Courtroom dramas, especially those involving rich and potentially glamorous people, are always interesting. But if there is a woman involved, especially if they happen to be good-looking, sexy and potentially defiant, well, the case suddenly gets really interesting.

The Battle of Gorse Hill, the story of the O'Donnell family - with its self-representing father and standing-by-his-side son, the beleaguered but always elegant matriarch and their rebel-royal vibe daughter - battling the banks to retain their home in Killiney, despite their €70m debts, certainly seems to qualify.

They may have worn seasons' past pieces - but the O'Donnell women were flying their clan's flag, sartorially speaking, throughout their court appearances.

Daughter Blaise, a name that could have featured in a Dorothy Parker novel as a gal with 'potential', dresses like she is part of Stella McCartney's cool Notting Hill clique (though it could be Zara). Think lots of money spent on clothes that don't look like it. The money is in the taste, the quality and the expensive, understated label.

Every day, Blaise dresses in beautifully cut, tailored pieces that outline her curvy figure and give her 'presence'. It is her legs that reveal the 'real' Blaise: skinny jeans, leggings, black opaque tights, all scream 21st-century female who isn't going to conform.

Blaise doesn't wear the typical asexual, ill-fitting, black trouser suit and bad white shirt court look.

Blaise is dressing smart for court, but she isn't going to disguise. Mom can dress in inoffensive neutral vibe, cool grey Armani/Max Mara-like classics, but Blaise is showing her figure and her form. She might be feeling judged by the nation, but she is not going to hide who she is - class and sex - to play invisible.

How women, strong women, dress for court is a national obsession, and why wouldn't it be - Irish women (and ergo their men) are the most fashion informed in the world.

We know what people are saying in how they dress, be it badly or brilliantly. We recognise lack of self-esteem, egotism, defeat and defiance by the cut of a shoulder and the turn of a cuff. We can practically predict a case outcome from dress and demeanor.

We relished that Nigella Lawson might have lost weight for her court case against Charles Saatchi, to better show off her voluptuous figure encased in stunning, shape-forming black coats. (Surely, she wore a waspie?)

Never before had we seen the kind of discerning style as Michelle Rocca sported during her court case against Cathal Ryan in 1997 - stunning Dolce & Gabbana suits and dresses in black and red. Always there was that defiant slash of rebel red lipstick.

We were struck dumb by Catherine Nevin, the woman labeled the Black Widow for plotting the killing of her husband: her brass to wear such bold tartan suits with their big, power shoulder pads and platinum blonde hair. Didn't she know, we thought, she should try to look demure?

Nowhere in her demeanor was a woman bowed down by the reality of her situation.

This is the true entertainment of courtroom drama watching - well, for most women. Particularly, when we are watching a woman who is having her day in court - a woman that doesn't stand sniveling and crying, but instead boldly portrays herself, her beliefs about herself and even her physical glory.

Sunday Independent