Greta Gale established her women’s suiting brand, Furlong & Gale, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Her inspiration stemmed from recognising a significant gap in the market for fashion brands that offered high-quality women’s suits when she started her law career.

Before transitioning to running her business full-time, Gale held positions as a paralegal and then transitioned to roles in the marketing and legal departments at Woolworths. During this period, she also obtained admission to the NSW Supreme Court as a lawyer in 2021.

Gale expressed how she has always had a passion for fashion, emphasising how clothing served as a creative outlet for self-expression.

“I’ve always loved fashion. Clothes can be such a fun way of expressing yourself, and I’ve always enjoyed the process of putting an outfit together for the day that I feel great in,” she said.

Furlong & Gale initially began as a passion project fuelled by her determination to tackle the gaps in her personal wardrobe, to which she devoted all her spare time on weekends to contribute to this endeavour.

“I started Furlong & Gale as a passion project because I was looking to fill gaps in my own wardrobe – I squeezed in designing, sourcing fabrics and finding our manufacturer in spare moments on the weekends while working full-time at Woolies (in marketing at that stage),” she said.

She mentioned that the initial process was gradual, but due to increasing customer demand and business growth opportunities, she transitioned to working full-time at her fashion brand.

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Gale articulated that there has been a modest shift in workplace dress codes within the legal profession since the onset of COVID-19. However, she explained that appropriate attire still depends on the specific workplace culture and individual preferences.

“There’s definitely been some relaxing of workplace dress codes across the board since COVID (white sneakers on a Friday in some offices, for example); however, what you should and shouldn’t wear will still largely depend on workplace culture and personal preference,” she said.

She provided specific guidance on the attire that legal professionals should avoid wearing, underscoring the higher standard of professionalism typically expected in the legal field compared to other professions.

“Given legal dress codes tend to remain more professional than not, it’s a good idea to avoid anything ill-fitting, worn-through or better suited to the gym,” she said.

Gale also explained the importance of familiarising yourself with the court’s dress code regulations before appearing to ensure your clothing complies with them.

“Bearing in mind any formal standards being set by a court or tribunal you might be appearing in, your working wardrobe should be a collection of pieces that allow you to quickly and easily feel put-together and appropriate for the day,” she said.

The importance of following workplace dress codes

Dress codes in the workplace serve as a helpful tool to provide employees with guidance on appropriate attire, with Gale expressing how they typically “allow a company or organisation to look unified and professional”.

She also outlined how stricter dress codes are implemented on legal professionals to ensure that their attire reflects respect for the workplace environment and the clients that they are serving.

“For lawyers, dress codes can be quite rigid (particularly if your role involves appearing in a court or tribunal), so it comes down to showing respect for the overall workplace but also the importance of the role you’re performing for clients or colleagues,” she said.

Why you need to dress appropriately for work

In professional environments, Gale emphasised the significance of dressing in a manner that reflects respect and understanding. This is particularly crucial in the legal profession, where such attributes are essential to convey.

“In any professional work context, dressing appropriately will always help to demonstrate respect and understanding – however, in a legal context, this is furthered even more,” she said.

Gale said that because lawyers are individuals whom people seek for solutions, your choice of attire is significant. It can demonstrate your awareness of the importance of the situation, which is crucial to convey to either a client or colleague.

“As the problem-solver that clients or colleagues have turned to, how you dress can also help demonstrate understanding of the importance of the situation and of the standards set by the profession,” she said.

Essential staples lawyers should have in their wardrobe

Gale highlighted the essential clothing items that all lawyers should possess in their wardrobes, underscoring the importance of investing in timeless clothing that offers versatility and can be seamlessly integrated into various outfit ensembles.

“It’s tried and true – but the answer would have to be a classic, well-fitting black suit. Preferably in a style and cut that allows you to mix and match the jacket and pants with other items in your workwear wardrobe,” she said.

She further said: “We have the pleasure of dressing many wonderful female lawyers, and a classic black suit (either trousers or a pencil skirt) is often their first purchase when they shop with us.”

Another important factor for female lawyers to consider when buying these essential items is the type of material used to make these clothes, as the quality of suits differs for males and females.

“Men’s suiting is generally of a good quality fabric; however, for ladies, I would recommend paying attention to fibre content and opting for something in natural fibres for a nicer overall finish and more comfortable wear,” she said.