I think the Polo with logo, khaki dockers, and comfort type shoes are best for your walk up and intros. If it gets dirty you should have a "war bag" with a jump suit and other related equipment. Be flexible. But I agree with hcso1510 & armresl, you want the look that's not the cable guy but stay away from the SWAT gear too.
You will set the tone of the investigation in the way you show up to deal with the problem.
Good luck,
Cowboy
I could never get away with a uniform.
Sometimes I go into tech shops where everyone is wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops.
An other day, at an other office, everyone is in pin-striped suits, with wing-tip shoes, cuff-links.
Anything I do has to be discreet, so I have to match the environment.
jhup makes an excellent point Wear the camouflage that suits the environment. Nothing says that you have to have just one uniform.
By default, I would recommend a suit with a tastefully-designed, company tie and white shirt. For those environments with which you wish to blend, remove the coat/tie, replace the dress shirt with a polo, replace the slacks with 511's. Have some common element that would link the business-casual with the business-professional (e.g. logo on the polo matches a discrete logo on the tie/tie tack/cuff links, colors are coordinated, etc.).
Above all, you need comfortable shoes!
"Above all, you need comfortable shoes!
No doubt! The older I get, the more important this is.
I am new to Computer Forensics, 2011 Graduate, however I have worked in the IT field for over eight years. BitHead, miket65 and, jhup all make valid points.
The key valid point is to blend in and not cause a disruption to the current work flow. If a system or node has not been isolated when “BOOT STRAP THUG” arrives it may prove counter productive.
The old expression “you get more flies with honey than vinegar” may also apply. Obtaining data on how things are “truly done” not how things are suppose to be done may prove vital to an investigation. A LE / military appearance may make some people VERY uneasy. An example of obtaining data would be finding ~someone~ knowing that an un authorized AP is used by “X” person. The AP may be on a exterior wall and WIDE open.
Lastly while I was working in IT I frequently had to crawl under desks, access ways and / or, go into “network closets” (with Dust Bunnies and various other creatures…). I can attest that your field ops will be much happier if they are not wearing any very dark nor bright colours.
As for tool belts, I would nix the idea. A mini mag using 1x AAA or 2x AA with 1 watt led should provide plenty of light in most situations. If they need to bring in imaging equipment or other equipment it would look better if it was in a brief case to a metal equipment case (depending on taste and expense allowed).
Just my 2 cents.
Good grief, the thought of them getting me into a uniform !!! No chance …. I will stay scruffy unless I am going to court, then its a business suit … What is the point of a uniform in an investigators / detective role ???
Hi
Once again, I have read many thoughtful replies to the posted question.
My thoughts on this are;
You are professionals who should dress and act like professionals, this way your staff will be treated accordingly. Wearing para military, with batman belts is kinda self defeating and may be intimidating to witnesses etc. and will possibly rub LE the wrong way. Far better to attract flies with honey!
Business suits are OK, but way to formal for crawling under desks etc
I would go with black gabardine dress trousers (tough and long wearing), white business shirt (short or long sleeves), clip on tie with the corp logo embossed all over it, and wear a ID pouch hung around the neck, and with a tough black shoe with all the non slips built in. This so called uniform does make your staff stand out, but in a very professional light.
Just my thoughts
Kbear
Just for the record, the Italian proverb corresponding to
you can't tell a book by its cover
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Is
L'abito non fa il monaco
which would be literally translated to
The suit doesn't make the monk
We can have the variant
The uniform doesn't make the investigator
I thought that the whole idea of the GeekSquad and their "stoopid" B/W beetles or whatever car AND LE-like badges had been a (flawed) thing of the past…. 😯 
Come on, Computer Forensics should be serious business….
jaclaz