Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette!
In today's video we discuss what to wear as a lawyer, attorney or a solicitor so you look
dignified, professional and respectable.
As you know, first impressions count.
According to a 2000 article of the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, the outward
appearance and what you wear is a top factor and how you're perceived by others.
Among others is a firm handshake and a good posture.
As an attorney you always want to look understated, professional and dignified.
You don't want to be perceived as flashy, dandy-like or fashionable.
After all you want to be respected as a man of the law and not that guy who's just known
for his colorful outfits.
At the same time, you don't want to be like a cartoon character who wears the exact same
thing every day.
So what should you wear?
This is what we discuss in this video.
We talk about what to wear at the office, when you meet clients and in court.
If you want to learn how to dress for a job interview as a lawyer, please check out this
video series here.
Of course, if you work in environmental law or if you have a lot of musicians or artists
as your clients your dress code will be more relaxed.
This video covers what's appropriate for 95% of lawyers out there.
Let's start with a hallmark of a lawyer's wardrobe which is the suit.
I'm wearing one right here right now single breasted, go with a notched lapel, ideally you have
some cuffs at the bottom or you can go without a cuff maybe you want pleats maybe you just
want an iron crease.
Overall, a two-piece suit is a good way to start.
You want to be a little more formal you can add a three-piece suit using a vest out of
a matching fabric.
If you're just starting out I suggest you stick with single breasted suits because they're
the standard.
Double breasted suits are very traditional.
They're very classic and they're a tad more formal than single breasted suits.
They also work really well for people who have a V shape.
However, some people may interpret them as being too overpowering and to Wall street-like
so be careful when you invest in those.
I think double-breasted works well with a softer fabric such as a gray flannel as you
can see here.
When you’re just starting out it pays to invest in a second pair of pants or trousers
because you wear them out much more quickly and that way your entire suit will last you
longer and cost less than if you have to buy two full suits.
When it comes to patterns, solid colors and a plain weave are your friend.
For a year-round suit, a worsted wool is great.
If you want a winter suit, a flannel is ideal and if you're in a hotter climate may be opt
for a fresco wool.
It's great because it's breathable and you can learn more about that fabric in this guide
here.
By the way, all the references we make in this video are linked below the video.
Apart from solids, a subtle stripe can also be acceptable.
What I mean by subtle is maybe a pinstripe in a very plain color such as white, off-white,
maybe dark blue or grey.
Stay away from bold yellow, green, or pink stripes.
You want the spacing not to be too wide and bold.
The stripe itself should be subtle.
So a fine pinpoint is okay maybe a subdued rope stripe is acceptable too but a wide chalk
stripe is simply unacceptable.
Alternatively, you can also go with a Prince of Wales check.
I suggest to go without an over plaid.
It's a very classic pattern and it's appropriate as a lawyer if it's very fine.
Ideally you want to stick to a 100% natural fibers because artificial fibers make you
sweat and uncomfortable during a day.
A 100% wool or maybe some additions of cashmere to make it softer are what you want.
Keep in mind, heavier fabrics will always drape better and look better on you than thinner
lightweight fabrics.
So if you work most in an air-conditioned environment go with something heavier and
you would always look more elegant.
Of course the fit is the most important thing in a suit and to learn more about what you
should look for and the proper fit please check out this video series.
In terms of suit colors you want to keep it professional so navy, blue and charcoal are
your friends.
Black is usually something worn at evening events or for funerals not at an office.
If you want to learn why black is the most overrated color in menswear, please check out
this video here.
Some will even argue navy or blue are better than grey because it connotates truth.
In my opinion both colors work very well.
I like a gray flannel suit which you can see here on the right and I like blue worsted
suits.
Of course you can mix it up and have blue flannels and gray worsteds but I think this
combination is very classic and very professional.
Apart from black ideally you should stay away from brown because it's too casual of a color
unless you may go with a very dark charcoal brown and you can learn more about that here.
Green is something I would always avoid just like any other bright colors when it comes
to suits.
The reason being you always want to look professional and bright colors have a tendency to make
you look like a joke and people won't take you seriously.
Apart from that they're also a distraction and not really serving your client.
