Blake Lively Wields ‘Style as a Shield’ Amid Justin Baldoni Legal Battle

This version maintains the core elements, uses concise language ("wields" for active tone), and clarifies the context with "legal battle" while adhering to headline conventions.

Blake Lively’s Fashion Strategy Amid Legal Battle: From Romantic Florals to Power Dressing
(Include images: Blake in leather gown at London screening; Chanel ensemble; SXSW latex outfit; floral press tour looks)

Blake Lively, 37, is navigating a high-profile legal dispute with It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni while promoting her new film, Another Simple Favor. Fashion experts suggest her recent style shift—from soft, romantic ensembles to sharp, structured looks—is a calculated effort to project control and distance herself from controversy.

A Shift in Style
Fashion designer Teresa Fernandez told DailyMail.com that Lively’s wardrobe now emphasizes “professionalism and poise” through tailored silhouettes, luxe fabrics like leather, and labels such as Chanel. “It’s a quiet form of brand control,” Fernandez noted, contrasting her current “sharp, powerful” aesthetic with the vintage-inspired florals worn during It Ends With Us promotions.

(Image: Blake in a plunging leather David Koma gown and thigh-high boots at London screening)

At a London event for Another Simple Favor, Lively’s edgy leather fringe jacket and boots signaled “strength and confidence,” according to Fernandez. Hours earlier, she’d worn a polished Chanel cardigan-skirt combo with quirky accessories, underscoring her meticulous image curation.

Controversy and Criticism
Lively’s It Ends With Us press tour drew backlash for its “tonedeaf” floral themes amid the film’s domestic violence narrative. Media analyst Dr. Lyric Mandell explained, “The styling felt more like a rom-com than a serious drama.” Recent looks, however, echo her Gossip Girl “old money” elegance, aiming to rebuild trust.

(Image: Blake in a $33,000 Tamara Ralph floral gown at UK premiere)

Strategic Reinvention
At the SXSW premiere, Lively stunned in a retro-inspired latex corset dress by Reneé Masoomian—a bold choice in 80-degree heat. Fernandez called it “method dressing,” aligning with her character’s wardrobe. PR expert Sarah Schmidt noted such “sober palettes and tailored silhouettes” are classic crisis management tactics, though she cautioned, “A black jumpsuit won’t rewrite headlines.”

(Image: Blake removing a mauve coat to reveal latex at SXSW)

Flowers to Power Suits
While florals dominated her It Ends With Us tour—including a vintage Versace dress once worn by Britney Spears—Lively’s recent red carpets favor monochrome suits and sleek designs. Dr. Mandell sees this as “damage control through couture,” reasserting her status as a “polished icon.”

(Image: Blake in Versace floral dress at NYC premiere)

Will It Work?
Schmidt acknowledges fashion’s role in reshaping narratives but stresses, “Audiences are too savvy for image alone to erase scrutiny.” Yet Lively continues commanding attention, from a silver SNL 50th Anniversary gown to a $19,000 cutout jeans ensemble in Texas.

(Image: Blake in glittering silver SNL dress)

As the legal battle unfolds, Lively’s style remains a strategic shield—proving that in Hollywood, clothes speak louder than words.

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