Recommend me a coat

Pardon my ignorance.

Is there such a manner of coat as would be appropriate over a suit (to wear to a job interview) and yet not so formal that it would look ridiculous over more casual clothing?

Knee lenght, wool. Either black or camel colored is how I would roll it.

Or charcoal. I prefer it black for wool coats, it doesn't show lint, etc. the way pure black does.

knee length cotton camel colored is how i roll it

knee-length charcoal sounds good. I think camel might be wrong for law jobs, unfortunately.

a car coat might be a good option, a little more casual / less tailored than a standard overcoat -- many having patch or flap pockets in front rather than in-seam / side pockets -- but can look pretty polished and doesn't look too out of place over more casual attire

http://i42.tinypic.com/2n89avo.jpg
stylin on u

elmo's right a car coat is the first thing i thought of. you may be able to find a university coat which is a lightly shorter variation and leans more causal i have one i really like.

you might like something like a covert coat which is short-ish overcoat with a v. clean and elegenat silhoutte. looks v. nice of slimmer-fitting suits but it won't work as well for very causal looks.

that is a v nice coat ice craem

ty dude :)

i have a pea coat are those really in formal

i got a black car coat in weatherproofed cashmere by faconnable for xmas last year, it is def the most expensive item of clothing i own but i get so much use from it

Do not like the university but I love the covert coat, it is v v British gangster. Is it substantially different from a crombie coat? It has the extra right-side pocket in the examples I can find, and the velvet collar on some, but are those rules or just tendencies?

laurel the velvet or nowadays somtimes leather collar is a feature of the covert but i think new + lingwood make a version w/o the second pocket but that's a traditional feature. it started as riding and hunting overcoat which explain the extra pockets as well as the cut - unlike a crombie the lapels are high and the hem and sleeves are double-stitched.

this kind of thing maybe?

http://content.nordstrom.com/ImageGallery/store/product/MediumLarge/16/_5477336.jpg

yeah if you need a proper overcoat, the charcoal or black wool is great. in the climate here, you don't often need an overcoat or a rain coat. i decided to get one to do both, so i got a black bonded microfibery topcoat that is v. plain but smart. its got a front zip, but with a nice clean front placket with black snaps, so the zipper is not apparent.

i guess it might be a bit at odds with the culture of some firms depending on your location, but not out here.

I have a lovely Dries Van Noten, (Black with subtle blues and white points) my coat of night that nicely straddles the smart/casual divide. Anything Black, Camel or Grey in wool and relatively long should do. I, personally thing that pea-coats and derivatives like the one above are one of the most horrible things ever except when worn by merchant seamen.

i have a pea coat ed did u think that of me when we first met ;_;

well hello, sailor.

he thought u were a merchant seaman

xxxxpppppp

best image I have of my coat:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3125/3201991682_149e27a7a3.jpg

im pretty sure thats a beard

what does your band sound like??

I have a charcoal pea coat. the problem is, charcoal kinda gets washed out with anything except black

I'm also not as keen on pea coats. Macy's has this one for under $100 right now. I think it's ok -- not amazing, but I need something soon and not too expensive.

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/5/optimized/440835_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=167&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

I actually like the Banana Republic coats but the winter stuff isn't on the website anymore. Don't know of the stores will still have them.

you're getting to a good time to look for coats at filenes

pea coats and such usually won't be too good because they're regular jackets and won't accomodate a suit underneath too well. Of course, I am also reading this for suggestions. I'm tempted to just freeze my ass off.

what about this one:

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/0/optimized/499250_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=167&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

Dude in picture is wearing a shirt and tie (and possibly a suit jacket?)

I always have a hard time telling whether anything in a Macy's add looks good because they always have it on some chiefy dude with a shit-eating grin.

This guy is lookin' good, incidentally:

http://www.thesartorialist.com/photos/1139Grey1Web.jpg

good 4 punching

I like his coat

yah the coat is nice... 4 wearing

...to a BEING PUNCHED festival

man up and get a (wool) overcoat - you're going to be wearing one when you start working anyway, right? yes, they can be v expensive, but you can probably find a much less expensive one at century 21/syms/filene's. camel is not inappropriate, but you'll stand out a little, especially if it's precipitating.

a car coat is an acceptable alternative, though personally i think people who wear above-the-knee coats over suits (which are also less warm and rain-protective) look kinda unserious, and there's a chance that you would be regarded similarly in an interview situation (though i suppose it's unlikely your interviewers would see your coat), plus you can probably find a discount overcoat that is comparable in price. a pea coat is not an acceptable alternative.

