How A Solo Can Dress For Success On The Cheap

Suit Up! (286/365)

Look at a lawyer in court and you make an assumption. Success equals well-dressed. You may think yourself able to look above the tailoring of the suit, but the truth remains that poor clothing choices makes it an uphill battle for even the finest lawyer. As a solo, you need to make the right impression on the judge, the jury, and opposing counsel.

We instinctively identify people according to their projected image. We have hardwired mental images of how corporate executives should look like and how artists dress up. It’s human nature, our sole means of shortcutting the decision-making process.

Even Hannibal Lechter made a snap decision based on Clarise Starling’s shoes.

The good news is that power dressing doesn’t need to be expensive for the frugal solo. Just keep the following tips in mind.

Look The Part. You should look like a lawyer, not some “ham-and-egger” solo. Dress sharp, look like you mean business, and don’t take prisoners (unless you’re a criminal defense lawyer, that is). Press your pants, iron your shirt. Being a solo doesn’t mean license to look like a slouch.

Avoid The Trends. A stylish wardrobe can be pretty striking but it’s too much of a distraction for your clients. Plus, it’s going to go out of style next year and you’ll be forced to spend more money to avoid looking like a dork in court. A classic wardrobe can be pretty expensive but if you keep the pieces to a minimum, you’ll find that they will carry you through many occasions for many years, saving you money in the long run. For a solo, saving a few hundred dollars a year can be a make-or-break event.

Mix And Match. The key to that is to have a certain color palette. You can go towards different shades of brown or hues of gray or navy. Keeping your wardrobe within the same texture or pattern type is another key to mixing and matching quickly.

Best Foot Forward. Two pairs of shoes, one brown and one black. Simple, well-shined and maintained properly. That’s all a solo needs. Period. They’ll last for years if you don’t trudge through the snow in them.

Tie One On. The tie is something you can use to perk up your wardrobe. Go for vivid colors, classic patterns and shiny fabrics. These are the ones which need not stay within your color palette. Reds give a kick and silk looks luxurious.

Remember The Rule Of Three. Keep 3 sets of classic suits and pants. This saves you time during morning dress-up as you have fewer items to choose from. Having a closetful of items will only confuse you.

Look sharp, polished, powerful and yet simple. Then, you can forget about it and concentrate on the tasks at hand.

photo credit: andrewrennie

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Jay Fleischman

Jay Fleischman is a New York bankruptcy lawyer and legal marketing consultant. A nationally-known speaker on the topic of law firm marketing and consumer law issues, Jay uses his productivity and time management techniques every day.

http://www.LicenseAdvocates.com Christine McCall

Apparently all solos are male. Or maybe it’s that all lawyers are male. Or maybe my tie is just too tight.
Cathy

Perhaps only male solos are clothing impaired?

In the courtroom, you must dress well as a matter of respect for the court and the process. Jay didn’t mention the attorneys who show up far too casual for the occasion, with pant hems disintegrating and heels that are run over.

I think it also carries to the office. I want me and my staff to look like we are worth the $400/hour I’m going to charge them, and that their fee is not the first one of that size I’ve collected.
Anonymous

OK, the tie point is male only. But a suit is a female as well as a male thing. The picture is of a male because … well, it shows someone who’s vaguely “not quite lawyer looking” who is dressing up.
Anonymous

I agree about court; nothing like the “dirtbag lawyer” who comes before the judge (trustee, hearing officer, mediator, etc.) looking as if it’s time to mow the lawn on Sunday.

As to clothing in the office, my rule is “1 above the client.” I dress one level above my client to convey my position, but no more than that. If I’m wearing a full suit and my client is a ditch-digger, that conveys an implicit sense of superiority and is off-putting. And I don’t want clients to think that their legal fees are being spent merely to keep me in Armani and Rolex.
Joshua

If any other gentlemen solos are looking for a more in-depth look at keeping in style on a budget I suggest looking at The Art of Manliness Blog and search the archive for wardrobe.

Ladies, you can always look at Carolyn’s page at MyShingle.com. She frequently posts on this same topic from a female perspective.
http://bunkerlawgroup.com/ Ben Bunker

I’ll reiterate the point about “avoiding trends.” Don’t walk into court wearing a Tom Ford suit. A classic wardrobe will endure fleeting fashions. This goes for ties, suits, shoes, shirts, etc. Simple, enduring wardrobe items that are quality-made will provide a more professional image as well as hold up over time.
Thomas F. McDow

I consider dress an important part of representing my clients in court and in negotiations. I buy two identical navy blue Hart, Shaffner, and Marx suits at a time, each with three pairs of pants. I rotate the pants every sixth day and the suit coat every other day. I wear white shirts with red ties. I have two pairs of shoes, one a black wingtip and the other a black plain toe. Sometimes on “lack-of-pride Friday” I wear a blue shirt and loafers with my suit and tie.