Barrister Gowns, Wigs and Suit... help?

LazyFecker · 30-06-2012 12:25PM #1

Howdy folks....

Does anyone know of anywhere that sells the wig, gown,l shirts/collars and/or other required barrister apparel...; at an affordable price?

Moyville have an offer going, however its still pretty expensive and a number of people that i know who personally went to look at their stuff didnt rate their suits too favourably.

Does anyone know of any more affordable Irish, English, Chinese, Indian or other tailors/providers of barrister gear that is both good quality and a reliable source (ie dont just rob your money, and deliver on time).

Cheers

Tom Young · 30-06-2012 01:46PM

If you want my two cent, book a flight to London. You'll save on the prices.

Black three piece suits are easy to come by.

Wigs, tunics, collars, tabs and gowns .... UK. Ede and Ravenscroft or Stanley Lee.

Both have online portals.

ResearchWill · 30-06-2012 03:44PM

LazyFecker wrote: »

Howdy folks....

Does anyone know of anywhere that sells the wig, gown,l shirts/collars and/or other required barrister apparel...; at an affordable price?

Moyville have an offer going, however its still pretty expensive and a number of people that i know who personally went to look at their stuff didnt rate their suits too favourably.

Does anyone know of any more affordable Irish, English, Chinese, Indian or other tailors/providers of barrister gear that is both good quality and a reliable source (ie dont just rob your money, and deliver on time).

Cheers

I saw a leaflet in the library doing really good offers can remember it now but it was very good.

FreudianSlippers · 30-06-2012 05:32PM

ResearchWill wrote: »

I saw a leaflet in the library doing really good offers can remember it now but it was very good.

http://hiras.com/ ?

Delancey · 30-06-2012 06:08PM

I thought wigs were history ?

ResearchWill · 30-06-2012 07:46PM

Delancey wrote: »

I thought wigs were history ?

They are optional, in Dublin about one in ten use the wig, some circuits it's the other way around.

nuac · 30-06-2012 08:08PM

No solicitor will think less of any barrister just because (s)he doesnt wear a wig.

That said I know some barristers who have difficulty coming to a consultation in the courthouse unless they have their wig with themm even just to carry in their hand. Old habits die hard

I recall about 20 years ago, when all wore wigs, a party of US tourists arrived outside Westport courthouse. There were no consultation rooms there then, so negotiating and consultations were out in the sunshine. They thought they were on a film set.

LazyFecker · 01-07-2012 10:35AM

This is the deal that the Inns are bigging up

FreudianSlippers · 01-07-2012 10:44AM

LazyFecker wrote: »

This is the deal that the Inns are bigging up

That's not a bad deal if the gowns are good quality. IMO it's worth the extra cash to get it from Ede and Ravenscroft (Louis Copeland resell them at a large markup here).

Tom Young · 01-07-2012 12:57PM

Back to my suggestion: Ryanair to Stansted, train to Victoria, tube to Chancery Lane, book Ede and Ravenscroft.

You'll save on prices quoted and please don't buy a plastic wig

krd · 02-07-2012 06:51AM

LazyFecker wrote: »

Howdy folks....

Does anyone know of anywhere that sells the wig, gown,l shirts/collars and/or other required barrister apparel...; at an affordable price?

A fancy dress shop, perhaps..........Or maybe even theatrical supplies.

Brother Psychosis · 02-07-2012 08:03AM

Tom Young wrote: »

Back to my suggestion: Ryanair to Stansted, train to Victoria, tube to Chancery Lane, book Ede and Ravenscroft.

You'll save on prices quoted and please don't buy a plastic wig

louis copeland doesnt mark them up that much - when i looked into, the savings from buying in ede and ravenscroft were cancelled out by the price of the flights over!

Tom Young · 02-07-2012 08:16AM

Depends on your tunic rotation policy (read: hygiene).

Brother Psychosis · 02-07-2012 08:19AM

i was only talking about the wig and gown, the shirts and everything else may well be cheaper elsewhere.

Raisins · 02-07-2012 09:26PM

Tom Young wrote: »

Back to my suggestion: Ryanair to Stansted, train to Victoria, tube to Chancery Lane, book Ede and Ravenscroft.

You'll save on prices quoted and please don't buy a plastic wig

Can I ask why are the Ede and Ravenscroft worth the trip? What's special about the gowns?

