Courtroom cases are formal events and ties are normally still worn. Close to 20 years ago The Tie Advocate a friend who's heart lies in the courtroom started a conversation with me about how the colors and patterns of ties effect a court case. We are republishing his article that he wrote for us let us know if you agree with hIm...
TIE-ING A LOOK TOGETHER
OR
TRYING TIES
By The Tie Advocate
Early morning, I have a big day ahead of me. I have a big trial, a big series of meetings, group presentations, you can insert anything that requires that you look good and present yourself well. For me, it’s a trial. Trials are strange things, they can last a day, weeks or months. One thing is for certain, though—you better look your best at all times and you had better be conscious of the message that you are presenting because you are center stage at all times, all eyes are on you, and you have to be careful about your non-verbal messages. That is, what are you projecting by non-verbal cues, your gestures, your facial expressions, your clothes? My tie is the most important non-verbal statement. Early morning, I have a big day ahead of me—what tie am I going to wear?
As a practicing trial lawyer, I know that what is said, is as important as what goes un-said, a half-answer, a sideways glance, a lowered head. Those things are almost as important as what is perceived. I want to be perceived as a guy that is in total control of his surroundings at all times. In addition, I also want to be able to express my personality, but in a way that I’m the only one who is in on the joke. Especially when I wear my Sam Hober College Tie.
The tie, in my humble opinion, is the only item of clothing that can truly be used to project a message, to others and to myself. The tie is the thing that ties, pardon the pun, a look together. In the wrong and uninitiated hands, it can be utterly destructive causing onlookers to ignore the wearer/speaker as listeners tune out in unison thinking: “Where did he get that? Are those whales? Christmas trees? I think I had that tie in 1992.”
In the right hands, the tie is a statement, it’s a palette, and for me, it’s a summary of what I’m projecting that day. Do I take ties too seriously? Maybe, but I think others don’t take ties seriously enough. Don’t care about your tie, whether it’s stained, old, frayed? That could be sending the message that you just don’t care. And in my business, not caring about how you are perceived means you just don’t care and that’s deadly.
In the right hands, the tie is a prop or a conversation piece. In jury selection, you can ask about memory recall by asking jurors if they think they’ll remember six months from now what color tie you are wearing today. There is a famous story where one lawyer gets up during an opening statement and states that the evidence was as certain as the fact that he was wearing a blue tie. His adversary promptly pointed out that his tie was paisley, not blue. Message sent: “blue” tie wearer has no idea what he’s talking about. Message received, “blue” tie wearer lost. Coincidence? Not likely. Moral: if you are going to talk about your blue tie today, today make sure you are wearing a blue tie.
After many years of trying cases, I generally know how long one will last and I can generally anticipate how the presentation of a case will proceed no matter if I’m prosecution or defense, plaintiff or defendant. There will always be days that are light and days that require a whole lot of heavy-lifting and the proper tie will be required. I know that for opening statements and summations I have to look sharp. On the days, I take apart a key witness, the tie will accentuate my look. Other days when there will be a lot of scientific or number driven evidence, a tie that’s more somber may be required or maybe something livelier if it’s my evidence.
Trials that last for months are tricky. I don’t like to repeat my ties, yet I have favorites that are my go to tie that, to me, will always be “that” tie. Proper anticipation means not wasting meaningful morning moments going through ties to find the right one. Failing to anticipate means having that look that’s just not quite right, you’re a little off, and that means your game’s a little off. For me, that’s deadly.
A logical question to ask is: why can’t a nice suit, shoes, shirt, socks or accessories play the same or even a more important role? My answer would be that in modern American culture where I practice, the uniform is set: conservative suit, plain socks, conservative accessories, and yes, on trial, it’s still black shoes. A suit that screams expensive, multicolor socks or shirts, expensive jewelry may cause a jury to tune you out. Even if you’re tuned out because they are admiring your goods, the effect is still the same: no one heard what you were saying. A tie, the right tie, focuses the audience on the wearer. For me, that’s a great advantage.
I take the tie I wear seriously. I feel that the tie I’m wearing during important events gives me confidence. In turn, I project that confidence and I’m able to deliver my message. Does the tie I wear affect the listener? I don’t really know, but I can’t dispute the results. Selecting the proper tie is about planning, preparation and execution of how you want to look. Failing to select the proper tie is failing to plan and failing to plan is planning to fail.
