Curtis Mallet Defines ‘Business Casual’ for its New York Associates
As the temperature rises, so does the desire to embrace informal summer fashions. Women are breaking out their strapless dresses and short skirts, and men are starting to sport shorts. While casual summer wear is fine on the weekends, don’t yield to the temptation to wear your flip flops to your white shoe firm.
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle conveyed that message to its New York office with a memo sent out last week. In its e-mail making the case for “business casual,” the firm reminded associates that pecs are not to be admitted into evidence:
By all means resist the urge to acquaint us with your chest hair. If you think it necessary to impress the ladies with your efforts at the gym over the winter, think again - we are not a particularly good demographic for that.
After that, the memo’s author reminds the gents that loose-fitting suits can help hide pounds. We’re not sure what that has to do with business casual exactly, and suspect the firm just wanted to try to give equal attention to men and women so as not to appear to be solely lecturing females guilty of summer-slutty fashion sense. (As the Seventh Circuit did last month.)
After the jump, we bring you the full memo, which advises the ladies to “save it for the clubs or the beach.” According to the tipster who sent this along, the advice “wasn’t well received.”
Curtis has a reputation for being a traditional firm, with formal attire expected. Over the summer, the firm is business formal every day but Friday, when associates can let loose… per the specifications below.
Our tipster tells us:
it has been the topic of conversation since it went out—no one found it funny in the least—patronizing and condescending seem to be the words most frequently used.
Here’s the memo, with our thoughts on particular points that might not have been well-received.
MEMORANDUMMay 29, 2009
TO: All U.S. Attorneys and Paralegals
FROM: [REDACTED]
RE: Business Casual
As summer approaches it is useful to remind all of what is appropriate to wear on business casual days.
For the guys, simple rules for simple minds.
Apparently, the firm expects formality in dress but not in firmwide memos.
Take your regular formal business wear, remove the tie and if you have a wild streak that clamors for expression drop the jacket. Instant business casual. Stray too much from that and you risk humiliation.
If you dare to wear a polo shirt at Curtis, massive humiliation awaits you. Possible tar and feathering.
You will notice I said nothing about changing shoes. And there is a reason God created collared shirts.
Hail Mary… and Thomas Pink.
By all means resist the urge to acquaint us with your chest hair. If you think it necessary to impress the ladies with your efforts at the gym over the winter, think again - we are not a particularly good demographic for that.
We’re not sure whether this means Curtis men are unlikely to have anything to show from their winter gym efforts or ladies at Curtis aren’t into muscular types.
A special note for the mature man. American-cut business shirts and suits are effective disguisers of the extra pound or two accumulated honorably during the client dinner wars. Without them you quickly reach dangerous territory so be advised.For the ladies, the situation is a bit more complicated, pitfalls abound and I need to be circumspect. In brief, save it for the clubs or the beach. If you have any doubt whether an item of apparel is appropriate, it most assuredly is not. If you need gentle guidance, the more seasoned women are happy to impart their wisdom.
Does being called “more seasoned” rather than “old” really make the senior female attorneys feel better about the adjective? And at what age do Curtis associates become “mature men”?
So how do you know that you got it right:• if your roommate or significant other who works at that chic gallery in Soho smirks and says you are a capitalist tool, you got it right
• if your spinster aunt who works at the library remarks that little Jimmy or Jane has become a real grownup and she is proud of you, you got it right
• if you look like the most professional yet stylish dresser in the office who comports with your gender, age and body type, you got it right.
If you look in the mirror, and your conformity depresses you, you got it right.
I would hope there is enough common sense out there that I do not have to talk about denim, sandals, flip-flops, sneakers, tee shirts (yes, even designer ones), tank tops, form-fitting or faded or tattered clothes, and other eccentricities.A special word for the young’uns. You may think we are a step away from walkers and the rest home, but the reverse is that the older group needs to be convinced you are not pimply faced kids. After all, you could be our kids, which is generally good but not if you want to be taken seriously at the job. Business wear is effective lacquer that ages you in our eyes and those of our clients. Casual wear - well, you get the point.
Enjoy the summer.
Welcome to Curtis, pimply-faced summer associates!
(85) Comments
Comments
First?
second!
I will rock my sleeveless dress shirt any time I want. Suck it, Mallet.
The Strong Island
Awesome. I agree wholeheartily. That being said, I think female associates and secretaries should be free to show skin after 8:00pm.
you're wearing these clothes to work, not a fashion show or a singles bar. if you want to dress like a teenager or a hipster, go work in graphic design or finish that novel you've been working on.
4 - not most of the secretaries. :(
What about women with chest hair?
Perhaps this wouldn't be as much of an issue if they didn't hire so much Jersey/LI trash.
Wow. Markedly pejorative, regardless of gender.
