In the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, black Americans fought against injustices and inequalit like racial segregation through nonviolent sit-ins, freedom rides, bus boycotts, and marches. One uniting strategy used by the many thousands of participants was to use fashion to combat racial stereotypes that black Americans were lazy, inept, and otherwise less-than. Some of the most famous photos of the civil rights movement show thousands of people resisting while dressed in their“ Sunday best”. Women wore neatly pressed hair, button up blouses, cardigans and modest skirts; men wore matching dark colored suits with over starched white undershirts and ties.
In the journal article“ Dressing for Freedom,” author Abena L. Mhoon states,“ When arrested on December 4, 1966, [ Rosa Parks ] was described as a soft-spoken, middle-aged bespectacled impeccably dressed woman in tailored clothing. Mrs. Parks’ quiet style and dignified bearing were stressed by protest organizers. Nothing showy or ostentatious was permitted.… Breaking down the social, economic, and political barriers that in the past had prevented African Americans from having access to the American dream would not come about if people did not look serious and business-like.”
In the years since the civil rights movement, fashion has continued to be used by political and social leaders, lawyers, judges, and more to tell their story or show they are proud to be a part of something.
One of my first memories of understanding the power of fashion was through U. S. Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, who famously used her jewelry, particularly pins and brooches, as a diplomatic tool. She selected specific pins to show support and convey messages during diplomatic engagements. One of my favorite instances was when she wore a snake-shaped brooch after being referred to as a " serpent " by Saddam Hussein ' s regime, signaling her awareness, resilience, and bravery in the face of brutish power.
More recently, Vice President Kamala Harris utilized her fashion choices to convey messages of unity and progress while on the national and international stage. She often wore white, a color associated with the original suffrage movement in the early 1900s, pearl necklaces, a nod to both her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha( AKA), and a tradition of elegance, resilience, and leadership among Black women in professional spaces, and favored Converse sneakers over heels on the campaign trail, a sign of her relatability and practicality.
Perhaps no other fashion choice has had as big an influence in both the legal field and popular culture as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’ s distinctive collars, or " jabots," which she wore over her judicial robes. These collars were not merely decorative; they held symbolic significance. She wore specific collars when delivering majority opinions and famously donned her " dissent collar " when expressing disagreement with the court ' s decision. This sartorial choice became an iconic representation of her judicial philosophy and feminist stance, and is now commonly seen on everything from earrings, necklaces, and brooches to tote bags and tattoos.
One of my most prized possessions is a lace collar my mom found when cleaning out my grandmother’ s home. This framed collar is not just an homage to Justice Ginsburg’ s legacy and work, it represents a connection to my family, sharecroppers in South Caroling who would have only brought out this treasured item as part of their“ Sunday Best,” and likely never dreamed a future granddaughter could be a lawyer or Bar President.
I am grateful our legal field and society has changed so that I’ m not restricted from wearing color or pants or even flat shoes. Instead, I get to play with my wardrobe and jewelry, sometimes for the pure pleasure of it and other times to show support, tell my client’ s story, or help set a jury at ease, all without saying a word. I also suspect most people reading this article know the power and confidence that you feel when your suit fits just right, something which can give you that little extra oomph you need before making that argument, giving that pitch, or negotiating a deal. No matter your philosophy on fashion, its undeniable power isn’ t going anywhere.
With sincere appreciation,
Emily C. Ward President, Atlanta Bar Association www. atlantabar. org THE ATLANTA LAWYER 5