Nothing says I’m a pimp or a drug kingpin like a white suit so never ever wear that
in whatever situation.
The only exception to bright colors is seersuckers.
In many courtrooms across the country especially in the south, seersucker is an acceptable
material so if you do that go with a classic blue and white and try to tone down the rest
of your accessories.
To learn more about seersucker and seersucker suits please check out the in-depth guide
on our website here.
Make sure you always wear a dress shirt and not any kinds of polo shirts.
You want a long-sleeve dress shirt never short sleeved ones.
Ideally you have barrel cuffs with buttons or French cuffs or double cuffs for cufflinks.
In terms of colors, white and light blue are your staples.
You can play around with the textures, have subtle stripes, waffle weaves, twill, plain
weaves or whatever you want maybe even some contrasting stripes but make sure they're
not too bright and everything looks subtle and professional.
Also avoid extremes, that means no extreme cutaway collars, no 70’s collars.
If your face is round, ideally go with a more closed collar.
If you have an oval face, go with a slightly more spread collar.
As an attorney you want to wear neckwear.
Traditionally it's a necktie.
I would stay clear of bowties because they're a little too flashy.
Of course you should choose the right tie.
So forget all the 90s ties and the hand-me-downs from your uncles because they look very dated
and not professional.
You always want silk ties either printed or jacquard woven and stay clear of textured
materials which are great for a casual wardrobe but not for a lawyer's professional wardrobe.
In terms of colors, tones of red, burgundy, navy and blue are best.
Alternatively you can go with other subdued colors such as maybe a bottle green or a very
dark orange or yellow.
If you want to maybe even a very dark purple.
In any case you want them subtle and not bright.
Stay clear of shiny satin ties because they make you look cheap.
Instead the best solid tie for a lawyer is a grenadine tie.
It adds texture to your outfit without being too bold or overly different.
You also want a tie that is exactly right for your length because ideally it should
end just above the waistband.
Unfortunately it's very hard to find ties in different lengths and for that reason we
designed a short, a regular and a long tie so no matter your height we offer grenadine
ties in all kinds of colors appropriate for lawyers in the exact right length for you.
So please take a look at the selection here.
If you want to go with a stripe, I suggest a classic repp stripe in subdued colors works.
If you want a dot go with a polka dot or a pin dot make sure it's not too large but all
proportional and attractive.
Alternatively you can wear subtle patterns such as a Glen check which I'm wearing here
right now or Macclesfield neats which are small micro patterns that are recurring.
Stay clear of bold colors, bold patterns and any kind of cashmere or wool texture or maybe
even shantung or dupioni silk because they're not really appropriate for a lawyer.
Also nothing says I'm an investment banker as much as an Hermes tie with little animal
critters on them in pink and bold yellow or turquoise.
Stay clear of those ties.
You're a respectable lawyer.
Another tie that is very underrated for lawyers is the silver and black tie.
It's a very formal tie at the same time it works well with navy, blue, charcoal and mid
grays.
It works well with all kinds of hair colors and it's just a wonderful tie for any kind
of formal occupation such as an attorney.
For a large selection and all kinds of lawyer appropriate ties in three different sizes
please check out our shop here.
No attorneys outfit is complete without proper over the calf socks.
A lot of lawyers out there wear short socks that expose their calf.
Not only is it unprofessional but nobody wants to see your exposed leg hair.
The golden rule is to pair the color of the socks with a pair of your pants and your suit.
The problem is it's very difficult to match because there are hundreds of shades of navy.
To avoid this issue you should go with a pair of two-tone socks that has either two-tones
of gray or two-tones of blue and that way it works with any kind of suit color and it
always looks stylish yet subdued and understated.
My two pairs of go-to socks for lawyers would be the navy and blue shadow stripe as well
as the charcoal and light grey shadow stripe.
You can find both of them here.
If you want to go a little bolder you can either have the navy and yellow shadow stripe
or maybe the navy and red.
If you want something solid but you want to be different I suggest to go with a socks
with clocks.
They have a solid background in mid gray, charcoal and navy, but the fine clocks make
them look different, make them look professional, and you stand out from the crowd in a very
very subtle way and only if you sit down.
