What to Wear for a Month in Court

105 Comments

1. Am I the only person who find skirts/dresses more comfortable then pants?

   1. I’m with you, anon. I find pants terribly uncomfortable and usually don’t wear them more than once every two weeks.

   2. Nope – I am much more comfortable in a dress than in pants and a blouse. I am not sure this would apply to a suiting dress, however, because the reason my dresses are comfy is that they tend to be made of really soft materials and are unstructured, so it’s the comfiness-equivalent of PJs. Suiting dresses seem to be more structured/binding.

      I might go with mostly pants suits also for a month-long trial if only because you may be too tired/forgetful to shave your legs at appropriate intervals, and because it’s still very cold in most parts of the country.

      1. I would also vote for skirts over pants.

         An added bonus is I need to dry clean them MUCH less often. It’s not a matter of boy shorts, either — I find pants lose their shape after 3-4 wears max, the knees and ass sag, etc., but with a skirt an iron will make it look as good as new in just about under 3 min (also — much, much easier to iron!).

      2. I like wearing skirts when I don’t have to wear pantyhose, but seeing as this is a trial, I’d probably go with the pantsuits and only one skirt suit. It’s just such a pain to have to worry about whether you’ll have enough pantyhose to last the month. I don’t live in an area where they’re needed outside of trials and don’t want to end up with 20 pairs I’ll never use when I’ll typically be fine with 2-3 pairs.

         1. Another option (only if you want to wear skirt suits) is to stock up on hose from a store with a good return policy, keep the receipt, only open the packages as you need them, and return the ones you didn’t need after the trial ends.

         2. Exactly. You don’t want to worry about emergency pantyhose runs during trial.

   3. I definitely do.

2. C, any suggestions on good brands of boy shorts that don’t show? I love how comfy the gap cotton ones are, but they only really work under jeans.

   1. http://myskins.com/

      They don’t show under anything, no matter what colour and what drape.

      1. Do they move “around” (i.e. up in the rear)?

   2. Oh, glad I re-read this before I recommended gap ones! I love mine and they definitely do not show under my work pants, skirts etc.

      I also like fig leaves.

      1. Honestly, I’ve been buying the same pair of Maidenform boyshorts for 5+ years now because they work for me and there is no VPL unless my pants are very tight.

         http://bit.ly/9oYqwF

         A friend swears by American Eagle (buys them by the bucketload when she’s in the country), but she normally wears skirts.

         I wonder if this is the kind of thing where it differs by body shape and type.

         1. I love these and the microfiber version, but it seems like fewer department stores are carrying them these days. The big problem I have with these even though I love them is that both versions have a much higher rise than most of the pants that are out.

   3. I love these, from Target. They’re pretty much all I wear unless I decide to wear something for entertainment purposes (my husband’s, not mine). They’re extremely comfortable (as in you don’t even remember you’re wearing underwear), they last forever, you cannot beat the price ($10 for a 2-pack) and they do not show under anything. One note – I get a size down from my normal size as I prefer a snugger fit. From the reviews online, it seems quite a few people do this. They’re cheap enough that you could order two packs, one in your correct size, one in the size down, to see what works best for you.

      http://www.target.com/Gilligan-O%E2%80%99Malley-Ultimate-Seamless-Boyshort/dp/B000MLV2JA/ref=br_1_1?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&searchView=grid5&searchNodeID=405496011&node=405496011&searchRank=salesrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&id=Gilligan%20O%E2%80%99Malley%20Ultimate%20Seamless%20Boyshort

      1. thanks for the rec! do you know if they are sold in stores as well?

         1. The store I shop at has them, and it’s not a supercenter or anything. I’ve noticed the black and nude sell out in some sizes pretty often, leaving only the pink and brown on the rack. But my store, at least, is good at restocking – so if I don’t want to order online, I can just check back in a few days, and generally they’ve restocked. But Target generally has free shipping on online clothes orders over $50, so bear that in mind.

            1. I have been seriously rethinking my underwear lately, but didn’t know how boyshorts would fit or feel. With this recommendation, I’m marching off to Target to buy a few and try them out. Thanks!

      2. I wear these too – I LOVE them!

3. Don’t forget to mention pantylines! I am utterly shocked at the number of women, of all ages, who don’t consider good fitting underwear- or simply don’t care! I think a whole article on this problem would be acceptable.

   1. Please. Please. With brand suggestions of underwear that is not a thong and does not show lines, AND does not move around. Some of the “edgeless” varieties have nothing to hold them in place, thus they bunch up all over the place completely defeating the purpose.

      1. I have had good luck with Victoria’s Secret microfiber bikini or hiphuggers. I have, as we say, a little extra junk in the trunk, and they do not budge at ALL on my body through a 30 hour shift at a trauma center. I forget I’m wearing them, which is the best endorsement I can think of!

