Madoona has a similar trick with her jogging suits. She bought several in exactly the same color and style and wears them all the time when she’s out riding her bike or running.
Once a photo of her in that outfit is published, there is no longer a market for another shot of her in the same outfit. Mags want new, exclusive photos, so when a photog sees Madonna in that same damned blue track suit, they don’t waste film on it.
You know, I was wondering about this just the other day…what if Britney Spears or any other celebrity who wanted to shed the paparazzi pretty much for keeps began to wear a fencing mask everytime they went out in public and then took it off once they got where they wanted to go? The photographers couldn’t prove who they were to tabloid and magazine editors or to the public in general. I would think that eventually photographers would quit wasting their time on that particular celebrity since there’d be little chance of a payoff.
Didn’t Michael Jackson start doing stuff like that? Not a fencing mask, but covering his face. He still got his picture taken though, and he looked even more pathetic for his attempts to hide his disfigured face.
Well, these days he looks pretty pathetic whether his face is covered or not.
Still, his kids have usually been masked and there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm to get photos of them, other than to try to show their blond hair and so forth which something like a fencing mask would hide.
What I’m thinking is that if a celeb began to go about their business with their head held high and carrying themselves normally but just wearing a fencing mask, they could move around pretty easily and without looking freaky or pathetic or furtive. Just let everyone know that from this point forward and for as long as it remains necessary, they will be wearing a fencing mask when appearing in public so as to thwart the paparazzi. Most people dislike these photographers pretty strongly anyway and would probably cheer them for it.
I will admit that it’s rather humorous to think of a large contingent of Hollywood celebrities going around wearing fencing masks, but still if it bugs 'em so much, why not?
I would in a heartbeat–and revel in the fact that I was thwarting those sumbitches. 
Ok, what about hulking bodyguards with this.
That would stop those pesky paparazzi 
There is precedent - Jasper Maskelyne was a magician before WWII, and when he joined the army, decided he could use his skills (misdirection and confusion) to help the war effort. During his time in North Africa, he created false canals and rivers using tinfoil for German bombers to attack. He also came up with a scheme to turn searchlights into rotating strobes using mirrors. A Spitfire pilot, during a test, only figured out where he was when they turned off the lights - 300 feet above the ground, inverted.
Si
As a slight diversion, Jeffrey Archer opened his garage for them and provided Scotch and tea - shelter and sustenance were greatly appreciated.
Rather a long time ago I did know a Paperizzo who worked for the Sun (UK) although I’m not sure whether he was staff or contract. He said that he used a motorized camera, held it over his head and kept the button down while he waved it around.
What’s even better is that if this sort of thing caught on, everyone in the LA area would be wearing fencing masks, not only for the cachet but also because you’d like to make people think you really are a celebrity, not just emulating them. So there’d be no way to tell if someone really is follow-worthy from the mask!
You guys have never spent any appreciable time actually wearing a Fencing Mask, have you.
I would not want to wear one all day, let alone in LA.
Si
Uh…no. 
Not that I think my silly idea would catch on, but it does answer the OP. Having said that though, I was thinking mainly of their wearing them only when in typical paparazzi territory, such as when they’re leaving their homes, leaving stores, restaurants, getting into cars, etc. Once away from the jerks the masks could be removed.
Exactly!
I figured the paparazzi would oprobably not bother you if you invited them in for milk and cookies. I mean, who wants to buy a photo of “CELEBRITY FEEDS US COOKIES!” You’d think think they’d probably not get a real good photo if you went over to them hiding in the bushes and chatted about the weather, or invited 5 of them to go play ultimate frizbee in the park.
Actually, photos of celebrities looking terrible seem to be in high demand, for tabloids and gossip sites. Often cleverly (cruelly?) contrasted with the glossy, airbrushed publicity shots that helped make them celebrities.
Unless you mean be ugly and unknown, in which case the ugliness seems sorta irrelevant…
Hmm… so, reputably the most powerful country on earth, access to some of the best technology out there… and we got fencing masks and feeding them cookies…
okay then… 
Didn’t Urban and Kidman bring beer to the paparazzi who were camped out in their driveway before their wedding?
Large (golf size), tin foil umbrella, well positioned, with a long (3’), fringe of reflective streamers and strings of faceted beads.