Making the red carpet bleed with statements has always been in fashion.
Fashion has long been wielded to express opinions and influence the public. The 1920s saw a radical change in female clothing as a response to women’s right to vote. Restrictive corsets evolved into free-flowing dresses, exemplifying women’s newfound liberation and power. Following the 9/11 attacks and the increasing visibility of Afghan women in burqas, fashion became synonymous with feminism in America. This evidently led to revealing clothing that protested the “oppressive” burqa. In the modern world, fashion has become a platform for political and personal statements, especially in regard to celebrities.
For instance, Lady Gaga’s renowned Meat Dress, where she donned raw beef at the 2010 MTV Awards show, was a poignant revolt against the U.S. military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that prohibited open members of the LGBTQ+ community from serving in the military. In Gaga’s words, “If we don’t stand up for what we believe in, … we’re going to have as much rights as the meat on our bones.”
The 2018 Golden Globe Awards saw an ocean of women in black clothing to signify solidarity with the Time’s Up movement supporting victims of sexual assault. By using style to make a statement, celebrities are transforming the fashion world from a model’s exclusive club to an inclusive realm with the power to incite change.
However, not all celebrity fashion is progressive. Singer Joy Villa has expressed support for former President Trump’s controversial policies on numerous occasions. She attended the 2018 Grammy Awards in a voluptuous white gown with the image of an unborn baby in a womb paired with a “Choose Life” purse, making her stance on abortion brutally clear. The following year’s Grammys saw her don a dress with “Build the Wall” stitched in bright red lettering. Though fashion is a slippery slope between wanted and unwanted influences, in recent…
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