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What does a gentleman do?

So I came on a business trip that was supposed to involve either (i) a meeting on Wednesday or (ii) a meeting on Wednesday and court appearance on Friday (with Thursday off). I brought two dress shirts and two ties. One suit.

The Wednesday meeting bled into the wee hours of the morning has resumed today, Thursday. If the meeting is successful today, then Friday's court hearing is canceled. If however, the meeting is unsuccessful, then I'm in Court tomorrow without a fresh, clean dress shirt to wear.

I made the optimistic decision to burn my second dress shirt for today's meeting. I could have gotten away with wearing a turtle neck under my suit, but I decided to wear the dress shirt because that's what a gentleman should wear in a business environment.

If our meeting isn't successful today, though, I'll have to scramble to find another dress shirt for court tomorrow, or wear a dirty shirt, or figure out if I can get the hotel to clean the shirt overnight before court.

What would you do (or have done) in my situation this morning -- burn the shirt or wear the turtleneck? (Other than, of course, plan better and bring 3 shirts and 3 ties... :001_cool:)
 
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When you say burn, I suppose you mean wear it a second day with out it being washed and ironed. Burn the shirt. You say "dirty". Did you sweat profusely in it or spill something on it? Does it have a bad odor? It not, I would not say it is not dirty. Wear it again tomorrow.


DL
 
I would've worn the extra clean shirt today. Tonight I'd go buy another shirt and possibly another tie. I'd draw the line at buying another suit.

FWIW, whenever I travel I always pack an extra days worth of clothes. I am paranoid about being stuck somewhere w/o clean underwear, socks, t-shirt, shirt and pants.
 
I think you made the right call. I'm also a lawyer, and I just would not show up at a meeting like that without a tie unless it was agreed by all that it would be business casual. Besides, if you wore a tie yesterday, your adversaries and clients (if they are at the meeting) will expect you to wear one today.

Obviously, you should get yesterday's shirt to the front desk of the hotel for cleaning NOW, if you haven't already done so, and figure out where you can buy another one. As Dustin mentioned, you may be able to wear it tomorrow, particularly if there is an iron in your hotel room. That said, I know that I probably would not do that because I wouldn't want to be in court thinking that I was wearing a dirty shirt.
 
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I had a similar situation in the past. I stopped at Saks and bought one of their white shirts. The hotel had an iron in the room so I gave it a once over and solved the problem.
 
So I came on a business trip that was supposed to involve either (i) a meeting on Wednesday or (ii) a meeting on Wednesday and court appearance on Friday (with Thursday off). I brought two dress shirts and two ties. One suit.

The Wednesday meeting bled into the wee hours of the morning has resumed today, Thursday. If the meeting is successful today, then Friday's court hearing is canceled. If however, the meeting is unsuccessful, then I'm in Court tomorrow without a fresh, clean dress shirt to wear.

I made the optimistic decision to burn my second dress shirt for today's meeting. I could have gotten away with wearing a turtle neck under my suit, but I decided to wear the dress shirt because that's what a gentleman should wear in a business environment.

If our meeting isn't successful today, though, I'll have to scramble to find another dress shirt for court tomorrow, or wear a dirty shirt, or figure out if I can get the hotel to clean the shirt overnight before court.

What would you do (or have done) in my situation this morning -- burn the shirt or wear the turtleneck? (Other than, of course, plan better and bring 3 shirts and 3 ties... :001_cool:)

a simple and far more economical plan is look for a 1 hour dry cleaners : you now have a fresh shirt and you are assured that the tie etc match
 
I was a prosecutor, so I saw lots of lawyers everyday. I would not have noticed what any opposing council had worn the day before. Certainly, your situation seems more intimate, but I would still wear either shirt if it was not dirty (i.e., stained, visibly darkened collar) -- lawyers understand the constraints of travel. If you feel uneasy or at a disadvantage, buy another shirt. Buy I don't think it is necessary.
 
1. you hotel should be able to take care of yoru dirty shirt on no time flat.
2. Buy a new shirt and tie. I am pretty sure there are stores in NYC then expense it.
3. find a drycleaner, explain situation and see if they can help for a generous tip again expense.
 
When you say burn, I suppose you mean wear it a second day with out it being washed and ironed. Burn the shirt. You say "dirty". Did you sweat profusely in it or spill something on it? Does it have a bad odor? It not, I would not say it is not dirty. Wear it again tomorrow.


DL

+1. I'm also an attorney and I think this works fine unless the shirt smells or is visibly dirty. I highly doubt anyone is going to notice, and if they do they will probably assume you either brought two very similar shirts (especially if it's a plain white or blue shirt with a normal collar) or had it cleaned. I've seen lawyers in court dressed so shabbily that I wouldn't think anything of another attorney wearing the same shirt twice.
 
I would have likely taken the same path as you... Just find a laundry to clean one, or buy a new shirt.

As long as you don't show up to court with a turtle neck, I'd say you'll be OK. No one else will notice if you're wearing the same shirt as two days ago. Especially in the stressful environment of court where they have something much worse to worry about.
 
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