Law firms offering their attorneys fashion advice? According to the ABA Journal and the Wall Street Journal, that’s what’s happening. The younger generation of lawyers, so it seems, likes to wear jeans and other clothes deemed “abysmal” attire by more senior lawyers.
As an international lawyer coach, I get a lot of questions about attire and etiquette. Perhaps a client wants to dress well for a big rainmaking session, international negotiations or an important video interview.
There are some basic principles that I recommend following.
DRESS ONE STEP MORE FORMALLY THAN THE CLIENT. First, dress one level nicer than your client. For example, if you have meetings with Silicon Valley executives who will be wearing jeans and t-shirts, dress one level above that: slacks and a shirt for men. Wearing a suit might make the client feel uncomfortable. However, by dressing a bit nicer shows that you care.
RESEARCH APPROPRIATE ATTIRE IN ADVANCE. Clients dress according to their culture–not just the culture of their home country, but also their internal corporate/firm culture. Before attending a client meeting or job interview, try to gather information about how the others will be dressed. You might ask acquaintances who work there for input. Or, if you live in the area, drive by and watch people arriving to work. If you are going to meetings abroad, you can call the local consulate or the appropriate country desk at the State Department for suggestions.
WEAR COLORS THAT LOOK GOOD ON YOU. Yes, this matters. Wearing colors that look good on you will make you look healthier. No client wants to hire a tired and sickly looking lawyer! If you don’t know which colors suit your skin tone, ask a fashion consultant, or refer to the old, tried and true 1980’s classic, Color Me Beautiful.
FASHIONABLE IS JUST FINE; REVEALING IS NOT. No sexy clothes, please. Nothing too tight or revealing–even at firm cocktail parties. What you wear sends a message about you, and you want to be thought of as a professional. However, you need not dress without fashion flair. In fact, showing some personal is appealing. Ask a fashion consultant if in doubt.
SOLIDS PHOTOGRAPH BETTER THAN PATTERNS. If you are going to have your photograph taken, or participate in a video conference call, wear solid colors. Patterns can distract the viewer, and sometimes be unpleasant to look at if they are too busy.
ASK FOR INPUT FROM SUCCESSFUL DRESSERS. Do you have a colleague that always dresses well and in a professional way that you admire? Ask this person for general fashion advice, or even to critique a particular outfit. Doing so can help you to avoid fashion snafus, like the leadership speaker who dressed in a girlish manner.
