Should Female Lawyers Put Fashion Foot Forward in Court?
Women clearly have come a long way in the legal profession in recent decades. But perhaps nowhere is the professional difference between the sexes more pronounced than in issues of courtroom attire.
Should women wear heels or comfortable shoes they can stand up in all day? Skirted suits or pantsuits? And, of course, pantyhose and makeup are rarely, if ever, issues for male colleagues, notes the Wall Street Journal Law Blog.
The post obviously struck a chord with readers, especially concerning female footwear. While stiletto heels are a mistake, so are bland black flats, many seemed to feel.
Writes one anonymous reader: “I think that heel height and skirt v. pants matters less than whether you end up looking put together and on top of things, or kind of dowdy (or like a slob). As a long-time woman lawyer in Washington DC—notorious for cookie-cutter Talbots-type dressing—I can tell you that jurors DO notice and appreciate a little effort. You don’t have to wear a 2-inch pump, but if you wear the same black mid-heel made out of that stretchy stuff with everything, it looks dull and thoughtless. Plenty of shoe companies now make cute shoes with kitten heels or mid-height heels that are stylish.”
