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Time’s Up black-out - The 2018 Golden Globes red carpet saw Hollywood stars protest against sexual harassment in the industry by wearing black. Viola Davis, the glass-ceiling-destroyer and advocate for authenticity, also made her red carpet statement intersectional by celebrating her natural hair.

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Time’s Up black-out - Stars also supported Time's Up at the 2018 BAFTAs as well as the Grammys, where musicians got political and donned black outfits, and wore or carried a white rose—traditionally a symbol of peace, resistance, and hope.

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Blue ribbons - At the 2017 Academy Awards, Ruth Negga’s blue ribbon stood starkly in contrast to her red gown, and she was joined by a host of other actors who donned the ribbon supporting the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in protest of Donald Trump’s immigration ban.

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Blue ribbons - Karlie Kloss’ blue ribbon stood out on her hip, supporting the organization that defends the civil rights and liberties that are granted by the US constitution.

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Spelling it out - At the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2017, 'Big Bang Theory' actor Simon Helberg and his wife Jocelyn Towne didn’t care for subtly. He carried a sign that read, “Refugees welcome,” and she had the words “Let them in” painted on her chest.

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Spelling it out - At the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, Salma Hayek posed for the cameras with a sign that read, “Bring back our girls,” drawing attention to more than 250 girls and young women who had been kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram in Nigeria. Actors including Mel Gibson, Antonio Banderas, and Harrison Ford did the same the following evening.

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Spelling it out - Aunjanue Ellis wore a gown to the 2016 NAACP Image Awards with the words "Take It Down Mississippi" across the front, referencing Mississippi's state flag, the last in the US to display the Confederate symbol. The dress was designed by the ABC drama’s costume designer, Sami Rattner.

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Suiting up - At the 2017 Hollywood Film Awards, the first major ceremony following the Weinstein scandal, and in protest of the corrupt and sexual misconduct-ridden power structures in Hollywood as well as the patriarchy at large, female actresses including Dakota Johnson wore tailored pantsuits.

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Suiting up - In early 2017, at the Golden Globes, Evan Rachel Wood donned a crisp tuxedo and explained in an interview on the red carpet that she wanted to demonstrate to young girls and women that dresses, while nice, aren’t a requirement.

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Suiting up - Even earlier, when it was truly out of place for a female actress to wear a suit, and much less one that doesn’t show some skin or hug her curves, Julia Roberts made waves at the 1990 Golden Globes. Her men’s Armani suit perfectly captured her rebellious spirit as she accepted the Best Supporting Actress award.

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Suiting up - In a two-fold protest against the Vietnam war and in support of the Women’s Liberation Movement, the 1972 Best Actress winner Jane Fonda accepted her award in a sharp pantsuit with a Mao-style collar. She commented at the time that she was "not dressing for men."

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Footwear fanaticism - While Susan Sarandon’s suit paired with sleek black flats on the 2016 Cannes red carpet doesn’t seem like much, it was a fantastic protest against the festival, who, the year prior, had turned a group of older women away from a screening because they were wearing flat shoes instead of heels.

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Footwear fanaticism - Organizers at Cannes were quoted saying that it’s obligatory for women to wear heels to red carpet screenings, and women were reasonably outraged. Julia Roberts also took a stand against 'Heelgate,' and appeared on the 2016 Cannes red carpet in a floor-length gown, which she then lifted to climb the stairs, revealing she was completely barefoot.

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Sheer disregard for dress codes - Barbra Streisand collected her Best Actress award at the 1969 Oscars in a sheer, beaded suit, which was both unconventional for its semi-transparent fabric and the fact that it had pants instead of a skirt, which weren’t “appropriate” for fancy events. It was a strong statement against the conservative attitude of the time.

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Sheer disregard for dress codes - Cher famously refused to follow conservative red carpet dress codes, and in 1973 she wore a sheer, midriff-baring number to the Academy Awards, beginning her reputation as the queen of the event. She’s pictured at the Oscars the following year, showing no sign of remorse.

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(Cher) disregard for dress codes - Cher’s eye-popping Bob Mackie outfit and spiky hairdo in 1986 was meant to spite the Academy, which had put out a memo that year asking actresses, who had apparently been wearing too many pantsuits, to please dress appropriately.

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Graphic tees for graphic cause - Ryan Gosling accepted the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in 2005, and he did so wearing a Darfur T-shirt. The simple shirt carried a message to thousands of viewers about the war-torn region of western Sudan where a genocide killed hundreds of thousands of people.

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Designated designers - In the wake of Trump’s Muslim ban, director Ava DuVernay wore a gown by the Lebanon-based designer Mohammed Ashi and tweeted, “A small sign of solidarity. I chose to wear a gown by a designer from a majority Muslim country.”

