When Luigi Mangione walked into court for his high-profile murder arraignment, no one could have predicted what the internet would latch onto. It wasn’t his charges of murder and terrorism or even his demeanor during the proceedings that sparked debate. Instead, social media was abuzz about… his sweater.
The Alleged $1,000 Sweater That Broke the Internet
It all started with a tweet from @21metgala, claiming, “Luigi Mangione was singing wearing a $1,000 Maison Margiela sweater at the Manhattan criminal court in New York.”
The internet immediately ran with it. The tweet garnered over 5 million views, propelling Luigi’s supposed designer choice into the spotlight. Suddenly, Mangione wasn’t just an accused criminal; he was a man with (questionable) style.
Reactions came quickly. Some users expressed outrage, seeing the alleged $1,250 designer sweater as a symbol of privilege. For them, Luigi’s fashion choice was further proof of a justice system that treats wealthy individuals differently.
“Another rich white man who thinks he’s above the law,” one user fumed. Others fixated on the sweater’s hefty price tag, wondering how someone with such serious charges could justify a luxury purchase.
But not everyone bought the Margiela narrative. Fashion enthusiasts started scrutinizing the details, and something didn’t add up. The stitching on Luigi’s sweater looked too ordinary for the avant-garde Parisian label, prompting doubts about the viral claim.
That’s when Antonio Padilla, a well-known fashion commentator, stepped in to settle the debate. In a now-viral tweet, he dismantled the Maison Margiela claim, revealing that Luigi’s sweater wasn’t designer at all.
According to Padilla, Luigi was actually wearing a Nordstrom Merino wool sweater—likely purchased on sale. This revelation turned the online conversation on its head. Another user even posted a side-by-side comparison of the Nordstrom and Maison Margiela sweaters, confirming that Luigi wasn’t flexing couture but rather a mid-range wardrobe staple.
At first glance, the sweater saga might seem trivial compared to the gravity of the charges against Luigi. After all, he’s accused of murdering a high-ranking healthcare executive and reportedly carried a notebook filled with rants against the insurance industry. Yet, moments like these highlight how the internet shapes public narratives.
One viral tweet was enough to distract people from the serious allegations and pivot the conversation to Luigi’s wardrobe choices. While some see the sweater discourse as a lighthearted break in an otherwise grim case, others argue that it trivializes the severity of the situation.
Regardless of whether Luigi’s sweater came from Maison Margiela or Nordstrom, it won’t have any bearing on his legal fate. He’s pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his trial is expected to be a lengthy and contentious legal battle.
Still, Luigi’s court appearance has left the internet buzzing—and not for the reasons anyone expected. The saga of the sweater reminds us just how easily a single moment can take on a life of its own in the digital age. For now, Mangione remains a man under intense scrutiny, whether for his alleged crimes or his courtroom attire.