On the other hand, that inane Dealbreaker ad is gone, replaced with an attractive and sophisticated Comcast spot. Good move.
"If you think it necessary to impress the ladies with your efforts at the gym over the winter, think again - we are not a particularly good demographic for that."
At least she’s willing to admit that women at law firms aren’t the demographic you want to attract with your physique.
So can I wear my double black New Era 50 fifty Yankees fitted or what?
Boy of Summer
I work in Dallas, what is appropriate attire for me?
I require my secretary to wear a skirt, knee length, and no underwear so as to effectuate a seamless transition to pounding her in the ass before lunch.
13 - Chaps, a "wife beater" and a ten gallon hat
I noticed the memo said nothing about streaking. Hmm...
I actually like this place more now.
What about pubic hair?
I think Bravo should start a reality series about law firm fashion. It seems to generate the most discussion on these boards. I want a cut of the profit.
I like to glue pubic hair to my neck in a tasteful manner, is this allowed?
Sorry, Curtis, I need to show my copious amount of chest hair in order to intimidate opposing counsel.
That dude in the Comcast ad to the side of the article has good clothing and grooming for the west coast. His business suit shows professionalism, while his buttoned-down collar and no tie let you know that this meeting is less-formal. His long hair and ear ring let you know he has a rebellious streak and that he’s ready to rock the establishment on your behalf. Also, notice how he has shaved and plucked his unibrow, and he’s wearing lip gloss. Such attention to detail in his grooming suggests that he will have the same attention to detail in your case. All male lawyers in California, Oregon, and Washington take note!
"Apparently, the firm expects formality in dress but not in firmwide memos."
ZING!
I have to admit, I did not know Curtis Mallet was even still around. Could you imagine telling women: "simple rules for simple minds"? The memo is less funny than a sad commentary on the attitudes of people who apparently believe they enjoy job security.
Whoever wrote that memo clearly overestimates his or her ability to entertain.
Sheeeit, that Partner Emasculateus cracka be working at Curtis Mallet as the memo writer.
Is that David Copperfield?
Is that David Copperfield?
Is that David Copperfield?
What I would really like to know is, what kind of hairstyle is acceptable at Curtis Mullet?
Mine is all business up front, but sometimes I like to party in the back, if you know what I mean.
That memo is lame, condescending, non-funny, and poorly punctuated.
Dress code memos should list what specifically is required (collars, sleeves, whatever), what is forbidden (denim, flip-flops, whatever), and them come to a merciful end.
It's not rocket science, and there's no need to try to be witty or droll about it.
LAME, Curtis Mallet.
Sotomayor dresses like a burrito supreme sometimes. So what?
I like to wear suits with shoulder pads and triple pleated pants.
Members Only
In the summer time, I prefer Zubaz. I think the tapered leg, high rise, and zebra pattern are rather tasteful.
B. Bosworth
My watch is worth more than most of your miserable lives.
Skadden Secure
ps: YOU ARE ALL IDIOTS
I'm too sexy for this law firm.
Too sexy for this law firm.
I'm a lawyer and you know what I mean.
I'll shake my chest hair by the copy machine.
Do they wear business suits in Texas, or are Wrangler jeans and plaid shirts considered business suits?
I often see the item "comment removed by moderator" or whatever and wonder what level of comment you need to make to actually get your comment removed. Given that comment #14 is still visible I'm very curious as how bad the comment must be to be removed.
I think this is pretty funny. They probably already have a dress policy, so this is just an opportunity to poke a little fun. No blood, no foul.
If a dude is hot, he better be wearing tight pants. We wanna see his package
This is why recruiting coordinators should not be allowed to write memos for officewide publication. Go back to your four cats, your pint of ice cream, and your well-worn Bridget Jones DVD.
36 = new
I find 36's comment to be very unhelpful.
LOL 34. Thanks!
(though I am trying to figure out exactly how one shakes their chest hair)
"if your roommate or significant other who works at that chic gallery in Soho smirks and says you are a capitalist tool, you got it right"
Quality post, there. Applause to whoever wrote this fine memo...at least they're not bullshitting you.
36, LOL, you are so funny.
#36 - You are a secretary, aren't you. You must be. Pray you do not work at my firm.
What's the consensus on seersucker? Appropriate? Too foppish?
No way that was written by a recruiting coordinator. It was hilarious.
Popped collar? Madras shorts?
Women love me and men want to be me. I can wear whatever I want.
40, no just gone for a while and forgot what this place was like. Seriously though, what do you have to put to get removed?
I wish you would remove yourself, #50. You are terrible and more than likely live in Texas.
Give him a body bag, yeahhhhhhhhh!
Sounds like this unfunny TTT was written by a Brit/other euro foreigner. Who else would say "American-cut business shirts and suits?" It's also very Euro in its unjustified smugness and condescension.
