Courthouse fashion...or not.

In case you missed it, I haven't really had a lot to write about lately.  Maybe it's the holidays.  Maybe it was my trip to Oregon.  Maybe I've been too busy at work.  Whatever the reason, I just have not had a lot I wanted to talk about.  But I feel like I am cheating all seven of you that read this.  I'm afraid I will be forgotten.  We can't have that.

They say you should write what you know.  While I certainly don't consider myself an expert on fashion, I have generally been pretty knowledgeable about how to dress well for most of my life.  I blame my childhood.  And having either a GQ or Brook Brothers catalog subscription for most of my life.  In any event, I feel quite comfortable commenting on what I think people, especially lawyers, should or should not wear.  So, since Mark Bennett is making rules, so too shall I.

Rule No. 1:  You're a lawyer.  Try dressing the part.  I know this is Fort Worth, but seriously.  Is there another city in the county of the size of Fort Worth where a lawyer would actually walk into court to conduct court business in jeans?  You don't have to wear a Savile Row bespoke suit every day.  But you're a lawyer.  Dress like one.

Rule No. 2:  Shoes are critical.  All too often I see lawyers at the courthouse who actually take the time to put on a suit, but make a critical mistake about their shoes.  There are actually two mistakes in this rule that can be made.  The first is to wear boots with a suit.  I know this is Cowtown (I love you man, but you know who I'm talking to), and I know there are countless others in Texas that do it (yeah, I'm talking to you Bennett), but just because all the other kids are doing it doesn't make it right.  It's wrong.  On a moral level, wrong.  The other part of the shoe rule is that your shoes must be clean and polished.  If you feel the need to wear boots, at least wear nice ones, and not the ones you wore while cleaning out the horse stall.  

Rule No. 3:  Patterns.  I will happily admit fashion is really about individual style and feeling good about yourself.  (So you would think this thinking would allow you to wear boots with a suit, but you would be wrong.)  But some people out there are going to cause me to have a seizure.  The bold pinstripe suite with the checkered shirt and the horizontal stripe tie is too much.  The rule for patterns nowadays is that you can pretty much wear any pattern with any other pattern.  But remember the rule of 3.  Of the three items a man wears (suit, shirt, and tie) one of them must always be a solid.  

Rule No. 4:  For the lady lawyers.  Don't be afraid to put away the pant suits.  This is not a sexist thing to say, but just a reality.  I'm not saying wear a skirt or dress everyday, but sooner or later you will start to look like Hilary Clinton.  And not in a good way.  Is there a good way?

Rule No. 5:  Knowing how to properly tie a tie is one of life's ultimate pursuits.  Learn how.  Every tie should always have a dimple.  Preferably in the middle!.  As for the basics, the little part of the tie should not hang lower than the big part.  Also, the tie knot is very important.  Consider this:

THE SIZE OF A BALL BEARING: "In my spare time, I snort coke and jam with the Strokes."

THE SIZE OF A PINBALL: "I'll be on the Vineyard for the entire month of August. You should come out."

THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL: "The reason you hate me is that pretty much everything I do, I do perfectly. Like tying this tie."

THE SIZE OF A TENNIS BALL: "Yo, Vinny, I'm starving. Let's grab a slice on the way to the reception."

I hope this is helpful.  If not, well, you can't say I didn't try.  

Comments

[Edintally]

I concur, but didn't you forget about cologne and socks?

More tie tips:

A pencil or pen inserted into the front of the knot helps make that dimple.

Never throw your tie over your shoulder when eating. If you are old enough to wear a real tie, you are old enough to not drip food on it.

[Rick]

Who was it that said " If your shoes look like S*&^, you look like S*&^?
I am one who wears boots every day. I am sure some of us that wear boots spend more money on one pair of boots than most people spend on their suits, shirts, ties and shoes combined.
I'll keep my boots and you can keep your shoes.

[Mark Bennett]

Edintally,

Cologne? NO COLOGNE FOR TRIAL LAWYERS!!!

You should wear socks, though -- especially if you don't wear boots.

I tried the pen in the front of the knot, but it looked really goofy and kept falling out. Are you sure about that advice?

