If all goes according to plan, the brightest color that will be seen on the Golden Globes red carpet this upcoming Sunday will be the carpet itself. Many women and some men have chosen to wear black to the awards show as a silent protest for all of the sexual harassment and misconduct that has been taking place in the film industry unpunished for decades.
You may ask, why wear black as an act of protesting? “This is a moment of solidarity, not a fashion moment,” Eva Longoria told the New York Times of Time’s Up dress code request. “I think [the actresses] are trying to hit several different meanings — mourning because bad things are happening and have happened to women, but there’s also the powerful, punk aspect that says we’re going to fight back,” says Valerie Steele, curator and director of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology and author of The Black Dress, tells The Hollywood Reporter.
The hottest accessory affixed upons ladies’ gowns and mens’ suits will be the Times Up pin to draw attention to the sexual harassment prevention initiative which will provide legal aid to women across industries struggling with harassment in the workplace. This initiative was launched by Reese Witherspoon, Shonda Rhimes, Emma Stone, and other prominent Hollywood women.
The buttons are being distributed to nominees and presenters, and some stars are asking fashion brands they are considering wearing to make a donation to the initiative’s legal defense fund. “Instead of stylists taking money from brands under the table for their clients to wear the goods, or celebs taking money over the table, people are asking for a sizable donation to the group,” says one anonymous fashion publicist. Karla Welch, who works with The Handmaid’s Tale nominee Elisabeth Moss, is donating her day rate on Sunday to Time’s Up.“Designers have remade dresses in black; it’s been pretty awesome.”