Figuring out how many suits/shirts/shoes I need as a consultant?

hey there :)

you’re thinking about it very practically, and you’re right, you really don’t need 15 shirts or 6 suits. most consultants start with around what you have. five shirts are perfectly fine if you dry clean regularly, two suits you can rotate, and one pair of good shoes works if you take care of them (two pairs just help with alternating and letting them breathe). ties aren’t worn daily anymore in most offices, so two are plenty. you’ll probably expand naturally once you start traveling more or get tired of repeating outfits, but there’s no need to overinvest upfront.

best,
Alessa :)

Hi there,

Five shirts are perfectly fine as long as you can wash or dry-clean weekly. Two suits (or blazers) you can alternate during the week is more than enough, and you can always add another later if travel or client dress codes demand it. As for shoes, one good pair works as long as you keep them polished and in good condition. Some people buy a second pair later just to rotate and give the leather time to rest, but it’s not essential. You'll also naturally get a feeling for what you need and you can also stock up. 

Haha

Yes, I rather lean towards your logic. You need less than you assume. 

If you travel, most firms also cover dry cleaning at the hotel, so you can get your stuff cleaned during the week as well (not during the weekend). 

I suggest you start with the bare minimum and order additionally once you get started.

If you're soon joining consulting, you might find this guide useful:

• Expert Guide: How to Become A Distinctive Consultant

Best of luck!
Cristian

Hi,

Very practical question. 

If i think back on what I started with:

• 10 shirts
• 2 suit sets (blazer & pants)
• 2 additional pants
• 2 pairs of shoes

Rationale for the above is

• 10 shirts assumes you really dont have time to do laundry for 2 weeks (which is rare but could happen and has happened to me)
• You can re-use pants more often than the shirts
• 2 pairs of blazer/shoes means you have options plus an alternative in case one gets wet/dirty

A key driver of the size of your wardrobe is also going be your personal standards for fashion / vanity (i.e. do I care that my sole pair of shoes does not match perfectly the color of my second suit, so I need to buy another pair?). 

Bottom line - make sure you have enough to look presentable and within firm guidelines for ~1 week. Don't stress out too much about the wardrobe :)

Hi,

You don’t need 15 shirts or 6 suits as that’s overkill for most consultants. Having around 6-8 shirts is good as you want some backup just in case anything happens (e.g. spills, lost of luggage, etc...). Two suits/blazers you can rotate between is perfectly fine, and 2 ties keeps it simple. The only thing worth adding is a second pair of shoes, mostly so you can rotate them and let them air out.

Interesting question — and honestly, your current setup is probably enough to start. Consulting isn’t as dress-code rigid as it used to be, and it’s definitely not as formal as what you see in movies or Suits-style shows. Most clients these days are business casual at most, and unless you're working in finance or with a super traditional client, a full suit every day is unlikely.

Your plan sounds solid: 5 shirts, 2 blazers, 2 ties, 1 pair of shoes is totally workable. If you’re flying out Sunday night and dropping clothes off for cleaning Friday/Saturday, that rotation is sustainable — just keep the shirts in good shape and cycle them smartly. One extra pair of shoes might be helpful just to rotate if it rains or one gets scuffed, but it’s not a must-have.

You’ll figure out the exact client expectations once you're staffed — if it’s a more casual setting, even the shirt-and-blazer combo may start to feel like overdressing. Start lean, observe, and scale your wardrobe only if needed. No need to buy a consultant starter pack upfront.

You are slightly below the bare minimum. You should have more ties (assuming you have a client where you need ties on a daily basis... otherwise 2-3 is enough) and you should also have 2 pairs of shoes. Stuff happens. Also, don't forget a belt and a raincoat:)

On the other extreme, the 15 shirts, 6 suits....you don't need that. To have a stress free and efficient life, having 10 shirts allows perfect shirt rotation (i.e. two weeks of shirts, you can drop one in the laundry and collect the pack from the previous week) and 4 suits (2 summer, 2 winter). 

Regarding shirts... I would have at least 6-7 shirts. Why? Because even if you rotate on a weekly basis and 5 seems to be enough... stuff happens! You may need to quickly replace one of your shirts. Better to already have it.

[by the way, your weight changes over time, particularly when you start working and when on a high-stress job... at some point some of your shirts and suits are still looking good but don't fit very well, so better to build up your closed over time].