Making a statement

Julia Roberts recently created a buzz of epic proportions, by appearing barefoot on the Cannes red carpet, to protest an incident at last year’s festival. So did Madonna, with her sheer outfit at the Met Gala, which was a jab at ageist comments telling older women to dress ‘appropriately’ for their age. Here’s a list of celebrities who have used the red carpet and their outfits to start important conversations.

Emma Watson
What’s not to love about the Harry Potter star, who is swiftly becoming an outspoken advocate for gender equality and environmental issues? She is also known for her sartorial choices.  And of course, everyone swoons when she brings advocacy and fashion together. She recently wore a Calvin Klein dress to the Met Gala that stunned everyone. Not only was it fashion forward, being a combination of pants and a gown, but was also made of plastic waste and organic cotton. She has always been a champion of sustainable fashion and also enjoys repeating clothes. In an age of fast fashion, where we are quick to discard clothes, this is a refreshing change.

Julia Roberts
Last year at Cannes, several people were turned away from attending film screenings because of the festival’s unwritten high heels policy. People were denied entry for wearing flat boots and sandals. Julia Roberts came out this year in a gorgeous black gown and later revealed she was barefoot. She evaded the uptight rules by wearing heels when entering and then promptly taking them off. The #Flatgate supporters were hushed and she proved that no one needs to be dressed in skyscraper heels to look presentable or glamorous. You go, Julia!

Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson has never been one to shy away from the spotlight and has been an advocate of positive body image. She changed the game when she came to the 2015 MTV VMAs red carpet in a dress by Eloquii. Eloquii is probably one of the only plus-size brands to have ever been mentioned on a mainstream red carpet, thanks to Rebel. Twitter was set abuzz and people applauded her fashion choice as well as her choice of designer. It also highlighted the fact that mainstream luxury fashion, the liked of Chanel and Prada, do not make clothes for plus-size women.

Zendaya Coleman

Maybe Disney actress Zendaya didn’t know she would be making a statement when appearing in dreadlocks, a hairstyle attributed to her African culture and heritage, on the Oscars red carpet. But Giuliana Rancic made sure it was, when she commented on Zendaya possibly smelling like patchouli oil and marijuana. Zendaya snapped back by talking about her heritage and how empowering it felt to wear her natural hair in locs. Despite apologies, people were left stunned by Giuliana’s comment and many black women came forward to express their love for their hair.