The Shocking Reason Behind Diddy’s ‘Unrecognisable’ Look and Courtroom Jumper Mystery Revealed

So, here’s a curious twist: Sean “Diddy” Combs is making headlines not just for the charges he faces but for what he’s rocking in the courtroom—a humble jumper. Now, why does this matter? Turns out, wearing an ordinary sweater instead of a prison jumpsuit isn’t just about comfort; it’s a strategic move, an unspoken ‘sweater defense’ that shapes how the jury might see him. Granted permission to bring a wardrobe of five shirts, pants, socks, jumpers, and shoes, Diddy’s team is rewriting the courtroom fashion rules to present a version of him that’s decidedly less threatening and more relatable. It’s a subtle, yet powerful statement in an arena where perception can pivot the verdict. Granted, the cameras are banned inside, but thanks to talented sketch artists, the world gets a glimpse of this new, greyer—and apparently koala-like—Diddy. Intrigued by the power of appearance in the justice game? You’re not alone. LEARN MORE

A fashion expert has said that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs wearing a jumper in court is an important part of his defence at his trial.

While some people facing trial wear a prison jumpsuit in court, Combs has been granted permission to wear ordinary clothes.

According to E!, he is allowed five shirts, five pairs of pants, five pairs of socks, five jumpers and two pairs of shoes that he can wear to court.

Many people standing trial are granted permission to wear some of their own clothes in order not to influence a jury’s verdict, as there are concerns that seeing a defendant in a prison jumpsuit might affect their perception.

While cameras are not allowed inside the courtroom, there are sketch artists at work who have provided Reuters with an archive of images depicting what is going on in there, including Combs’ current appearance.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs looks very different these days, he can’t get hair dye in jail (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs)

Diddy’s new appearance

The court sketch artist shows that Diddy’s hair looks significantly more grey as he’s not been permitted access to hair dye while in jail, and has often been depicted wearing a shirt and jumper combination that looks very different to the outfits he was normally seen wearing in public.

The Independent’s correspondent went as far to describe him as ‘unrecognisable’.

The Washington Post reports that the sketch artists are a trio of women who count Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein, Woody Allen, R. Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell among those they’ve depicted over the years.

They’ve said that Combs has a ‘tricky face’ to draw as it ‘doesn’t have a lot of definition’, but he does have ‘very expressive’ eyebrows.

Diddy himself is apparently not best pleased about these new sketches, as Law&Crime Network says he thinks they make him look like ‘a koala’.

Diddy is allowed to wear some of his own clothes in court, and sketches show he’s choosing to don a sweater (Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo)

The significance of a jumper

In the sketches, Diddy is shown wearing a jumper and the chief fashion critic of the New York Times has said she thinks there’s something important in that.

Vanessa Friedman explained that Diddy in court ‘does not look anything like the Sean Combs whose behaviour is on trial’, detailing something termed ‘the nerd defense’.

It’s a phrase made up by lawyer Harvey Slovis, who represented Diddy back when he was on trial for gun charges in 1999, and Friedman explained that putting a client in glasses made them look smarter and less threatening to a jury.

She suggested that Diddy’s team was now using ‘the sweater defense’ to portray a certain image of him to the jury that would make him look very different to the rapper who is accused of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Diddy denies the charges against him, but if convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The court has seen images of things police officers have seized from his properties, heard claims about what the freak offs were like and listened to former partners of Diddy describe his behaviour towards them.

While the jury hears these things about Combs, Friedman suggests ‘the sweaters offer their own kind of testimony’ on his behalf.

Appearances can matter in a courtroom, and Diddy’s defence team will want to make sure he comes across in a certain way (Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

When could Diddy’s trial end?

US District Judge Arun Subramanian told jurors the trial could last around eight weeks, and it began on 12 May.

We are now in the fifth week of the trial having heard testimony from a number of witnesses, ultimately much will depend on the jury and how long they take with their deliberations