If you’re looking to feel powerful in the courtroom or high-stakes mediation, look no further than a good blazer.

More than the fact that we may associate the blazer with powerful men, according to this article about the psychology behind how clothes make us feel, the blazer is the ultimate armor. “According to the science, the blazer makes you feel strong, and, materially well-off,” the author writes.

Sure, the blazer can be too masculine. If poorly fitted or boxy, you’ll be tugging or drowning, and focusing on how you’re an imposter rather than doing the work you’re meant to do.

But the right blazer, well-cut with smart details, can be the key ingredient in a powerful outfit.

What are the key components of the perfect blazer? Fit and fabric.

The perfect blazer will fit your body. Compare the blazers below. The white blazer hugs my shape without appearing too tight. The collar lays flat along my chest, and the buttons hold tight without straining or stretching the fabric. The length hits an inch or so below my hip bones, which helps elongate my torso and compliments my waist. The grey blazer is a size smaller and too snug. It bunches on my arms and prevents me from moving freely. The button is strained, causing the collar to poke out around my boobs. It’s also too short, a full inch shorter than the white one.

The right fit will make you feel strong without limiting you.

The fabric of a blazer is key. Ideally, it is made from a natural-looking material. Faux silk and polyester look cheap and do not tend to lay well (black blazer below). Lighter fabrics, like linen, tend to wrinkle and won’t hold a shape. Tweed or wool-blend blazers (navy blazer below) hold their structure well and give you a powerful silhouette. Ideally they are blended to have a bit of give.

With those principles in mind, you can think outside the box. Blazers with interesting (or no) collars or feminine details can help you present femininity and escape the masculine standards that have historically constrained women in the courtroom.

In the court where I practice, all attorneys are expected to wear blazers. I’ve heard stories of the Court stopping a hearing to call an attorney to the bench just to ask why they are not wearing a key item of clothing, so I’m not quite willing to risk foregoing a jacket.

I look for interesting colors that make me feel powerful. My default is a light or medium blue, but I also love certain pinks, purples, dark reds, and greens. A clean, subtle pattern, like the gold windowpane pattern on the navy blazer above, adds just enough interest.

When the time comes to suit up for a meeting or court appearance, there’s truly something powerful about swinging on my blazer and buttoning up, like fastening my armor for battle.

Do you have a go-to blazer? Comment below or send comments and questions to whitneyphillipscoulter@gmail.com.