Psychologist explains ‘deliberate’ reason Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni wore matching colours to court
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s ongoing legal battle has dominated headlines for months, but it wasn’t just courtroom drama that caught fans’ attention this week.
The Gossip Girl star's lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star, Baldoni, in 2024, took the world by surprise when she accused him of sexual harassment and allegedly orchestrating a 'smear campaign' against her, which he has denied, leading to him issuing a countersuit that was later dismissed.
A trial is currently scheduled for May, 2026, but the pair appeared at a New York court for a hearing on Wednesday (11 February). However, many quickly noticed something unexpected: their outfits appeared strikingly similar.
Lively stepped out wearing soft pink tones layered with green, while Baldoni arrived in an olive coat paired with a pink scarf, prompting plenty of speculation online.
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However, psychologists believe the explanation for the pair’s fashion choices might be more subtle than initially realised.
Speaking to Tyla, Angela Kyte, psychologist and stylist, said: “Now the chances that Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively matched on purpose and these looks are deliberate are slim, and most likely they chose colours that project authority and confidence…”
“However, when two people in a legal or public disagreement turn up in complementing outfits, it can look loaded - even though it’s pure coincidence. Court is a controlled and overwhelming environment where every detail and gesture is considered and analysed, so it makes sense that outfit choices also come under this as part of the non-verbal communication each of them is sending.”
However, she continued to say that it could 'also be put down as unconscious mirroring', adding: "We tend to mirror people who have been significant in our lives, even when things have broken down and that can show up in small yet subtle ways.
"It doesn’t mean they coordinated it, but shared history can influence aesthetic instincts more than we realise.”
According to Kyte, colour choice is critical, as green 'is often linked to balance, composure and renewal, and it feels steady and grounding, which is exactly how most people want to come across in a courtroom'.
“As much as we can analyse their clothing choices here, the meaning is probably less in the intention and more in how we, as observers, interpret it.” she said.
Psychotherapist Eloise Alexa also weighed in, suggesting there could be a 'colour theory explanation' behind the choices, saying: “Pink or similar colours are sometimes associated with softness or gentleness, evoking warm feelings or sympathy, while olive green is associated with peace, stability and neutrality.
"It may have also been a purely aesthetic choice - it wouldn’t be surprising if similar colours suited both of them well, considering they had already been cast together as a couple, so their looks most likely complement each other well."
She also suggested that it is possible their stylists were 'exposed to similar inspiration' or had perhaps lifted from 'similar examples' of people attending court. Or it could be 'pure coincidence', she added.
“ After all, these are fairly typical winter/spring colours, and we may not have even noticed if the individuals were not being compared as adversaries in this context,” Alexa said.
Variety reports that the two failed to settle in court, with Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, acknowledging that a deal could still be reached.
If not, then it will go to trial in May.
Topics: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Fashion, TV And Film
Ben Williams