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Feminist fashion - Katharine Hepburn was a pioneering Hollywood tomboy who loved to wear the pants, and she famously won several Oscars but never turned up to accept them. Then, when presenting at the 1974 ceremony, she nearly caused a panic when she rocked up with her hair in a messy up-do, wearing her “gardening clothes” and clogs, which reportedly had to be spray-painted black backstage in order to hide their actual dirt stains. That moment has since been praised as a great feminist stride at the Academy Awards.

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Feminist fashion - Amber Rose and Blac Chyna donned matching outfits at the 2015 VMA’s, which involved a flesh-colored bodysuit and dress respectively, decorated with slurs like “slut,” and “gold digger.” Their intention was to paint a jarring picture of the names women are called, and Rose would later follow-up this red carpet statement with her first annual SlutWalk Festival, raising awareness for women's equality issues.

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Dressing for the global stage - In the midst of US strikes on Iraq in 2003, the Academy Awards went on, but many actresses, including winners Nicole Kidman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, chose to wear black out of respect for the real tragedy going on beyond their celebration.

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Dressing for the global stage - In 2001, the Emmys were postponed twice, first because of the September 11 attacks, and second due to the subsequent air strikes on Afghanistan. The awards went on in November, but a number of actresses, including Jennifer Garner, wore black out of respect.

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Purple ribbons - To the 1993 Oscars, Denzel Washington a wore purple ribbon to bring attention to urban violence in America.

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Be yourself, no matter who that is - While Björk wasn’t exactly protesting against something in particular, she strictly ignored the black-tie formal dress code at the 2001 Academy Awards, instead showing up in a feathered swan dress and laying an egg on the red carpet.

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Red ribbons - The red ribbon was created in 1991 as a symbol for AIDS awareness, and at the 1992 Oscars, the night’s biggest stars, including Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman, arrived with them pinned onto their dresses and tuxes.

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Red ribbons - The statement lasted many years, and at the 1993 Oscars, Susan Sarandon and her then-husband Tim Robbins wore them to show their support for people living with HIV/AIDS. When the pair took to the stage to present an award, they used the platform to ask the US government to close the Guantanamo internment camp for HIV-positive Haitians. The stunt got them banned from the Academy, but the ban was eventually lifted.

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Red ribbons - Tom Hanks won Best Actor for his role in 'Philadelphia' in 1994, and he gave an eloquent speech supporting and paying tribute to those affected by AIDS, which had an enormous amount of stigma attached to it back then. It was a tear-jerking speech deserving of another Oscar.

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Bracelets against gun violence - In a very subtle political fashion statement at the 2016 Oscars, stars like Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Adam McKay (pictured) wore bracelets from the #Enough campaign, intended as a call to end gun violence in America.

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More than just accessories - Lady Gaga walked the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet with four military service members affected by 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,' the official US policy at the time on military service by LGBT soldiers. Accepting the award for Best Female Video for 'Bad Romance,' Gaga thanked them for accompanying her, directed people to an organization devoted to giving legal assistance to those affected by DADT, and encouraged voters to reach out to their senators. The legislation was repealed one year later.

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Wartime wear - The 1941 Academy Awards saw attendees in muted tones and not-too-extravagant gowns so as to reflect the mood of the time. Ginger Rogers captured the essence perfectly in a soft grey dress with American-produced lace and no excess fabric.

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Badge of dishonor - At the 2017 Golden Globes, actress Lola Kirke accessorized her pink gown with a pin that read, “F**k Paul Ryan,” publicly denouncing the Republican House Speaker who was threatening to cut funding from Planned Parenthood, the nonprofit organization that offers advice, support, and services for family planning and sexual health.

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Pins for Planned Parenthood - After a little more than a month of the Trump presidency, Emma Stone turned up to the Oscars in a gold dress accented with a pin supporting Planned Parenthood. Dakota Johnson also attached a pin supporting the reproductive-rights organization on her clutch.

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Pins for Charlie - George and Amal Clooney turned up to the 2015 Golden Globes showing their support for those affected by the Charlie Hebdo shooting by wearing 'Je Suis Charlie' pins—his on the lapel of his Armani suit, and hers on the front of a white clutch.

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Green carpet - Emma Watson is one of the biggest champions of ethical fashion, among a quickly growing number, and in 2015, she signed up for the Green Carpet Challenge, where she agreed that every single piece she wore on the red carpet would be sustainable. For example, her 2016 Calvin Klein Met Gala dress was made out of a unique yarn engineered from used plastic bottles.

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