Julia Roberts Wants You To Rock the Vote

When you think of Julia Roberts, you may think of rom-coms, Hollywood glamour, and great hair. But this month she’s focused on one thing: voting. From the start of 2020, Roberts has been vocal about the importance of the upcoming election and the fact that its result impacts everyone. The star, who celebrates her 53rd birthday today, has found a way to get that message across using fashion. For the last two weeks, she’s transformed her social media into a political-centric fashion feed, uploading selfies of designer outfits, t-shirts, and masks all bearing the word “vote.” The outfits run the gamut from exclusive—for example, the Christian Siriano’s popular spring/summer 2021 print worn by Julianne Moore and Lizzo was made into a special suit just for Roberts—to the accessible, like a disposable mask from New York brand Medipop that costs $18 bucks for a pack of five.

Roberts and her stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, often find ways to use clothing to say something meaningful, and this isn’t the first time they’ve signal boosted political engagement. Back in 2018, the star also pulled out her voting t-shirts to raise awareness about the midterm elections. It’s telling that on her birthday she didn’t update with cake snapshots or an IG story showing off her gifts. Instead, she shared a picture of herself in an “I am a Voter” tee featuring the phone numbers of Senators from across the United States so that their constituents can contact their offices. The pieces chosen by Roberts and Stewart may even go on to do even more good: Stewart’s Chic Relief non-profit [auctions off celebrity items to benefit COVID-19 relief.](https://www.vogue.com/article/venice-film-festival-chic-relief-rad-auction) Roberts has donated several of her red carpet looks for a good cause, and it’s likely her voter merch will eventually be up for grabs. No matter where it winds up, the fact that an A-list movie star uses their platform for good is heartening. Who knows, in the future, Roberts may be as known for her civic action as all those ’90s rom-coms.