   2. I don’t think it’s that women don’t care, it’s more that it’s hard to really know which ones will work when you can’t try them on. I know I will buy a pair that looks good only to find out that it rides up/won’t stay in place, doesn’t quite fit right, or falls apart after 2 wears. I have some that are the same style as the myskins one posted above, but they do not stay in place when I put the pants/skirt on.

      1. I reccomend OnGossamer. They are a little spendy, but I have found that the bikini style panties do not show under anything (including white pants), are light weight and stay in place.

         1. I second. Have been a loyal OnGossamer girl for YEARS. And still have undies from years ago. They are made out of stretchy nylon, so they last and last and last. I would say that their M/L runs a bit smaller than other brands, so if you have junk in the trunk…this is not the brand for you.

            Also, I completely love On Gossamer for working out. They are mesh, hence breathable.

            And for anyone that hates mesh–this is not the scratchy cheap mesh you see on other brands. It’s whisper soft and thin. So fantastic. I love OG!!!!

            Nordy’s and Bloomie’s carry it, as well as lots of boutiques and my fave online undies site, http://www.herroom.com.

   3. or headlights! court is the time for smooth, lined t-shirt bras. everyone will notice if you’re looking cold. also, nude bras, not white, under light colored tops. you never know how the light is going to hit you.

      try on your tops in a variety of light conditions before you go. just last week i chased a partner down the hall before she left the building for court – her black sweater had become a bit worn, clearly showing her white bra underneath. i’m sure it looked fine when she left her house, but the overhead fluorescent lights miss little.

   4. YES. Was just thinking this. I would wear Spanx footless tights under pants if I was going to be in front of a jury all day. They’re more comfortable than the Spanx shapers, but take care of the VPL.

4. Don’t underestimate the power your clothes have to distract. Recently I observed a federal trial where the plaintiff’s attorney (who was phenomenal, BTW) wore black patent leather Mary Jane style pumps with four-inch heels (she was tiny), and a conservative pantsuit that was a tad too short in the legs. I kept looking at her shoes and thinking, gee if her pants were a little longer I wouldn’t notice her shoes that much. Also her gait was a little stilted. On the second day the first thing I did was look at her shoes. They were lower-heeled and blended nicely with her suit, and I never looked at them again. I tend to be non-conservative with my footwear, so this was a wake up call for me– at least for in-court situations.

5. A suggestion for expanding your wardrobe for a trial without stockpiling suits that you don’t need the rest of the time: simple sheath dresses in the same colors as your suit jackets. A black sheath dress with a black blazer is the easiest outfit to plan and then you have a very multi-purpose dress for your life outside the courtroom.

6. If you need to buy several suits for this trial, try local consignment shops. They tend to have gently-used brand name/designer clothing for low prices.

   1. Or ask a similarly sized friend or two if they’d mind if you borrowed a suit for a month.

   2. Or Filene’s, which (in DC at least) is currently having a great suit sale.

7. I would have 5 suits or jacket/dress combinations ready. This is what I pack when I try a case out of town of any length. On a personal level, I don’t like to repeat 2x in a week — and don’t forget if you are on your feet trying a case A LOT of people see what you are. On a practical level, you want to have plenty of options when your suits are being cleaned and or pressed. If you are anything like me, you won’t be able to avoid perspiring when you are examining a witness or when the judge starts asking hard questions or when your senior partner is whisper shouting “Give me the document now!”, and you never want to appear in court in an outfit that isn’t perfectly clean and pressed.

   I have many many navy suits, and several black, all a bit different in terms of fabric or styling, and will also wear gray, a flattering brown, or a subdued check to court. Pretty much anything but bright colors. I personally always wear skirts, but pants are OK in most courtrooms — although I would check this out with colleagues, particularly if your judge is older or from a more conservative region.

   If you are second-chairing a month long federal case at this point in your career, chances are you will have other suit wearing occasions in your future. If you buy conservative well made clothes, you can have them for several years.

   Only you know your career path — but I would say that a female litigator will rarely regret an investment in the kind of “serious” “grown up” clothes you wear to court.

8. Talbots had basic petite suits in black and brown on deep discount a few weeks ago. I don’t see it on the website, but you might get lucky in an actual store.

   1. They JUST took their sale/clearance off of an additional 50% off, so two dresses I bought for under $40 are almost $80 again. So unfortunately that might not be AS good a deal. But I do love Talbots!

9. I just want to reassure everyone here. You CAN wear black with navy. That old bugaboo came from men’s wear, a world in which navy is often so dark that it’s close to black. And men are way more often than women to be color-blind (this is true). I believe the “rule” developed to protect men from mixing up blue and black. And don’t worry, I have nothing against men. Gave birth to one, after all:).

10. Conventional wisdom when I was trying cases (about 15 years ago) was that if you were defending a large corporation in front of a jury, you should not dress too “corporately.” So we all had brown or beige suits, maybe light grey, but avoided navy or black. Sheath dresses with jackets also worked well for me. If it is a bench trial, navy or black are more appropriate. Check with a clerk, if you can, before wearing a pant suit to court. I recall asking a clerk in federal court once if I could wear pants in her judge’s court. She (while wearing a pant suit herself) said, “I wouldn’t if I were you.”

