Jennifer Lawrence Responds to Concerns Over Her Not Wearing a Coat in 40-Degree Weather
Earlier this week, an image of Jennifer Lawrence and her Red Sparrow costars started gaining attention online. While promoting her upcoming film in London, the actress wore a gorgeous black Versace gown with a plunging sweetheart-style neckline and a hip-high slit. However, when posing for photographs alongside the male actors, there was a striking visual contrast: Lawrence didn't wear a coat (despite the blustery 40-degree weather), while the men appeared bundled up in boots, sweaters, pants (and, in the case of Joel Edgerton, not one but two jackets.) Many pointed out how that image conveyed the different expectations for men and women face when promoting films in Hollywood: Actors can wear whatever they want, while actresses are often expected to be "sexy" at all times. Now, Lawrence took to social media to respond to criticism and highlight a double standard in this argument.
In a post on her Facebook page on Wednesday, the actress rejected people's concern about her "wearing a revealing dress in the cold," pointing out an inherent assumption that she has no agency in how she dresses. "That Versace dress was fabulous, you think I'm going to cover that gorgeous dress up with a coat and a scarf?," she wrote. "I was outside for 5 minutes. I would have stood in the snow for that dress because I love fashion and that was my choice."
She went on to characterize the reaction to her outfit as "sexist," "ridiculous," and "not feminism": "Over- reacting about everything someone says or does, creating controversy over silly innocuous things such as what I choose to wear or not wear, is not moving us forward. It's creating silly distractions from real issues. Get a grip people. Everything you see me wear is my choice. And if I want to be cold THATS MY CHOICE TOO!"
Read the full post below.
The 27-year-old has a point: Though the majority of those who expressed concern about her outfit were presumably trying to make a point about sexism in the entertainment industry (and society in general), they inadvertently overlooked that Lawrence made a conscious decision to present in such a way, as she communicated afterwards. It's a tricky line to walk. There's still plenty of rampant sexism and misogyny at play in Hollywood, but it's important to remember to give the people in those situations the opportunity to express their point of view in these instances before making assumptions about their experience—and if that means showing off gorgeous Versace gowns in any weather condition, so be it.
