Discussing
Redeeming the red carpet

[Notice:Do know I am vulnerably tired and grammatical errors will ensue; Thank you]
Don't get me wrong, I get the point of your proposal and I understand the moral system your addressing, it's just that that is not how the 'world' is going to ever view any of this Hollywood glamour and beauty when it comes to models and actors lining up in front of cameras broadcasted worldwide. It's irrelative. The so called 'glamorous' lifestyle of a Hollywood actor is obviously (well, not to most, sadly) not so greener on the other end. Intelligent, mature being recognize this; Whereas, most intelligent actors/models know the do's/don't before hand and are smart enough to make pin-point decisions on festivities such as these. Now, the Critique.. If you look at this from a Christian perspective, do we expect a sensitized version of Simon Cowell? Say, a priest/pastor spilling out his best critique, as follows, "I think, uhm.. Well, you.. You look great! For one, and uhm.. Ha, I uh, I really love-I mean I LOVE the way your face shines with beauty seen by any God-fearing soul; But, your dress.. Uhm, on the other hand.. I mean, I'm sorry but that dress is about as glamorous as my great grandmothers kitchen apron."
It's just not going to happen. There will be no 'nice' way to put it, when it comes to celebrity/fashion judgement calls. I't not the way the world is run, and that shouldn't (as Christians) surprise us.. At all! We should know by know as followers of the Word that the world is of a separate state of being from us. The worlds lifestyles, values and characteristics should not apply to or manifest through/within us. We, again as Christians, should know that what lies ahead at the end of our tunnel in this life, is not the end at all, but only (emphasis on "Only") the very beginning. What should keep us strong is holding that truth near to our understanding, and knowing for sure beyond doubt that what is waiting for us is heavenly, glorious beyond any sort of "glamorous" temporal state of being; More so beautiful beyond any of our worlds most precious and priceless desires., and most certainly more important than who wears what at the Golden Globes, the Grammies, or the Oscars. IT just simply shouldn't really be of any importance to us.
That said, if it is of importance to you, in a fashion sense (I understand; Job relations, etc) I would say to support your passion/vocation and try in the least sleaziest, or crudest judgemental fashion to receive that of which you perceive to be acceptable in the field, and others which you declare outcast from your viewing displeasure, as a job function/innocent passion; And not a political standard set up to gain ratings due to the interests of who is going to candidly put down the "worst dressed" in the harshest of manors.
We all know, don't play dumb, that there is a right and a wrong way to doing anything, and if your values and moral conscious serve you fit to do things politely and not of this world/In a Christ like fashion-Then by all means, God bless you for it and move along in it quite steadily. If it serves you better to be stuck in the superficial, and you like to put others down due to a litany of uncanny reasons (those of which I'm not touching upon, I'm too tired and falling asleep), then by all means, go right ahead, though I wish you no fortune/luck it still is a free country.
The point is, Christians need to stop acting like they do not have an active, working brain. We should be able to decipher what we deem fit in His eyes and what we know (should know) is displeasing as well. I am not condemning Fashion, I take some pride in it myself, though I am pretty sure (almost a hundred percent)) that God obviously cares nothing about what fashion in itself, or which clothes are hot, or not.. It is not a no-no to look into todays trends, and decide or judge the likeness or the disapproval of certain types-Just try not to fall into the superficiality of it all, and take a standing example of yourself, being the bigger person and give conscious, considerate discernment along with your critique-Show Christ through and within all that you do, and he will give you the strength to pull through. Do not also forget the Holy Spirit that will, if you trust it to, guide you in the right and through the wrong. Pray about it- Best wishes.

Thanks for staying up late to share your comment. I don't think Caryn is arguing for a pastor-hosted red carpet show. You're right - that would be ridiculous. But I also don't think the concept of fashion is as easily separated from Christians' lives as you suggest, especially as it's related to beauty and art in the way Caryn mentions. Beauty and art are two of God's greatest gifts - how can we best appreciate and critique them as they're expressed through fashion?