    I’m so glad to be in-house now, where pants are more the rule than the exception.

11. All the advice you have been given so far is on target. Whatever you do, dress in the same shades and tones the men wear. I once wore a red (expensive) blazer to federal court and spent the whole day feeling radioactive (and unfortunately calling attention to me and my client in a sea of black and gray). Trust me you do not want to stick out. I would decide the pants vs skirts issue after you have been on trial for a few days. Keep in mind that Federal Court is far more formal and conservative than state court. I tried cases in Federal Court all over the country and wore pants in Raleigh NC in the summer because opposing counsel wore searsucker suits (the theme is blend in and don’t distract with your clothing). I once had a lawyer argue in front of me wearing a top that was way too short and everytime she raised her arms I got a view of her bare muffin top. Not a pretty sight and it was distracting in a bad way.

12. i clerked for a federal district court judge for two years. i would recommend a black suit, a charcoal grey suit, and a navy suit, and then just mix up your shirts — button downs versus silk sweaters. as long as you’re not wearing the whole exact same outfit every day, or an outfit that attracts attention in any way (weird colors, styles, etc), you’ll be fine. i vote for pants over skirts, as long as you’re not in front of an old male judge in the South.

13. Omigosh! I love this blog for work ideas and was so surprised to see my blog referenced here … thanks so much, ladies!

    I’m totally with the comments on skirts / dresses being more comfortable. I am not a lawyer but I work long, long, days, and would much rather be in a dress with jacket or skirt suit. Living out of a hotel for the next 5 months, I packed my Theory basic suit separates and a bunch of silk blouses.

14. Ahh, one of the great benefits of wearing Robes in court!!

    1. Never thought about it that way–how convenient!

    2. TRUE!! Although I need to order robes before my first Superior Court trial this spring…I’ve been borrowing mine from the robing room.

    3. I think Jurors in the united states should be required to wear robes to court as well as the judge.

15. Looking for vanilla petite suits? Talbots. Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalbots. Talboooooooooooooooooooots. I’m an apple shape and can’t wear most of their pants, but their skirt suits were a staple for me when I worked as a staff attorney at an appellate court.

    1. Odd that you mention that their pants don’t fit you, being an apple – I’m more pear-shaped and I simply cannot buy pants there. No size or style fits me. I wonder who they *do* fit?

       That said, I love Talbots and rely on them for other basic staples – just not pants.

       1. They fit me! Love love love love love all things Talbots.

16. I’ve worn pantsuits in federal courts all over the country, but I just made a few phone calls recently to make sure pants are ok before the judge who is trying one of my cases next month. It would NOT have been ok with the judges where I clerked.

    I’m petite, too, and rarely wear suits outside of the courtroom, so I try to stock up on really basic suits at the nearby outlet mall. I’ve found some great deals on Jones NY Petites, Banana Republic petites, and others.

    Make sure you tell the hotel that you are going to need more than the 3 puny hangers they have in the closet. I usually ship a bunch of my clothes & shoes along with the document boxes, because it’s too much to carry. And good luck!

17. I did a month long trial, but it was in my own town. I wore a skirt every day (and always have, ever since a juror commented post-trial once that she didn’t think a lady lawyer should wear pants– she was 80 and was trying to be nice *sigh*– and since the jurors are the deciders, I have felt since then that there is no need to even risk putting off anyone). Anyway, SEPERATES are the key. Buy things that you can mix and match. While I may have worn the same navy skirt 6 times, it was paird with a different jacket and shirt each time. For jewelry — skip the bracelets and rings. You will find yourself playing with them. 3 simple necklaces should do it. Also, may part of the country is rather rural, so here, I make sure my suits are nice, fit well, and look good, but don’t look like they cost a lot of money (juror perception again). As for underwear– Well I vote thong. I know some people consider thongs skanky, but really they are the most comfortable underwear there is, no pantylines, and no tugging. Trust me this body is not wearing thongs for sex appeal.

    1. Amen! I’ve heard jurors complain about lawyers who look, basically, “too good” – it just gives the perception that the lawyer is a fat cat getting rich off of all these cases rather than caring about the justice of their client’s cause.

       Corporate lawyers mostly interact with other lawyers and high-up execs and its easy to get insulated and really believe you live in a world where Banana Republic is the “cheap” option. Not saying you have to wear shiny polyester suits with worn-out elbows, but you don’t want to stand out for all the wrong reasons. Something like a Laboutin pump or a LV bag (not saying you were planning to show up in court with either) just screams all the wrong messages to jurors.

18. some advice that has not yet been mentioned: keep the receipts and tags on anything you end up buying special for this. the VAST majority of cases settle, and literal “eve of trial” is the most popular time!

19. I have bought several petite suits at Macys and been very happy. Banana, Ann Taylor and JCrew have nice suits as well. Just, please, make sure that you actually need a petite. It looks awful when your suit pants or sleeves are too short. A good tailor should hem pants for around $15.00, jackets are much more expensive.

