Who are you wearing?

So I had this shower thought last night about the Oscars. I don’t normally think about the Oscars, I don’t really care. This year the hot button issue was race and the lack of people of colour amoung the nominees.

I think it’s an important issue to raise and perfectly valid one. I also came across an article talking about how Hollywood keeps casting white people in roles they don’t belong.  But that wasn’t really my shower thought.

My epiphany was in regards to the previous year’s hot button issue which was sexism and the questions women get asked. “Who are you wearing?”

Cate Blanchett was upset a camera panned up and down to show her dress asking if they did the same to men. Nicole Kidman refused to answer Ryan Seacrest who the designer of her dress was. And numerous other stars have spoken out about how stupid and sexist the question is.

Amal Clooney, the human rights lawyer was even asked who she was wear while in court, to which she graciously replied,”Ede and Ravenscroft.” (They make all the long black lawyer robes)

In his defense Seacrest had tried to eliminate that question years before and was chastised for it.

Ryan Seacrest tried eliminating the “Who are you wearing” question in 2010, and was criticized heavily for it. “Hey Ryan, Talk to the Dress” read a New York Times style column headline that detailed the backlash from fashion bloggers. “It was almost like he wasn’t that interested in the designers,” designer Nicole Miller said. “He seemed more interested in the celebrities and their careers.”

So where does this leave us.

First off I find it hard to believe that anyone who spends thousands of dollars on an outfit doesn’t want you to look.

Actually I was corrected by one of my female colleagues.  She told me they are given the dresses by designers for this very reason!  So when asked who they are wearing, they answer “Karl Lagerfeld!” or whatever.

Also it’s called the “glam cam” for fuck sakes.You’re at the Oscars, not the Nobel prizes. If you don’t want to be on glam cam, wear a burlap sack.  The camera man (or woman) didn’t deserve to be called out for doing their job.

Secondly these same stars made their fortune based on their appearance so getting uppity about it now is a little hypocritical. To me it’s like when Billy-Bob Thorton got upset because his movie career was mentioned when trying to promote his music. Your music isn’t that good Billy-Bob and if you hadn’t cheated on Angelina most people would have no idea who you are.

The vast majority of women’s magazine are totally focused on these sorts of shallow issues and they expect these sorts of questions.  I agree it is vapid and shitty, but it’s not men buying the magazine.  If you think this sort of stuff is a waste of time or sexist, stop buying Cosmo!

Lastly, I think when so much time and effort is spent in selecting a dress it is natural for people to be curious (and envious). I guarantee that Leonardo DiCaprio didn’t put as much thought into his outfit as Brie Larson did.

If men got to wear wonderful varied colourful, sequined outfits, damn right I would expect the camera to pan up and down.  Instead we get to wear tuxedos aka: penguin suits, the same outfit as every other man in the place. This is because calling attention to yourself by what you wear has a negative connotation for men.  Which is why in any department store there will be 3 floors for women for every half-floor for men. (we share the other half with children).

What happened to the good ol days when men were as showy and ostentatious as any red carpet beauty?

Thanks, Elton!

So there are a few things I was thinking.

First, Cate Blanchett should call up her Hollywood friends and all wear the same dress in protest.  Make it something really plain and simple something without a designer.   Then if anyone asks about the dress, they can just say, “Same as everyone else”.  Boom! eliminate the need to ask.

Secondly, the interviewers should have a list of questions that are vetted by the stars.  When you interview someone, you normally have an idea of why you are speaking to them.  You have some prepared questions which usually lead somewhere more interesting.  For example, you might start a conversation with Julianne Moore about her work with Dress for Success which helps provide professional attire to help women in the workplace. That might in turn become a question of her favorite workplace designers are and before you know it, “Who are you wearing this evening?”

See how easily that was?