Dressing for Innocence: How Netflix’s Monsters Highlights the Power of Fashion Psychology in Courtrooms
Dressing for innocence
How Fashion Psychology Shapes Trials from the Menendez Brothers to Today’s Courtroom Dramas
Netflix’s latest series “Monsters The Lyle and Erik Menedez Story” reignites the fascination with the notorious Menendez brothers, but beyond the courtroom drama and shocking testimonies, the show subtly underscores a powerful element often overlooked: the strategic use of fashion in legal defense. The Menendez brothers didn’t just rely on their lawyers to plead their case—they turned to fashion to silently support their claims of innocence.
“Buy me a yellow sweater," he (Lyle) urged his friend Norma Novelli, "Ever see a violent man wearing a yellow sweater?"
The Menendez Brothers and the Power of Appearance
In “Monsters, The Lyle and Erik Menedez Story” we see the prosecution accuse Erik and Lyle Menendez's defense team of advising them to wear yellow sweaters and glasses while on the stand.
“It’s all in the book, down to how you should wear a yellow sweater on the stand to seem innocent”
This wasn’t a casual choice—it was a carefully crafted strategy, leveraging fashion psychology to soften their public image. The yellow sweaters presented them as youthful and approachable, while the glasses added an air of vulnerability and intellect, distancing them from the horrific nature of their crime.
By dressing them in this way, the defense subtly encouraged the jury to see the brothers as naïve victims rather than cold-blooded killers. In an era where public opinion was as critical as the verdict, fashion became a silent advocate, arguing for their innocence in ways words couldn’t.
Netflix’s Monsters: A Lesson in Fashion Psychology
The series brings to life how appearance in the courtroom can be just as pivotal as the evidence presented. As the show portrays, Erik and Lyle's defense team leaned heavily into fashion psychology to create a narrative of innocence. The pastel coloured sweaters and glasses were more than just clothing—they were props in the theater of justice, used to sway the emotions of the jury.
This strategic use of fashion taps into a fundamental principle: what we wear shapes how others perceive us. In high-profile cases, especially those as media-frenzied as the Menendez trial, every detail matters. Jurors—whether consciously or not—form opinions based on defendants’ appearances. In the Menendez case, the defense weaponized this understanding, crafting an image that appealed to empathy and doubt rather than suspicion.
How Fashion Still Shapes Modern Trials
Fast forward to today, and the power of fashion psychology in the courtroom is as potent as ever. Whether it’s high-profile celebrities facing legal battles or everyday individuals, defendants continue to use clothing as a means to influence how they are perceived. Conservative outfits, muted colours, and understated accessories are common tactics employed to project humility, remorse, or even innocence.
The Netflix series not only revisits a gripping legal drama but also sheds light on how the Menendez brothers’ appearance played an unsung role in their defense. In a trial where every word and gesture was scrutinized, their attire whispered a softer, more relatable story—one that perhaps influenced how they were judged, both in the court of law and in the public eye.
Fashion as a Silent Advocate
Netflix’s series highlights how fashion psychology played a crucial role in shaping the brothers' image. Their style choices weren’t just part of their wardrobe—they were part of their defense, a silent yet powerful tool used to support their claims of innocence.