A couple of weeks ago, Buzzfeed published a long piece analyzing Jennifer Garner’s PR moves and career. They quoted Lainey Gossip, who references Garner’s appeal to the “minivan majority,” or moms who think she’s just wonderful. They also cited Matt Damon, who threw shade on Garner in 2013 by saying she gets papped because “she sells a s–tload of magazines in the midwest. Magazines that – Ben explained this to me – you and I have never heard of, but that appeal to a mom in the midwest, who for some reason identifies with Jennifer and wants to know what she’s doing as a mom. As a result of that, there are always five cars outside their house.” Garner cultivated that appeal of course, and one way she did that was through her kind of very casual, down-to-earth style. E! has a new story which is similar to Buzzfeed’s piece and talks about Garner’s style as it relates to her branding.

I used to think she didn’t care about her style at all, but given how carefully she orchestrated her divorce and the PR blitz surrounding that, I’m sure her no-makeup day-to-day look is somewhat strategic. E! examines this:

In the eyes of the fashion elite, Jennifer Garner’s style may not be particularly groundbreaking; it’s neither avant-garde nor trendy.

Call it a lack of polish, if you will—but Jen represents what Lainey Gossip and Buzzfeed has called the “Minivan Majority.” Should she choose, the Miracle From Heaven star could market her everyday look into a full-fledged lifestyle brand—to the delight of mainstream mothers everywhere. Think: Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James without the prep or Gwyneth Paltrow’s goop…without the goopiness.

Hate or love it, there’s power in Jen’s style sensibilities—here’s why.

In just over a decade, Jennifer went from Maxim’s “Sexiest Woman Alive” and barely there Alias costumes to walking around town, bare-faced in jeans and a comfortable sweater. It’s a refreshing perception of celebrity that’s so relatable that not even the fashion elite can ignore her mass appeal. Granted, this is the same set that might trash talk her style behind closed doors, but in editorials, angle it as “casual-cool,” “effortless” or another FC (fashionably correct) synonym.

“This native West Virginian’s relaxed, unpretentious style has made her arguably one of the most respected public mothers in America and still a draw at the box office,” wrote Krista Smith of Vanity Fair…

It’s this take on practical fashion that makes her popular, especially to those attracted to the wholesome, all-American lifestyle.

[From E! Online]

Author Diana Nguyen goes on to quote Garner making fun of her style in her “aw shucks” way, like the bawdy story she told on The Tonight Show about being unable to go to the bathroom in her dress with the elaborate corset underneath. In a 2014 Allure interview, she also claimed to have worn pajamas to class every day when she was in college. Nguyen admits she’s not a fan of Garner’s style but said that there’s a kind of business reason for it. As I always say, I bought into Garner’s image until just a few years ago when I realized how carefully she controlled it. She could sell anything, and she’s been selling herself as an everymom for a while. I don’t think her fashion is aspirational by any stretch, and her shoes are usually overpriced and fug, but a Jennifer Garner clothing line would sell. She should sell haircare products. She’s tight with her hairdresser and her hair looks healthy usually.

Also it’s Friday. Do you think Ben and Jen will file for divorce this afternoon around 5pm pacific time?

photos credit: WENN and FameFlynet