WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT WHAT YOU GETto put them on hold. Nobody's going to see my cabinets. I'm
using the money to buy new clothes."SUBTEXT AND THE LAW
In 1972, Bill Clark, a police officer in the Seventy-eighth Precinct
in Brooklyn, was promoted to detective. His new colleagues sug-
gested that he dress to fit his new role, so Bill went out and
bought two double-knit suits, one raspberry and white, the other
a flashy plaid, some striped shirts, and vivid ties.
The other detectives were startled, but finally one of them took
him to a clothing wholesaler where a salesman helped him pick
out a three-piece flannel suit. Despite television images of sloppily
dressed New York City detectives, Bill Clark told a New York
magazine reporter in 1984, police dress in New York is based
on common sense. Detectives, he explained, try to project a subtext
of dignity and even charm. Sometimes, dress can be even more
important than their guns.
Things have changed since 1984 when Detective Clark was
interviewed. Today the savvy city detective tries to project a tough
street subtext. It's the best way of handling a drug-ridden city.
However, in any precinct house you will still find detectives in
business suits, in keeping with the more formal subtext.
Some time ago I was fortunate enough to be able to interview
a group of Philadelphia trial lawyers. I showed up in my best
outfit: a tweed jacket, sleeveless sweater, a knit tie, and slacks.
I was carrying The New York Times, a paper I had read on the
train.
During a discussion on selecting jury members, one of the lawyers