*Sleeveless or muscle shirt.
• Exercise outfit.
• Anything sexy or too dressy. Including, tight tops, short skirts, sequins, slinky tops, revealing tops. Do not wear anything you would wear out on a Saturday night!
• Sundress or strapless dress.
• Crop tops. Cover your belly button!
• Any top with spaghetti straps.
• T-shirts (especially ones with beer, drug, or sexual references).
• Anything you would wear to the zoo or to do yard work.
• Athletic attire, especially baseball caps.
• Jeans, unless they are the only long pants you own.
• Clothing that is too small or too large.
• Clothing that reveals your underwear.
• Hats.
• Shorts or cut-offs.
Footwear Not to Ever Wear in Court:
• Flip-flop sandals.
• Athletic shoes.
• High-heel spikes.
• Open-toed shoes.
• Anything you would wear at the beach.
• Lots of jewelry, especially if it makes noise when you move.
• Sunglasses, unless medically prescribed.
Hair Matters – What you Never Want in Court:
• Wet and messy hair.
• Dirty hair.
• Unnatural dye job.
• Hairnet and/or curlers.
• Weird or unusual haircut.
Hygiene Matters in Court – NEVER go to Court:
• Looking dirty or unshaven.
• With too much cologne and perfume. Use very little. Too much and everyone will wonder what you are trying to cover up!
• Smelling like cigarette smoke.
• Smelling like pot. That is a totally different problem!
• Smelling of alcohol. Again, that is a totally different problem!
• Nails – extremely long nails on both men and women, neon or bright nail polish.
Tattoos & Piercings:
• Hide the tattoos.
• Remove jewelry BEFORE entering the courtroom.
• Do not have bare legs or shoulders showing.
Ideas of What you SHOULD Wear to the Courthouse:
• Conservative dress – something you would wear to church, work or a nice social function. (If you wear a uniform to work, it is usually OK to wear it to court unless you wear shorts to work.)
• Wear clothes that fit. If you have gained or lost a lot of weight, please buy something new for your courtroom appearance.
Men:
• Suit with tie.
• Sports coat.
• Long-sleeve button-down shirt with a collar and long pants.
• Wear a belt or suspenders to keep up your pants.
Women:
• A nice dress or woman’s business suit.
• A conservative pants suit.
• Conservative top and long slacks.
Jewelry:
• Less is more. Remove all piercings.
• If you claim you have no money, then wearing lots of jewelry is unwise.
Nails:
• Make sure nails are neat and clean.
• Wear neutral nail polish.
Shoes:
• Wear closed-toe shoes.
• Wear conservative shoes.
Hair:
• Schedule a haircut two weeks before the court appearance.
• Look neatly groomed. If your hair is long, tie it back. No hairnets, rollers, or combs.
Hygiene:
• Brush your teeth and use mouthwash.
• Men, shave before court and trim your mustache/beard.
• Women wear very conservative makeup.
• Use soap and water liberally before coming to court.
• Deodorant. You will be nervous, so be prepared.
• If you perspire a lot, bring a handkerchief or whatever to look cool and confident.
• Cover tattoos.
You have one chance to make your case in a courtroom. Make sure your appearance helps you and does not hurt you. It should not matter. It does.
For questions about this guide on what not to wear to Court in Colorado, or any other Colorado Workers’ Compensation issues, give me a call at 970-947-1776 –Donald J. Kaufman, Attorney at Law
