Fly Until Proven Guilty: A Cross Examination of Courtroom Fashion
The courtroom has long served as a defining stage for the public image, directly impacting the future of an individuals’ reputation, livelihood and ability to interact in social circles. And that’s just your average joe.
The pressure intensifies for the celebrity, whose public image is already the object of mass scrutiny and conversation. In the current climate where stars are documented by the minute and social media makes idle activity everyone’s business with a single post, celebs (and their PR teams) are increasingly aware of how their behavior and even their sartorial choices can tip the scales of public opinion. Thus, paparazzi shots and snapchats seen round the world have transformed the court into a fashion show of sorts enabling the world to play jury and cast their own judgements over their favorite idols. Today we look at five women who commanded this spotlight with their own personal flair.
Cardi B.
From the moment Bronx rapper Cardi B hit the steps of the New York Supreme Court swathed in a colorblocked Brogger Gurli suit with a Birkin clutched firmly in her bubblegum pink talons, the message was clear. The new fashion darling would be playing the legal dress code game on her own terms. This look has initiated a series of equally stately getups that channel her signature ostentatious style into a (slightly) more demure, classically feminine structure.
Lil Kim
On a similar note, Queen B Lil Kim was the polar opposite of her scantily clad stage persona during her series of trials connected to a 2001 shootout at the New York Hot 97 radio station. An array of understated pantsuits, dainty over the knee dresses, and structured overcoats painted the revered sex symbol as a chaste woman with simple sensibilities. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs supported his longtime muse and companion throughout the ordeal, providing her pieces from his own eponymous label.
Naomi Campbell
It comes as no surprise that a runway legend like Naomi Campbell would appear in court in 2006 without a hair out of place. Rocking a combination of minimal dresses at a modest length paired with blacked out shades and low heeled shoes maintained the model’s image as the picture of elegance, regardless of whether her assault charges begged to differ.
Foxy Brown
Throughout Foxy Brown’s stints in the courtroom one thing has remained the same: the lady loves a logo. The Brooklyn emcee punctuated her flashy Nouveau-riche looks with a selection of large statement bags, belts, and oversized sunglasses emblazoned with visibly placed designer monograms.
Azealia Banks
Ever the rebel, Azealia Banks has refused to succumb to respectability politics as a tactic to sway public opinion. Trading a standard understated beat for a blue lip and a sensible heel for toe running shoes, she proudly displayed her aversion to compromise and her demand to be accepted (or at the very least respected) as she is.
Naomi Campbell…again.
While Naomi’s highly publicized five day community service stint may not technically count as a courtroom experience, it gets an honorable mention for being the ultimate flex. After pleading guilty in 2007 to assaulting her housekeeper with a Blackberry, the public and paparazzi waited with eyes wide to see the glamorous icon humbly brought to her knees. Or so they thought. The experience became a fashion show of its own, with Naomi sporting lush furs, killer heels, and a resplendent toothy smile for the cameras. Concluding the service with a grand exit, Naomi strutted amidst cheers and paparazzi flashes to a silver Rolls Royce Bentley wearing a shimmering Dolce & Gabbana gown. In true model fashion, the experience was chronicled by W Magazine in a Steven Klein shot editorial including a day by day recount by Naomi herself.