1. Hit the MUTE button on your remote.
2. Enjoy the show.

I think about God as designer. Look at the color combinations on birds, the patterns on reptile skin, the translucence of fish, how tree leaves are different shapes and shades of green. Then start looking through a microscope and really get blown away by color, pattern & design.

While none of us can be arrayed in anything as amazing, we can appreciate the gifts and talents of designers because, whether they know it or not, God the Designer made them with those gifts. I think a beautiful dress is a work of art.

What is interesting about clothes as art is that they not only need to be beautiful in and of themselves, but they need to enhance the beauty and reflect the vibe of the wearer. Sometimes the clothes wear the person more than the person wears the clothes. I saw some of that at the Oscars. I also saw some really beautiful dresses worn artfully.

Personally, I still subscribe to the Narnian philosophy that your best clothes should also be your most comfortable.

I agree with Josh Larsen, and I should have never stayed up as late as I did while writing as much as I did.
I just am a bit stumped here with beauty (which I agree is) and art? are God's greatest gifts. Really? Where did you come to grips with that realization from?
I have never read that art was one of God's greatest gifts-Though I am sure we can get into a philosophical debate over how it is one..
Anyway, I do not think that Art is wrong, by any means, and I think that any talent given to the right person is a God given gift, but lets see about your summed up question:
How can we best appreciate and critique them (beauty and art) as they're expressed through fashion?
hmm.. To be honest, I think I mentioned above (not sure cause I'm not reading through it) that it will always be the way of the world on this one. By that, I mean the Judges are expected to be brutal. Have you (I'm sure) met models before? Not just models but actors (like, I) and ballet performers? We are all very burdened by the critique in a few ways, however in most ways it lifts us to become the best performers we can be. I know for acting (same with the others) it is continuos critique in Theater and while learning your parts with scene partners, etc. I am one of those actors who has to maintain a certain physique and body weight, or else. It is hard, but necessary that they do stay at us as they do. It's important to have a tough coach, you know. Saying that, there are some out there who are in the back room, and there always is, who will pat you on the back every once in awhile and appreciate you for your art. I don't really know how else to answer this question w/out a sit down, because there is just too much going into this. It is no simplistic question.

I think it is more they are a hanger for the designers to show off their gowns. I don't think they actually pay for them, do you? Perhaps if they are given a choice of 3 and choose a wierd one, then it is their choice that is the problem. But...perhaps some wear a bad one just to get more press which is how they market themselves.

Hmmm, let's watch the red carpet and then consider the following. May Christianity really is completely irrelevant to today's world.

1 Timothy 2:8-10 (New International Version, ©2010)

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

You're talking about decadence here, which is certainly an unfortunate byproduct of fashion and beauty. But to say Christianity is irrelevant to today's world - or to fashion - is to deny that God rules over all of the world. So we've made a mess of beauty and art as they relate to fashion, in many ways, but I don't think we should write them off. I really like maureenherring's comments here about how the God-given gifts of designers can be a reflection of his work as the desginer of all the earth.

Maureen: I love your whole second-to-last paragraph. I've been thinking how art isn't always about beauty (at all). It's about risk, and stirring hearts, minds, and souls. About provoking thought and imaginations. About pointing back to The Creator. So I love that you've addressed that fashion can not only enhance the beauty of the wearer but reflect their vibe. Love that. Because sometimes it ain't pretty. Or it's the "wrong" color. Or it "doesn't do anything" for a person's figure. But if the clothes reflects a vibe? Then it's working as art. Nice.

You ought to cover the Red Carpet next year.

My husband likes to look at the red carpet fashions. It's a different side of him, so I tolerate it. I turn the sound off, because the interviews make my teeth hurt. I can't even get into the "360 cameras," etc. This morning I read a comment on Twitter that was supposed to be funny that said "Note to online editors: All plus-sized women looked GREAT." I just wonder how they can even get up there and stand next to Jessica Chastain or Michelle Williams. I would be terrified. It's fine in the movie, but on the night where everyone is supposed to be beautiful, and there are 500 size 0s and two plus-sized women, how do they do it?
I guess it's hard to be Michelle Williams, too. But imagine what it's like to be Octavia Spencer.