Shiloh Jolie-Pitt Steals the Spotlight in a Suit
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Angelina Jolie’s latest directorial effort Unbroken, a WWII war drama which she also produced, premiered last night in Hollywood without its director. Jolie stayed at home with chickenpox, and sent in her husband Brad Pitt and three of her six children to fill in for her. Maddox, Pax, and Shiloh joined Pitt on the red carpet, but it was Shiloh who stole the spotlight in her grey suit, black tie, and slicked-back hair. The 8-year old girl has developed her unique androgynous style, favoring vests, ties, and even swimsuit trunks, and often sporting her brother’s hand-me-downs, like when she stepped out in Maddox’s famous Ramones tee. In interviews, Jolie has described how it’s so important for children to be “allowed to express themselves in whatever way they wish,” which of course includes sartorial choices. In a sign of “practice what you preach,” Pitt rocked a bit of blue nail polish on his pinky finger while on the red carpet with the kids. In a 2010 interview with Vanity Fair, Jolie revealed that Shiloh “likes to dress like a boy,” and that she found it offensive when Pitt’s mother (Shiloh’s grandmother) would buy her princess costumes.
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Although it is very common for young children to develop an attraction to clothes and toys deemed to be for the opposite sex, it can be harder for parents to be as accepting of their children’s peculiarities, the way that Jolie and Pitt have been with Shiloh. As soon as children are able to dress themselves, some fixations will inevitably arise, a superhero cape, princess crown, or cowboy boots bought for a costume. Initially in 2010, the press did not respond kindly to Shiloh’s appearance, laying the blame on Jolie’s previous “alternative lifestyle” as the reason for her daughter’s clothing choices, even though most psychologists agreed there was nothing wrong in indulging Shiloh’s wishes. Similar uproar occurred after J.Crew’s creative director Jenna Lyons, was shown on the company’s website painting her son’s toes with pink polish. For the children themselves, all these things are harmless; things change once adults bring in their judgments, even if they have the children’s best interest at heart.
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In earlier interviews, Pitt has revealed that Shiloh likes to go by ‘John,’ but this may or may not be indicative of any larger issues, sure, it could be that Shiloh really wishes she was a boy, or it could simply be that she wants to be just like her older brothers Maddox and Pax. Women have long found it empowering to wear menswear-inspired looks, and celebrities like Chloe Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Mary-Kate Olsen, Emma Roberts, and Diane Keaton–who has made it her trademark–have all stepped out on the red carpet in suits. It’s a trend that can often be found on the runways, and designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, and Celine among others, have made it part of their signature aesthetic. Either way, Jolie and Pitt are doing the best thing a parent can do, allowing and encouraging their children to fully express themselves. Their free-spirited approach to parenting might seem unorthodox, but puts the children first, like when Jolie had the kids draw on her veil, which she then wore down the aisle to marry Pitt. In the process, they are teaching them (and us) a valuable lesson about acceptance. Shiloh, though, looks good in a suit, no matter her reasoning behind it.