20. Thongs are not ‘comfortable.’ I get all the other stuff, but no way are they ‘comfortable.’ Tolerable, maybe, if you don’t have sensitive skin, hemorrhoids, or any number of very common ailments people don’t like to talk about, but many people suffer from.

    1. LMAO about hemorrhoids…. the mere thought of hemorrhoids + thongs = yow! That said, thongs just are not hygenic to me. Period.

21. IME five basic, boring suits are enough (you won’t be in court every day the week, right?) . For juries, as basic and boring as possible. If you live in NY, Loehmanns often has suits on sale for $100 (they do a 2 for $200 sale about four times a year) and Tahari is the sort of perfect cheap basic that can fill out a suit wardrobe once you have your expensive interview suit. Filenes has a similar selection, with what looks like a big petite section. Finally, as for pant suits, my problem with them is trials and litigation in general lead to significant weight fluctuations. Skirts are easier to fit.

22. Pack a bag with jeans, sweats, pajamas, whatever, and change in to that when you get back to the office. That’s what our team did when we were in trial, using a borrowed office, working until 3am and going back to court at 8:30am the next day.
    Good luck!

23. For those of you who say pants would not be acceptable – what would would happen if you wore them? I almost always wear pant suits b/c I have a medical condition that makes it very painful to wear pantyhose. I honestly don’t care if someone is put off by my pants. I still look formal and I still look good. Would the judge just think I was disrespectful? Would he send me home to change? While I understand the need to win and not distract I find it hard to believe you could lose a case because the judge was pissed you weren’t in a skirt.

    Interestingly, I also heard from a male friend that he is less distracted by females in pant suits because when he sees a pretty lady in a skirt suit he can’t help but check out her legs!

    1. Oh, probably nothing, but you do what you can to get the edge for your client. If I can get the inside scoop from courthouse staff, I try to avoid a judge’s pet peeves. For some judges, that may mean no footnotes or block quotes in my briefs. For others, it may mean no pant suits. These are little fiefdoms, you know. The judge I clerked for was extremely “proper” and thought there was a right way to dress for court. Sometimes men violated her unspoken dress rules, and sometimes women did. It wouldn’t change her ultimate ruling, but she might be more stern with the party that didn’t seem to get appropriate courtroom decorum, and probably assumed that person didn’t “get” other things, too. So why take that risk?

       One of my colleagues had a trial in the South last fall. The courtroom deputy told the paralegals that the judge didn’t like pantsuits. They all went out and bought skirts. By the end of the month, they had come to suspect that the judge couldn’t care less, but the deputy made up these little “rules.” They wished they’d saved their money.

    2. There’s a judge in my jurisdiction that will send home women who wear pants suits in HER courtroom. The case may be continued, but once you’re sent home from the judge, do you really want to go back and face the judge?

       Granted, she is a very nice woman, and so if she knew ahead of time that you had a condition that all but required you to wear pants, she may take that into consideration, since she knows you’re not trying to be disrespectful. However, judges don’t care that you don’t care, and if they won’t let you speak or be recognized unless you’re “properly” dressed, then you can’t do your job.

       1. That is insane.

       2. I second the “insane” comment.

       3. I work for a female partner who believes that skirts only are appropriate for the office. She literally has never come to the office in pants. She recognizes that it’s no longer the norm, but she started practicing in the 80s, and it’s ingrained with her. She doesn’t, however, come down on me for wearing pantsuits. I actually wore pantsuits to second chair a trial with her, and it was fine. But I respect her beliefs and have started thinking more of skirt suits as the “dressier” option. That said, naive me has appeared in federal court, state court, the Sixth District Court of Appeals, my state supreme court, etc. in pantsuits. I feel more confident in them, and for me that’s more important. I feel like self-consciousness would put off more of a bad vibe than a pantsuit.

          1. That’s it for me. I just don’t feel confident or comfortable in a skirt – skirts don’t tend to fit me well and I’m always tugging at them and rearranging things and it’s just not something I want to deal with in court.

    3. I wish it weren’t the case, but many people still don’t like to see a woman in pants in a courtroom. It’s annoying, but it is what it is. There are times to fight battles, but the courtroom isn’t one of them – its not about you in there, its about the client.

24. As a prosecutor, I am in trial a lot. For the first few years of my career, I stuck to the “wear only skirts in trial” philosophy. However, as the office (and judicial) culture changed, so did my attire. I still firmly believe that you should wear a skirt for jury selection, opening statements, and closing arguments. However, conservative, well-tailored pants are fine for the other days (unless you get a vibe from your jury to the contrary). I find that I do better trial work when I am comfortable, and I happen to find pants more comfortable than skirts.

