The red carpet arrivals
Meet a few of the designers who are beginning to be worn by celebrities and catching eyes (and social-media momentum) with arresting gowns or innovative shoes or handbags
The red carpet as we know it has rolled out far beyond the 50-foot stretch of crimson flooring where stars stride from their chauffeured SUVs to the steps of any given event.
This awards season, the red carpet has become a place where politics — calls to celebrate diversity as well as gender equality — have joined the dresses, clutches, tuxes and jewelry.
However, the red carpet really is where fashion moments are made. It’s also where gowns and accessories from household-name fashion brands such as Prada, Valentino, Jimmy Choo and Oscar de la Renta are now mixing with a rising class of newer designers, many of whom celebrate the individuality of the star they are dressing and are becoming bold standouts because of their playful, forward-thinking and sometimes, political approach to how they are creating red-carpet looks.
These young and burgeoning labels are managing to compete for the attention of celebrities — some of whom have lucrative contracts with major fashion houses — and their stylists despite the fact that in many cases these newbies have little to no resources to engage in the “pay-to-play” practices that can occur within the red-carpet machine.
“Creativity is currency,” said Steven Kolb, president and chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America about newer labels landing on the red carpet. “I truly believe that a standout design can compete among established brands.”
This month, the CFDA, joined by Women’s Wear Daily and Variety, had its first event focused solely on the red carpet. It was a panel discussion in L.A. with designer Vera Wang and stylists Cristina Ehrlich, Elizabeth Stewart, Karla Welch and Law Roach.
“The fascination with celebrity style on the red carpet is universal,” Kolb said. “With social channels, the impact can be immediate and global. That makes the red carpet even more relevant. Such potential doesn’t go unnoticed by new, emerging designers.”
There are plenty of newer or up-and-coming brands proving their ability to appeal to the world’s biggest stars and stylists. Here we spotlight a rising new class of designers poised to become the next household names within Hollywood and around the globe.