If you want to learn more about how to combine shoes with socks and your suit, please check
out this guide here.
With accessories, the same rule applies as with all other things in a lawyer's outfit.
Keep it simple.
If you wear a French cuff or double cuff shirt go with simple cufflinks in gold or silver.
Stay clear of precious stones, maybe semi precious stones in multiple colors as well
as enamel.
It's simply over the top.
I'm wearing a pair of silver monkey fists knot cufflinks which are very appropriate
for a lawyer's outfit.
You can also wear them in gold, maybe rose gold depending on what other accessories you
usually have.
Apart from cufflinks, a wedding band is acceptable and maybe a signet ring or a pinkie ring if
you wear it or if you're at an interview or you're just starting out it may be wise not
to wear that and just keep it plain and simple.
So if you're a partner, you can think about wearing tie bars or maybe collar pins.
If you're just an associate starting out I would suggest not to wear those because it
could be interpreted the wrong way.
Should you were belt or suspenders, a belt is probably your classic choice and it's okay.
Make sure it matches the color of your shoes and ideally you want the metal parts to be
tone and tone with your briefcase and maybe your cufflinks.
Also maybe your monk strap buckle if you decide to wear that.
Personally I really like to wear suspenders a lot because they keep my pants at the same
height all day long.
Now if you take your jacket off a lot and you show your suspenders in some law firms
that may be a symbol of hierarchy so figure out if it's okay for you to wear suspenders
or not.
When in doubt stick with a belt because it could be interpreted the wrong way and be
held against you.
For the winter, I suggest you invest in a dark overcoat either single breasted or double
breasted.
Double breasted helps because it keeps you warmer.
Also invest in a solid cashmere scarf maybe in a shade of blue or go with a subtle pattern
such as a herringbone.
The ideal pair of gloves for a lawyer is not black but gray because it provides a contrast.
It pairs with everything that you have in your wardrobe.
At the same time, it's not as boring as black.
It's always professional and understated.
For a selection of nice cashmere scarves and grey gloves please check out our shop here.
When it comes to shoes I think most lawyers underestimate their impact.
When it comes to suits, you can have a $5,000 bespoke suit but if you wear it with cheap
shoes it ruins the entire look.
Apart from oxfords and derbies you may also want to investigate a monk strap shoe or maybe
a double monk strap shoe.
Word is also on the street that especially older lawyers will always judge you by the
look and the quality of your shoes.
So I suggest you buy the best pair you can afford.
You take care of them, rotate them, and put them on shoe trees.
They should wear you for decades to come and the cost per wear will be extremely low.
You definitely want a pair of Goodyear welted shoes and to understand the difference what
that is please check out this guide and for an in-depth comparison of $100 versus $500
dress shoes please check out this video here.
Now I'm not saying you have to invest $500 in your dress shoes.
You can find Goodyear welted ones starting at $200.
But in general the more you pay the better the leather, the more comfortable and the
better the last so you're comfortable all day.
The first pair of shoes you should invest in is a black cap toe oxford shoe.
If you have very big feet and it's uncomfortable you can think about going with a black derby
but it's a classic wardrobe staple that you will be able to wear in court, at the office
and when your meeting clients.
On top of that you may want to go with a brown shoe maybe a very dark chocolate brown or
maybe something like a chestnut brown.
If you go that route you can go with a little bit of brouging maybe across the cap.
Avoid full brogues and only stick with half or semi brogues at the most.
Anything else would be too informal.
To understand the differences between an oxford shoe, a derby, and a blucher, please check out
this video here.
Another underrated shoe color for men is deep burgundy or oxblood red.
It's something that pairs with everything in your wardrobe and it's very classic but
you can also wear it maybe with a blazer or a sport coat combination on casual Fridays.
If you can just invest in two shoes I would go with a black and a burgundy.
If you can do three - black, burgundy and dark brown.
For a fourth and fifth pair I would maybe go with another black pair.
One as a plain cap toe oxford, one with slight broguing maybe on a cap toe because then you
create different outfits and you can rotate your shoes and that way they last you even
longer.
Always avoid square toed shoes because they make you look cheap.
