Work requires expensive tailored clothes

[PriscillaPartridge]

I work at a very traditional law firm. I earn very little compared to the partners who impose this policy. Work clothes must be of good quality fabrics and preferably fitted by a tailor/adjusted to fit. I asked if M&S was ok, but was directed to more suitable brands such… some places are £300 a skirt. Any ideas on where to shop for expensive looking but not big ££ clothes?

Don't go to that person again for suggestions. They sound nuts. Unfortunately for women smart = makeup.

Find someone who was a professional tailor but has now retired, or takes on some freelance work as well (of course that is easier if you live in one of the larger cities). Then, if you buy the material you like - with the tailors agreement to how well it works for them, and how it hangs etc, and maybe have the jacket lined with a reasonable quality silk/silk type of material in a lovely jewel colour - and have a couple of skirts/trousers made along with a couple of jackets, and if you buy at least 3 good(ish) quality shirts/blouses to wear with them, you could get away with spending a lot less than going to Savile Row!

There are so many different social media outlets these days that hopefully finding a tailor reasonably near to you, should not prove impossible - or maybe I am living in cloud cookoo land, as I was a child last time I had dresses tailor made for me, and of course my dear Mum arranged all of that!

By the way, if they do check clothes labels at your place of work - they don't - then ask to see theirs before you show them yours...😉

Law firms are so behind the times it's ridiculous (husband is MD of a legal firm, so I speak from [second hand] experience)! Even in the 1990s, female lawyers wearing trousers was unheard of in our locality. A tough, fairly rebellious female lawyer he was friendly with pitched up at work wearing them one day, and was questioned in a horrified tone by the then senior partner: 'Have .... have you been seeing .... CLIENTS wearing those?'

She grinned back and replied 'yes, and I'm seeing a judge wearing them in a minute!'

Your employer's expectation is unrealistic when there's a well-documented cost of living crisis and formal dress is going out of the window most other places in any case. Nobody but nobody even uses formal address anymore; it's first-name terms even in the legal profession.

I prefer decent quality fabrics in any case, and would probably buy these without troubling about the tailor fit (are they having a laugh)? Just wait until there's a sale on and snap a few pieces up half-price. I can't sew, so if a mate who's good with their needle couldn't alter them as a favour, that part of their request could go hang!

Alternatively you could ask them for a clothing allowance and see how that goes down ...

In essence your chambers are asking you to wear a uniform and as such, as your employers, are liable to provide it.

Since you work in a very small world ask counsel from another chambers to providd advice. Chances are they will out of sheer devilment. If not, you tried. Otherwise your employers demands for couture clothing without the allowance is unreasonable and unenforceable. Get everything in writing on case there's an employment tribunal in your future.

did the law firm say where to buy those clothes (like what sorts of shops/brands) ? would love to know.

OP hasn't said she's working in a barrister's chambers, has she?

I had a job in the financial sector which required frequently costing the Lloyds building and women were not allowed to wear trousers or opaque tights.

That was circa 1993 though!

Just buy secondhand. Unless you are an unusual size you will find plenty of secondhand good quality clothes in charity shops, eBay and online such as Vinted.

how would they know it was M&S? You're not going to show them the labels??

I’d wear M&S or whatever and cut all the labels out. If asked what fabric, say don’t know it was a gift from my mother, but isn’t it lovely.

what pretentious cunts they must be

@PriscillaPartridge i also work for a small traditional law firm - our dress code is fairly relaxed. Unless you are attending court (where more formal wear is required) then smart high street is more than adequate! I am guessing there is no formal written uniform policy to back their thinking up so unless they are happy to provide a clothing allowance I would go with affordable smart clothes. If there is. I’d seriously be considering whether this is the type of employer for you.

Get the m and s anyway, have it adjusted if needed. £300 is ridiculous unless theyre contributing

Highly highly recommend The Fold. You can find second hand on Vinted and Ebay. When I was a trainee solicitor I was broke but scored a few good dresses and one blazer from The Fold, stylish and smart, plus they were comfortable. Fill out your wardrobe with cheap black trousers or skirts (no one will know).

