You are involved in a legal case and the big day is near. Use psychology to help you decide what to wear. Research shows that clothes shape first impressions (for example, Hu and O’Toole 2023). And first impressions linger (Swider, Harris, and Qing, 2023).
Some judges will review your clothing to see if you take the proceedings seriously. They may view your clothes as a signal of respect for the court and for them, personally.
Theoretically, you are free to wear what you wish; clothes should not matter in court. But they do. One group of researchers commented that the clothes worn by expert witnesses were “irrelevant peripheral cues.” That same study found, however, that attire, cosmetics, and posture influenced the perceived credibility of female expert witnesses (Jones and colleagues, 2023).
Below are seven tips, based on my experience in dozens of legal cases.
- Neat and Clean: Your clothes and shoes should be neat and clean. Think respectable, honest and reliable, rather than attractive, sharp, fashionable, or sexy.
Avoid Offending
Source: Sally Pirie/Used with Permission
- Avoid Offending: Do not wear clothing with slogans that a judge or jury might consider offensive. Even if these slogans express your deepest beliefs, it is better to “make a statement” through your what you say than through your tee-shirt.
- Dress Your Role. If you are coming to court as a mom, dress like a mom. What does this mean? Comfortable shoes and a shirt, a dress or pants that are neat and that you feel comfortable wearing. If you are coming in as a dad, wear a neat shirt and pants that are comfortable for you. If you are coming in as a professional, your clothes should communicate that you are reliable. This does not require fancy clothes. Choose an outfit that communicates your authority without seeming “over the top.”
- Not Too Casual: Avoid shorts, tank tops, flip flops, and sweatpants. Avoid ripped-up jeans—even if you purposely bought them ripped up fashionably.
- Not Too Sexy: Avoid low-cut blouses, short skirts, and other body-revealing clothes. Flashy jewelry, evening gowns, glitter, stiletto heels, and a lot of cosmetics will make you look out of place.
- Not Overly Formal: You may be tempted to suit up like the finely dressed lawyers on television court dramas. Unless you usually wear suits as part of your job, this is unnecessary. You do not need to dress like a lawyer unless you are a lawyer.
Wear Comfortable Clothing
Source: Sally Pirie/Used with Permission
- Avoid Hats: Some judges will ask you to remove your hat when you enter their courtroom.
Avoid Offending
Source: Sally Pirie/Used with Permission
Wear Comfortable Clothing
Source: Sally Pirie/Used with Permission
A judge who thinks that your clothing is inappropriate may ask you to leave the courtroom immediately. If you are a party to the case, this could even result in a warrant for “failing to appear.”
It is unlikely that your clothes will make or break a case. Still, the judge and jury will look you over for clues about who you are and whether you are speaking the truth. The right clothes should help you feel comfortable and confident. The right clothes communicate that you are trustworthy.
If you are fleeing a domestic abuse situation or are in another tight spot, you may have limited access to clothing. Maybe you can borrow neat and clean clothes from someone else. If not, just walk into court with your head held high.