8:20 is a nice-looking coat that might not look as nice (or even fit) over a suit. 10:18 you can get away with, but looks college-y/unserious to me. 9:34 acceptable, but vaguely unprofessional-looking. personally, i wouldn't go near any sort of double-breasted jacket, under or over.

its true century 21 is packd full of these units

v standard conservative models - but what u want yr wearing it over a suit right

"man up and get a (wool) overcoat - you're going to be wearing one when you start working anyway, right?"

Not in the summer, dawg.

you'll be working in the winter too, dawg

I mean I'm basically just talking about a new coat for a handful of interviews unless we assume I do some kind of internship next Winter, which is why I was thinking of something with double function. Won't be working year-round until 2011, most likely.

Still, if I can get something cheap I might just bite the bullet and go more formal -- I guess at least I'll need it again for OCI in the fall if I do well enough.

though personally i think people who wear above-the-knee coats over suits (which are also less warm and rain-protective) look kinda unserious

outside gab's head this is not believed by anyone i know btw - if u want to find a more versatile/less formal look than do so imo u will look plenty serious

i have a calvin klein overcoat from C21 that was probably like $200, and a lighter (but at least as warm?) rainproof one from Brooks that was probably about $500 (on sale) that are completely necessary when going to work in winter. i can also wear both over non-suit clothes, even some jeans, as long as i'm not wearing athletic shoes, and they are standard wear for that purpose when the temp is under about 45.

there's an argument that says you should buy the job coat when you've got one and they're paying you. there's also an argument that says you should dress like you have the job already.

i did forget you're a 1L, tho. if you're not looking at big firms, it might not be as much of a concern at this point.

there are plenty of successful biglaw associate dudes who wear car coats over their suits; what they do at the office is much more important than their jocular/youthful outdoorwear. they still look like douches, tho.

ride the subway at AM rush hour and check what dudes in their 30s and above in suits are wearing, tho

i wear fish hats exclusively and look fabulous doing it

dude gabbneb why are you assuming that this dude is applying for something like YOUR job

today's look fyi: black suede Belgian Shoes, cream and black hoop striped socks and charcoal whipcord trousers. On top an ecru silk shirt and a dark green velvet smoking jacket.

this is why u listen to me and not gabbneb btw

lamp u sound v v pretty

dude gabbneb why are you assuming that this dude is applying for something like YOUR job

― obi don quixote (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, January 28, 2009 10:52 AM (1 minute ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

pretty sure gabbneb doesn't have a job

gabbned is a lawyer - hurting is in law school /jaymc

http://www.oipolloi.com/oipolloi/gfx-items/1944-300.jpg

I have this coat (it's belted but not shown in that pic) and it works well dressed up or down - long enough to cover a suit but not quite to the knee. The slight pattern of the fabric helps it go casual more easily than a solid dark serious coat for serious people.

ya i think gabbneb is an unemployed lawyer tho--gabb can you confirm/deny

dude gabbneb why are you assuming that this dude is applying for something like YOUR job

― obi don quixote (elmo argonaut), Wednesday, January 28, 2009 10:52 AM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark

I am in law school. Dress at most law jobs is on the conservative side; plus my first interviews are with federal judges which are DEFINITELY on the conservative side.

I DIED that is a nice coat! i like the pattern.

are they even going to see your coat much at all @ interview?

At the very least it will be over one's arm.

i like the coat I DIED posted but am ... about it being belted

i don't know that judges are even the same as biglaw firms (i wouldn't know - i didn't have the grades, good going dude), but you're really not making a mistake by erring to look better, provided you can do it cost-effectively.

i think my brooks coat was more than $500, actually

there are plenty of successful biglaw associate dudes who wear car coats over their suits; what they do at the office is much more important than their jocular/youthful outdoorwear. they still look like douches, tho.

come to think of it, i know a (nominal) partner who often would wear a casual, short cotton jacket to work (in some weather), but a) he's a partner and can do what he wants for the most part, and b) he looked pretty terrible

xp - in many/most cases, your coat is only going to be seen by an assistant who hangs it up for you. it's not impossible that the assistant can report their general impression of you to others < / paranoia>

again, with judges, not sure how that would work

i would recommend wearing judge's robes--its possible you might trick the judge into think you were a fellow judge, leading to a lucrative career, as a judge

great casual look around the house, too

i would recommend wearing judge's robes--its possible you might trick the judge into think you were a fellow judge, leading to a lucrative career, as a judge

― max, Wednesday, January 28, 2009 11:11 AM (2 minutes ago) Bookmark

"Intern? No, I'm sorry I was responding to the ad for FEDERAL DISTRICT JUDGE"

At this point just invest in clothing you'll wear over time -- the nice jackets I've bought from, say, APC, I still wear. and I'll probably wear them 15 years from now, assuming I'll forever stay 138 lbs.

wearing a judge's robe also makes it possible for you, in your newness and naiveity, to wander through the wrong door into a courtroom where u will be forced to judge a case and uphold justice like in the many lawbooks u have studied so hard

i rule in favor of maxs plan

http://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg/photograph/ruth_bader_ginsburg-photograph.jpg

with your grades, you probably shouldn't even be worrying... you'll be fine. I'm the future jdundergruonder here 8)

i think this would be a good look for ice cr?m, xp

Think a medium-light gray suit would be too "liberal" for the legal community? Man, it's going to take some adjusting to the standards here.

