What happens to the dresses of the famous after going through the red carpet?
Many garments must be returned to designers, some are given away, and others even go to museums
Remember Lupita Nyong'o's delicate sky blue dress at the 2014 Oscars? Or Glenn Close's big golden moment in a sparkly Carolina Herrera with a big cape?
Among the sea of red carpets, what happens to these clothes after being worn in the finery can be very peculiar, it depends on who you are and how you get along with the designer. A designer's decision to give away or not give away the garments usually comes after the big night when the stylists have to pack them up and return them.
"If you're delighted the designer says 'please keep them, I made it for her, she should have it,'" said stylist Emily Sanchez, who has dressed Laura Linney and Sutton Foster, among others. "If a designer feels that he wants something immediately they are quite clear about it."
Many dresses live in the designer's archives, to be loaned to museums or other special events, like the Christian Siriano tuxedo worn by Billy Porter at last year's Oscars and recently re-donned for "Sesame Street." It's even rarer for a celebrity to buy them.
"For Oprah, we have tailored suits and we pay for them, so she keeps them," said Adam Glassman, creative director of O magazine, The Oprah magazine.
These days, Sánchez said, most nominees are offered custom-made clothing.
“That is like the great honor. You generally work with the designer directly. It's a great press opportunity so designers get really excited about doing it, ”she said. "If you win you probably want the dress, but I think everyone who goes to those events is prepared to return it at the end of the day."
As they come to the end of awards season, the Oscars are a difficult quest for new styles after a grueling cycle of red carpets, parties, and other performances. Although there are also fewer nominees to dress up with the presenters.
Stylist Micaela Erlanger, who has worked with artists such as Nyong'o and Meryl Streep, said the Oscars are a mix of tailored clothing, haute couture and never-before-worn styles with silhouette and color modifications. Erlanger generally looks for custom parts.
“It's the end of the season, somehow you have to resort to unique pieces. So many things have been seen on the circuit. By the Oscars we've probably already seen all the dresses, ”she said.
When it comes to gifting, each brand is different, Erlanger said.
“Some brands want to keep them for their own files. The brand decides and the customer is happy anyway, "she said. “I'd say it's 50-50. If someone wins by wearing a dress, brands are generally more inclined to give it as a gift because it is very sentimental.
For this year's Oscars, Erlanger will dress Sigourney Weaver for the gala and Diane Kruger for the Vanity Fair party.
Stylist Chloe Hartstein will dress host Chris Rock for the Oscars. She worked with two nominees, Close and Melissa McCarthy, last year.
Keeping clothes is not automatic for nominees, including those who win, Hartstein said.
“It's a Cinderella moment where you wear it and then the next day today I'm there shining and ready to take it, pack it up and ship it to Paris or wherever it needs to be. But there are times when you are lucky enough to keep it, ”she said.
With thousands of dollars of work and materials at stake, along with hours of work, some designers are more generous than others.
Jennifer Lopez stuck with her original jungle print silk chiffon Versace gown that caught all eyes at the 2000 Grammys. Before Lopez made the low-cut gown one of the most famous of all time, It was a runway piece that had been featured in a Versace ad campaign and worn by Geri Halliwell and Donatella Versace, the latter at the 1999 Met gala.
Versace made duplicates for museum display, including the Grammy Museum, and Lopez wore a new version for the Versace show last September at Milan Fashion Week.
Close enjoyed several custom pieces last year with her nominations for "The Wife." She was gifted with an Armani Prive black velvet cape that she wore to the Golden Globes after she won in the category of best actress in a drama. She also gifted him with the white Ralph Lauren jacket and pants she wore when she won a SAG award for the same film.
This year at the Golden Globes, Close was a presenter and wore a custom-tailored royal blue Armani Prive dress. That one was also given to him. The Oscar de la Renta kaftan that she wore to the SAG Awards was not custom made and had to be returned after she was a host at the gala.
“She has a beautiful relationship with Mr. Armani. She has worn the brand forever, "Hartstein said." Last season with Glenn was an issue we had in the process. "
Close is very interested in fashion, and she has accumulated personal pieces, but also costumes from her movies and other projects of hers throughout her nearly 40-year career. In 2017 she donated her wardrobe collection to Indiana University.
Actress Kaitlyn Dever said her strategy for the red carpet is sustainability.
"I'm borrowing them," Dever said at the BAFTA Awards on Sunday. “I am trying to be greener in every aspect of my life. ... I'm really trying to do it in all areas. I think if you try, even a little, that's something. "
Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen, the fashion and accessories editor at Harper's Bazaar, said designers often stick with suits.
"Whether they come off the runway or created specifically for a celebrity, most of the costumes we see at galas are returned home and stay in the designer's archive," she said. "Many of those unique dresses remain in fashion history as iconic styles."
