The stars were ready to shine at the Academy Awards ceremony, and many did so in significant outfits. America Ferrera's ensemble was a nod to her ancestors, Billy Porter's dress was inspired by the golden room in the dome of Kensington Palace, and Spike Lee's suit paid homage to the late Kobe Bryant. Jane Fonda also made a strong Oscar fashion statement of hers that you may have missed.
When Fonda took the stage to present the award for best picture, the audience was sure to be in awe of how charming Grace and Frankie starred. In a crimson red Ellie Saab gown, the dress featured long sleeves and a sheer section around the chest and upper arms. The dress just sparkled under the lights. Fonda also "sported a short gray wig instead of her chin-length blonde hair."
While Fonda's dress was certainly a lovely choice, it was also one that fans may recognize. That's because she wore the same dress to Cannes in 2014, but if you think that was an oversight, think again! Fonda decided to wear the dress again at the Oscars as part of her commitment to take action against climate change. To that end, Fonda has said that she won't be buying new clothes.
Jane Fonda has given up buying
Many celebrities are using her fame to help fight climate change, including K-pop superstars BTS and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Jane Fonda is also making waves with her high-profile activism, and that includes the outfit she wore to the 2020 Oscars, which backs up her claim that she's given up buying unnecessary new items of clothing.
On November 1, 2019, Fonda was participating in a protest on Capitol Hill when she, according to Page Six, told the crowd, "So when I talk to people about, 'We don't need to keep buying.' We should not seek to buy our identity. We don't need more stuff", so I have to walk the path too. So I'm not going to buy any more clothes."
That same month, Fonda was discovered wearing the same outfits more than once (you know, like normal people). For example, she attended the Glamor Women of the Year Awards killing a shiny black outfit, then wore it again that same week while she attended the GCAPP Empowerment Party.
While Fonda's new habit of wearing clothes is sending a strong message, it's not the only way she's making a statement with her outfit choices.
There was another key piece to Jane Fonda's Oscars outfit
When Jane Fonda took to the Oscars stage to present an award at the 2020 event, she carried more than just the envelope with the winning image inside of it. She was also wearing a red coat. This wasn't a fancy cape like Natalie Portman's (incredibly significant) accessory or a proper suit jacket like the one worn by Keanu Reeves' mom, Patricia Taylor. No, Fonda brought a normal winter jacket with her. At one point, she casually slung it over her shoulder, and at another point, she folded it neatly over her arm. It was hard to miss the unusual addition to her formal attire.
Fonda had a very good reason for bringing that item with her. Page Six notes that the "now infamous red coat" is the same one "that she said would be her last purchase and that she has since worn many times to climate protests, and to jail when she was arrested at the same protests." protests».
"See this coat? I needed something red and I went out and found this coat on sale," Fonda said in 2019, during a protest on Capitol Hill, for W Magazine. "This is the last garment I will buy." Sure enough, she has been wearing that coat over and over again as she has performed at numerous protests.
