What attorneys should wear depends largely on their area of concentration. Because attire is so crucial and there is so much information to present, this article will be published in two parts. This article deals with attire for male attorneys.
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Editor's Notes |
Janine Giorgenti is an internationally known fashion designer and corporate image consultant. She is cofounder of Giorgenti Executive Clothing Designers located in Melville New York. |
I will describe the most appropriate and effective modes of attire for certain areas of concentration and give you some practical tips. Each area of law poses different dressing challenges. Not only do clients come from various demographic and socio-economic backgrounds, but the settings in which you, the attorney, represent your clients vary.
As far as dress is concerned, the dynamics of representing a corporate client differ totally from representing a client in entertainment law.
Seeing is believing, and how you personally package or attire yourself will have a direct impact on your client's perception of you. There are many variables to choose from in clothing. How can you be sure you are making the right choices for your area of concentration and effectiveness? First, you have to understand the psychological implications of clothing and the subliminal messages clothing transmits.
What is appropriate attire for your area of concentration?
Visually based assumptions impact clients, juries, judges, partners, associates, and our colleagues' perceptions of us.
If you are in a conservative field and want to be taken seriously, dress conservatively. Areas of concentration such as corporate law, taxation, finance, business, insurance, government, labor, etc. ate examples of conservative fields.
The darker the color, the more authority the attire conveys. A gray pinstripe suit communicates the highest authority. Wear this suit forcourt presentations, board meetings and with clients for serious business. The next best choice is a navy pin stripe suit, which is also authoritative. Solid navy is interesting because it won't offend anyone when it is worn.
When choosing the correct shade of navy or gray, be careful because there are many variations, e.g., darker, lighter, muted, bold, cool or warm undertones, etc. Your eye color, hair color and skin tone determine which is best for you. I recommend that you make a worthwhile investment and have your "colors" and body shape analyzed by a certified image consultant.
Glen plaids can be flattering or disastrous, depending on your height, weight and proportions.
Medium to light blues, grays, olives, taupe, tans, etc. do not convey the same authority as darker colors. Light colors tend to make some body types appear heavier.
The shirt is a major focal point. It is the "stage" while the suit is the background. It must be not only well-pressed, but fit impeccably, in the area of the collar and cuffs. There is no excuse for not buttoning the top collar or wearing ill-fitting shirts; ditch them! I firmly believe that an attorney should wear a high quality shirt, preferably custom fitted. The collar style you choose is important. Your face shape may be oblong, square, round, diamond, etc., and since many men, at some point, will experience hair loss, the collar is the most important element in giving balance to your face. The most appropriate collars to choose from, for a professional appearance, are standard points that will take you from day into evening. A tab collar, for the right shaped face, is a wonderful choice because it looks so finished and proper.
What you will be remembered most by, out of everything you wear, will be your tie. Do not buy cheap ties and ditch all those that reek of "birthday gift" unless they are in extremely good taste. Stick to high quality wool-lined silks that hold their shape and won't twist. Always make sure the tie is the proper width in proportion to your chest and that the length extends an inch below your belt line.
Basically, the cut of the suit and the style that you should select depends on your height, weight and body shape. However, certain styles also transmit subliminal messages.
Single breasted suits with pocket flaps, a single back vent, a medium to natural shoulder line, and a two to three button front closure are the most conservative. When you add width to the shoulder line, eliminate the back vent, or remove the pocket flaps, the suit becomes contemporary or "fashion."
Double breasted suits are elegant and stylish. Beware, however, that it represents an assumed "cockiness." To make it appear more conservative, wear a six button, two to button, model, instead of a six button, one to button model.
Although dressing low-keyed and conservative is always appropriate, there are certain areas of practice concentration for which stylish dressing may be acceptable. How much stylishness is acceptable will vary according to an attorney's age, personality, clientele and law firm policy.If you think about it, first impressions are made in less than seven crucial seconds. Ninety percent of what we see of each other is clothing.