    Personally, I like to have at least 5 suits in the rotation with at least a couple of them involving both a pant and skirt option (If the suit gives you an option of skirt or pants, ALWAYS buy both if they both fit you well. You will never regret having the option, and you get double the bang for your buck). I like to have two black suits (one that is very traditional and one that is a little more feminine), one black pin stripe suit, one charcoal or grey suit, and one chocolate brown suit (people always compliment the brown suits for some reason). I know plenty of women who enjoy wearing red in trial, but I’m not one of them.

    Good luck in trial!

25. We had a multi-month trial a few years back in state court and I was not in court for it but another young female associate was and when we spoke with jury members after the case (you’re allowed to do that in our jurisdiction) one of them mentioned that they knew which days the young female associate was going to question witnesses because those were the only days she wore skirt suits :) So at least try to mix it up a little more if you decide to wear both. FWIW, I think in most places judges/juries realize that long trials mean a little more flexibility in some areas.

26. You said you did not want to spend alot of money. Le Suit does not cost more than $100.00.

27. I am a public interest attorney with a gross salary of $2,750 a month. I have a trial for in impoverished client and plan to wear pants, because I don’t own a skirt suit (due to recent weight loss) and can’t find one in my area in a size 16 that I can afford. I simply don’t have the luxury of paying $200 for a suit to wear once.

    What bugs me is that the judges who would balk at someone’s choice of pants vs. skirt might be defeating the “justice for all” by requiring poor litigants and their attorneys of similar modest means to buy clothing for court they can’t afford. This smacks of elitism to me. It’s also blatantly sexist to hold women to a different standard. For a FEMALE judge to refuse access to the court over clothing disgusts me. She should be ashamed.

    1. Try ebay. I am a 20-22W and find some really good deals that way. Type in “16 suit” (or 16w suit) and see what comes up. People who lose weight often put thier slightly worn clothes up on ebay. It’s like a thrift store online, and I love it. Also, Lands End sometimes has suits on clearance for reasonable prices. I probably have some in storage that are 16w’s. I’d be happy to send one if you are in desperate need– as a public defender, I know how that goes.

    2. I don’t think the judges who have those standards go at it saying “Hahaha, I’m going to make this arbitrary rule!” But I think it goes more to respecting the court and the law. The female judge I was talking about is pretty women’s-lib in her own right, but she’s still old-school in terms of how you show your respect for the court. I don’t think she holds women to a different standard, as she expects the men in her courtroom to also dress appropriately. I’ve heard of her noticing if a man’s shirt isn’t ironed or if he’s not wearing proper shoes with his suit. To her, it just looks like you’re not taking your case seriously if you don’t dress appropriately. And if you don’t take your case seriously, why should she (or he)? Which, honestly, is a pretty fair conclusion to come to if someone isn’t dressed appropriately for an occasion.

       1. My problem with that attitude, and I’m not trying to argue with you because I know it’s the judge who holds the beliefs, but I simply do not understand why I have to expose my legs to show my respect for the court or to be considered appropriately dressed. If Elena Kagan, as the Solicitor General of the United States, can argue in front of the SCOTUS in a pantsuit, a pantsuit is appropriate courtroom attire.

          Also, it’s one thing to notice what one considers to be inappropriate attire, it’s another thing to send someone home and continue a trial because of it. I’m curious, does she send men with wrinkled shirts and/or what she considers to be improper shoes home?

          1. She does send men back as well.

             If she doesn’t make a usual practice of sending people home (both men and women), then she has done it more than a few times in the past. But if she’s not going to send you home, she’s definitely going to at least tell you she doesn’t appreciate your choice of wardrobe/lack of ironing in open court. Talk about embarrassment…

          2. Now that I think about it, sending people back and continuing their cases if they’re not appropriately dressed, happens a fair amount of time here where I go to school. The area is very conservative, with old conservative judges. Most of the smaller county judges are relatively lax about wardrobe, but the next county over and the federal judges are pretty uptight about what you wear in their courtroom. A couple of the ALJs that I deal with in the Clinic in which I work will reschedule a client’s SSA benefits hearing if the client isn’t dressed appropriately at the hearing (no mini, bare shoulders, jeans, t-shirts, gym shoes, etc). I agree that this line of thinking is pretty antiquated, but if it’s the judges rules, what do you do?

28. One word of advice (from an 8 week trial) — pack at least 1-2 suits that fit a little (or a lot) loosely especially if you tend to gain weight quickly. We constantly ate at trial during every break and then from the end of trial until 2 am every night, and excercising was one of the first things to go.

    I had 5 pants suits, 3 with skirts, and it was just enough. I also stocked up on silk shells at Banana Republic that were on sale so I had a ton of colors to wear under which helped vary the look.

    If you are going with mostly skirts, buy 20 pairs of stockings in advance so you don’t have to worry about them ripping or having the hotel wash them.

    1. Seriously? Get a tiny bottle, put some woolite in it, and wash them out in the sink. I do this every single night with my stockings. Takes 20 seconds before I brush my teeth. Buying twenty pairs is ridiculous, IMO. Four or five pairs, maybe.

