Why Paul Manafort hasn't been wearing socks in court

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption This is why Paul Manafort isn't wearing socks in court Former President Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort hasn’t been wearing socks to court, and there's an actual reason why. Veuer's Sam Berman has the full story.

A jury is about to decide whether Paul Manafort is guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion, but the man who owns a $15,000 ostrich jacket is not about to add a fashion crime to his troubles.

The former Trump campaign manager was depicted last week in a sketch by artist Bill Hennesy wearing loafers with no socks while seated in the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. And according to CNN, he has been spotted sockless at other points in the trial.

The reason for the courtroom fashion statement? Manafort is only allowed to wear government-issued white socks, and his spokesman Jason Maloni explained to CNN that Manafort, "doesn't like white socks."

JUST IN: Rick Gates says he and Paul Manafort had 15 foreign accounts that they didn't report to the federal government, and knew it was illegal. Gates says he did not submit the required forms "at Mr. Manafort's direction." https://t.co/KrOgnd6mY2 pic.twitter.com/x2bP6vpOfZ — CNN (@CNN) August 6, 2018

Jonathan Evans, the senior style editor at Esquire, declared Manafort's lack of socks as further evidence that he "has no swag."

More: Manafort trial heads to jury

"In case you hadn't heard, white socks are actually kind of a thing right now," Evans wrote. "Wearing them with loafers is a move that perfectly balances throwback vibes with a bit of tongue-in-cheek stylistic irony. It's pretty cool, to be honest! Which is exactly why I wouldn't expect Manafort to get it."

People on Twitter also had feelings about the lack of socks.

here's a courtroom sketch of Paul Manafort and all I can think about is... no socks? pic.twitter.com/8g5iqWrbOP — J.D. Durkin (@jiveDurkey) August 6, 2018

Manafort has a keen sense for style & the white socks the US Marshall issued are clearly beneath his sartorial standards.Trump may pardon him for his financial crimes but Manafort knows wearing white socks with a $5,000.00 suit isn't a pardonable offense. https://t.co/iVIcD6pbjv — John Caudill (@Whistleblower05) August 15, 2018