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I have never related fashion with law before. Have you? If you’re like me, and is curious on how fashion can relate to law, please read on.

This guest post was brought to you by Watts McCray Lawyers.

Dress to impress in the courtroom – what’s court appropriate?

Part of dressing well is matching the tone and style of your outfit to the occasion.

This is particularly important when you are dressing for the court room. Whether you’ve been called up for jury duty or you are part of the court hearing, the way you present and carry yourself is important. Although appearances are only skin deep, they do count when you are meeting people for the first time, and they do make an impact on the first impression that someone makes of you.

While there are no formal rules in Australia as to what you can and can’t wear to the court room, there are strong guidelines as to what is considered appropriate.

Generally thongs, sunglasses, tracksuits, hats, shorts or revealing clothing are a big no-no. In a court setting, it’s important that you are taken seriously, so although the words ‘demure’ and ‘dignified’ may not describe your fashion style on a day-to-day basis, you should consider whether your outfit fits these descriptions.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t be stylish – it’s just about adapting your look to the formal setting and occasion that it is. A good way to gauge what to wear is to look at the dress standards of your lawyer – whether that is a family lawyer or business lawyer – and match your outfit accordingly.

Here are some ideas of what clothing items will set the right sartorial standard in the court room.

Blouses

A blouse or collared shirt will give you the appropriate coverage you need in the court room, and signify that you are both serious and aware of the formality of the situation.

Tailored pieces

A tailored jacket, pants, or skirt will again suit the situation. You don’t need to wear a full suit, but structured pieces are a good way to give your outfit the right tone.

Neutral colours

Stay away from brash, bold and fluoro colours. Stick with neutral and pastel colours – black, brown, navy, beige, soft pink, etc.

Dressing appropriately in court will make sure that the people in the court room listen to and notice you, not your outfit. The last thing you want is the outfit to detract from the situation at hand.

Here’s an example of court appropriate outfits that is still fashionable which Kim has put together: