Zanzea jumper and Birkenstocks for the criminally indigent

The best part of contributing to this column is the people I get to meet on the streets of our city. Our interactions provide me with small glimpses into the worlds of others. On a sunny evening during happy hour with some coworkers, the world I got a momentary look into was that of Danielle, a public defender. While I enjoyed some deep fried cheese balls with mustard at Counterpoint in Golden Hill, she walked by and caught my attention.

Danielle sported a pale brown, loose fitting jumpsuit over a white tank top, and a couple black ink tattoos on her right side. It was the first thing she pointed out to me when we started talking, specifically the one on her inner wrist. “This tattoo is an NG for ‘not guilty,’ because I represent the criminally indigent.”

Suits are a part of Danielle’s daily life in the courtroom, which she admits aren’t the most comfortable outfit to wear throughout the day. She also touched on the antiquated dress code that still exists in the courtroom, explaining, “Women are expected to dress a certain way in court, like wear skirts, or high heels. I have specifically chosen not to wear high heels.” This choice helps her to focus on the task at hand — winning the case for her client.

“Comfort is important to me. Comfort is loose fitting things and things that somehow touch on individuality. I wear pins on my court suits, which not a lot of attorneys do.”

When asked about where she got the on-trend jumper (Zanzea, roughly $20), she pointed to her friend and coworker, who had been sitting with her. “She bought it on Instagram, didn’t like it, and gave it to me.” Her black sandals perfectly complemented the look (Birkenstocks, $100), as did her simple gold accessories.