Robing Room Disasters: How to Survive Common Barrister Robe Fails

No matter how prepared you think you are, your first robing room disaster is only a matter of time. Here’s how to survive wardrobe fails like a pro — and maybe even laugh about them later.

Introduction

Court is about to start.
You’re about to argue a contested motion or address a jury — and then you realize your robes are ripped, your tabs are dirty, your shirt is stained.
Something got caught in the elevator on the way up.

What do you do?

This blog is here to give you some ideas on how to deal when calamity befalls you, whether it’s your first year or any other period in your legal career.

Borrow from a Colleague

First thing you can do: borrow from a colleague.
Go to the barrister lounge, go to the lawyer’s room, and say,
“Hey guys, help me out. I’m in a pinch. My shirt got caught in the elevator,”
or
“I didn’t realize that on my way out of the house, the baby smeared something on me.”

Whatever happened, just tell them.

And if they lend you something, make sure you’re gracious.
Return whatever you borrowed nicely cleaned — and preferably with a gift or a card.

Borrowing from a colleague is always the first course of action.

Visit the Local Law Association

Let’s say you’re out of jurisdiction.
You’re somewhere in Northern Ontario, you don’t know anyone, and you’re just flying in for a short period.

Go to the law library. Go to the local law association.

The librarians there, in different jurisdictions, have often proven to be very helpful and willing to provide you with something.

Some of them keep extra tabs, extra waistcoats from retired lawyers, or even spare gowns.
(And if you’re wearing a gown from a very distinguished lawyer, maybe some of their skill will rub off on you — even if they’re now long retired or on the bench.)

It’s always worth checking before you go to another jurisdiction and making sure they might be able to accommodate you.

Paper Clips as Emergency Cufflinks (True Story)

You’re about to put on your gowns in the robing room — and you realize you forgot your cufflinks.
You don’t want to look sloppy.

True story:

Once, I ran to the library and asked for some paperclips.
They can be a quick fix to fasten French cuffs when you’re in a bind.

Moral of the story:

Don’t forget your cufflinks — but it’s also a good idea to have a checklist if you’re traveling out of jurisdiction.
Tabs, cufflinks, shirts, accessories — double-check them before you leave.

Covering a Stained or Wrinkled Shirt with a Waistcoat

What about when you pull out your shirt and realize it’s wrinkled — or worse, stained?

One of the beautiful things about waistcoats is that they cover wrinkles and stains.

If you’re going for lunch, take off your waistcoat and just wear your shirt.
If you drop some mustard on your shirt, you can always cover it up when you robe again by putting your waistcoat back on.

Waistcoats are one of the best fixes for wardrobe problems when you’re already at court.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, everyone has a robe disaster story.
It’s just part of the profession.

The important thing is not to panic.
Stay calm, fix it the best you can, and remember — nobody’s paying as much attention to it as you think.
Focus on doing your job, and the rest will take care of itself.