Kim Kardashian's Trial Style Screams Strength as Her Jewelry Trial Begins in Paris

Kim Kardashian is facing every survivor's worst nightmare, reliving a horrific trauma by voicing that trauma to a courtroom full of strangers. Her outfit's quiet but powerful detail signaled strength and defiance.

The reality star has arrived in Paris, to testify against the men who robbed her at gunpoint in 2016. After nearly a decade, the trial has begun at the Palais de Justice, and Kardashian has already been called to the stand to testify to the events of that harrowing night that threatened her, her children, and her sister, Kourtney Kardashian. According to the Associated Press, the business mogul revisited the night when a group of 10 men forced their way into her Paris hotel room, tied her up with zip ties, held her at gunpoint, and stole $9 million of jewelry.

"I absolutely did think I was going to die," she reportedly said in the courtroom. She recalled pleading with them and telling them, "I have babies," and one replied she would be okay if she remained silent. 

She entered the courthouse dressed in a black suit jacket, a maxi skirt with a slit, slingback heels, and Alaïa mask sunglasses. But it was her other accessories that signaled her firmness in the moment: Kardashian decked out her ears in stacks of jewelry and a bold chain necklace, symbols of what this trial is all about. Her mother, Kris Jenner, was at her side, wearing a black-white plaid jacket with slacks, chunky shoes, and a maroon Hermes bag.

An estimated 500 journalists were crammed in the courthouse to hear Kardashian's testimony. The Skims co-founder spoke her truth about the jewelry heist that occurred while she was attending Paris Fashion Week in 2016. It is now known as one of the most daring celebrity heists in French history. This chilling event sparked a conversation on fame and the price of living a publicized life. 

Simone Harouche, Kardashian's friend and former stylist, also testified at the court proceeding, revealing that she was sleeping downstairs at the time the robbery began. She recalled hearing Kardashian telling them about her family and to, "Take everything. I need to live." She provided more details, but made it a point to say that this event changed the billionaire forever. "She now has a completely different lifestyle," she said during her testimony. "In terms of security, she can’t go alone, she doesn’t go alone to places anymore. To lose your sense of freedom... it’s horrible." 

The assailants, in their 60s and 70s now, were part of an established criminal ring and allegedly tracked her movements via her Instagram posts, according to French prosecutors. So far, two of the 10 assailants have confessed to being at the scene, while another has claimed that he didn't know who she was at the time of the robbery. The same reporting by the Associated Press has clarified that 12 men were initially charged, however, one has since passed, and another was excused from the charges due to a medical condition. The French media dubbed these men "the grandpa robbers." 

Kardashian was heavily criticized in the days that followed the life-altering night, with people questioning whether she had publicized too much of her life, which ultimately resulted in that night.

Judge David De Pas, who's overseeing this trial, asked Harouche if Kardashian's attachment to social media made her a target and if she hadn't, could this have been avoided. (In other words, victim shaming). Harouche shut this idea down and said, "Just because a woman wears jewelry, that doesn’t make her a target," she said. "That’s like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped."

According to NBC News, a letter from one of the defendants was read out loud to Kardashian by the judge, and she broke down in tears upon reading it. The letter read, "I want to come to you as a human being, to tell you how much I regret what I did, how emotional I was to see you in tears, and I empathized with your suffering, and that of your kids, husband, and close ones. Since I found out about your situation, my conscience told me to try to contact you in the softer and most comforting way. Of course, we can’t change the past, but I hope that this letter will help you get over the trauma you suffered because of me." Aomar Ait Khedache wrote it.  

Kardashian responded to the letter saying, "I forgive you for what had taken place, but it doesn’t change the emotions, the feeling, and the trauma, and the fact that my life has forever changed."

The trial is ongoing and more is expected to be revealed. Check back here for updates.