Getting shirty: the recent Civil Justice Council costs forum provoked the usual Tory-awayday-like fascination in observing what lawyers wear when they are allowed to dress down. Some simply ignore the looser dress code and stick with the pin-stripes (or perhaps they have nothing else in their wardrobes?), while others wear what they usually do but daringly leave the tie in the case. However, this year - perhaps reflecting the ease with which people now sit in the so-called big tent - there was a noticeable rise in casualness, and particularly pullovers (although some made more of an effort for dinner). Put it this way: on this evidence, there is no danger of the UK pullover industry going out of business. There were some unfortunately loud colours, for which as in previous years claimant warrior Andrew Twambley was largely responsible, but those looking to uphold some integrity in the profession will be alarmed to hear that there were a few big-tent residents who were so busy discussing the future funding of litigation that they could not even find the time to tuck in their shirts. Obiter has heard senior solicitors linking the decline in ethical standards in the profession to the decline in sartorial standards, and should the council ever finally crack the funding nut, we would urge it to take up this critical issue with equal vigour.