Social media monitoring
Now stylists are also faced with the magnifying glass of social media. “Even five years ago, social media on the red carpet wasn’t as crazy as it is now,” says Ilaria Urbinati, the stylist behind Donald Glover’s ever-evolving red carpet outfits. After a few weeks, #Oscars23 had 1.2 billion views on TikTok, with a notable percentage of videos clearly focusing on red carpet outfits. The upside to a celebrity who can make a clear and ambitious statement on the red carpet—such as Timothée Chalamet’s topless Louis Vuitton outfit at last year’s Oscars—has never been greater position. A well-fitted suit can turn you into a fashionista and often in the front row overnight. But the right brick will be mercilessly mocked and live online forever.
Some stylists, stuck in the middle, are now being asked to return to their ambitions. “I was on the phone with journalists and they said, We wanted the classy look of Timothée Chalamet,,” said fashion editor and red carpet veteran Ian Bradley, referring to the bold, revealing pieces worn by young people who are passionate and eccentric. But when the going gets tough, says Bradley, advertisers “don’t really want their customers to do something they consider risky.” To some extent, consumers are also prone to negligence, especially these days, when celebrities often find themselves on the wrong side of debates and controversies raging online. “There are people who are unsure of how to present themselves in complex settings,” says Julie Ragolia, stylist and consultant who collaborated with Pedro Pascal on the project. Palestinians The press tour turned the actor into an unlikely style icon. “We are not in a great time in the world. We are not in a period of prosperity. We are not in a time of peace. We are on the verge.
Demand far exceeds supply
Meanwhile, as the pandemic subsided, major events exploded and the industry-wide shift to more casual clothing (accelerated by the pandemic) has stylists scrambling to fill store shelves. their. “Commercially, brands don’t make as many gowns and evening gowns and all that as they did 10 years ago,” says Bradley. Stylist Karla Welch, who dressed up no less than 11 people for the Oscars weekend (including Justin and Hailey Bieber, Tracee Ellis Ross, Olivia Wilde and Sarah Polley) said: “I think the biggest challenge is, I think the biggest challenge. is having too many people and too few looks.”
Almost every stylist I spoke to said their timelines were getting shorter and shorter—Welch thought she was having a light Oscar, until she wasn’t. “That snuck up on me,” she said. Bradley adds: “The stylist is always the last to know about the talent schedule.
It can be difficult to get clothes even when they are available. Jyotisha “Joy” Bridges styled Lil Nas X, whose illustrious reputation made him a dream client. For Nas’ appearance at this month’s Versace show in LA, Bridges worked with Versace’s tailor shop in Milan to create him a custom tank top and skirt, studded with jewels. avoid. By haute couture standards, styles come together at breakneck speed: in just a week and a half, according to Bridges. But for her clients who don’t have 12 million Instagram followers, the process of getting any piece of clothing can take longer. “People don’t understand, if your client is younger, the way you have to beg, force, and give your first child to get clothes is crazy,” she said.
