Red carpet-"Ask her more" - YouLookFab Forum

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Red carpet-"Ask her more"

Sharon

Veteran

What do you all think of this? Apparently some female stars don't want to discuss their dresses because they feel the focus should be on their work instead of their wardrobe.

I feel really conflicted about this attitude. I understand that if you are the president or a Nobel Prize winner you don't necessarily want the discussion to be about your wardrobe to the exclusion of your life's work, but I feel like actors' work is at least partly about presenting an image and being glamorous and beautiful. Surely it is not disrespectful to reference that on an awards night? Especially when the stars have clearly gone out of their way to choose the dress and jewellery that shows them to their best advantage. And I LOVE getting the chance to see all the beautiful gowns on real people.

Am I way off base here? Is it really sexist to ask a film star about her fashion choices? Do such questions negate the craft involved in acting?

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from chadya

kkards

Veteran

should we be more interested in the person rather than what they are wearing? probably…..but in the last couple of days this is what i've been thinking….here are a group of people concerned that we are/maybe downloading their work without paying for it, showing up to the big events in other artists work that they didn't pay for!!!!!!!

Staysfit

Veteran

If they get the dress for free than by all means they should be giving credit. If they paid for it, than they can let someone else do the job and focus on their work. Their are enough fashion experts critiquing what they wear to comment on the dresses.

Traci

Veteran

I focus on the "more" part of this. I don't hear it as "Don't ask about what I'm wearing." I hear it as "Acknowledge that what I'm wearing is not the only thing worth asking me."

trekkiegirl

Veteran

I think if they don't want people to ask what they are wearing, one of two things should happen: Don't accept free shit, which is how most of that works, or don't wear a fancy dress at all. Simple.

jackiec

Veteran

Agree with Traci. I think they are ok with being asked the dress question, but would also like to use the publicity platform to talk about their works. I don't have a problem with either.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fashion and style is part of being a red carpet celebrity. It's not the time to interview about the person's acting skills, which is another moment entirely. If they did that, it would minimize the actor's talent. And those interviews happen all the time too. I don't feel conflicted about this.

(I LOVED the show last night).

unfrumped

Veteran

Ha, I say, get over it. You don't control what people ask. You control how you respond, which could include a few gracious remarks, because of course most of them totally sweated the whole outfit selection thing, and then segue to your "craft". Grumpy crabby whiny responses are never attractive.

doubleh

Veteran

It seems to me that like everything else, this is getting bogged down with "advertising". Yes, I want to know who the dress designer is, but I think those actors that took issue, took issue with the endless credits roll that was becoming expected- dress designer, jewelry designer, shoe designer, accessories designer, stylist, wardrobe assistant, coffee fetcher, etc. Those people don't mean much outside of the industry, they could easily be credited online somewhere and still get their props.

Sal

Veteran

I am not sure.

There is a double standard- men are not asked the same types of questions - and I think some aspects have gone too far (mani-cam etc).

However this is part of the game that leads to huge revenues (chat show circuit, red carpets, premieres, covers of magazines etc). Can you step out of part of it and expect the same very high salary?

Sharon

Veteran

Thanks for the interesting thoughts on this.
I hadn't considered the freebie angle. I think I agree with Angie that fashion is part of the job description. And I would far rather hear about the dress than the answer to another inane "Do you think you will win?" question.
kiwigirl, I wonder if the men would be asked more about their outfits if they chose more interesting, diverse or even outlandish clothes?

Lyn D.

Veteran

I agree Sharon- the Red Carpet is THE time to be talking about fashion, and giving credit to whoever designed the gown!
Did you read about Mrs Clooney declining to talk about her outfit outside court last week? Completely justified in that situation- good on her!!

Gigi

Veteran

I would say that awards ceremonies like this are just as much about fashion as about acknowledging the actors' talents, so I think that the celebrities need to get over it. As far as men not being asked that question, there is generally not such a wide choice of options available for men's fashion, even at this level. The women's dresses are where designers really have a chance to make an amazing creation.

Thistle

Veteran

I wish it were just about the talent of the actresses. You don't see the actors asked the same thing, and that's what bothers me. I remember my college roommate talking about "the male eye" and how much of Hollywood is focused on that - seeing things as a man would, and particualrly viewing women more as sex objects than thinking people.

Not sure what the difference between the awards shows are and a beauty pagaent, other than I hope the awards are handed out for actual talent.

Issues of who paid for what, free publicity etc. etc. really seems silly. Aren't most wearing well established designers? I know nothing of advertising in the fashion world, but I am doubtful Versace needs to give away free dresses to actresses to make the fiscal quarter.

elpgal

Veteran

Every interview with a female scientist includes extensive questioning about work-life (code for parenting-career) balance. On one hand, I am curious to hear answers to these questions from senior women but also recognize that my male colleagues would never be asked these questions. I think I feel similarly about this issue re. actresses and their dresses.

chadya

Veteran

The whole Red Carpet thing is about fashion and what they are wearing. There is a whole industry supporting what these people are wearing. I might guess that the majority are wearing them for free and thus promoting.
Not the venue for politics and rest.
Rather disingenuous