We have had a tag for some time rounding up articles and roundups of curiosity to ladies attorneys searching for steering on courtroom apparel… however we thought we might spherical all of it up into one publish. Readers, I might love to listen to your ideas — what are your greatest recommendations on courtroom apparel for ladies attorneys?
Pssst: take a look at our roundup of Wardrobe Necessities 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 Typically
On the whole, your courtroom apparel ought to have a darkish, impartial base product of suiting materials. You must put on one thing beneath your blazer that allows you to take your blazer off — not a lacy camisole or sheer tank high, in different phrases. Your garments ought to be snug sufficient to maneuver and sit in, i.e., not pores and skin tight. Your sneakers might be heels or flats, however above all else they need to be one thing you’ll be able to stroll in comfortably, they usually should not squeak or in any other case make numerous noise.
We, in fact, have a regularly-updated roundup of the greatest interview fits for ladies in all budgets, and we have rounded up the greatest petite fits, the greatest plus-size fits, and the most accurately fits for tall ladies. We have additionally given recommendations on suiting alterations for ladies, and provided recommendation on dry cleansing ladies’s fits.
We have talked rather a lot about courtroom apparel for feminine attorneys up to now, together with whether or not you’ll be able to put on “interesting” fits to court docket, what to put on for a month in court docket (or a protracted trial normally!), the way to keep polished when coping with metallic detectors, and (some time in the past now!) whether or not you’ll be able to put on flats to court docket. We have even talked about some finer factors of girls’s skilled apparel normally, resembling whether or not it is best to unbutton your blazer to take a seat, the very best coats to put on over a go well with, and whether or not your shirt collar ought to go in or out of your blazer.
(Exterior of the courtroom, do take a look at our publish on C-suite fashion for ladies if you happen to’re focused on energy dressing — we additionally function a Swimsuit of the Week that tends to be a extra enjoyable or attention-grabbing ladies’s go well with.)
For those who’re an American choose, or a lawyer practising in a jursidiction the place robes are widespread courtroom apparel, we have executed an entire roundup on the place to buy judicial apparel (together with jabots), impressed by recommendation from readers within the feedback part.
Why Does It Matter What Attorneys Put on to Courtroom?
I’ll say that sure, it issues what all attorneys put on to court docket — males, ladies, everyone! With males’s clothes, nonetheless, 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, does 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 court docket, a la My Cousin Vinny.)
The actual fact of the matter is that you’re representing a consumer in court docket — not your self — and so private fashion ought to take a backseat. All attorneys showing earlier than a court docket ought to look skilled, respectful of the court docket and choose, and it is best to attempt for different traits that will behoove your consumer, resembling wanting trustworthy.
The circumstances across the courtroom look matter, as nicely, a minimum of for my part — I keep in mind years in the past The Wall Road Journal profiled a younger public defender who talked about her love for top style within the courtroom… that has at all times rubbed me the unsuitable manner. (As we might say nowadays: essential character power.)
Does It Matter What You Put on to Courtroom If It is a Bench Trial or Appellate Trial?
Sure, it does — even when you realize the choose nicely, you do not know each member of the choose’s workers nicely. Many courtrooms have their very own costume codes, although.
Does It Matter What You Put on to Courtroom If You are a Junior Member of the Trial Workforce?
What you put on to court docket particularly issues if you happen to’re the lead lawyer, giving opening or closing arguments — and even if you happen to’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 if you happen to’re a junior member of the trial workforce, 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 court docket, you’ll discover — and spot what desk he was seated at — even when he wasn’t the main focus 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 ladies. Judges could have their very own code of conduct, together with costume code, of their courtroom.
Do Girls Attorneys At all times Need to Put on a Swimsuit 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 Swimsuit of the Week, a go well with can typically be the best factor to placed on. That mentioned… no, you do not at all times must put on a go well with to look in court docket.
Two non-suit seems that may work for court docket:
- the “column of color” — i.e., black pants, a black shirt, and a extra colourful blazer on high of the column of shade
- a costume, topped with a blazer (in reality, many commenters right here be aware that they put on a nonmatching costume and blazer on a regular basis to court docket)
After all, there are exceptions — for instance, judges and juries will hopefully be extra accepting of a pregnant mom’s apparel. We have executed a roundup of the greatest maternity fits for attorneys, however pickings are very slim.
One other adage we cite typically 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 a really controversial query! Pantsuits are way 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 completely different you probably have an older choose, are practising within the South, or different causes.
The Greatest Hair and Make-up for Courtroom Apparel
These two issues aren’t terribly difficult, both: you do not 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. You must put on it in a manner that you’ll not be fidgeting or enjoying with it throughout your time in court docket. For some individuals this will likely imply that you just need not fear about styling in any respect! But when you realize your self to be a fidgeter, check out our roundup of simple workplace updos or recommendations on styling lengthy hair for interviews.
Ditto in your make-up — you do not need it to be a distraction. You must attempt to look awake and alive — it does not must 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 completely different.
Is Pantyhose Required for Courtroom Appearances?
This varies broadly by court docket, choose, jurisdiction, and locality. I’d err on the aspect of “YES” till you realize otherwise, however that is me.
Do Girls Attorneys Need to Put on a Swimsuit for Distant or Digital Courtroom Appearances?
This reply additionally varies broadly. For essentially the most half, I believe a darkish blazer and impartial high ought to be effective. — 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 reasonably priced aspect, and Idea (Good Wool), Brooks Brothers, M.M.LaFleur and Argent on the dearer aspect. (Talbots used to hold it additionally, so maintain an eye fixed out at resale websites!) See our roundup of the greatest ladies’s fits of 2025 right here!
Inventory photograph through Deposit Images / HayDmitriy.
New right here? A few of our essential style articles that is perhaps of curiosity embrace our Final Information to Enterprise Informal, Wardrobe Necessities for Work, and The Corporette Information to Snug Heels — all always up to date! For those who’re simply beginning out or on a price range, take a look at our Reasonably priced Workplace Garments roundup — and if you happen to’re plus-sized, take a look at our Plus-Dimension Picks for Work.
