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Marc Jacobs says he would dress Luigi Mangione at trial
ReMarc Jacobs says he would dress Luigi Mangione at trial
Fashion designer Marc Jacobs said in a podcast interview that he would be open to styling Luigi Mangione for his trial, calling the accused killer a "trendsetter" for his courtroom fashion choices. The comments drew criticism from a criminal defense attorney who called them "tone deaf."
Fashion designer Marc Jacobs said in a new podcast interview that he would be open to styling Luigi Mangione at trial, describing the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as a "trendsetter" whose current wardrobe choices already look good. The comments came during a sitdown with Vanity Fair's Lie Detector Test podcast, where the host noted that celebrities including Winona Ryder, Courtney Love and Lil' Kim had all worn Jacobs' designs in court in the early 2000s.
After the host slid a photo of Mangione across the table and asked whether Jacobs would be open to styling him for trial, the designer laughed and replied, "Um... yes." He added, "I think he looks pretty good the way he dresses, actually." Jacobs was hooked up to a lie detector during the interview. When the host noted that a red sweater Mangione wore in court sold out at Nordstrom stores and asked whether that made him a trendsetter, Jacobs agreed, saying "Yes."
The remarks drew sharp criticism from Donna Rotunno, a criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor who represented Harvey Weinstein. "I find it sad," she said in an interview Thursday. "I find that sad that a designer would in any way, shape or form want to support that." Rotunno said Mangione has become "a character and this cult hero to some people, and it's pretty sad to see." She called Jacobs' comments "pretty tone deaf."
Mangione has admitted to stalking Thompson, a 50-year-old father of two, from Minnesota to New York City, where he shot him in the back on Dec. 4, 2024. His fashion choices have made headlines since the beginning, starting with the high-end backpack he allegedly ditched in Central Park while fleeing the crime scene. In March 2025, he appeared in court wearing Rockport loafers with no socks, a detail captured by a photographer in a picture showing shackles around his bare ankles.
Prosecutors later revealed that someone had slipped Mangione a pair of heart-shaped notes hidden within a pair of socks sent to the court along with other clothes he wore for the hearing. Only one of the notes was addressed to Mangione; the other was meant for someone named "Joan." A court officer seized the notes but allowed Mangione to wear the socks. However, prosecutors said he felt that "they did not look good" and took them off.
Trial fashion has drawn significant attention in high-profile cases for decades, going back to OJ Simpson's so-called trial of the century in the mid-1990s, which was televised and involved the most famous American ever charged with murder at the time. Rotunno said the media's treatment of Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Marcia Clark during Simpson's trial influenced her own courtroom style choices when she represented Weinstein.
Mangione, however, may end up wearing a jail jumpsuit for the rest of his life after he pleaded guilty to federal charges last week. As a result, his state case may come to an end without trial if his defense team's double jeopardy claim succeeds in court. He faces a maximum punishment of life in prison at his sentencing on Dec. 18, but it is up to Judge Margaret Garnett. Federal sentencing guidelines recommend around 25 to 30 years, and Garnett is not bound by those either.
If Mangione does end up having a state trial, it could be the last time he is seen wearing street clothes, Rotunno said. But even so, she urged his defense team to walk a fine line. "I also think you have to be careful in front of juries," she said. "You dress up Luigi Mangione too much, and maybe he loses some of the sympathy that people have for him."
During the podcast interview, Jacobs was also asked whether he was offended that Gwyneth Paltrow did not wear any of his designs at her own eight-day trial in 2023, after a retired optometrist unsuccessfully sued her over a ski crash in Park City, Utah. He said no, and the polygrapher confirmed he was being truthful. A spokesperson for Jacobs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
