Winona Ryder's Inappropriate Outfit In Court Led To One Of Fashion's Biggest Collaborations

Winona Ryder has been impressing audiences with her performance on "Stranger Things" since the show's first season. But long before Netflix, Ryder cemented herself as an icon of the '80s and '90s, even beyond her stunning hair transformation. Not only did she star in blockbuster films like "Heathers," but she became a frequent headline maker. The media was in a frenzy when Ryder was arrested for shoplifting in 2001. She was accused of taking roughly $5,000 worth of clothing and accessories from Beverly Hills' Saks Fifth Avenue without paying. She went to court the following year, and was found guilty of felony vandalism and grand theft, according to The Washington Post. What really stood out among the messy incident was Ryder's clothing choice during the trial. Not only was it professional and chic, but she took a major risk by wearing the very brand that she purportedly stole.

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At a court date in mid-2002, Ryder entered the building in a Marc Jacobs ensemble. The slimming knee-length black sweater dress included a coral tie detail along the neckline and a coral stripe on both wrists. At the waist were two coral lines that flanked a stripe of white. What's baffling about the outfit was that Ryder was accused of stealing Marc Jacobs products during her spree. One has to wonder — why draw attention to the crime by wearing what you're accused of shoplifting? Surprisingly, the gesture paid off as it seemingly inspired the Marc Jacobs brand to hire Ryder as the face of its 2003 campaign.

The ruling that Winona Ryder was guilty of shoplifting Marc Jacobs clothing had no bearing on the fashion brand's willingness to work with the actress. In fact, they recruited her for a major campaign the year following her trial. Since her first Marc Jacobs campaign in 2003, Ryder has frequently collaborated with the brand. She and the eponymous designer walked the 2007 Met Gala carpet together and Ryder headlined a Jacobs campaign in 2015. She was also the face of the now-defunct Marc Jacobs Beauty around the same time. 

The aftermath 🍽 Winona Ryder photographed by Juergen Teller for Marc Jacobs Spring 2003 pic.twitter.com/wHjAv98G6c

— Marc Jacobs (@marcjacobs) November 22, 2018

Ryder additionally appeared in a handbag campaign for the company in 2022. The campaign was a bit edgier than fans were used to seeing from the grown-up actress. It harkened back to the darker roles that she played in her youth, including Lydia in the beloved Tim Burton classic "Beetlejuice." The throwback vibes reminded the public why Ryder is considered one of a kind and how her fashion continues to inspire style mavens to this day, including the most recent "Beetlejuice" leading lady, Jenna Ortega. Much like the clothing she used to wear as a young starlet, Ryder's outfits included unmistakable elements of Whimsigoth: dark academia's cooler sister trend.