We have had a tag for some time rounding up articles and roundups of curiosity to girls attorneys searching for steerage on courtroom apparel… however we thought we would spherical all of it up into one publish. Readers, I might love to listen to your ideas — what are your greatest tips about courtroom apparel for girls attorneys?
Pssst: try our roundup of Wardrobe Essentials for Work — our favorites in each class like blouses, trousers, loafers, and extra.
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What Girls Attorneys Ought to Put on to Courtroom Usually
Typically, your courtroom apparel ought to have a darkish, impartial base manufactured from suiting materials. It’s best to wear something beneath your blazer that allows you to take your blazer off — not a lacy camisole or sheer tank prime, in different phrases. Your garments needs to be comfy sufficient to maneuver and sit in, i.e., not pores and skin tight. Your shoes will be heels or flats, however above all else they need to be one thing you’ll be able to stroll in comfortably, and so they should not squeak or in any other case make numerous noise.
We, after all, have a regularly-updated roundup of the best interview suits for women in all budgets, and we have rounded up the best petite suits, the best plus-size suits, and the best suits for tall women. We have additionally given tips about suiting alterations for women, and supplied recommendation on dry cleaning women’s suits.
We have talked so much about courtroom apparel for feminine attorneys prior to now, together with whether you can wear “interesting” suits to court, what to wear for a month in court (or an extended trial basically!), how to stay polished when dealing with metal detectors, and (some time in the past now!) whether you can wear flats to court. We have even talked about some finer factors of ladies’s skilled apparel basically, similar to whether you should unbutton your blazer to sit, the best coats to wear over a suit, and whether your shirt collar should go in or out of your blazer.
(Outdoors of the courtroom, do try our publish on C-suite style for women in the event you’re interested by energy dressing — we additionally characteristic a Suit of the Week that tends to be a extra enjoyable or attention-grabbing girls’s go well with.)
If you happen to’re an American choose, or a lawyer working towards in a jursidiction the place robes are frequent courtroom apparel, we have performed an entire roundup on where to shop for judicial attire (together with jabots), impressed by recommendation from readers within the feedback part.
Why Does It Matter What Attorneys Put on to Courtroom?
I will say that sure, it issues what all attorneys put on to courtroom — males, girls, everyone! With males’s clothes, nevertheless, the margin for error is fairly small — you put on a go well with. Interval. Whether or not it is a good go well with or a foul go well with, for essentially the most half, would not matter, as long as it seems like a enterprise go well with. (However do attempt to keep away from sporting a pink velvet magician’s tuxedo go well with to courtroom, a la My Cousin Vinny.)
The very fact of the matter is that you’re representing a consumer in courtroom — not your self — and so private type ought to take a backseat. All attorneys showing earlier than a courtroom ought to look skilled, respectful of the courtroom and choose, and it is best to try to convey different traits that may behoove your consumer, similar to honesty and trustworthiness.
The circumstances across the courtroom look matter, as nicely, a minimum of in my view — I keep in mind years in the past The Wall Avenue Journal profiled a younger public defender who talked about her love for prime style within the courtroom… that has at all times rubbed me the fallacious method. (As we would say lately: predominant character vitality.)
Does It Matter What You Put on to Courtroom If It is a Bench Trial or Appellate Trial?
Sure, it does — even when you understand the choose nicely, you do not know each member of the choose’s workers nicely. Many courtrooms have their very own gown codes, although.
Does It Matter What You Put on to Courtroom If You are a Junior Member of the Trial Crew?
What you put on to courtroom particularly issues in the event you’re the lead lawyer, giving opening or closing arguments — and even in the event you’re a junior lawyer questioning a single witness. I might assume opening and shutting arguments matter most, although, as a result of they’re normally the primary and final arguments the factfinder will hear.
