when even clothes are a defense strategy

The large aviator glasses, the turtleneck sweaters, the humble air: Gwyneth Paltrow has returned to the spotlight in court in a completely new version. In fact, the actress is involved in one civil case for a skiing accident that occurred in 2016, when she collided with the retired ophthalmologist Terry Sanderson. It would seem frivolous to dwell, in a trial, on the looks of the parties to the case but it is not: in a trial impressions count, and clothes are one of the elements with which you try to impress the jury. If then to sit in the dock is a star – da Amber Heard to Anna Delvey – then the spotlights impose choices studied at the table. And Gwyneth Paltrow is no exception, choosing understated and polished pieces that support her side of her story.

The style strategies of the stars in court

To understand why the looks sported in court by Gwyneth Paltrow are at the center of the media debate these days we have to take a step back. Celebrity lawsuits easily become tabloid stuff: you don’t just have to convince the jury of your innocence, but the public as well. In this path, styling assumes a leading role: the pinnacle was reached by the high society scammer the scammer Anna Delvey (which inspired the series Inventing Anna) with stylist Anastasia Walker, hired to choose rigorous Celine and Saint Laurent dresses. Last year Amber Heard And Johnny Depp they engaged in a legal battle: she appeared in court in male power suits and retro hairstyles. Stars radically change their style in court because they are aware of the attention aroused and try to exploit it in their favor in the great game of roles that is created during a media trial.

What Gwyneth Paltrow wore to her trial

The actress and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow has chosen to face the process with a “quiet luxury” style: designer but discreet garments, with no logos in sight and hardly recognizable. The lines of the dresses are fluid and slippery, the palette is soft. For the first hearing she chose an olive green coat by The Row paired with a white turtleneck. Many of the pieces refer to the mountain world: knitwear and lace-up boots Celinefor example.

In subsequent court hearings, she wore clothes from luxury brands such as Brunello Cucinelli And They plain and soft cardigans from her brand, Goop, accompanied by a selection of golden jewels. In short, the opposite of the power suits worn by Amber Heard: the only suit worn by Gwyneth Paltrow is in gray wool, with a top instead of a shirt.

The touch of genius, however, are the accessories: the big glasses with aviator frames have unleashed the irony of social media, given that his plaintiff is a retired ophthalmologist. Not to mention the Smythson notebook for taking notes and the glass water bottle (alternating with a coffee cup) to underline his attention to the environment.

The meaning of Gwyneth Paltrow’s looks

All of the actress’s looks are based on the idea of softness, from dull colors to used textures, such as knitwear. A turtleneck sweater is definitely more reassuring of a broad-shouldered jacket. Even black was not worn to communicate strength, but softened by the choice of cardigan and long, full skirt. The last look in chronological order is also the most significant: a pink shirt with a bowwhich communicates sweetness and femininity.

Ultimately Gwyneth Paltrow is saying: look at me, I’m calm, I’m innocent. The clothes worn during the trial are faithful to his style, but chosen to highlight the softer and more conciliatory sides of his personality. In short, the Hollywood star who lives in a golden world far from reality did not take part in the process, but a serious and concrete middle-aged woman who wears cardigans, thick glasses and does not worry about gray hair. In short, a woman who could never have run over another skier, according to the defense. Or not?