The flashy details you missed in Lisa Wilkinson’s power suit parade – and a nod to her proudest moment – as body language expert reveals how she’s REALLY feeling about the defamation trial
From a small brooch pinned to her lapel to designer handbags, these are the finer details of Lisa Wilkinson's daily fashion show during the defamation trial of Bruce Lehrmann.
As a key witness and the main target of the proceedings following media reports surrounding Brittany Higgins' claim that she was raped by Mr Lehrmann, Wilkinson exuded strength and confidence as she appeared in court each day in eye-catching power suits.
But her expensive designer handbags largely escaped notice — including the $4,500 Loewe piece she wore to court at least nine times.
And then there's a nod to what would be one of her proudest achievements: the Order of Australia badge on her lapel, awarded to the former star of the Today show and The Project in 2016.
Mr Lehrmann is suing Wilkinson and Network Ten over her 2021 interview with Ms Higgins on The Project about the former Liberal Party staffer's claim that she was raped at Parliament House in 2019.
Mr Lehrmann – who has always denied the allegation – was not named in The Project, but insists friends and former colleagues were able to identify him as the alleged rapist.
Wilkinson has appeared in court every day since the start of the defamation trial on November 22, with a body language expert revealing that she appeared determined before taking the witness stand Thursday.
Psychosomatic body language expert Gillian Maddigan told Ny Breaking Australia that Wilkinson's facial features indicated that 'she could be doing quite well until she is pushed'.
“She has tenacity, they should corner her,” she said.
'She has a very broad face. The entire time she was there (during the hearing) she absorbed information and watched closely.
'She can come across as two different people, soft and sensitive, but very determined and strong, but she doesn't like to be bullied.
“She can get very angry, but she has done a lot of preparation for her appearance.”
The defamation trial before Judge Michael Lee has had some explosive moments, with Mr Lehrmann testifying and challenging for five days about the varying explanations for why he and Ms Higgins went to Parliament House after a night out at the bars in Canberra.
Brittany Higgins was also cross-examined, revealing several inconsistencies in her story and revealing her full Commonwealth compensation amount of $2.4 million.
But for many observers, Wilkinson, and her parade of trouser suits and luxury accessories, was the star of the show, with the court livestream on YouTube peaking when the star was in the box, with around 19,500 viewers.
Wilkinson's personal lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC was always by her side – dressed in beautiful, luxurious shoes from Italian designer label Ferragamo – as the media-savvy couple climbed the steps of Queen's Square, smiling and cheerful.
Wilkinson (above in bright pink Alex Perry on day 11 of the trial, with her lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC in blue Ferragamo Vara bow pumps) carried her $4,500 Loewe handbag into court on five of the thirteen days she has been in court so far has appeared so far
Wilkinson, her Member of the Order of Australia pin on her left lapel, laughs with her lawyer outside the Federal Court in Sydney on the seventh day of the trial
Wilkinson (above in a neutral-toned pantsuit and carrying a Prada designer Saffiano tote bag) appears on day eight of the defamation trial
The TV star carried the $4,495 Loewe basket bag to court for five days, and the soft gray Prada Saffiano leather bag to court on the eighth day of hearings
Wilkinson started her suit marathon on the first day of the trial, wearing a baby pink trouser suit with flared trousers.
She paired it with a white shirt and put her Member of the Order of Australia pin on the lapel of her double-breasted jacket.
The TV star became Lisa Wilkinson AM in 2016 for significant services to the print and broadcast media, and to youth and women's health groups.
She carried a $4,495 braided brown leather Loewe “basket bag” and wore nude patent leather stilettos.
On the seventeenth day of Wilkinson's appearance at Federal Court, she had worn seventeen different suits or jackets, paired with trousers.
She showed a preference for pink or light neutrals, with four different suits in each shade, and eleven white or cream shirts, and for double-breasted jackets to suit her petite frame.
On day two she wore a navy blue suit with a green self-tie shirt and black stilettos, the next day she opted for an apple green Zara suit with matching shirt
On day four, she wore a dusty pink suit with a black Colonel Sanders tie.
Next, Wilkinson chose a black suit with a teal shirt, then a white suit with a black shirt, and then an oversized dark bottle green suit with her AM pin, and a cream silk shirt with a bow.
Not to be outdone on the fashion front, Brittany Higgins was accompanied to court every day by her longtime friend Emma Webster (left), who dressed from head to toe in a primary colored pantsuit with matching shirts and ties.
She ended week two of the trial wearing a flattering, neutral-toned beige suit – possibly from British global brand Reiss, which dressed her when she worked for Channel Ten – and carrying a Prada Saffiano tote bag.
Last week, Wilkinson began the third week of the procedure on Tuesday wearing a white shirt and trousers topped with a black blazer with gold buttons.
The next day she wore a dusty blue pantsuit, with the AM pin back on her lapel, a white shirt and a bolo tie.
The next day she opted for a bright pink double-breasted Alex Perry suit, while Ms Chrysanthou wore blue Ferragamo pumps, and last Friday Lisa wore a cream suit and a salmon pink shirt with a self-tie neckline, carrying the Loewe designer bag in her hand. the fifth time in court.
Wilkinson on day one of the trial (left) in a light pink suit with split-leg trousers and on day 14 (right) in a mid-pink Alex Perry outfit worth approximately $2,000. Her lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC (also pictured) wore Ferragamo shoes on both occasions, as she did most days
Wilkinson (above) on the first day of her testimony in her 16th power suit in a row, this one in pastel orange, and Ms Chrysanthou again in Ferragamo shoes, this time black Viva pumps with bow
Smiling on the final day of her client's testimony, barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC arrives in a pair of navy blue Ferragamo Varina flats
On December 12, as her former The Project colleague, TV producer Angus Llewellyn, spent a tense time questioning in the witness box, she appeared in her fourth, different pink suit of the trial so far.
On Tuesday, Wilkinson wore her fourteenth power suit in a row — a mid-pink Alex Perry outfit worth about $2,000 — and Ms. Chrysanthou again favored Ferragamo, this time scalloped bone Vara pumps.
Wilkinson wore the same clear Perspex high-heeled sandals to court from day four for most performances, and felt relaxed enough in Court 22A to kick off the shoes and give her feet a rest while she watched the proceedings.
On Wednesday it was another Alex Perry suit, this time in light blue, and when she gave fiery testimony on the witness stand on Thursday, Wilkinson wore a pastel orange suit.
She ended her performances on Friday, December 15, wearing a double-breasted blue linen jacket over white trousers, with Ms Chrysanthou wearing navy blue Ferragamo Varina flats.
Not to be outdone on the fashion front, Brittany Higgins was accompanied to court every day by her longtime friend Emma Webster, who dressed from head to toe in a primary colored pantsuit with matching shirts and ties.
The trial before Judge Lee will continue into the last week before the Christmas holidays.