First-Year Friday: Dresses Will Make 1L Year Easier

Nothing will make you feel more put-together and confident than the right dress.

Obviously, if you hate wearing dresses for whatever reason, this advice won’t be helpful for you, but if you’re open to the idea of an all-dress uniform for law school, hear me out.

First, dresses are the simplest outfit possible. You don’t have to think about what top to pair with pants or a skirt. You can just grab and go – which you’ll definitely want to do as you’re rushing to squeeze in the final pages (or all of the pages) of your assigned reading before class.

Second, there’s a dress for every body and style. Whether you want to play up your feminine curves or balance them out, there are infinite combinations of dress shapes, colors, and materials to fit your needs. And whether your style is ultra-feminine, classic, bohemian, or modern, you can find the right dress to express your style.

Third, you can easily make almost any dress professional by adding a blazer. I recommend a crisp white, well-structured blazer.

Because you have infinite choices when it comes to dresses, here are some general guidelines you can use to find the right dresses for law school.

  • Find a dress with good structure. The cleaner the lines, the more powerful the dress. Summer dresses with lots of frills are ultra-feminine, but you’re better off using girly colors rather than a flouncy shape.
  • Don’t wear anything too tight. While a sleek, well-fitted dress will make you look very put-together, a dress that is too tight will do the opposite. Also, you’ll be sitting through long classes, and having a dress that constricts your midsection will make you horribly uncomfortable.
  • Choose a professional neckline. Law school is not the place to let the girls out.
  • Find a professional length. Aside from the professional aspect, a dress that is too short will annoy you when you sit down. A dress that is too long will either be too casual or too formal. The best lengths fall at or below your knees and above your ankles.

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