A defendant should make certain they wear clean, conservative clothing. Avoid flashy outfits and accessories. Groom thoroughly and keep hairstyles as conservative and clean as the clothing. It is unnecessary to wear dresses or suits, but avoid jeans, yoga pants, or any casual outfits. Wear dress shoes rather than sandals or sneakers.

Avoid any clothing with logos or messages or clothes meant to sexualize the wearer. Keep all jewelry to a minimum and conservative in its appearance. Remove obvious facial piercings, or at least keep the number of piercings visible to only one or two.

Color psychology affects how product marketing takes place, encourages designers to choose specific shades for different rooms and buildings, and can help people to encourage others to see them in a certain way. In the courtroom, the impressions to seek are things like sincerity, calmness, and reliability.

Blue clothing can promote a sense of sincerity and trust for the wearer. It is also a formal color, so it can add a touch of credibility to the person who wears it. Additionally, soft shades of green or yellow give the impression of calmness, so people may feel more relaxed around the individual.

Just as important as what to wear are the colors to avoid. Bright colors like red or orange can seem aggressive. Avoid orange especially because of the association with prison uniforms. Black clothing can also seem aggressive or intimidating, especially if the person wears all black. Black power suits on men or women may make them seem formidable and professional, but in a courtroom, power may seem intimidating.  

Men must also decide on facial hair. Beards have the potential to make a man seem more masculine and aggressive. Aggression can cause a negative influence in a courtroom where the defendant has charges of assault or other physical complaints against them.

Research has shown that people identify expressions of anger more clearly on the faces of bearded men than they do on clean-shaven men. The same research also showed that people responded well to a smiling bearded face, but a defendant that smiles all day in court may give people the impression they are not taking the process seriously.

Men who have worn beards for years may feel uncomfortable and insecure by shaving. It is okay to keep an existing, well-groomed beard during all court appearances. However, long, shaggy beards or patchy facial hair may make the individual seem poorly groomed.

In the United States, slightly over one-third of adults age 29 and younger and about 30 percent of all college graduates have at least one tattoo. These statistics indicate that skin art has gained social acceptance over the last few decades, but that does not mean jurors will overlook all artwork.

Cover any tattoos related to gangs as well as any that contain racial, sexual, or violent content. Clothing can cover a lot of skin, and makeup can hide the rest. One exception to covering tattoos could be if the case includes a victim or witness that identified the suspect by their distinctive tattoos. To cover them may make it seem like the defendant wanted to alter their appearance to prevent identification.  

People need not look perfect in court, but an effort to show respect to the justice system by looking professional and groomed can help. At David Naumann & Associates, we want our clients to look their best while they're in court, but we also want them to have the best experience possible. Our team is ready to help you. Contact us today to learn more.