The red- carpet suit that spoke volumes

Lady Gaga brought new meaning to the term ‘power suit’ at the Women in Hollywood event last week

In among the stilettos and slip dresses on the event’s red carpet was Gaga – dressed in a ginormous mannish grey suit by Marc Jacobs. Of course, women wearing suits on the red carpet in this post #Metoo era is nothing new: the all-female jury at this year’s Cannes Film Festival wore a rotation of suits on an almost daily basis. But Gaga – who is currently promoting A Star Is Born – took the conversation one step further.

‘I tried on dress after dress today getting ready for this event,’ she said, addressing the audience. ‘I felt sick to my stomach. I asked myself, what does it mean to be a woman in Hollywood? We are not objects. We are not members of a giant beauty pageant meant to be pitted against one another for the pleasure of the public.’

Gaga directed discussions towards the unrealistic standards of beauty set by the red carpet. It sent a powerful message. ‘I loved Gaga’s suit and what it stood for,’ says fashion stylist Avigail Collins. ‘There is lots of pressure [in Hollywood], but choosing the right look for how you feel that day will add to how you carry yourself and your confidence for the evening.’

Gaga’s big, baggy suit spoke volumes, because it wasn’t a gown. And it wasn’t fitted. ‘In this suit, I felt like me today,’ she said. ‘As a woman who was conditioned at a very young age to listen to what men told me to do, I decided today I wanted to take the power back. To resist the standards of dressing to impress. Today I wear the pants.’

I DECIDED TODAY I WANTED TO TAKE THE POWER BACK