Emma Watson and her onscreen Disney character, Belle, are alike in so many ways.
They’re both fiercely independent, they embody feminist values (strength through intelligence, upholder of principles, etc.)
And they’re both unabashed bookworms. And in a very Belle-like move.
The Beauty and the Beast star shared her love of books with children from The New York Film Society for Kids at Lincoln Center’s Francesca Beale Theater on Monday.
Make that, in Belle-like fashion, because she wore a pale yellow dress that drew comparisons with that famous yellow gown from the film’s ballroom scene.
Custom-made (read: sustainably made, which is in keeping with Watson’s eco-minded promo tour) by Dior Haute Couture.
The organza number is washed in the same pale canary hue, but reimagined with a modern-day, minimalist aesthetic.
A simple A-line silhouette versus a fit-and-flared ball gown, and an understated cowl-neck with delicate straps instead of a dramatic off-shoulder cut.
Following the reading, Watson did a sartorial 180 for the New York premiere of Beauty and the Beast with a dress that reads less Disney and way more sexy. The black Givenchy Haute Couture creation by Riccardo Tisci was crafted from Eco Age-certified organic fabrics and featured sheer panels, a racy thigh-high slit, and an open back.
But let’s get back to the books. Watson, in addition to being an actress, a UN ambassador, the creator of the gender-equality organization HeForShe, and a modern fashion icon, has always been an avid reader. Last year, she launched a feminist book club called Our Shared Shelf; and at times, like on International Women’s Day, she takes on the role of a “ninja book fairy” and hides feminist titles, including Alice Walker’s The Color Purple and Gloria Steinem’s My Life on the Road all over New York City to “spread some wise women’s words.”
“[Books are] so powerful and they have the ability to change your life and your outlook, and this story really speaks to that, the sacred nature of books and their ability to transport you and empower you,” Watson tells Mashable. “We still live in a world where there are probably over 80 million girls who won’t get to go to school just because of their gender.”
Emma Watson, you’re our hero.
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