       1. Haha. I’m trying to see myself lasting with 4-5 pairs over a month and I can tell you it’s not going to happen. I always manage to snag them or get runs, so I’m lucky if they last more than 2-3 wears at best. With my track record, I am not willing to spend a ton on them. I’ve been known to run them while putting them on.

          1. Wow, I guess people are just different in how they wear them! I have worn the same pair of black hose for a few months now, a couple times a week, just washing them by hand. I tend to wear one pair until it runs, that way I don’t have an overflowing drawer. I buy the Nordstrom brand.

29. I go with Lands End. I get one jacket and two skirts because I feel like the jacket stays clean longer than the skirts do. I don’t wear pants because they never fit without tailoring, and I don’t like to go to that much trouble. Shirts and accessories are the easiest way to look like you are not wearing the same suit every day. But don’t kill yourself trying to buy a ton of suits– 5 is probably plenty. I buy a lot off ebay. Please let us know what your actual experience is. Remember, you can order off the internet with overnight shipping if you find you don’t have enough.

    For hose, I would bring enough for each day of the trial. I have never been able to wear a pair of nylons after washing them. They never fit right or they run. And the last thing you will want to do is wash your nylons every night.

    1. So you wear your stockings once and pitch them?

30. Just FYI: I once heard an attorney tell me that after a trial, a juror complained that one of the female attorneys wore a different suit every day. “It’s not a fashion show,” said the juror. It’s something to keep in mind.

    1. I absolutely agree with Nerb’s comment. You never want to alienate a juror by rubbing their nose in the fact that you can afford to have a new designer suit for each day of trial.

       1. I am a jury consultant who has talked to hundreds of actual jurors and surrogate jurors about these types of issues. Here are some basic findings from post-trial interviews and pre-trial jury research: 1) Jurors tend to connect more easily with attorneys who dress nicely and attractively in court. They expect that ALL attorneys can afford nice, well-fitted suits, and they believe that all attorneys should care about how they look in court. This includes hair styles as well as clothing. 2) Accessories are usually the main issue. Fancy cuff links on men, huge diamond rings on women, and bags that scream “expensive, high-end designer” can annoy and distract jurors from their jobs as fact-finders. 3) Jurors never criticize male or female trial attorneys for dressing “too blandly.” However, they do notice when a female attorney is trying to push the envelope in the courtroom. Jurors are very skpetical of attorneys and are sensitive to manipulation. Jurors will assume that a female attorney wearing bright/bold colored suits with short skirts and high heels is trying to manipulate (or in the worst case scenario, “seduce”) the male jurors. This can have a very damaging impact on jurors’ perceptions of her crediblity. 4) It’s always best to help jurors focus in on the theme of your case and your best evidence, rather than the bling of your ring or the tag on your bag.

31. I’m with skirt suits. You might check around with other women in that jurisdiction. Our federal judge (female) believes women attorneys should wear skirts in court and they need to be conservative. You can change the blouses you wear and make it with 5 suits and vairous conserrvative scarves/pin combinations. Jurors notice men’s ties; they’ll notice you. Be sure your shoes are not scuffed and you have an extra pair of hose. I snagged my hose on a sliver on counsel table. When it wasn’t fixed, I brought a small piece of sand paper the next time and filed it smooth. The court security officer had a good laugh when he saw me on the floor early in the morning buffing away. I learned later the clerk told the judge who had no objection to my self help method.

    1. I love that you had sandpaper. I’m assuming you weren’t out of town on that one? If you were, I am in awe of how well-prepared you were! :)

32. All of the other advice is good so far. I personally prefer skirt suits for federal court, as it seems more formal, but that’s just my preference.

    One piece of advice that has NOT been mentioned: check the local rules and standing orders for the district in which the case in being tried! I argued before the 7th Circuit a few months ago, and while they do not have a “dress code” per se, the local rules strongly suggest that only dark colors such as black or navy are appropriate, conservative ties, etc.

33. I mentioned this debate to my fiance last night, who is a prosecutor in a very prominent office & appears in court daily. He was absolutely floored to hear this was even an issue!

    Apparently the majority of women at his office wear pants to court, even on the high-profile, “really important” cases. Same for opposing counsel. In fact, when a woman does wear a skirt suit, the result is to draw more attention to her because she tends to stand out among all the pants & it “looks less serious.” His also said that while he never thought about it before (men really are so lucky!), that it seemed to him that if there was any reason behind the preference for pants suits in his office is that they appear less dainty & therefore tougher and more professional. He also thought that among younger people a pant suit is probably seen as more professional & formal than a skirt suit, and not less. He’s never heard of jurors complaining either way.

    Just something to consider. Maybe, if time allows, it would be a good idea to come to the court in which you’re trying your case & walk around to take a look at what most of the women are wearing. If everyone is wearing pants, a skirt really will stand out, and perhaps should, thus, be avoided.