(I previously worked in marketing and advertising where looking like a fruitcake actually helped get you work "he must be creative, look at the way he dresses!")

http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/34_full.jpg
Maintaining traditional appearance with an emphasis on comfort is the goal of Academic's judge robe style 34. Fully lined sleeves, fluting over the shoulders and across the back along with a yoke constructed in eight separate pieces, help provide accurate fit and long term comfort for this judicial gown.. Across the front full pleats extend from below the yoke to the hem of the robe.
http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/34_profile.jpg

http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/366_full.jpg
Over thirty years ago we learned that the traditional judicial robe with bell sleeves became uncomfortable for many judges due to the large amount of material in the sleeves. To solve this problem we designed our Judge Robe Style 366 coat sleeve style which has become a standard in many areas of our country.

Featuring body details exactly like the more traditional robe, Academic's Judicial Robe #366 is designed to eliminate bell sleeves, replacing them with a fully lined tapered design. This is by far the most comfortable judicial gown design.
http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/366_profile.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/2vke05c.jpg

http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/geneva_profile.jpg
The Geneva Judges Robe style represents a blending of the sewing art with the science of today's manufacturing technology.

Full pleats flowing up and over the shoulder ending in a distinctive 'V' on the back can only be properly produced by individual hand layout for each pleat. Note the apparent lack of a separate yoke with this distinctive design. The hidden yoke parts are produced from eight separate pieces of Pellon to provide an accurate fit and long term comfort.
http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/geneva_full.jpg
http://www.academicapparel.com/choir/images/geneva_back.jpg

let's not forget fancy nancy over here

http://roxanne.typepad.com/rantrave/images/rehnquist.jpg

brits are way ahead on the judgely outerwear aspect, though

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2006/11/lordPA111106_228x573.jpg

Think a medium-light gray suit would be too "liberal" for the legal community? Man, it's going to take some adjusting to the standards here.

― burt_stanton, Wednesday, January 28, 2009 11:23 AM (16 minutes ago) Bookmark

I wound up with some pretty conservative-looking suits (buy-one-get-one-free at Mens Wearhouse!) -- two-button, tapered fit, very light pinstripe, one gray, one navy. Boring-ass ties. Definitely hard to adjust to.

using firm resources to play on ilx: acceptable
showing up in a carcoat: not acceptable

^^^^aspire dood

http://www2.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=353263

Rehnquist, a fan of Gilbert & Sullivan operas, went to a community theater production of "Iolanthe" in suburban Washington, where the costume for the judge included the robe with gold stripes. He liked it and showed up in court in 1995 with the added fashion touch.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2006/11/lordPA111106_228x573.jpg
^not shown, garter belt, thong.

Well' it's done. It's a charcoal two-button wool coat with a slightly low break, tapered fit, a little above the knees. Couldn't get good enough light for a pic on my mac. But I think it's appropriate for interviews without being too formal for my purposes.

fruity exchequer

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/3235272479_933a373229_o.jpg
There I am

nice

good choice

I like it.

Is that Elizabeth Cotten behind you?

It's my Grandma!

So you're the one who sang "Shake Sugaree"?

excellent obscure joke dude!

Got the job.

which robe did you choose

congrats btw

you're out of order

http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/1/optimized/655321_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=327&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

kind of like that

boring

very

also big wide square shoulders and loose baggy sleeves. not into the concealed buttons either. bad coat imo.

(sorry)

if you have a spare $1200, j crew has green tartan mackintosh trenches...... theyre awesome

jed otm (unless ur a flasher w/ a rap sheet)

lol

BUMP

I have my eye on a barbour jacket but cos it's second hand it is fairly scuffed; there are no holes or pocks it's just light scuffs all over, like it's been pawed or keyed

does anyone know if this can be 'repaired' by barbour? I know they offer a re-proofing service but I'm not sure that'd work, it may do, iunno. the scuffs might just be in the original proofing but I don't know that much about barbours

http://i.imgur.com/0hp75.jpg

rly like the fur coat sergei diaghilev is wearing itp