16 Times Celebs Had Hidden Messages Behind Their Ensembles

Celebrities are in a perfect position to make statements about the world. Not only do they have everyone following their every step, but they also have platforms to speak out and reach a wide audience. The world listens to celebrities, and they listen to us when we're pushing to make a change. We've recently seen a huge outpouring of people coming to support equality, as well as a lot of support for other social movements.

This is great in a world that's so sorely in need of change, and we're thankful that so many celebrities are jumping on the support train. Many people are even using their outfits to speak out against negativity, which adds a whole other layer of interest to celebrity fashion watching. Not only do we get to see people dressing fabulously, but we also get to decode some of the hidden meanings behind their outfits! And we love finding out just what they all mean. You might have heard about Blake Lively's MET Gala message that was hidden on her clutch - You might have even heard about some of Lady Gaga's outfit meanings over the years. Keep reading, and discover some of the best-hidden outfit meanings of all time.

16 Taylor Swift's Low-Key Backstab (Via… T-Shirt?)

T-Swift is the queen of making statements, even if they aren't always great statements. Whether she's setting the world on fire with a live performance, or playing a bit of a devil's advocate with her music videos, Taylor Swift always has something to say.

She's got so much to say, in fact, that she's got layers and layers of meaning underscoring one music video in particular.

If you remember back when her Look What You Made Me Do video came out, you'd know that she used that video to make a statement about how much she's changed from the beginning of her career to now. Rolling Stone published an article that talks about how many messages she actually put into that video, and let us just say that we were shocked. Swift even made the bathtub in that video meaningful!

One of the most interesting parts of it though was the revamp of her You Belong With Me shirt. Rolling Stone points out that the names on the shirt changed from the original video to include all of T-Swift's current closest friends, leaving out some key people. This sends the message that they now belong without Taylor Swift, which is fine by her; she can just change those t-shirt names and move on, dropping people who don't support her.

15 Emma Watson Secretly Wore Garbage And Everybody Loved It

Do you remember the 2016 MET Gala? It's hard to think back after such impressive fashion choices this year, but think hard. Emma Watson was one of the outstanding attendees that year, and she made a beautiful and nearly-heroic appearance in an outfit that shocked everyone.

It's not the fact that she wore a two-piece ensemble to the biggest fashion event of the year; many people choose to not wear dresses, and the edge is always appreciated.

No, Emma Watson had a secret meaning behind her ensemble, and InStyle told us all about it.

During the 2016 MET Gala, Emma Watson strutted her stuff wearing an outfit basically made of trash. InStyle lists Calvin Klein and Eco Age as the two companies responsible for designing and fabricating the outfit, which was made out of recycled material. Emma Watson had written on her Facebook page, "plastic is one of the biggest pollutants on the planet. Being able to repurpose this waste and incorporate it into my gown for the #MetGala proves the power that creativity, technology and fashion can have by working together." The ensemble is indeed crafted out of recycled water bottles, as well as organic cotton (for the breathability we assume). It looks fabulous, and it's living proof that you can be sustainable and eco-friendly while still being on the cutting edge of fashion.

14 Blake Lively's 2018 MET Gala Outfit Was Made For Some Specific Fans

Jumping ahead to this year's MET Gala, there were some absolutely incredible looks. Not only did people show up dressed as a diamond-crusted pope (we're looking at you, Rihanna) but they also took some creative license with the holy theme. Blake Lively was one of the outstanding outfits of the night, and everyone is still talking about the sparkly, mind-boggling outfit of Lively's. ETCanada says that Lively's dress took 600 or so hours to make, and we believe that those were hours well spent. The head-to-toe ensemble was completed with a matching clutch, which is where the secret meaning comes in.

ETCanada writes, “the actress revealed on Instagram Friday that the studded clutch designed to complement her dress… Featured a cross with four letters, each representing the members of her family.”

That's right! Her purse not only carried her phone, wallet, and keys, it also carried the initials of her family members.

The love that Lively has for her family is tangible, and even though many people might not have understood the obscure reference, sometimes it's necessary to do things just for you. Plus, Blake Lively is a fashion icon. She can get away with wearing almost anything, including her children's names!

13 Kate Middleton's Green Dress Has A Different Meaning Than You Thought It Did

Time's Up was a movement that came in with a bang. All of a sudden everyone is paying attention to negative allegations and ensuring the respectful treatment of people on set (and off). While it's just the beginning of making this world a positive, safe place, it certainly was encouraging to watch as nearly everyone donned black outfits and small “Time's Up” pins. The outpouring of support during both the Golden Globes and the BAFTAs gave us some hope for the future. Anyone not wearing black was immediately brought to question, wondering why they chose to not stand in solidarity with the movement. For some, the answer was personal.

