What after code black on the red carpet?

The little black dress is full of symbolism, and while it is usually ascribed to the ingenuity of Coco Chanel and Jean Patou, it was the Victorian era actress Lillie Langtry – a special friend of Edward VII, then Prince of Wales – who made the longer length version of the monochrome gown quite the rage in London.

So it was both fitting and piquant that there was a Code Black in force in Hollywood at the Golden Globes awards ceremony last week.

With only three notable exceptions (including the Indian-origin president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association who wore red as a nod to the desi colour of celebration) the industry-wide sartorial “blackout” in solidarity against sexual harassment made a strong statement in the era of Technicolor.

The men are used to it as tuxedos are generally black anyway, but leading ladies and other female red carpet regulars are usually counted on to add variety and colour to the event.

The challenge this time for stylists, therefore, was obviously unprecedented: to provide colour-appropriate ensembles for their image-conscious clients so that they could stand out even while standing together.

That was easier said than done. An even more eloquent statement perhaps would have been for everyone (male and female) to turn up in black tuxedos. Or gowns. Maybe that might happen at the Oscars.