Women should wear conservative, professional attire to court. A tailored pantsuit or a knee-length skirt suit in neutral colors such as navy, black, or gray is ideal. Pair it with a modest blouse and closed-toe shoes. Avoid flashy accessories, and ensure your hair and makeup are neat and understated.
It's best to avoid bright colors. Whether you're a plaintiff or a defendant, dark or neutral colors like white, navy blue, and gray are the best colors to wear to court. Your attorney can offer guidance if you're unsure about what you're wearing.
Revealing or Inappropriate Clothing: Revealing or inappropriate clothing can distract from the legal matters at hand and may be considered disrespectful in the courtroom setting. Excessive Jewelry: Excessive jewelry can be distracting and may send the wrong message about your priorities during the legal proceedings.
For MEN & WOMEN: While we do not advise you to wear jeans, if you do not own a pair of slacks or khakis, wearing jeans may be your only option. IF that is all you own and you choose to wear jeans to court, check before hand and make sure the court you are attending does not have guidelines against wearing jeans.
All clothing should be conservative. Many courts have specific dress codes that require conservative attire to maintain decorum and respect for the judicial process. No low necklines, shorts, stiletto heels, tight jeans (actually, avoid jeans altogether), or sleeveless shirts.
Women should wear conservative, professional attire to court. A tailored pantsuit or a knee-length skirt suit in neutral colors such as navy, black, or gray is ideal. Pair it with a modest blouse and closed-toe shoes.
When dressing for court, women should ensure that their hair is neat, clean, and professional-looking. It is recommended to style the hair in a conservative manner, such as a neat bun, ponytail, or a simple hairstyle that does not draw attention.
Yoga Pants or Leggings—While nobody is going to ask you to take your pants off in court, it's best to go for a more polished look than knit bottoms. Any pants perceived as revealing—whether worn tight or loose and falling down—can get you booted from the courtroom or, worse, not allowed in at all.
What Does Business Casual Mean? Business casual is basically a dress code that involves wearing traditional business attire with a couple of relaxed tweaks here and there. For example, wearing khaki pants or slacks with a blouse/polo, but without a tie would be considered typically business casual.
Similar to the color palette described for men, dark pants suits and dresses are preferred. Try to stick to dark grey and navy blue. Don't go for black as it gives the impression of power, not humility. Don't wear anything bright or bold.
Wearing Cosmetics in Court
Makeup is fine as long as you present yourself as clean and reserved. Light makeup that represents a natural look is best.
Remember that your suit and skirt should complement each other and be in colors that reflect the serious nature of the court proceedings. Don't wear a suit or suit skirt in a bright color, especially potentially provocative colors like red. Stick with gray, blue, or white suits and skirts whenever possible.
General courtroom attire guidelines
This means avoiding casual items like jeans, sweatpants, T-shirts, sneakers, or flip-flops. Garments with holes or stains will tell the court that you're not taking this seriously. Instead, make a positive fashion statement by opting for business casual or more conservative dress.
Shoes: Low heels or flats are suitable. Avoid very high heels or open-toed shoes. Makeup and Nails: Opt for a natural look. Avoid bright nail polish or excessive makeup.
Maintain a Groomed Appearance: Presenting yourself in a clean and tidy manner shows respect for the court. Disheveled hair or facial hair can suggest a lack of seriousness about your case.
Show up at least one hour early so you can find the courtroom on time. You may find that you need to file court papers on the day of your hearing. In that case, you will probably have to go to the central clerk's office to file documents and then return to the courtroom.
Footwear Not to Ever Wear in Court:
Flip-flop sandals. Athletic shoes. High-heel spikes. Open-toed shoes.
Court Shoe. Style description. A court shoe has a low-cut upper, no fastening and a medium to high heel.
Certain clothing items like jeans, shorts, sandals, and other overly casual attire are considered inappropriate for court. These items can reflect a lack of seriousness or respect for the court when individuals wear jeans or other casual clothing.
Address the court's questions and concerns. Judges don't care about what you want to argue. They care about whether you can address their concerns and respond in a way that makes them want to rule in your favor.
Be polite and calm
Stand when you speak to the judge and call them “Your Honor.” Speak clearly and loud enough for the judge and the other side to hear you. But don't shout or react to things you don't like. Now is not the time to express your feelings or vent your emotions.