For others, there was a legitimate royal reason behind shirking the black dress code. Harper's Bazaar uncovered some interesting information regarding Kate Middleton's green dress. “As royal rules dictate, members of the royal family are discouraged from making political statements of any kind - they don't even vote, to make sure they don't influence the public,” says Harper's Bazaar, “but despite not being black, Kate's outfit choice wasn't completely devoid of political statements… Kate's green gown could have potentially been a nod to the Suffragettes, who wore green to represent hope.” The article goes on to mention her black sash, which could be a subtle nod to supporting this politically-charged movement (without making the Queen Mum mad)!

12 Tiffany Haddish Brought Her Dad With Her (In Dress Form)

If you don't know who Tiffany Haddish is, you're sorely missing out. This funny woman has been winning our hearts and minds over the last few years, and we're incredibly excited to see what she does next. Not only has she hosted SNL, but she's also been in a few big movies and TV shows that have highlighted her humor skills and clever, goal-oriented mind.

For someone so outstanding, it only makes sense to have an outstanding outfit.

Her outfit for the Oscars was one of the stand-out looks of the night; unique, meaningful, and incredibly gorgeous, Good Housekeeping has a lot of good to say about the dress. They reported that “Haddish paid tribute to her late father's roots. Her red carpet ensemble was a tribute to Eritrea, where her father lived until he [passed away] last year.” Taking all that culture and putting it on the red carpet is a beautiful statement to make, and the fact that she was honoring her dad at the same time makes us a little misty-eyed. We love when people show their love of family on the red carpet, as it makes the outfits that much more special and personal. While Good Housekeeping also reports that she changed into a different outfit for the actual Oscars show, we're thankful that she shared this piece of her soul with the world.

11 Cara Delevingne Used Color In A Meaningful Way

This superstar has had her fair share of outstanding fashion moments. Not only did she receive a lot of attention for her dramatic haircut a while ago, but she's also received a lot of attention for rocking every stage of the hair growing out process. We love the fact that she seems to look good no matter what she's got on top of her head, and the fact that she's so willing to experiment with it! Bustle gave a little bit of insight into Delevingne's hair choice.

According to Bustle, for Delevingne, “debuting the look on this particular red carpet went beyond the MET Gala. It was a nod to something that the star is filming, according to an advance tip…  While her cool hair hue… Represents a project on Delevingne's docket, violet holds serious symbolic significance in relation to this year's religious theme”.

“Violet is often associated with mourning, pain, and suffering of the crucifixion. It's also linked to royalty while celebrating the resurrection.” The color gains an even greater significance when you look at the outfit as a whole: the black dress looks more like something you'd wear to a funeral than the MET Gala, which acts as a dark juxtaposition to the hope of purple hair. Could there be a whole thesis written about this outfit? Definitely yes. But at the end of the day, all that matters is the look. And Delevingne certainly captured that look.

10 Lady Gaga's Superbowl Outfit Has MANY Different Meanings

Lady Gaga is a woman of many talents. From her incredible singing voice to her virtuoso piano skills, Lady Gaga has proved time and time again that she definitely has magic powers in the pop music world. Not only that, but she proved her acting ability on American Horror Story, and even has expanded her brand with the announcement of creating her own makeup line! We love the fact that she's dabbling in even more artistic, entrepreneurial endeavors, and are excited to offer the full report when that makeup is eventually released.

Her success hasn't come out of the blue, though - Gaga has worked incredibly hard for many years, and she's had a lot to say along the way.

While you might have thought her meat dress was the only outfit with a meaning behind it, think again. Refinery29 offered some insight into her 2017 Superbowl performance outfit. The outfit was a throwback to her 2010 Grammies outfit, when “she performed with Elton John in a six-minute slot that was later deemed too political. The singer wore a custom green, shoulder-padded bodysuit by Armani Privé, accessorized with a pair of hot pink eye patches shaped like upside-down triangles,” which are well known “part of a popular logo that reads 'Silence = Death,' and [are] still considered an important activist symbol.” Her Superbowl outfit was an updated version, featuring a purple hue (which, Refinery29 points out, is a color that symbolizes equality)!

9 Michelle Obama Sent Subliminal Messages To Melania

Not sold on the color theory behind Lady Gaga's 80s-activist outfit? Building off of the purple hued-Gaga bodysuit, there have been a few more cases of purple power playing out. Many high profile celebrities have used purple as a hint at something big (like that Cara Delevingne look we just talked about), including Michelle Obama. Glamour gave a whole report about the significance of Michelle Obama dressing in a purple dress to welcome Melania into the White House.

It's custom for the former first lady to sit and have some tea with the incoming first lady, which can be varying levels of awkward depending on who the ladies are. Obama utilized this public scene to potentially send some messages to First Lady Melania Trump, whether you picked up on them or not.

