Majority of our clientele opts to get bespoke suits for professional purposes. Inspired by this need, we are starting this mini series called "Looking the Part" to provide points to consider when getting a suit for select careers. Let us get started by tackling on the design cues of a lawyer.
As a practitioner of the law, you will want to look polished, dignified, and professional for any engagement in any location, be it at the firm or in the courtroom. There is little space for adding personal style at this point, but asserting how seriously you take the law and any case takes major precedence in this line of work. Simplicity and solids are the guiding principles in an attorney's suit.
Before we proceed, we would like to take the time to tell (or remind) everyone that fit is king, now more than ever, most especially in a professional setting. Like a knight's armor, a well-fitting suit asserts one's strong features and conceals weak points. Anything too loose or too tight, or a combination of both (which is the worst) will make one look like an amateur or unprepared... or both. When proceeding to have one made, always check a haberdashery's portfolio and observe how well their suits fit various clients. This will give you a good idea of how well their works would it you.
Onto the details.
Suit Style
As always, the most recommended is a two-piece, single breasted jacket suit as it fits all occasions. It's the other details that determine the formality or casualness of a suit. More on these in a bit.
A double breasted suit is an excellent suit with one flaw: it can be intimating due to the excess fabric and detail that goes into it. Simply wearing this can be a power move.
Remember that what you wear greatly affects how people perceive and engage with you. Be wary of when, where, and who you are with when you wear a double breasted suit.
Color
Stick to staples such as charcoal grey, and navy. All in solid colors. If you already have one or both those (as most men should) dark brown and other shades of grey are all excellent colors that work with the formality demanded by the profession.
Also, never wear mismatching colors. Reserve this styling move for casual, flashier moments.
Fabric
Much like single-breasted suits, worsted wools are perfect for all occasions throughout the year. They do not have a lot of luster, which you would ideally reserve for casual events, nor are they as thin a linen that would wrinkle easily. As worsted wool is a strong and fine fabric, they are exceptionally durable for day-to-day wear. When taken care of, these can last for several years, and even a lifetime, most especially when made with quality fabrics in a full canvas construction.
Wool may sound like a hot fabric reserved for cold seasons but most people, especially us Filipinos, would think of woolen wool, the fuzzy fabric normally used in sweaters. Worsted wools are immensely finer, lighter and more breathable, making them perfectly suitable for the Philippine climate.
Lapel Style
A notch lapel provides sufficient amount of elegance and distinction expected from a lawyer in any situation.
Peak lapels are an elevated option. Similar to the double breasted jacket, these can seem intimidating, albeit to a lesser extent. Fans of the series, Suits, will notice this Harvey Specter design cue, which puts him a step above the likes of Mike Ross.
Having either a single or double breasted jacket with a peak lapels is great to have for days that require an extra push of confidence and assertion. Consider semi-wide peak lapels for a much bolder look, but consult with your tailor first. This style may work against you if it is not meant for your proportions.
Now that we have established the essentials of a lawyer's suit, we can fill up the little room we have for
personal style.
Pattern
The mere mention of this category already sounds like a direct contradiction to working with simplicity and solids. Although, like a good lawyer might think, "there are ways to work with this."
Limit yourself to fine, frequently recurring patterns such as prince of whales & pinstripes in low contrast patterns. Chalk stripes are not high frequency patterns but can fit a professional setting provided it does not stand out.
Anything as loud as a gingham or plaid is best reserved for more casual times away from work.
This concludes our first post from our Looking the Part blog series. We hope both lawyers and future attorneys have picked up good insight to carry over to their next suit appointment. Should you need advice specific to your build, style, or even collection, schedule a free consultation with us.
Cheers.