    1. Interesting and helpful perspective. I have always felt that I looked and felt more powerful in pants. My husband has said that I look more powerful also (without my biasing his view). I see the skirt as “hobbling” me and forcing me to spend time thinking about what body parts are showing, etc. Now that you mention it, I guess I do see a woman who wears a skirt as either dressing to please others (therefore not confident), or more fashion-conscious (not a bad thing normally, but not necessarily what you want to convey in court).

       I might wear skirts some days anyway, just to stretch and mix up the wardrobe in a long trial and because they are more forgiving of weight gain, but I’d always want to wear pants on days when I had something important to do/say.

    2. I agree with your fiance. As a federal prosecutor, I find that many of my female colleagues wear pants as the default, though they may wear a skirt at openings or closings. But when you are in court every day, eschewing pants altogether would be silly, and would certainly stand out to jurors.

       I think there is also a difference between criminal and civil trial lawyers. Civil lawyers are, or are at least perceived, as being really removed from the jury pool, fighting over money. Looking too well-dressed is not going to help that perception. Criminal lawyers do not have that burden (unless you are the defense attorney who manages to take a high-profile wealthy client to trial, which doesn’t happen all that often).

    3. If I were to risk a skirt in a public speaking occasion, it’d be a total flop as I’d spend more than half my brain capacity wondering whether I’m sitting properly and feeling uncomfortable. Skirts as formal wear is so 50s, based on the idea that of course women must look and act like not-men. Totally obsolete in court now :-).

34. Counsel table sliver: I’ve fixed those with an emery board in a pinch! I’ve filled the edges of bigger gashes in the wood with a glob of clear nailpolish.

    What about longer skirts? Super comfortable, modest, you don’t have to sit with your knees together. Even a skirt that hits just a few inches below the knee looks knee-length when sitting down, which is what you do in court most of the time. You can get away with tights — or, if the skirt’s long enough — knee highs. Could be a long slim skirt with a slit in the back (NOT the front or side, or you have to deal with it when sitting), or — my favorite — a long tailored pleated black all-season wool skirt that is fitted waist-to-hip then opens in long wide pleats, mid-calf length. Great for my pear shape (masks the cheek/thigh area). Plus it’s functional. You can run in it, scoot across a cab seat, eat a big lunch, get period bloating, gain a few pounds, wear granny panties, stand up after a long period of sitting and still look nice and neat because the pleats collapse and become a long slim skirt, and wrinkles are disguised. The vertical pleats give a lean and tall impression. This “school teacher” look can go a long way with the jury, too, and it puts a deponents at ease so they’ll talk willingly, and it gives opposing counsel a false sense of security; all because you don’t look like a bitchy woman attorney from central casting. With a longer skirt, you can get away with a much higher heel, which makes you look taller — always good, even for non-petites. Wedges give lots of support, if that’s a concern. Not crazy about flats with a longer skirt; too frumpy. A short skirt with high heels can be pushing the envelope, and it wastes my concentration on my appearance.

    What about winter tights? Not the fuzzy or lacy kind; just plain black smooth tights. They are harder to snag and aren’t shiny/distracting/sexy. Mine have soft waistbands and aren’t binding at all. My DK tights are amazing, and they have lasted forever. They are so strong that I have even sewed the toes (oops, time for a toenail trim), and they just keep going.

    That’s a good reminder: Smooth your toenails down nice and short (and non-snagging) before the trial starts because you might not have time for replacing hose or getting a pedi until it’s over.

    I like lightweight all-season wool. It breathes, keeps its shape, isn’t shiny, doesn’t look too season-y (let’s face it, men’s suits look the same year round; they look hokey in summer seersucker or nubby winter wool). It’s plain and not distracting. Plus way more versatile. Switch your tops to match the season — lightweight turtleneck, blouse, tailored shirt, jewelneck, fine t-shirt. (I don’t like sleeveless tops under a suit because deodorant gets on the jacket and can bleach the lining or sweat gets in the jacket and necessitate more dry cleaning.) You never know if a courtroom will be hot or you’ll be hot from being nervous, so lightweight wool keeps you comfortable. It’s not like you can take off a heavy wool suit jacket (much less skirt/slacks) in court. I can’t wear polyester suits. Too many are shiny or don’t breathe right or chaffe my skin. If anyone has found a good quality non-natural fabric, please advise!

    For a recent interview (successful!) I was having trouble with a gaping dress shirt (peek a boo between the buttons), and a camisole wasn’t going to fix it. Totally solved it by wearing a sports bra. I had a jacket on anyway, so who was going to see my flattened out figure?

35. I’ve been warned about wearing pearls in a trial in some parts of the country. Comes of as pretentious. Also heard of a fancy-pants New York lawyer who came down to po-dunk Florida to try a case and lost–mostly on the first day when she showed up in $400 leather pumps. You can’t even buy those in that county in Florida, and it really put off the jury. Know your audience.