Glamour writes, “purple is often associated with mourning or grief. That's certainly something many have experienced… The color is also the result of mixing blue and red, an indicator that she might be hoping for increased bipartisanship efforts during this new administration. Finally, purple was adopted by the suffragist movement as one of their three official colors during their fight for the right to vote.” Could Michelle Obama have been directing the powers-that-be? Maybe. We don't believe she's confirmed or denied it, but it's hard to ignore all those significant messages.

8 Amanda Seyfried Wore Her Hidden Meaning Loud And Proud

Equality is the name of the game here, which you can see if you look very closely at the hem of Amanda Seyfried's skirt. While you might think that it's a little uncomfortable to wear your heart on your sleeve, for Seyfried, it's all in a day's work. She's been outspoken about her beliefs for many years now, and this dress is just a bigger and bolder statement for beliefs she already supports. While the one-word is used for many different meanings, Revelist points out that “the subtle message is likely a reference to Seyfried's past statements about the pay gap and gender inequality within the entertainment industry.” We're inclined to agree.

The article on Revelist included a quote from Amanda Seyfried: “a few years ago, on one of my big-budget films, I found I was being paid 10% of what my male co-star was getting, and we were pretty even in status… I think people think that just because I'm easy-going and game to do things, I'll just take as little as they offer.… It's not about how much you get, it's about how fair it is." We totally agree, Seyfried!

It doesn't matter if you'd be happier with more or less money; what matters is the fact that you need to think about the overall picture of equality.

If a company underpays you, they'll start automatically underpaying everyone else. And that's not cool, especially if you're all doing the same amount of work!

7 Elisabeth Moss Let Her Feet Do The Talking

These shoes were made for talking, as Elisabeth Moss pointed out. While you might have thought that her Emmy outfit was as sweet as can be, she strutted her stuff with a secret message tacked on. Few people knew what she was rocking, and it took an Instagram post for all of us to really understand the hidden meaning behind her outfit. Hello Giggles looked into this handwritten message, and they found that “not only is this a pointed message, but it could also be a reference to Elisabeth's character on The Handmade's Tale, for which she won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

On the show, Elisabeth plays Offred, so the “off” may be a witty call to her character. And since the show directly challenges the patriarchy… We have even more reason to believe in this double-edged message.” The Instagram caption itself said that we have to guess what the other shoe says, so we don't need to say it here. It's pretty clear that this is a step in the right direction, and is an outstanding take on some current issues that are swirling through the zeitgeist. Plus, it's proof that you can kick butt while wearing soft, silky pink dresses. What could be better than showing off two of the many sides of feminine power?

6 Emma Watson (Again) Is GLAAD People Noticed

Emma Watson is at it again, and we're sure happy that she's sharing her beliefs. Not only is it important to have celebrities speaking out against the things that hurt in the world, but it's also a great use of power. Celebrities are some of the most influential people out there, and we love the fact that many of them use their powers for good rather than evil. Emma Watson, the brilliant, articulate woman that she is, made a bold, blue statement at MTV's Movie and TV Awards. Unsure what that little and sign is actually referring to? We weren't sure either until an illuminating article on Revelist told us. That little ampersand, as it's correctly called, is the symbol of GLAAD.

Joining the ranks of many celebrities who support this awesome group, Emma Watson made it publicly known by wearing this pin that she wants to help fight against marginalization.

No matter whom you love (or what your gender is), everyone deserves equality. That's why she was so honored to receive the Best Movie Actor award… Which, according to Revelist, was the first time it hasn't been split up as “best actor” and “best actress”. Emma Watson reportedly said during her acceptance speech, “MTV's move to create a genderless award for acting will mean something different to everyone. But to me, it indicates that acting is about the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. And that doesn't need to be separated into two different categories."

5 ALL Of The Golden Globes Makeup Styles Had A Meaning You Probably Missed

During the last Golden Globes, you might have heard about women (and men) dressing in black to support the Time's Up movement. This important movement supports women's rights, equality, and justice for women who have experienced gross workplace behavior. The movement is still going strong, and black dresses will never be able to escape the significance of the movement. Very few red carpet ensembles are complete without a splash of makeup though, whether that's chapstick or a full-face of color.

For many of the women supporting the Time's Up movement through their outfits, they extended their solidarity and symbolism to include a secret message behind their makeup colors. Kerry Washington, pictured here, was confirmed by Elle as supporting it, as well as Emma Stone. Emma Stone's makeup artist, as Elle reports, posted on Instagram as to why so many stars seemed to be rocking shades of purple and green. She wrote, “tonight my beauty inspiration came from the symbolic colors of the women's suffrage movement… I wanted to create a makeup that would somehow be imbued with the message of female empowerment and solidarity." That's right. In the same way that Kate Middleton wore green to harken back to the suffragette movement, so did many stars who worked it into their all-black ensembles.