[Glen R. Graham]

One the one hand, fashion may have some importance, but on the other hand, maybe how prepared you are to win, what you say, and how you say it are more important. However, bad fashion can distract the jury or the judge from what you are saying. I kind of think that some of the surrounding small towns and some of the country music fans and some of the ordinary folks in Texas may put some stock or added credibility to someone who has some Texas fashion sensibility as long as they don't over-due it. I believe,famous Texas celebrity cirminal lawyer,Dick de Guerin, is still fond of his boots and cowboy gear and I know ole' Gerry Spence likes his trial warrior look, and while I am certain that a lawyer can do great work without dressing like a cowboy, I don't think there is anything necessarily wrong with it, but I do agree that dressing the wrong way can distract the listener from paying attention. However, it depends upon who the listener is? Sincerely, Glen R. Graham

[Glen R. Graham]

Excuse me my spell checker was not in use.

[Glen R. Graham]

Also consider, well known, lengendary Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer, Richard Racehorse Haynes, and his famous hand-tooled ostrich-hide boots or his trademark anteater boots and his pin-striped suits, with a great cowboy hat.

Or, the late great Johnny Cochran and his flamboyant suits in the first O.J. Simpson case in California. He allegedly once told his co-counsel, "don't tell me how to dress, and I won't tell you how to practice law."

The leather buckskin coat with a cowboy hat and a bolo tie seems to almost be a Gerry Spence trademark.

Dick DeGuerin, Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer, who represents celebrities and always wears a Stetson Hat and cowboy boots, says, "If you're going to go to court, look like a lawyer." -- not some pompous jackass.

I think each person has to find that authenticity deep down within themselves and when they can be honest with themselves then the honesty just flows out of them and they are "in the moment" or they are able to reach out and just touch someone's heart and they can persuade people that what they say is true because they believe it themselves and because it is true and they are being "authentic and real."

They are being themselves and not putting on some kind of mask or some kind of costume just to please someone else . . . and they are being a super-lawyer and a convincing advocate. However, like Dick DeGuerin says, dress like a lawyer and not a pompous jackass.
Sincerely,
Glen R. Graham, Attorney at Law, Tulsa, Oklahoma

[Shawn Matlock]

Glen, I agree that it comes down to personal expression and what you feel comfortable within, but there have to be rules. Every society has basic rules.

The problem with the idea of Racehorse Haynes et al is that it worked for them. But just because it worked for them doesn't mean it works for everyone else. A man has to know his limitations.

For example, I never wear black suits. I have nothing against black suits per se, but I know I don't look good in them. I know my limitations. Racehorse Haynes and Deguerin might look damn good (such as it is) in boots, but not everyone can pull that off. The general rule should just be don't wear them.

Rick,

You seem angry with this post. Did I strike a nerve? There's nothing wrong with boots, but they shouldn't be worn with suits. Sorry, but it's true. And just because your boots are expensive doesn't make them any more right.

[Mark Bennett]

Up there in Dallas you might not wear boots with suits, but here in Texas we do.

[generic viagra]

hello
thanks for this information about Courthouse fashion...or not is really great

[buy cheap kamagra]

A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function.[3] There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.

[propecia cost]

I make restore points before I upgrade anything like this, but I still worry about upgrading too much and messing something up. So, is it better to upgrade computer drivers or leave them alone if they're working fine?

[Ajf 6]

Pen can describe a vibrant spring, Pen can as the ancient, A pen to write down my soul of small language!

[Jordans 4]

You must be imaginative, 　　strong hearted. You must try things that may not work. And you must not let anyone define your limits because of where you come from.

[viagra online]

When implementing process or information system changes, slow and steady doesn't necessarily win the race. You have the need for speed.

[Health News]

I can't believe how much of this I just wasn't aware of. Thank you for bringing more information to this topic for me. I'm truly grateful and really impressed.

[radii supras]

I'd be interested in hearing. The TOS seems rather clear that it is not unless expressly approved by Amazon. I guess if the library got it in writing then they would be ok.

[red sole]

Ban on women driving should be considered world wide... :-) I would never allow my wife driving my car.. :-)