Natalie Portman's feminist statement dress at the 2020 Oscars

For the 2020 Oscars, Natalie Portman chose a very refined, cool and special look, a way to support women's empowerment. The actress flaunted on the red carpet, over a black and gold Dior dress (SS20 couture collection), a cape designed for her by Maria Grazia Chiuri with embroidered the names of the female directors, authors of some of the most beautiful films of the year, but snubbed from the nominations: Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), Melina Matsoukas (Queen & Slim), Alma Har'el (Honey Boy), Céline Sciamma (Portrait de la jeune fille en feu) and Mati Diop (Atlantics). 

Last July the Academy announced its intention to include more women among its members, a commitment to gender equality that failed when the names running for Best Director were revealed. With only men nominated for the award (this year's winner was Bong Joon Ho for Parasite), the category confirmed its reputation as the most chauvinistic category. So far, in fact, in 92 years of history, only five women have been nominated (Lina Wertmuller, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola, Kathryn Bigelow and Greta Gerwig) and the only one to bring home the award was Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 for The Hurt Locker, who also won that year as Best Film and Best Original Screenplay. Portman chose the tenth anniversary of the event to show how Hollywood is still a male-dominated kingdom.

I wanted to recognize the women who were not recognized for their incredible work this year in my subtle way. 

She told the Los Angeles Times commenting on her statement dress.

This is not the first time that Natalie has brought the misogyny of the film industry into the spotlight. Two years ago, on the Golden Globes 2018 stage, before announcing the winner of the Best Director award, she said:

These are the nominees, and they are all men.

Natalie Portman with her Dior look created by Maria Grazia Chiuri - not a casual choice, if we think that since she has been the creative director of the French Maison, the designer has turned each collection into a reflection on the women's role - has found a powerful but elegant way to underline how #OscarSoEmpowering is still just a hashtag and not a fact.