    1. I disagree with those jurors then!

       I mean, I completely understand the importance of dressing one’s best and being neither overdressed or underdressed in professional situations. That said, I can’t for the life of me figure out why a woman wearing pearl earrings would spark the ire of some juror. Nor can I stomach the fact that a professional woman who’s supposed to be on her feet as a trial advocate, lugging stuff to and from the courthouse, etc. can’t (gasp!) purchase a pair of shoes that just might make that entire ordeal slightly more bearable.

       Admittedly, I’m just a law student for now, but I have always planned to follow the advice of an attorney at a fir m where I summered. She told me that the FIRST thing she bought once she started working and got her finances squared away were quality heels at a more expensive price point. I personally think it’s good advice!

       1. For work, that is fine. But wearing fancy shoes or jewelry is offputting to jurors. Trial has a different set of rules than work life does, and if you want to succeed for your client, you play by those rules.

          1. Sorry, but I’m not convinced that any of these ladies should turn a juror off with their pearls –

             http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/200479919-001.jpg%3Fv%3D1%26c%3DIWSAsset%26k%3D2%26d%3D5047FA587DE1CADE4F223953CF39BB59F3AE8F2C38B4B0EB074350C7F93E6574B5AF9B7D601FECA8&imgrefurl=http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/200479919-001/The-Image-Bank&usg=__9fjfaaOObe91lzrtstlkgX1e3aQ=&h=477&w=358&sz=26&hl=en&start=102&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=OpXMpMo_LcMQ3M:&tbnh=129&tbnw=97&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbusiness%2Bsuit%2Band%2Bpearls%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26start%3D100%26um%3D1

             http://thumb15.shutterstock.com.edgesuite.net/display_pic_with_logo/5676/5676,1220731369,4/stock-photo-sexy-young-adult-african-businesswoman-in-a-business-suit-on-a-white-background-not-isolated-17036110.jpg

             I’m also not seeing a problem with a good pair of Cole Haan Nike Airs or something even pricier on an attorney who must be on her feet. I think those jurors just need to get over it!

             1. I agree (I LOVE pearls and good shoes), but I’d save the fashion education for AFTER the jurors side with my client. The principle of the matter isn’t worth the trial.

             2. And I guess probably the shoe advice should be clarified. I don’t think it was a pair of demure, sensible Cole Haan Nikes that got that woman in trouble. It was flashy animal-skin very-obviously-just-appeared-on-some-celebrity shoes that turned off the jury. You can look quality without looking expensive. Just keep in mind that expensive is a pretty relative term, and in some places what you think is “nice” or “fun” comes off as “obscenely extravagant.”

36. Having done this repeatedly, I would say the first consideration is where in the country the trial is. If it is in the deep south, I would not wear pants. I would also do some research into the preferences of a trial judge. They can be sticky on this issue and give you trouble if they think you are offending their “standards.”

    That said, I keep a couple of different black suits on hand, maybe one with a slight texture to the fabric. I have a dark blue pinstripe and a dark gray. I also keep one very pretty, lighter colored suit in the mix — currently it’s a Lafayette suit in a medium blue.

    Although I might break out a button down for voir dire, opening and closing, i keep a stock of softly colored or white cotton or silk knit underpinings on hand.

    And, as long as we’re on underwear, I find that bralleilujah (sp?) bras are surprisingly comfortable and don’t show through.

    The most important thing is for the jury to never notice what you wear. You want them focused on what you say and do. So, no over the top hair, make up, jewelry, etc.

37. I spent a month in New Orleans at a bench trial last summer and two months in S. Florida this past summer for a jury trial. For both, I brought five suits and rotated the shirts underneath. I wore pants, not skirts, which didn’t bother the judge or jury. The type of suit depends on the time of year – you don’t want to me wearing heavy wool in the summer.

    I was told to avoid black in front of the jury – but browns and navys were acceptable and preferred as they are more comforting.

    Good shoes, no matter the price, are needed. I didn’t follow that advice in NOLA and my feet were in pretty sad shape when I came home. My local counsel wore a pair of Cole Haan (Nike Air) every day (different colors) in Florida – they aren’t showy or anything, but ridiculously comfortable.

38. I am in shock at the number of people who are saying skirts are more comfortable — are you wearing them without hose? Because that’s impossible in court, and for me at least, there is no way in h*ll that hose will ever more comfortable than trousers that fit properly.

39. (Also , not trying to be obnoxious here, and there’s no way I’m dropping that kind of money on shoes, so I don’t own any — but they’re Louboutins.)

40. Am I the only one who can’t tell real from fake pearls, and $12 payless leather pumps from $400 leather pumps at a distance? I’m convinced that people who say they can are making it up.

    1. You’re not the only one, but you’re sadly mistaken if you think everyone lacks that ability. Granted, I have an unfair advantage from being born in the rag trade, but I can also analyze the fiber content of your suit, and fit of your underwear, from across the street. If you’re observant enough and have some practice in seeing good quality, there’s no reason you couldn’t recognize it. And do consider that most men, because they’re so limited in larger options, get very good at sniffing out good leather, wool and such.

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