As a GULC 3L, I am already a good dresser.
Sorry, GW kids, you have a lot to learn.
Sweep the leg!
this memo was funny and well needed (so were the ATL comments inbetween)
#29 is a douche.
36,
You'll get the hang of it around here soon enough. Generally speaking you have to grossly offend one of the ATL crew to get your comment deleted. Other than that you're pretty much free to comment about pounding your secretary in the ass (that one always cheers me up), make fun of people who recently committed suicide, etc., etc.
This firm is still around?
Well, good for them!
Is shaved pussy considered casual dress?
I'm guessing Curtis Mallet doesn't do employment law (and no, I'm not going to waste my time looking at their website). If that was meant as a joke, it's funny, but if it was genuine, it's seriously offensive to both genders.
Let's keep IT clean people!
This memo is such a poor attempt at humor. It was clearly written by someone high enough in the food chain that nobody has the balls to tell him how totaly unfunny he is.
Did you verify that this is a real memo - I think you've been punked.
47: Right. Only lawyers are hilarious.
Why do firms think they need to attempt to be humorous when restating something as simple as a dress code policy? Whoever penned this dress code memo is a fool and probably not considered funny by his or her peers.
The advice for women - ask someone else - is utterly without content. And, as with "simple rules for simple minds," the author didn't dare advise fat women on special dressing techniques.
You give somebody a little power on a thing like this and it's amazing what can happen.
60: Shaved = Casual;
Brazilian = Business Casual;
Trimmed = Tailored Suit; and
The Woolly Bully Mammoth (aka Au natural furry) = Harris Tweed
46: Seersucker is for Matlock wannabes and posers in the south that think somehow that makes them look like "Old South" or "old school" -- essentially for insecure losers that think they're making a statement.
The "simple rules for simple minds" combined with the total lack of any substantive guidance for women tells me this memo was written by a man who has too much power for his own simple little mind to handle appropriately.
Anyone who thinks it's still socially acceptable to stereotype men as "simple" (and, by extension I presume, women as "complicated" -- which he pretty much says when describing the women's dress code as somehow more complicated -- so complicated, apparently, his simple little mind doesn't even know how to just spit it out) is pathetically stuck in a bygone era. And, um, "save it for the clubs"? Does he think he employs a bunch of sorority girls?
And anyone who thinks being called a "capitalist tool" is a good thing deserves to die a slow, painful death. Thank you, Curtis Mallet, for letting me know what an abominably awful firm you must be. I would never want to work somewhere so obsessed with how I dress that it overshadows my work. And, as a potential client, I now know NEVER to hire you. If you waste so much time and being painfully awkward in something as monumentally simple as a fucking dress policy memo, I can see how little you would provide a client in terms of value. I'll move along to the next firm.
QUINN REMAINS
I disagree with 68 and believe a complete wax is totally formal. It takes a formal/professional attitude to hold your knees to your chest while an asian woman tears out your pubes
72: It depends on what profession in which you are trying to look like a professional. I totally agree with you that waxed clean denotes a certain professionalism if you are looking to be Spitzer's four diamond escort or swinging the pole at Scores, but in the BigLaw world I would suggest that 68's code is more appropriate to gauge the status of dress of a lawyer. However, I have a hunch that 14's secretary is very professional in your sense of the term.
in my book, every woman, no matter what profession should aspire to be like ashley dupree. Whenever I encounter a bush, it makes me question her cleanliness or whether she is from buffalo
how is the new scores? anyone?
Reading these comments makes me feel not sorry that a lot of the posters will probably never get to practice law.
Reading these comments makes me feel not sorry that a lot of the posters will probably never get to practice law.
77 = Woolly Bully Mammoth; How bout seeing a Brazilian waxer and loosen up (figuratively and literally)!
"If you need gentle guidance, the more seasoned women are happy to impart their wisdom."
Is this wisdom on how they made their way to the top? Does it involve the seasoned women sasha cohening into a partner's lap, less a mutual agreement provision.
That wit was about as good as the memo's ...
Anyone know if they have had layoffs or salary cuts?
Comment removed by moderator.
Would this qualify as "business casual" or just too revealing?
http://www.delawareonline.com/blogs/cheney.jpg
somebody spent a lot of time writing that super clever memo
So form-fitting clothing is an eccentricity?! Baggy-fitted American suits for potbellied fatties is what Curtis Mallet aspires to?
I am so happy to be a young, solo practitioner in the big city : )
And if you have any trouble incorporating any of these dictates into your own lifestyle -- take a look at your paycheck. If you want to work at Curtis, dress like Curtis. If you don't want to dress like Curtis, don't work at Curtis.
It's time to grow up, kiddies.