By Zarena L. Nieves Figueroa, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
Law school comes with a whole new set of challenges ranging from understanding cases that precede your own age to what should I wear? Although women typically have more fashion options, this is one of the few instances where men have less trouble picking the right outfit. A tailored suit will do!1 For women, it’s not always that simple. Not only must it follow the courtroom or business dress code, but it must also be appropriate, suggesting that professionalism and modesty must be perfectly balanced. However, it’s not over yet because – and arguably most importantly – whatever you wear must always be your style and make you feel like the best version of yourself. So, if a tailored suit is the Infallible Fashion Formula for men, what is the equivalent for women in law?
What we wear can “systematically influence” our “psychological processes.”2 Think about how you feel when you have spent the entire day at home in just your pajamas vs when you get ready to go out for a special occasion. To this we must also add the legal and societal requirements for what we wear. For example, in many places it is legally required to cover certain areas of the body for “sanitary and safety” concerns.3 As a society though, we are less concerned with practicability and more with the ability to read “nonverbal cues.”4 Therefore we have at least three competing forces – ourselves, the law, and society – influencing our choices on clothing.
A suit is the infallible fashion formula for male lawyers because it perfectly balances these competing forces. 5 However, this isn’t the case for a female lawyer which may have to deal with the societal expectation of having to wear a skirt, a psychological preference to cover her legs, and a legal requirement to dress in a professional manner.6 So, what does our formula look like?
It depends! There isn’t one formula fits all and even a person’s infallible formula today may not be so tomorrow. Meaning that what works for you today may not be tomorrow because of changes in your personality or even switching practice areas. However, there are certain suggestions that are close to the infallibility of the suit for men. For example, in the corporate law realm, “tailored”, “classic colors like navy … or black” “skirts or pantsuits” and “conservative, yet colorful … blouses” are the way to go.7
A similar approach may be used in the world of criminal law. However, here it is suggested to abide by a more neutral palette and minimalist styling.8
In areas like family law where being “approachable” is crucial, a more “relaxed” look can be favored.9 This includes occasionally swapping the “suits” and classic colors for elegant “sweaters” and “softer hues.”10 The goal here is to look “polished” yet “accessible.”11
Finally, in a more creative setting like intellectual property, it can be expected to incorporate trendy and “modern” elements to the usual “business formal attire.”12 This includes bolder colors, atypical cuts, and “maxi skirts.”13 Here you want to consider leaning into the “Power Casual Style”, which is the perfect balance of structure and comfort.14
Ultimately, consider the balance of your own style, legal and society expectations because these are the major influences on our clothing choices. For further guidance, look at your specific field and target audience. Is it the court or a client? When in doubt, err on the side of caution and opt for the more conservative choice. From there, you can see what the expectations are in that particular office or field while always keeping in mind that the priority is your client. Although these considerations may appear to perpetuate gender biases, that does not have to be the case. Rather, we can use these influences to create an individualized and personalized formula that we can adapt to fit our needs and give us the confidence to thrive as young lawyers.
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1https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?men_tab=srchresults&handle=hein.journals/wrlsi25&id=144&size=2&collection=journals&terms=suit&termtype=phrase&set_as_cursor=
2 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103112000200
4 Id.
5https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?men_tab=srchresults&handle=hein.journals/wrlsi25&id=144&size=2&collection=journals&terms=suit&termtype=phrase&set_as_cursor=
6 https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Committees/Rules21/DressCodeLegalProfession.pdf
7 https://nextlevelwardrobe.com/power-outfits-for-female-lawyers/
8 Id.
9 Id.
10 Id.
11 Id.
12 Id.
13 Id.
14 Id.