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The transition from the world of fashion to legal career by Rory Brewton

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  6. The transition from the world of fashion to legal career by Rory Brewton

published July 30, 2007

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<<Brewton, a 2L at Baylor Law School, worked in fashion public relations before entering law school, and these days, she jumps at any chance she gets to combine her fashion know-how with her legal education. When she graduates in 2008, she hopes to go into either civil/general litigation or entertainment law and maybe even work as an entertainment agent.

Brewton left her job in fashion public relations in search of something more stimulating and challenging. She was looking for a job in which she would be surrounded by intellectual people who were working toward something that would make a difference in the world. With these characteristics in mind, she came across the field of law and decided it was exactly what she was looking for.


"The world of fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment PR can be very shallow, and some of the people you tend to encounter are not the type of people I wanted to spend my career surrounded by," she said. "While it was so much fun, it might have gotten old after awhile because there is not much of a challenge involved. Law presents me with an interesting challenge and is more fulfilling."

Brewton first learned that the law school fashion show was in the making when she read about it in law professor Mark Osler's blog, Osler's Razor. Upon reading the news, she was thrilled. For a girl looking to combine fashion and the law, a law school fashion show sounded like the best of both worlds. Needless to say, she immediately got involved.

Held in early October 2006, the fashion show was staged by two female law student models (one of whom was Brewton herself) and two male law student models. It was judged by a panel of three female law professors, three male law professors, a federal judge, the school's assistant dean, and a practicing attorney from the area. During the show, the models showed off outfits that would be appropriate for different legal-life scenarios; the panel of judges provided commentary on why the outfits were appropriate and suggested other options, as well. In addition, slides with examples of inappropriate attire were shown, and the panel commented on why these outfits were not appropriate.

Clothes for the event were donated by Ann Taylor Loft and Dillard's, and Brewton even wore some of her own clothes, which she said she felt were comparable to or better than the Ann Taylor Loft clothes that were donated.

The show was broken up according to five main categories: courtroom, client meeting, daily office attire, casual firm function, dinner with a partner/client, and formal firm function. The lights dimmed over the audience, and the group of law students, faculty, and family members grew silent in anticipation. Then, suddenly, as a spotlight lit up the runway, the first model took the stage. Placing one foot in front of the other, she paced and turned, stopped and stared, smiling into the crowd. Baylor's law school fashion show had begun.

"Professor Mark Osler opened with a welcome," Brewton said. "Then Assistant Dean Leah Jackson gave an intro speech on fashion in the legal community and the purpose behind the show and in general what your goal is when you are dressing—some general dos and don'ts. She also discussed other behavior issues that come into play for a young lawyer in the legal community—alcohol, flirtation, etc. Then Professor Kristin Simpson took over as the commentator/narrator."

You may not have been there, but that doesn't mean it's time to call the fashion police. Below, Brewton captures the highlights of the fashion show and provides some insight into the "dos" and "don'ts" of each of these situations. Read on for some tried and true advice on avoiding your own law firm fashion faux pas.

Courtroom

Females: For women in the courtroom, Brewton suggests a dark suit (brown, black, or navy). While the suit can have pants or a skirt, Brewton advises steering clear of lacy camisoles and cleavage. She also points out that a skirt should hit no higher than one inch above the knee. Make sure your feet are both trendy and comfy in a pair of closed-toe, understated pumps (try black or brown mock croc), and feel free to adorn yourself with jewelry as long as it's conservative. (Small pearl earrings or diamond studs will do the trick.)

Males: For men in the courtroom, Brewton suggests dark suits, white shirts, and conservative ties. Keep in mind that while light blue shirts are acceptable, white shirts are preferred.

