What To Wear To Court in South Carolina

When preparing for a court appearance in South Carolina, you need to be concerned about more than just what you’ll say or how you’ll behave. You need to think about how to dress for your court hearing as well.

The style of clothing you choose, as well as your choice of colors, can make a significant impact on how the judge and jury perceive you. Be sure to consider the following tips when choosing what to wear before stepping through the courthouse doors.

How To Dress Appropriately For Court

Recommendations for Men

For men, the key is to look as neat and professional as possible. Therefore, if you have one, put on your best business suit. If not, a good rule is to go with business casual attire, such as a long-sleeved dress shirt, clean and pressed slacks, and a professional-looking blazer.

Remove earrings, conceal tattoos, limit your jewelry to a watch and your wedding ring. You should also keep your hair trimmed short, make sure it is a natural color, and either shave or trim your facial hair to be short and neat. You will also want to apply deodorant and possibly a modest amount of cologne. A neat appearance is essential in the courtroom.

Recommendations for Women

As with most wardrobe issues, the answer is a bit more complicated when considering what clothing a woman, as opposed to a man, should wear to court. However, the same idea remains central: go professional and conservative.

That means choosing a professional, modest dress, a pantsuit, a long skirt with a professional blouse, or slacks and a modest sweater. Being modest is a very important part of courtroom etiquette. Be as conservative as possible when choosing what to wear. This means no bare shoulders (tube tops and tank tops), flip flops, or excessive jewelry.

The Best Color for Your Court Appearance

Beyond these wardrobe basics, there are other factors to consider when deciding what to wear to your court appearance. For instance, there is evidence that should influence the colors and patterns you choose for your outfit.

The best colors to wear to court are neutral colors, such as navy blue or dark gray. These colors suggest seriousness, especially when being tried for a criminal case. At the same time, they do not come with the negative connotations that are often associated with the color black (for instance, some people associate black with evil, coldness, and darkness).

Avoid bright colors and patterns because they tend to be distracting in a professional setting, even more so in the courtroom. The basic rule of courtroom etiquette is to select traditional, uncontroversial, and professional colors that look serious and don’t draw the eye.

What Not To Wear To Court

If you are still uncertain on what to wear to your court appearance, it may be easier to highlight what not to wear to court instead of what is best. In general, avoid anything that looks casual, unserious, or unkempt. This includes:

• Jeans
• Shorts
• Short skirts
• Sundresses
• T-shirts
• Tube tops
• Sneakers
• Flip flops
• High heels
• Revealing clothes
• Tight clothes
• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Dirty, disheveled, or ripped clothing

When choosing your courtroom outfit, be sure you avoid anything you’d wear to the beach, to a picnic, or when doing yard work. Women should avoid bare shoulders, and all genders should wear professional footwear, not sandals or flip flops.

Contact a South Carolina Trial Lawyer Now

The attorneys at Schiller & Hamilton Law Firm are here to make sure that our client’s voices are heard in negotiations and in court if necessary. We are here to help make sure your interests are represented throughout the claims process. Our attorneys will be right beside you if your claim goes to court.

To schedule a free consultation with an experienced member of our team, contact us today by phone or contact us online.