In the same vein, stay clear of snakeskin or alligator shoes because they make you look
too flashy.
For the same reason stay clear of any other colors like blue or green.
It's just over the top.
Definitely avoid slip-on shoes or loafer.
They're great for casual environments but not at a law office.
Stay clear of shoe brands like Steve Madden, Kenneth Cole, Banana Republic or Johnston
& Murphy.
If you really want to know what I think about all kinds of different shoe brands please
check out these live sessions where I discuss just that.
Now that you know what to wear also think about your hair.
First of all make sure you get a haircut regularly or maybe a trim in-between because that way
you always look very presentable and professional.
To shave or not to shave?
That's a big question.
Traditionally most lawyers would always go clean-shaven for a professional look.
I think these days you can find a lot of lawyers with a beard so if you decide to go that route
make sure you have a clean well groomed beard and own it and wear it with confidence.
No matter if you go with a beard or clean-shaven wear it with confidence and it will make you
look very professional like a proper lawyer.
So what to wear on casual Fridays?
Most law firms in the US have implemented that dress code and to get a basic understanding
of what that means for men please check out this video here.
Now I just provide general guidelines there and ideally you want to maybe talk to your
secretary and ask her what's appropriate or simply look around you.
What are the other people wearing and especially what is your supervisor wearing?
Because that will give you a good indicator what's expected from you.
Keep in mind it's always better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.
For example, if denim is acceptable in your office make sure to go with a dark wash no
holes and should all look decent.
If you're not quite sure or you want to go slightly more dressy go with a pair of chinos
or khakis and to learn more about the intricacies of that garment please check out this guide
here.
If you want to learn more about accessories or things like briefcases for lawyers I suggest
you take a look at lawyerist.com who have covered these things in depth.
In terms of tie knots, I suggest to keep it simple.
Avoid a Windsor knot because it's too big and it makes you look like a used car salesman
instead go with something like a four-in-hand knot.
You can learn how to tie it in this video here.
Now some people prefer to go with a dimple others prefer to go without.
Personally I always like to tie a dimple and if you want to learn how to tie it every time
please check out this video here.
Pocket squares are an accessory that work really well with suits.
For lawyers however I suggest you keep it crisp, simple and clean which means a simple
white linen pocket square with hand rolled edges.
Although you can have different folds such as a crown fold or a puff fold, I think for
lawyers the most acceptable and some say the only acceptable fold is a TV fold I'm wearing
here right now.
If you want to learn how to fold a pocket square that way check out this video here.
And for a great selection of white pocket squares with your first initial please check
out our shop here.
Oh one more thing, you're a lawyer so wear a proper briefcase and skip the backpack.
That makes you look like a boy and really cheap and it's inappropriate.
In today’s outfit I'm wearing a typical lawyer's outfit consisting of a two-piece dark
navy suit.
It has two buttons because one would be too little and three may be too much.
The pants were made for me so I have side adjusters and neither a belt nor suspenders.
The shirt I'm wearing is plain white with a medium spread collar.
It's not too extreme.
The tie I’m wearing is a red, black and white Prince of Wales check tie.
It's a very small pattern.
It's very subtle and I tied it in a four-in-hand knot with a dimple.
You can learn more about how to tie tie knots in this series here.
The shirt has French cuffs so I'm wearing them with silver Monkey Fist cufflinks from
Fort Belvedere.
I could also wear them with gold ones or rose gold ones.
My pocket square is a white linen pocket square from Fort Belvedere folded in a TV fold which
is probably the only acceptable fold for a lawyer.
My socks are two-tone stripe shadow socks in navy and blue and they go with any kind
of navy.
My shoes are black oxfords with a cap toe.
They have a little Balmoral stitching over the cap toe and they're made from Pediwear
in England, cost about 250 bucks and are Goodyear welted.
I'm also wearing a carnelian silver ring on my ring finger of the right hand that goes
well with the color of my tie.
I decided to go with cuffs on my pants because it'll be heavier and pull everything down.
The fabric of the suit is a nice 12 ounce simple weave from Holland & Sherry and it
really drives much better than it’s thinner flimsy fabric.
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