4 Selena Gomez Looked Gorgeous, But Gaze A Little Closer…

It seems like everybody had a secret message hidden somewhere in their MET Gala outfits this year. Blake Lively wore hers on her bag, while Cara Delevingne put it into her hair. None of them took the “message” part quite so far as Selena Gomez, though, who literally wrote a secret message all over her outfit. Unlike other celebrities who have walked around with words emblazoned on them, Selena Gomez took a more subtle approach. Coach, a high-quality handbag manufacturer, probably jumped at the chance to make some art with Selena Gomez.

According to Harper's Bazaar, they embossed a special phrase onto Gomez's choice of handbag, with the font-of-choice being Selena Gomez's own handwriting!

Talk about impressive. The phrase, in case you can't read it, says “a woman who fears the Lord is a woman who shall be praised," which is a quote from a very famous book that inspired many of the MET Gala looks. Harper's Bazaar then went on to report that it wasn't just embossed on her bag. Selena Gomez took the secret message one step further and had it stitched into the many yards of hem she had as part of her dress. Talk about dedication!

3 Lorde's Protest Dress Sparked Controversy

Remember that time when Lorde didn't play the Grammys? We certainly do. The distaste against the Grammys was palpable when you asked any Lorde fan if they were excited about her nomination. In case you don't know what happened, we'll remind you here. According to Vanity Fair, Lorde was the only woman with an album of the year nomination at the Grammys this past year. Normally, all of the people who are nominated for album of the year are asked to perform a selection of it or some other original work.

However, as Vanity Fair says, “she was asked to sing as one part of a collective tribute to the late Tom Petty, and not perform her nominated work at all.”

WHAT?! It's true! As an act of defiance towards this unfair experience, Lorde wore her now-famous protest dress. The bright red is a very powerful color, and words of protest were literally written on it. Vanity Fair says Lorde performed her personal protest “by sewing the words of artist Jenny Holzer into the back of her gown. Detailed photos of the dress reveal an excerpt from Holzer's “Inflammatory Essay,” which is an inspiring piece of work that features relevant phrases like “the old and corrupt must be laid to waste before the just can triumph.”

2 Meghan Markle's Got Some History To Her Outfit

Meghan Markle hasn't left the news since she and Prince Harry first started seeing each other. While she might have been met with some backlash, we're so happy for the two of them. They look so incredibly in love, and Markle is a perfect choice for a princess. She's really embracing that royal life as well, as we can see through some of her fashion choices. Many of her style choices are designed with inherent secret meanings behind them. The royal family has a long (loooooong) history, filled with traditions and expectations.

Everything from color symbolism to jewelry meaning is present in the royal's fashion choices, as Grazia Daily pointed out.

They wrote, “Meghan opted for a regal cape dress in navy blue by Stella McCartney, paired with a distinctive zodiac clutch by Naeem Khan. Look a little closer at the gold acrylic clutch… Born on 4th August, [Meghan] is a Leo, and the embellishment on her clutch recreates that very constellation, using Swarovski crystals to mark out the stars. Stella McCartney's cape dress is a sophisticated look that's beloved by royals around the world: it's been seen twice on Queen Letizia of Spain… And Queen Mathilde of Belgium.”

It looks like Meghan Markle is joining not just the royal family, but the royal fashion family as well!

1 One Word: Beyoncé

Beyoncé It's hard to believe that one woman has such a huge amount of power. No one else is able to instantly reach an audience of billions and have them all hang off of her every word; she's strong, beautiful, intelligent, and probably the most hardworking person out there right now. While she's had a million and one outfits, none were quite as outstanding (or meaningful) as her Coachella outfits.

Flare wrote an article dissecting all of her looks during Coachella, and how important all of them were, and we've chosen to highlight some of the commentaries here. “Fully playing into her royal title, Beyoncé opened the show in an intricate, caped outfit inspired by the Egyptian queen Nefertiti. Wearing a black/gold outfit on night one and a white/silver one on night two, this was an interesting juxtaposition to the promo for her Mrs. Carter world tour,” Flare writes, discussing the fact that Queen Nefertiti also ushered in a cultural revolution, much like Beyoncé.

Beyoncé is loud and proud of her culture and is unapologetically sharing herself with the Coachella audience (and thus, the audience of the world). Everything Beyoncé does is crafted, thoughtful, and powerful, and her outfits are just another rung on that empowerment ladder. Sharing culture, messages, and important meanings are part of Beyoncé's world, and she's done it time and time again… We can't wait to see what she does next!

References: flare.com, rollingstone.com, instyle.com, harpersbazaar.com, etcanada.com, goodhousekeeping.com, bustle.com, glamour.com, refinery29.com, revelist.com,  graziadaily.com, revelist.com, elle.com, harpersbazaar.com,  vanityfair.com, hellogiggles.com