Why "What Are You Wearing?" Belongs on the Red Carpet
Red carpet pageantry has reached peak craziness of late: hundreds of reporters and cameras vie to get that one quote that’ll go viral, getting picked up in papers, across the Internet, and on the morning talk show circuit. E!, for the past few years, has held the coveted first spot position on nearly every step-and-repeat during awards season, winning out over larger networks thanks to their affable hosts and sideline gimmicks. The “Glam Cam” is armed with multiple video cameras to give viewers a 360-degree view of a celebrity’s outfit. In 2012, a “mani cam” debuted at the height of the nail art craze—it requires women walk their fingers down a mini-runway—and most recently, a “clutch cam" was added to the repertoire. While these stunts previously pulled the stars to their Swarovski-encrusted booth, they’ve started to repel the bigger names, prompting much-discussed acts of defiance.
Elizabeth Moss stuck her middle finger out instead of showing off her manicure; Jena Malone sent a similar ‘f*** off’ message with her tongue; Cate Blanchett asked the camera panning her from head-to-toe if E! does “that to the guys,”; and, most recently, Jennifer Aniston, Julianne Moore, and Reese Witherspoon discreetly protested showcasing their freshly buffed nails. Following Blanchett’s apropos observation in 2014, the hashtag #askhermore, started by The Representation Project, has encouraged questions asked on the question to actresses to be more than just. “What are you wearing?”
Since the Screen Actors Guild Awards, when Aniston, Moore, and Witherspoon collectively snubbed the finger catwalk, a larger conversation surrounding sexism and feminist politics on the red carpet has commenced. So now the question is, will the inevitable “What are you wearing” still reign supreme, or will the recent efforts to revolutionize red carpet conversation take hold.
While acknowledging that Bradley Cooper’s perspectives on diversity in Hollywood are just as meaningful as Julianne Moore’s, completely banning sartorial talk from the red carpet isn’t the answer to achieving gender equality within the entertainment industry. Fashion’s an important part of a woman’s identity. Throughout history, it has served as armor in the fight against institutionalized chauvinism and made the kind of statement words often can’t. Bra burning, butt flashing, and pants-wearing are just a few examples—all have made clothing an innate facet of women’s lives, whether they like to believe it or not. While some may call conspicuous consumption a toxic part of our culture, there’s no denying the association between freedom to wear what you want and women’s self-determination in general.
It’s important to note that people care about what men are wearing as well. Strictly directing the query toward women is just one more form of sexism that doesn’t receive enough attention. Plenty of men are just as interested in tuxedo suiting as women are in black tie dresses. Perhaps the question wouldn’t be so loaded with dissension if it was addressed towards everyone.
The bottom line is, people want to know the answer to, “What are you wearing?” When actresses show off stunning gowns, some — with fat enough bank accounts — will open their computers to get one too, while others are scouring eBay and discount stores for similar styles. Credit also needs to be given where credit’s due. What many fail to realize is that these stars aren’t shopping online or popping by Barney’s; everything — from their blow out to their pedicure — is gifted. Without the inquiry, the companies that donate their time and products don’t get recognition for their work. Yes, the Oscars, as well as other awards shows, are predominantly about bestowing acclaim onto the actors, producers, writers, directors, and others involved in entertainment, but it’s also about those responsible for the flashiness. These stylists, designers, and artists deserve acknowledgment too.
Related:
Shay Mitchell Has A Better Question Than, “What Are You Wearing?”
Oscar Dress Predictions
The Down and Dirty Dispatches from the Red Carpet
