Surprisingly, Luigi Mangione, the believe in the crime of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has wore a purple sweater, which has become a popular fashion hit. Mangione, 26, made his initial court appearance on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to several charges, including first-degree death and terrorism-related crimes.
However, it wasn’t his constitutional position that captured notice, it was his dress.
Mangione quickly gained popularity as a fashion hotspot when she was dressed in a white-collared top layer underneath a purple crewneck hoodie and light gray slacks and orange shoes.
Initial speculation on social media suggested the sweater was a$ 1, 000 Maison Margiela piece, but fashion commentator Antonio Padilla debunked the claim, identifying it as Nordstrom’s” Washable Merino Crewneck Sweater”, priced at$ 89.50 and currently discounted to$ 62.65.
Social media panic
As reported by The Independent, supporters and curious spectators scoured Nordstrom’s site, where the shirt was applicable in many colours, except for the now-infamous” Burgundy Royale”, which had already sold up.
” Luigi’s Nordstrom shirt is basically sold out. Are you people OK”? joked one user on X ( formerly Twitter ). Another retorted,” I bought the Washable Merino Crewneck Shirt from Nordstrom because I saw Luigi Mangione wearing it.”
The fascination with Mangione’s clothing is a rehashed social custom that allows accused of being accidentally turned into pop culture numbers in public legal cases. Even the Menendez boys ‘ famous sweaters, which Mangione’s attire and Mangione’s clothes were compared to one another during their famous trial in the 1990s, were drawn in comparison.
A disturbing craze
As per Daily email, this is not the first instance of Mangione’s look gaining public interest. Last month, social media users commented on his new cut and trimmed eyebrows, rendering him the “hot assassin”. The unsettling enthusiasm apparently spreads to the prison, where Mangione is said to have received plenty of fan letters and thousands of dollars in funds.
Experts have warned against the vitrification of people accused of serious atrocities and expressed concern over this fixing on the suspect’s look. While the sweater’s recognition highlights the power of social media to form stories, it also raises concerns about humanity’s response to aggressive situations.
Jacket created a similar oomph.
This isn’t the first time Mangione’s fashion choices have gained attention. According to reports in the media, the shooter’s jacket was also featured in surveillance footage from the December 4 incident, which also became a popular trend.
Speculated to be a Levi’s Sherpa Lined Two Pocket Hooded Trucker Jacket, it led to a spike in sales of similar items, with over 700 jackets sold in just two days, according to Macy’s item tracker.
Mangione’s appearance was emulating that of many Reddit forums and social media accounts, with some labeling him a “hero” in response to grievances with the healthcare sector. This bizarre response included a” shooter lookalike contest” held in Washington Square Park, highlighting the troubling intersection of crime, consumerism, and cultural fascination.
Mangione’s court appearance marked the beginning of what promises to be a high-profile trial. Thompson was fatally shot on December 4 outside the New York Hilton Midtown by an Ivy League graduate.
