Your Honor, I Plead the 5th Avenue
An analysis of iconic moments in celebrity courtroom fashion.
Not too long ago, my TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter feeds were all flooded with clips of Gwyneth Paltrow testifying in court. The Goop founder was accused of a hit-and-run on the ski slopes in 2016, and she was countersuing for damages. It wasn’t about the money (she states)–so she only sued for $1. And in the end, she won that dollar.
Though the days in court were littered with iconic moments (from a giant seltzer bottle to Paltrow’s infamous parting remarks) the most interesting element of this trial was Gwyneth’s styling. A coat from The Row, Celine boots, G. Label by Goop sweaters, Foundrae jewelry, a Prada skirt, and a classic Smythson notebook were all sported by the wellness mogul throughout the trial. Gwyneth Paltrow came to court everyday ready to make an appearance on your Pinterest board.
But Gwen is not the first, or the last, celebrity to grace the municipal proceedings runway. Our clothes are how we make our first impressions on the world, and there is perhaps no place where this is more important than in the courtroom. I want to take a look back at some memorable moments in celebrity courtroom fashion and dissect the subliminal messages these outfits convey.
Winona Ryder
It was December 12th 2001, and Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting over $5500 worth of clothes and accessories from Saks Fifth Avenue. Was she guilty? In short: yes. But we aren’t here to talk about that. We are here to talk about this:
In headbands that can only be referred to as Blair Waldorf outtakes, a pink cardigan, and a Marc Jacobs dress (the very brand she was accused of stealing), Winona Ryder walked into that courtroom channeling her inner good girl. How could such a sweet, beautiful young woman be guilty of grand-theft and vandalism?
But, at the time Ryder was actually an incredibly successful, 30-year-old woman. She was hardly that sweet little girl that the polka dot dresses and kitten heels seem to suggest. This youthful styling was an intentional plea towards the sympathy of the jury.
Ultimately, the strategy mostly worked. Ryder was only sentenced to probation and community service, and the burglary charges were dropped. In the end, the real lasting impact of this trial were some famous outfits, and a 2003 Marc Jacobs campaign starring Winona Ryder photographed by Juergen Teller.
Naomi Campbell
In 2006, supermodel Naomi Campbell appeared in court after being charged with assaulting her maid with a cell phone. When selecting her courtroom fashion, Naomi Campbell and her team opted for glamour. After all, how could such an elegant woman be a violent threat to society?
Campbell pleaded guilty, so these looks were not engineered to represent her innocence. Instead, these sleek black dresses, stockings, and pointed heels all conveyed a message of class and status. Sure, Naomi Campbell may have anger management issues, but that’s just because she’s an important woman with incredibly high standards. Look at her! She radiates wealth. She does not accept subpar service and will use her Blackberry as a weapon to prove it. Instead of trying to look “just like us” in court, Campbell opted to look entirely unrelatable, hoping to express that her situation was beyond our comprehension.
Naomi Campbell may be guilty of assault, but she has earned her right to commit it, or so she seems to say.
Paris Hilton
In 2007, heiress, socialite, and star of The Simple Life, Paris Hilton was charged with reckless driving. Not long after, while on probation, Paris violated the speed limit yet again. This resulted in a court appearance and sentencing of 45 days in jail.
The resident party girl du jour ditched the glitz and leopard print for a school-girl-esque ensemble. In understated black, white, and gray, Hilton’s look implied that she was a clean cut, all American girl. She did not appear to be the reckless driving, probation ignoring, partying menace she was accused of being. But in the end, this facade didn’t withstand the court proceedings, and Paris Hilton did jail time. This didn’t, however, stop Hilton from repeating this style of dressing for future court appearances–though she had a few alterations.
In these later cases, Hilton clearly seems less focused on appearing young and innocent, but she is definitely dressed smartly and professionally. This speaks to a shifting view of women in popular culture at the time. In 2010, Michelle Obama and Hilary Rodham Clinton were listed amongst Forbes’ most powerful women of the year. Women in tailored suits and political arenas were all the rage in the American media, and Paris Hilton’s court outfits pictured above reflect this. Hilton was far less interested in appearing demure. Instead, the strategy was to appear confident. In these outfits, Paris Hilton seemed more smug and aware of her actions. She was happy to accept any and all press, and she was much more interested in looking like a powerful player in the media game than anything else.
Cardi B
In 2018, rapper Cardi B was accused of participating in a physical fight at a strip club. Her weapon of choice? A hookah. Cardi B pleaded guilty to the charges in 2019, and she did this while wearing some of the most iconic courtroom looks of all time.
Head-to-toe designer ensembles, a birkin bag, and jaw-dropping acrylics are just a few of the elements of Cardi B’s courtroom fashion that make her stand out amongst this list. This change from neutral, tailored suits in 2012 to louder looks in 2019 says something about both American culture at large and about Cardi B’s public persona.
Cardi B is unabashedly herself. She comes from humble beginnings, having worked as a stripper herself, and is not ashamed to talk about it. She is not an heiress like Paris Hilton or a world renowed supermodel like Naomi Campbell.
The outfits worn in court by Cardi B reflect this difference. Her and her team did not choose to quiet down her style or portray a false image to the courtroom. Cardi B’s public image is the same as her personal one, and she does not want to misrepresent her brand in court.
In terms of the times, 2019 was a year of relative exorbitance. Airbrushed filters, thick eyebrows, and Balenciaga Triple S sneakers were just some of the trends that display the focus on big statements and big brands at the time.
We were no longer in the year of the political woman in a power suit, it was time for the performing artist with viral hits to wear a matching feathered hat and coat to her court summons.
Gwyneth Paltrow
And last but not least: Gwyneth Paltrow in the courtroom in 2023. With “quiet luxury” the big buzz word of the season, it’s no surprise that the wellness guru and insanely-priced-merchandise expert is a fashion icon this year.
Paltrow’s style in court was no different from her previous looks. Opting for brands like The Row, Celine, and her own label, Gwyneth made a statement about her societal status with every outfit she wore. Ultimately, Gwyneth Paltrow appealed to the fantasy of a clean, professional woman in the courtroom. She is a woman who is so wealthy and who’s life is so abundant that she only appeared at this trial for the principle of it. After all, she doesn’t need to win this case, she can afford a $5,000+ coat without any branding on it and a $300+ notebook.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s logo-less styling was a power move meant to represent her as a confident woman in a category all her own. She wears these luxury pieces because they are high quality, timeless staples, and she is only countersuing for the principle of it.
Ultimately, the legal circus can also become a sort of fashion circus.
In the modern media landscape, even the courthouse only has three walls. The audience can see in at all angles, and the press will pick apart every ounce of content they receive.
In an image focused world, it is no wonder celebrities want to look their best as they walk the runway from the pews all the way to the witness stand.