That mentioned, I additionally assume it issues in the event you’re a junior member of the trial group, whether or not it is a junior lawyer, paralegal, or different assistant. Once more: you all symbolize a consumer. If a male lawyer selected to put on flip flops and board shorts to courtroom, you’d discover — and see what desk he was seated at — even when he wasn’t the main target of actions for the day. My guess is, you’d even discover if he wore khakis and a button-front.
Why Are There Particular Guidelines for Courtroom Apparel for Girls Attorneys?
Like I discussed above, it is not that there are particular guidelines per se — it is simply that the margin of error is way, a lot wider for girls. Judges might have their very own code of conduct, together with gown code, of their courtroom.
Do Girls Attorneys All the time Must Put on a Go well with to Seem in Courtroom?
This relies closely on the choose, in addition to your consumer. As we at all times be aware in our featured Suit of the Week, a go well with can usually be the best factor to placed on. That mentioned… no, you do not at all times need to put on a go well with to look in courtroom.
Two non-suit seems that may work for courtroom:
- the “column of colour” — i.e., black pants, a black shirt, and a extra colourful blazer on prime of the column of colour
- a dress, topped with a blazer (in actual fact, many commenters right here be aware that they put on a nonmatching gown and blazer on a regular basis to courtroom)
In fact, there are exceptions — for instance, judges and juries will hopefully be more accepting of a pregnant mother’s attire. We have performed a roundup of the best maternity suits for lawyers, however pickings are very slim.
One other adage we cite usually right here: know your workplace. On this case, know your courtroom. If there’s any query in your thoughts, put on the best possibility: a go well with.
Can Girls Attorneys Put on Pantsuits to Courtroom?
This was once a really controversial query! Pantsuits are rather more acceptable now, however my reply stays the identical: it relies upon closely in your choose, courtroom, jurisdiction, consumer, and so forth. The reply could also be totally different you probably have an older choose, are working towards within the South, or different causes.
The Finest Hair and Make-up for Courtroom Apparel
These two issues aren’t terribly difficult, both: you don’t need your hair and make-up to be a distraction out of your arguments.
To that finish: your hair ought to, ideally, be neat and clear. It’s best to put on it in a method that you’ll not be fidgeting or enjoying with it throughout your time in courtroom. For some folks this may occasionally imply that you simply need not fear about styling in any respect! But when you understand your self to be a fidgeter, check out our roundup of easy office updos or tips about styling long hair for interviews.
Ditto on your make-up — you don’t need it to be a distraction. It’s best to try to look awake and alive — it would not need to be greater than that. For me this implies a little bit of undereye concealer, blush, and a little bit of lip tint — for you that will look totally different.
Is Pantyhose Required for Courtroom Appearances?
This varies extensively by courtroom, choose, jurisdiction, and locality. I’d err on the aspect of “YES” till you understand in another way, however that is me. (We now have an entire guide to pantyhose; this affordable pair is our newest favourite.)
Do Girls Attorneys Must Put on a Go well with for Distant or Digital Courtroom Appearances?
This reply additionally varies extensively. For essentially the most half, I feel a darkish blazer and impartial prime needs to be superb. — however know your scenario.
Some Of Our Newest Favourite Fits for Girls
Nice High quality Fits for Girls
Much less Costly however Polished Girls’s Fits
Seasonless Suiting for Girls
As of 2025, a few of our favourite seasonless suiting consists of Ann Taylor and J.Crew on the inexpensive aspect, and Theory (Good Wool), Brooks Brothers, M.M.LaFleur and Argent on the dearer aspect. (Talbots used to hold it additionally, so preserve an eye fixed out at resale websites!) See our roundup of the best women’s suits of 2025 right here!
Inventory photograph through Deposit Pictures / HayDmitriy.
New right here? A few of our predominant style articles that is likely to be of curiosity embrace our Ultimate Guide to Business Casual, Wardrobe Essentials for Work, and The Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels — all continually up to date! If you happen to’re simply beginning out or on a funds, try our Affordable Office Clothes roundup — and in the event you’re plus-sized, try our Plus-Size Picks for Work.
