At her first red carpet appearance in almost three years, Emma Watson proved she still had the sartorial gusto to capture the media's attention in a head-turning, piecey tulle confection by Harris Reed at the TED Countdown climate conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. The designer took to Instagram to recount that the process was "an immense honor," followed by his explanation of how the demi-couture dress-cum-top was made from upcycled wedding dresses from Oxfam.
In her typical fashion, Watson utilized her garb as an opportunity to champion sustainability. An admirable pursuit, as we found ourselves equally intrigued with the challenges she posed to the traditional idea of feminine formalwear—for beneath the dress, she donned a pair of pants. The frothy tulle cut away asymmetrically at her left hip to reveal a pair of contrastingly masculine black trousers, also designed by Reed.
This isn't the first time the actress turned activist has opted for a shape-shifting ensemble on the red carpet, either. In what I personally believe to be one of the best red carpet looks of all time, Watson wore a coral-hued, cap-sleeve dress by Christian Dior during the Raf Simons era at the 71st Annual Golden Globes back in 2014. The dress, simple in silhouette, stopped short at the back to reveal not only a hefty portion of skin but also another pair of tapered black pants. A tantalizingly high slit at her right leg also allowed viewers to glimpse a whiff of what lay underneath.
Tradition writes that at formal occasions, women wear gowns while men wear suits. By today's standards, it's not uncommon for ladies to sub tailoring in lieu of a ballgown at such events. Thanks to celebrities like Billy Porter, Law Roach, Harry Styles, and Kid Cudi, our eyes have also begun to grow accustomed to the idea of men in dresses. It is, however, still a rarity to see someone doing both. Aside from the positive ramifications it could have for gender norms, it's an interesting play purely in terms of aesthetics—just the right amount of wrong.
