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Finding affordable suits for law students may seem like an impossible mission, but really it just means knowing where to shop and when. And in my eyes, that means the sales, of course! You can definitely look expensive without it being expensive. Most importantly, you can still look just as professional as someone without a budget.
As a law student, it is just customary that you have something professional ready and available for special events, interviews and even oral arguments. Once you get a job as a law student and possibly start attending court, then you will really need to dress the part.
If anything, invest in at least one, more expensive blazer and bottom set. It doesn’t have to be too expensive, but find a nicer, well-fitting set that you can keep for years to come (or at least for now!). Find things that can last and are good quality for your money.
Mix it up
Next, find a few other things like blazers that you can mix and match with dress pants, skirts, and dresses. This will help you especially if you have to show up to work ready to impress. Feel free to mix and match colors and styles. Don’t be afraid to wear pants, but don’t be afraid to wear a skirt either. I love a good skirt piece.
Find comfortable nice tanks to wear underneath your blazers or jackets. Trust me, if you live somewhere scorching hot like me, the summer is not your friend. I love walking outside (people say I’m crazy), but I also don’t like the thought of melting away before I even make it to my second day on the job. Summer internships are hard in a suit! These are also handy if you have dinner dates or happy hours after work.
Here are my favorite places to find the best, affordable suits for law students!
Banana Republic & Banana Republic Factory
Banana Republic is a great store to buy suits, but you won’t be finding any affordable ones as a law student unless you head over to Banana Republic Factory. You can find some super great things at a great price! The best part is that they stock other types of clothes other than suits. So, after that suit gets you the interview, you can surely find some other business casual outfits there for the office. Don’t forget to join their email list to get 15% off. And, as I always say, don’t forget to shop those sales!
Express
Express is another great store for finding great quality, affordable suits for law students. I love Express because you can get cute clothes for work and the afterparty. Or, if you’re like me, you wear those sparkles to work! I just love the store’s overall style and “vibe”.
Unfortunately, my wallet does not shop there unless there is a sale! I love shopping their regular 40% off sales. I recently had a $10 coupon to spend for my birthday, so I bought another blazer from the clearance section. Always shop the sales people!
H&M
You may have your opinions on them and how they run their business, but they are great if you are really on a budget and need something quick and cheap. I noticed that their sizing can be a little difficult at times, but other than that, you can find lots of fashionable items for a great deal. They carry matching blazer sets, dresses, tops, and many more items that you can mix and match. It’s a great place to shop if you need a one stop shop right before an interview or your first day at your legal internship.
If you are like me, you can certainly make even the least quality items last a longgg time.
Amazon
Surprisingly, Amazon can be a great place to find some great deals on suits and other formal pieces. Their return policy is great because you can return anything that doesn’t work for you.
Burlington
I was skeptical about Burlington because I had never gone into one before until about two Christmases ago. I had seen the commercials of course, but did not know much about them. My sister and I went in about 3 days before Christmas, and we walked right out. Yikes, no thanks. I gave it another try right before I left for law school, and to my surprise, I found TONS of things. There, I found two great blazers, a pair of plaid pants, a couple staple shirts, and some room decor, too.
I will say that it was a huge store, but I found so many great items. However, I do not recommend shopping there for the holidays. As someone who loves a great bargain find, I will definitely be back there soon!
Macy’s, and other department stores
Look, I only shop the sales. Macy’s and other department stores can be great, but I do not pay full price unless its for something I really love and cannot possibly live without. Yet, that is a rare occurrence. Every store has their sales, and you bet, I’m there!
Macy’s is great because they have high quality items and carry all of the essentials, such as bags, shoes, dresses, accessories, etc. Give them a try – you never know what you will find! The worst that can happen is that you walk out. Trust me, from bad movies to bad dates, I do it more than you even know.
Thrifting can be so much fun!
Some people love it, some people hate it. I have both feelings about it! When I find something great, I love thrifting, but when I don’t, I hate it. Recently, at the thrift shop next to my law school, I found a really nice double breasted blazer for only $7. I think for the quality of the item and how adorable it was, that was a steal!
I mainly look for tops in thrift stores because they’re easier to try on right then and there. Plus, finding bottoms is really difficult for me. Thrift shops are affordable and carry lots of formal wear! I totally recommend looking for a suit for law school at one of your local thrift shops.
