An edit

What to Wear to Court

Conservative shirts, suits, trousers, and closed shoes for a courthouse appearance.

Deciding what to wear to court calls for plain, conservative clothes in dark colours like navy, grey and black, with closed shoes. Dress neatly and respectfully, with clean collars and tidy tailoring. Wool trousers, pressed cotton shirts and plain dark knits look orderly and keep attention on the case.

Rules differ from court to court, so check before you go. One federal court in Connecticut, for example, tells jurors that business casual is fine but that shorts, T shirts, blue jeans and sweatpants are not, and it allows no hats in the courtroom. UJOH, a Japanese label started by Mitsuru Nishizaki after years as a pattern maker, makes shirts and trousers. Undercover is the label Jun Takahashi started in the early nineties.

WDLT117 in Toronto brings tailored jackets, trousers and shirts, including Undercover's. Utopia and Due West in Toronto add shirts, knitwear and trousers; save the jeans and T shirts on this page for another day.

Chrome Hearts Black/Camo Cross Patch Chino Pants, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Black/Camo Cross Patch Chino Pants
€12,835
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Pony/Patent/Leather Cross Patch Sweatpants Black at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Pony/Patent/Leather Cross Patch Sweatpants Black
€3,851Lightly used
Utopia
Acne Studios Patchwork Oversized Flannel Green, front view, at Utopia on within
Acne Studios
Patchwork Oversized Flannel Green
€193Lightly used
Utopia
Balenciaga Black Distressed Oversized Ebay T-Shirt, front view, at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
Black Distressed Oversized Ebay T-Shirt
€289
Utopia
Rick Owens FW16 Mastodon Drawstring Cargo Pants Black at Utopia on within
Rick Owens
FW16 Mastodon Drawstring Cargo Pants Black
€321Pre-owned
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Miami Exclusive Cemetery Vertical Logo Sweatpants Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Miami Exclusive Cemetery Vertical Logo Sweatpants Black
€1,284
Utopia
Saint Mxxxxxx Saint Michael Obliterate T-Shirt Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Saint Mxxxxxx
Saint Michael Obliterate T-Shirt Black
€321
Utopia
Balenciaga Skater Graffiti Logo L/S T-Shirt Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Balenciaga
Skater Graffiti Logo L/S T-Shirt Black
€642
Utopia
Chrome Hearts Fleur Knee Straight Leg Jeans, front view, at Utopia on within
Chrome Hearts
Fleur Knee Straight Leg Jeans
€5,134
Utopia
Thom Browne Grey Engineered 4-Bar Pants at Utopia on within
Thom Browne
Grey Engineered 4-Bar Pants
€193Pre-owned
Utopia
Maison Margiela Painter Jeans Grey, front view, at Utopia on within
Maison Margiela
Painter Jeans Grey
€321
Utopia
Gallery Dept. Chino Flare Pants Black, front view, at Utopia on within
Gallery Dept.
Chino Flare Pants Black
€321
Utopia
Kapital Dense Jersey Baseball Shirt, front view, at Utopia on within
Kapital
Dense Jersey Baseball Shirt
€642
Utopia
Saint Mxxxxxx Saint Michael True Queen T-Shirt Grey, front view, at Utopia on within
Saint Mxxxxxx
Saint Michael True Queen T-Shirt Grey
€321
Utopia
Denim Tears x Levi's Cotton Wreath Jean Black at Utopia on within
Denim Tears
x Levi's Cotton Wreath Jean Black
€193Pre-owned
Utopia
Aime Leon Dore x New Balance Sweatpants Sand at Utopia on within
Aime Leon Dore
x New Balance Sweatpants Sand
€128
Utopia
Avavav Theo Semi-distressed Double Layer T-shirt Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Avavav
Theo Semi-distressed Double Layer T-shirt Black
€354.95
WDLT117
Song for the Mute SFTM x Birkenstock "The Gardener" Crochet Flower Tee Green, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
SFTM x Birkenstock "The Gardener" Crochet Flower Tee Green
€192.95
WDLT117
Fear of God Essentials Fleece Essential Sweatpant (FW24) Black at Utopia on within
Fear of God
Essentials Fleece Essential Sweatpant (FW24) Black
€193
Utopia
Aime Leon Dore x New Balance Chenille Sweatpants Grey, front view, at Utopia on within
Aime Leon Dore
x New Balance Chenille Sweatpants Grey
€128
Utopia
Rhude Dakar Convoy Tee in Vintage Black, back view, at Due West on within
Rhude
Dakar Convoy Tee
€234Vintage
Due West
Song for the Mute SFTM x Birkenstock "The Rebel" Distressed Tee Black, front view, at WDLT117 on within
Song for the Mute
SFTM x Birkenstock "The Rebel" Distressed Tee Black
€192.95
WDLT117
Saint Mxxxxxx Saint Michael 2PAC Tee White at Utopia on within
Saint Mxxxxxx
Saint Michael 2PAC Tee White
€321
Utopia
Rhude Vintage White Moonlight T-Shirt at Utopia on within
Rhude
Vintage White Moonlight T-Shirt
€225Vintage
Utopia

Looks in this edit

Common questions

What colours work best when dressing for court?
Dark navy, charcoal and black are safe choices because they look plain and formal. Leave bright colours and loud prints for another day.
How can you dress appropriately for court without a full suit?
Pair tailored trousers with a pressed collared shirt and a fine knit. Add closed leather shoes, and check your court's own rules before you go.
Which independent designers offer pieces suitable for court?
UJOH, a Japanese label started by a former pattern maker, makes shirts and trousers. Undercover brings jackets, trousers and shirts here.