Because, frankly, by talking beauty looks – as much as we loved them all – we’d miss the point. Last night, actors dressed in black took to the red carpet in solidarity with the #TimesUp initiative that called time on the inequality and abuse of women. It’s safe to say that the power of standing up together, or to quote Oprah in that speech – ‘speaking your truth’ – was well and truly felt.
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1 There were bigger issues at play...
As well as protesting sexual harassment and gendered discrimination with their all-black looks, our favourite actors also brought activists as their 'plus ones' further highlighting the important agenda. Their sombre outfits and unfamiliar guests demanded that we think about the bigger issues at play and ask ourselves how we can also join together in the fight against abuse and inequality.
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2 We'd rather talk about Oprah W and that amazing speech
Oprah Winfrey became the first black woman to win the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award and her spectacular, galvanising speech put questions of inequality – racial and gendered – front and centre of the event. We can't say it better than her, so if you haven't seen it yet, we suggest you watch it. More than once.
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3 Solidarity stole the show
Some have called Hollywood the wrong stage for political activism, but we’re in the camp of ‘the more women who know it isn’t alright to be abused, the better’. Also, in case you forgot, it was in Hollywood that this very issue has been so bravely exposed recently. Actors find themselves in the very privileged position of having a captive worldwide audience and they just used it for the good of half of humankind.
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4 Beauty is important, some things are just more important
Okay, so we might have been drooling over Zoe Kravitz’s hair and coveting Jessica Biel’s perfect pink lippy, but that’s allowed too. The night was about coming together, making a unified stand and working – hopefully quickly – towards change for the better. The issue is an important one and we’ll be playing our own part by celebrating the looks we liked, not tearing apart the ones we didn’t.
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5 We were inspired by Natalie Portman’s bravery
Natalie Portman went off-script when she announced the nominees for the best director; in her own words, ‘the all-male nominees.’ She stood straight-faced when the audience laughed at her brilliant audacity. She led by example, letting the world know that while standing up might not be easy, it’s powerful.