Sydney’s courthouse couture: What the stylish set wear to court
They may have fallen foul of the law but there is no need to call the fashion police on a new generation of deeply stylish defendants. SEE SYDNEY’S MOST STYLISH COURT ATTENDEES INSIDE.
They may have fallen foul of the law but there is no need to call the fashion police on a new generation of deeply stylish defendants.
The modern age of Instagram infamy has ushered in an era of flashy courthouse couture for alleged law-breakers determined to make a statement to their followers as well as the magistrate hearing their case.
News.com.au and Vogue Australia fashion commentator Melissa Hoyer said the walk from the hire car to the courthouse had become a fashion runway of sorts.
“Let’s face it, if you are involved in a high-profile case there are going to be a whole lot of paps and a whole lot of TV crews watching every single move,” Ms Hoyer said.
“Some of the more clever court attendees have made sure they have read the style memo.”
The trend of designer digs in the courthouse can be traced back to trailblazer and Sydney PR maven Roxy Jacenko, who stole the spotlight from her husband Oliver Curtis as he faced trial and was ultimately jailed on insider trading charges.
Ms Jacenko posted daily lift selfies of eye-wateringly expensive outfits each day of Curtis’ trial, which included a $162,000 crocodile skin Hermes Birkin handbag, a $3000 Balmain blazer and a $2675 embellished Celine knit.
“When Roxy Jacenko was supporting her husband, every day was a designer day,” Ms Hoyer said.
“Roxy had no intention of changing her designer image whether she was going to a courtroom or a car launch.”
Mercedes Mum Margarita Tomovska, 27, has also dressed to impress at court since she allegedly led police on a high speed pursuit in her luxury Mercedes AMG E63 last November.
The Mercedes Mum’s wardrobe is brimming with brands straight from the pages of Vogue, including the striped Balmain mini-dress from her last appearance worth $2500.
Her eye-catching bejewelled Gucci glasses were a cool $1799, paired with a Givenchy bag worth $3050 and Louboutin heels worth $1200.
Nothing else would do for the woman whose signature black Mercedes is worth almost $500,000 in total.
“The car itself is $200,000,” Tomovska told News Corp Australia.
“The number plates are $260,000.”
Ms Hoyer said there was nothing subtle about the courthouse celebrity from Sydney’s Sutherland Shire.
“Not content with keeping the label on the outside, the entire body-hugging dress screamed ‘look at me’ and was like a billboard for French fashion house, Balmain,” Ms Hoyer said.
“Let’s face it, once the transaction is done, the frock is in the bag and the credit card has gone through, you can wear anything you buy wherever and however you damn please.”
The Mercedes Mum is just the newest addition to a pack of perfectly primped designer defendants who capture as much attention for their outfits as their alleged crimes.
Kings Cross business mogul John Ibrahim’s girlfriend Sarah Budge faced court on Monday charged with allegedly concealing a loaded Glock pistol in her apartment in 2017.
The model and bar owner made a statement with a $3249 Givenchy Antigona leather tote, a $400 Scanlan Theodore crepe knit slit back skirt and a $280 silk turban twist blouse also from the Australian brand before her trial date was vacated.
“Sarah Budge looked sensational when she attended court,” Ms Hoyer added.
“I think there is a relatively new rule of thumb that those who attend court want to portray a sharp, classic, well groomed, professional and smart image.”
However, there are also defendants raising magistrates’ ire with shocking crimes against fashion.
On Thursday a Legal Aid solicitor apologised for the attire of Darcy Apter-Wohler, 19, who arrived at Sutherland Local Court in a high-vis shirt and work boots caked in dirt to plead guilty to supplying 18 caps of MDMA last year.
Last month Sutherland Local Court Magistrate Jayeann Carney gave convicted drink driver Barbara Diana Vasconcello Cardenas a dressing down when she arrived at her appearance in thigh high denim shorts.
RELATED: DENIM CUT-OFFS IN COURT JUST THE BEGINNING
“What I’m going to say is it is completely inappropriate to wear cut off denim shorts up to your thighs in court,” Ms Carney told Vasconcello Cardenas through a Spanish interpreter.
“I’m very tolerant to all types of attire but this is beach attire, what you’re wearing.
“This is a court — do you understand that?”
‘Anyone can win the comp’: Upsets continue in Brewer Shield return
After a long break, the U18s Brewer Shield returned on Sunday where the upsets continued in the race to the finals. From punishing spells to lone hands, here’s how round 12 played out.
Waratahs trial standouts, Suaalii injury and a rugby dream for young gun
It’s a time he hated but this painful interlude in Waratahs young gun Henry O’Donnell’s life could well pave the way to his future success in the game. Tahs v Brumbies trial wrap