Tom Young · 02-07-2012 09:28PM

Raisins wrote: »

Can I ask why are the Ede and Ravenscroft worth the trip? What's special about the gowns?

Main court dresser. Wide selection.

Raisins · 02-07-2012 10:05PM

Tom Young wrote: »

Main court dresser. Wide selection.

Thanks.

FreudianSlippers · 03-07-2012 11:31AM

Quality is another issue. This is an investment that you will have for your career and wear most days. Some of the cheaper gowns look just that and become damaged very easily. Most of the torn gowns that I see are the cheaper cotton ones.

Delancey · 03-07-2012 11:55AM

Do the gowns still have the special pocket where in days of old a client would put whatever they could afford by way of fees into ?

Raisins · 03-07-2012 12:24PM

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Quality is another issue. This is an investment that you will have for your career and wear most days. Some of the cheaper gowns look just that and become damaged very easily. Most of the torn gowns that I see are the cheaper cotton ones.

So are the polyester gowns better quality than the cotton ones? Usually it's the reverse. I saw a polyester Ede and Ravenscroft one on their website that I'm considering.

nuac · 03-07-2012 12:41PM

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Quality is another issue. This is an investment that you will have for your career and wear most days. Some of the cheaper gowns look just that and become damaged very easily. Most of the torn gowns that I see are the cheaper cotton ones.

I dont know about that. Many eminent barristers have had gowns that were in tatters

FreudianSlippers · 03-07-2012 12:49PM

nuac wrote: »

I dont know about that. Many eminent barristers have had gowns that were in tatters

From years of use... not at the end of first year :P

FreudianSlippers · 03-07-2012 12:50PM

Raisins wrote: »

So are the polyester gowns better quality than the cotton ones? Usually it's the reverse. I saw a polyester Ede and Ravenscroft one on their website that I'm considering.

polyester < cotton < wool.

Actually, just looking there and Stanley Ley have improved their website and their prices seem to be lower than when I was buying mine.
http://www.stanley-ley.co.uk/acatalog/Stanley_Ley_Barristers_Gowns_8.html

GeorgeOrwell · 03-07-2012 04:26PM

I note Stanley Ley sell barrister's waistcoats with long-sleeves. Are they worn in Ireland?

Tom Young · 03-07-2012 06:06PM

GeorgeOrwell wrote: »

I note Stanley Ley sell barrister's waistcoats with long-sleeves. Are they worn in Ireland?

"Yeah, but no"

I'd not go there myself.

04-07-2012 12:58PM

GeorgeOrwell wrote: »

I note Stanley Ley sell barrister's waistcoats with long-sleeves. Are they worn in Ireland?

When they are used in the UK it's by QCs who wear an "all-in-one" waistcoat rather than a long coat and normal waistcoat. They are affectionately known as "bum freezers".

GeorgeOrwell · 04-07-2012 05:16PM

QCs are known as Bum Freezers?

Well, you learn something new every day!

lawfilly · 04-07-2012 08:36PM

I think he just means the all-in-one waistcoat rather than the actual QCs! I assume thats because the waistcoat is shorter than a regular QC's suit-jacket which I believe is more like a morning coat.

NoQuarter · 04-07-2012 11:43PM

lawfilly wrote: »

I think he just means the all-in-one waistcoat rather than the actual QCs! I assume thats because the waistcoat is shorter than a regular QC's suit-jacket which I believe is more like a morning coat.

WHHOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHH.......

The_Minister · 13-07-2012 10:09AM

Does anyone know if any (physical) shop other than Louis Copeland carry gowns/robes?

I was told they were the same as the English shope, but they're charging €268 for a gown, and all the English online gowns are about £150+

Are the Copeland gowns of better quality or is it just a huge mark-up?

Tom Young · 14-07-2012 11:06AM

Lack of legal outfitters in Ireland.

Main one is Ede and Ravescroft in London. Copelands stock a good bit of their stuff, far as I know. Unless that's changed recently.

There is a price difference in buying abroad and it's even less if you go to the shops in Chancery Lane, London. That's what I did anyway.

Stanley Ley are good as well. Usually have bulk offers.

Tom

Barrister Gowns, Wigs and Suit... help?

Comments