Courtroom chic pays off for Ryder

In the media maelstrom surrounding the shoplifting trial of film star Winona Ryder, the sweetly demure Marc Jacobs coats and dresses the actress wore in court were as oft remarked on as her defense. And now, it looks like the actress’ wardrobe tactics have paid off.

Ryder is appearing in Jacobs’ spring advertising campaign, which was shot by lensman Juergen Teller at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont.

Jacobs, who presents his fall collection in New York on Monday, was unavailable for comment. But he told Women’s Wear Daily earlier this week, “I asked Winona to do the campaign because I thought she looked so beautiful in all these pictures that we’ve seen recently, regardless of whether they were from the trial.”

Actress Sofia Coppola also has posed in the New York designer’s ads, but Jacobs conceded that Ryder, 31, probably would create more interest. “It would be stupid for me to say I didn’t expect any reaction,” he told the trade publication.

In December, Ryder was found guilty of shoplifting $5,500 worth of merchandise from the Beverly Hills Saks Fifth Avenue, including a $760 Marc Jacobs cashmere thermal. She was sentenced to three years probation, fined more than $10,000 and ordered to complete 480 hours of community service.