Daily Office Attire

Females: For everyday office attire, Brewton steers women toward understated jewelry, clothing in muted colors, and the one word that every woman hates to hear: pantyhose. Sounds ghastly, doesn't it? Never fear, ladies. There will be plenty of time for prancing around in your absolutely fabulous minis and sequined tanks after the clock strikes five, but if that still doesn't pacify you, remember, you can always splurge on fabric. A little cashmere can go a long way toward upping your style factor, even if it is olive green instead of fuchsia. In the Baylor fashion show, the models wore turtlenecks in chocolate browns and charcoal grays, smart, tweed skirts, button-down shirts in rich hues, sassy pencil skirts, and pumps. As a side note, Brewton warns that women should have no visible tattoos and should stay away from ultra-casual styles that involve jeans. In other words, save your True Religions for happy hour.

Males: When it comes to men and everyday office attire, Brewton is a fan of the classic combination of a button-down shirt, tie, slacks, dress shoes, and a belt that coordinates with the shoes (of course). When picking out shirts and ties, Brewton warns, men should stay away from shirts in wild colors and/or ties with graphics such as cartoon characters, animals, or smiley faces. Yes, Sponge Bob ties do affect your credibility. One of the models representing this category in the show donned black slacks, black shoes, a black belt, a blue shirt, and a tie with an understated design on it, owning the runway like he just stepped off the pages of the latest GQ. As this outfit illustrated, Brewton thinks it's best to stick with subtle colors, stripes, and simple, muted designs—because the truth is, after you factor in that winning personality of yours and your traffic-stopping smile, any additional flair would just be ridiculous.

Casual Firm Function

Females: For casual firm functions such as firm picnics or barbecues, Brewton gravitates toward long city shorts that hit just above the knee, modest skirts, or slacks paired with tasteful shirts. She says to avoid spaghetti straps, anything tight or short, spike heels, jeans (unless you absolutely must wear them), and your favorite flip-flops with the holes in the soles. In the fashion show, the model epitomized casual style in black city shorts, a white top, a red belt, and sandals with wedge heels. For more casual events like these, don't be shy about adding a little color here and there. Just remember that these people are your coworkers, and you will be seeing them on Monday morning. Therefore, it's in your best interest to make sure your see-through sundress and stiletto heels are not the main topics of conversation around the water cooler.

Males: Casual firm functions are a little easier to navigate for men. Brewton once again chooses classic over trendy and advises men to country-club it in slacks or nice jeans, a belt, and a polo shirt. Although some things should go without saying, Brewton admonishes men not to wear anything with holes, t-shirts, or flip-flops. As a general rule, it's always best to dress to impress at firm functions, even if they are casual, and save your comfy duds for Monday night football with the boys.

Dinner with a Partner/Client

Females: For women, the perfect outfit to wear to a working dinner with a partner or client is summed up in three simple words: little black dress. If you are a woman, chances are you own one, and this is the perfect occasion to pull it out. However, Brewton warns against dresses that are too "little," tight, or low-cut. Make sure your dress is tasteful before heading out on the town.

Males: Men should plan to wear nice slacks, a button-down shirt, a blazer, and a tie if the restaurant requires one.

Formal Firm Function

When going to a formal firm function, Brewton advises both men and women to follow the same guidelines they would if they were going to dinner with partners or clients.

Firm Fashion in Summary

Whether you're schmoozing with clients over lobster and a bottle of pinot noir or kicking it backyard-style over boiled crawfish and beer at the annual firm picnic, it's important to dress appropriately. What is appropriate for each occasion may differ slightly depending on the venue and your firm's culture, but you should try to steer toward more classic styles. After all, in the somewhat old-fashioned world of law, it's generally better to be compared to Audrey Hepburn than to Carrie Bradshaw. So hold your head high, focus on your goals, and dress accordingly. You'll be glad you did.
  1. Legal Jobs
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  6. The transition from the world of fashion to legal career by Rory Brewton

published July 30, 2007

( 15 votes, average: 4.7 out of 5)
What do you think about this article? Rate it using the stars above and let us know what you think in the comments below.

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