Most law firms have a dress code like this. They're not doing this to be snobby or give you a hard time. In our firm we had to look ready for court and/or clients all the time, even support staff. A support staff person for instance might need to go serve something at court or to assist at a hearing, and they need to be dressed appropriately. Showing up to things like that in casual clothes makes the firm look out of touch with professional norms.

Lean into it and dress like a partner!

£300 is what you'd pay new for a high name brand. You'll pay a fraction for a dupe or a second-hand score on ebay.

If they expect you to spend an extortionate amount on clothes, they need to give you a clothing allowance.

I used to be the secretary to senior partner at a law firm, we had six branches. I used to visit those branches and other firms of solicitors on a regular basis. Most of the men were in suits, some without their jackets on. Some ladies wore suits (mainly if going to Court/high profile meeting), but it was perfectly acceptable to wear dresses, skirts or trousers and blouses/jumpers (admittedly nice looking ones). I used to buy my clothes from M&S, Next, H&M, the add thing from Primark - no one ever commented on them.

Your mistake was asking. Just get some decent high street tailored clothes.

You asked the wrong question, of the wrong person, and have taken the reply to heart. Now you’ve been told you can’t pretend you haven’t! It would never have occurred to me to ask, I would have just figured it out during the interview process. Just relax. Nobody really expects you to spend £300 on a skirt. It won’t make your work better quality. Wear your own stuff within the culture of the firm. It really doesn’t matter.

try stuff on from good quality brands, work out which cut and size suits you. buy them on Ebay and Vinted. I do this with Hobbs and Hawkes and Curtis (also Boden, but that's more home clothes). It works well as you can be reasonably sure they'll fit and suit as they don't alter the cut much

Aren’t all earrings discrete unless you are wearing two in the same ear? 😉

Libby London is another good place to look

You will do so well on Vinted/ ebay etc.. I have a ton of LK Bennett and MAxMara dresses I'm selling because the place I work (finance) has relaxed its clothing policy post COVID. I have a lot of friends in a similar position offloading jackets and dresses etc. Law might be the last bastion of insisting on corporate attire!

Ask them if they will be providing costs towards this “uniform” as they are set on certain brands etc. As long as you look smart & presentable what brand you wear is no one’s business. Bunch of snobs

When I was working in law in another country, we were told to wear tailored clothes as well fitting clothes look better on people. Our senior told the newcomers off for wearing suits that were bought off the rack and didn't fit. He did have the good grace to give them money to get suits tailored. He also taught how to move around, sit and stand in a suit, and which kind of coats are suitable for different occasions. We think people don't care, but if you are working with people who are rich, they do care. They might seem dressed casually but its all high end casual. Perception matters. If the partners insist that you get things from certain brands then ask for an allowance. Passing things on as 'boutique ' items also works well in my experience and sounds fancy.

Sue them (it's sounds a tad illegal and you might have a case), they'll probably make you a business partner. I only recommend vinted if you're shopping for children's clothes or a specific outfit/shoes that you already tried before in the shop. My experience is that half of the stuff you buy doesn't fit properly and can't be returned (which is OK if it's something very casual to wear at home but not if you need to be dressed to the 9's). H&M has an excellent work attire section that can be tailored fitted, I have a few dresses that could perfectly pass as Armani. If they want to check the labels with a loupe just remove them.

@Coffeetree

Most law firms have a dress code like this.

They really, really don’t. Even when I worked in the Magic Circle back in the 90s, when “letting” women wear trousers was a newish thing, nobody ever specified quality and cut and we all wore M&S and similar brands- Hobbs was a blowout!

I’ve never come across this in all my years in City law. You see the odd woman who has decided unilaterally to go to town with her wardrobe but the majority have a rotating selection of dresses and cardigans and a black suit for court and funerals.

Not if you’re like my best friend whose favourite earrings are dangling large silver toilets !!