Awards season has arrived and with her, the red carpet gala full of stars dressed up in their most extravagant and spectacular outfits.
A lot of work is done on all these fabulous things clothes. And more often than not, there’s a whole team of people behind the creation and finesse of a look, even though their names and existence might not be recognized.
Celebrities don’t just rummage through their closets and come up with something to wear that makes them look great — there are actually some extremely creative people behind the scenes who put those looks together and make sure they fit perfectly. This includes stylists and tailors, who are responsible for all types of wonder red carpet closet.
We talked to some of them, as well as some actresses who love them, about what they do, how they do it, and why they love it.
Stylists must know almost everything about a client
To be good at their job, stylists must be able to organize incredibly trusting and intimate relationships – after all, they see their clients in their underwear – while maintaining a high level of professionalism.
As an actress Jamie Alexander (of ‘Blindspot’, ‘Thor’ and ‘Agents of SHIELD’ fame) explained: “[Ideally] he is very honest and communicative. It’s important for me to speak up when I don’t like something or feel uncomfortable. It’s also important to be on the same page when it comes to the look we want to achieve.”
Collaboration is key to the relationship and a lot of time is spent discussing goals, options, likes and dislikes. While fashion designers dress people for all kinds of situations, red carpet events allow for experimentation and pushing the boundaries. Stylist Ariana Weisner said that in her experience, clients are often more willing to take risks when it comes to dressing for awards. That makes it all the more important to understand “the style and essence of the person themselves,” she said.
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These awards show events give stylists to be more creative than they normally would be, as well as an opportunity to put their personal signature on the big picture. As Weisner said, “style is a combination of what the event is, who the client is, and the aesthetic of the stylist.” There is a lot more art and nuance to it than people realize.
It takes time, too. The style can be quite challenging and rarely fits into a defined workday format.
“You’re almost there,” said celebrity stylist Mindy Saad. “People email me or text me at nine in the morning on a Sunday or late at night.”
How stylists and tailors prepare for a red carpet event
As soon as Alexandru confirms an event, he talks to his stylist so they have as much time as possible to come up with a look.
After an initial conversation about management, Weisner emails stylists to see who is willing to borrow clothes, which can be a process in itself.
“You can obsess over a certain dress and know it’s the one THE get dressed too THE moment, but you can’t get the dress, so you have to go to Option B,” explained Weisner. “Many times what your client brings to the table may not have been your first choice.”
That’s why most stylists cut multiple pieces for a single event, anywhere from three to 15 on an entire rack. The fitting part of the process almost always involves a tailor, as most garments do not fit people (any people) perfectly on the rack or in the showroom. There is always change involved.
A stylist may decide they want to get something custom. When show “atlanta” Emmy-nominated stylist and costume designer Whitney Anne Adams actor Brian Tiree Henry.
“We wanted to do something big and bold and make a bespoke suit for Brian, so we came up with an amazing African print that we turned into a tuxedo jacket.While Adams said two to three suits are the norm for events, they only had one for the tuxedo Emmy.
“Which was, you know, a little creepy for our tailor. I went right into the fabric,” she said.
Isa Kriegeskotte, who just opened a new studio in Bedford Village, New York, is one of the go-to tailors for stylists and celebrities alike to accomplish extraordinary feats (like designing and making a tuxedo jacket) in no time. Some celebrities have him as part of their team, regardless of the stylist or designer they work with.
“A designer might just say, ‘Isa is our tailor when we’re dressing someone on the red carpet,'” Kriegeskotte said. His work ranges from fully custom builds to making a size 0 suit for a size 8 body (without being obvious) to making emergency hems on the day of an event. she she even received partially made dresses from fashion houses that she had to finish herself in a day or night.
Neilson Barnard via Getty Images
“The designer will send me the material and the pattern,” Kriegeskotte said. “I’ll create panels and all kinds of things that I hide on the garment, making it look seamless.” He often has to reverse what he did after the person wears it so it can be returned to the showroom because “the next day they’re sending it to a photo shoot or something.”
And another factor for red carpet looks? Unlike articles made for editorial photo shoots, “people need to be able to eat and walk in dresses. [for an event]. I had a fitting the other day and the dress looked amazing on my client, but she could barely move in it,” said Saad. As a result, that dress was rejected as “inappropriate” for the event.
It usually takes a stylist 20 to 40 hours to prepare an outfit for an event. And even then, there can be all kinds of last-minute issues that need to be addressed, usually on a very tight schedule.
“I would say 50% of the time you have a custom suit and it doesn’t look as good in person as it does in the design, or it doesn’t fit you. It’s not that good. And then you renew yourself, right? Weisner said. “And sometimes the customer changes their mind that day.”
“Whenever possible, I put in two looks so I have a backup in case something breaks, gets stained, or I can’t be ready in time for the event (for whatever reason),” Alexander said.
Because stylists do what they do
Adams’ favorite thing about his job is “seeing [a client’s] face lights up when they feel truly amazed by what they’re wearing.” Saad likes that her work and fashion itself is constantly changing and that she has the opportunity to work with different people at any given time.
Weisner refers to the transformation: “Seeing a person go from sweatpants and no makeup to full glamor—to the most beautiful version of themselves,” is her favorite part.
“Giving them the chance to feel more beautiful than they’ve ever felt is so rewarding,” Weisner added. He also loves the creativity the style offers. It’s the kind of creativity that doesn’t operate in a vacuum, but thrives in a world of collaboration, attention to detail, and a lot of trust.
Successful stylists and tailors are part magician, part therapist, part cheerleader, part self-esteem booster, and all-around artists who make what they make seem effortless, often to the point where people don’t even realize they’re doing it. I do it. to be there
“I always fought [with my body image]”, said actress Jo Armeniox. “I’ve always had a young, innocent face with a voluptuous body. I didn’t feel like I was allowed to have many voluptuous parts. I was very confused by this too [costume designer] Kate [DeBlasio] made me feel safe. It took my worries out of my heart.”
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.