are all close-out, meaning there isn't usually a size selection and the piece you find might be the only one available. For business casual clothing you might have better luck as there is a wide selection, but the look was not as simple as I was looking for.

H&M: This store is very modern and the pricing is decent (and if you take in a bag of clothes to donate they give you 15% off your purchase). The sizes are European and can run a little smaller than average. There is not really a wide selection, but rather there is plenty of stock and the same suit can come in several different colors. I personally did not find the cut of their suits to be flattering, running a little tighter than comfortable. For business casual clothing there is a good selection, but I found a lot of their tops to be too oversized or too revealing so it takes some digging.

Nordstrom: This store has a wide, modern, and above-average quality selection. However, the prices can be a little steep for a law student budget. Prices can range from $200 to nearly $1000. I ended up purchasing a really nice suit from here for a little over $200, but considered it an investment because of the great quality. They offer free hemming and I was able to get the suit fitted for my body type. For business casual clothing this store has a nice selection, but the prices may be a little steep.

This is not a complete list of all the possible places you can find a suit and business casual clothing, but rather the stores I chose to look into. Overall, I learned that it is important to plan ahead and set aside time to look for the right suit. Also, ask your peers! They might have some good suggestions.

A note about shoes:
Shoes are also a very important part of your outfit. Investing in a nice, comfortable pair is a good idea. I have found that quality, style, and comfort are usually achieved through investing a little more, but sometimes bargains can be found if you keep an eye out. One of my favorite websites is Zappos.com. This site has an incredible selection and they offer free 1-day shipping and returns as well as great prices. They also price match!