3 Secrets To Spectacular Evening Style, From Red-Carpet Insiders
Two of Hollywood’s most influential stylists, JENNIFER AUSTIN and HOLLY WHITE, talk about mastering the Oscars dress code, the secrets behind their A-list clients’ awards-season style, and the tricks that will take your after-dark looks to the next level
While it is officially an event to honor achievements in filmmaking, the Academy Awards (aka the Oscars) is also a feast for fashion fans, as it sets an elegant backdrop for show-stopping red-carpet style. “The Oscars is the grand finale of awards season, so you want to end with a bold statement – something that will have maximum impact; a look that will be archived in people’s memories for weeks, months and hopefully years to come,” says London-based stylist Holly White, who counts House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock and Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran as clients. “Full-length is preferrable if wearing a gown, and there is a focus on clean lines and solid fabrics.”
LA-based stylist Jennifer Austin has been preparing acclaimed actor Angela Bassett for this year’s Oscars with a prelude of striking red-carpet looks. Bassett wore a metallic halterneck dress to accept the 2022 Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, followed by a voluminous ‘tulip’-sleeved lilac gown for her 2023 Bafta appearance, and a chic white jumpsuit for her win at the NAACP Image Awards. “One thing I always tell my clients is, ‘They’re going to be looking at you, so let’s give them something to look at!’”, says Austin, who has worked with Bassett for 10 years and counting. “I love to have fun with my clients on the red carpet. Color always brings the attention and the eyes to you, as do beautiful silhouettes. The key is to look put together and polished but still have that effortless feel about you, while being appropriate for the event.”
Here’s how to take your evening look up a notch with White and Austin’s fail-safe styling tricks…
Step out of your comfort zone
“Try everything – all the colors, silhouettes, fabrics and brands. Clients sometimes come to me with a very specific style or brand in their minds, and often we try it and end up going in a completely different direction,” says White. “I always say to clients that knowing what you don’t like and what doesn’t work is just as important as knowing what does. Be open to trying something different – it’s the best way to truly find your core aesthetic and what makes you feel the most relaxed and confident. Then, you can build from there and get creative.”
“This awards season, Angela is open to exploring different silhouettes,” says Austin. “Different fabrics, peplums, trains and things we haven’t done before – so that every time she hits the carpet, there’s a different story, a different look. I think her style resonates with people because I dress her as the woman I know and see, not for her age. She’s vibrant, vivacious, she’s classic and sophisticated, and she’s fun – she’s all of that. Your clothes are supposed to reflect all aspects of who you are.”
Explore established and emerging designers
“There are certain designers who align effortlessly with my clients. Milly [Alock] for Givenchy, for example, and I particularly love Pierpaolo Piccioli’s breathtaking collections for Valentino,” says White. “It’s such an exciting time in the fashion industry; there is so much change happening right now – Maximilian Davis’s debut at Ferragamo was incredible, and I look forward to Daniel Lee’s tenure at Burberry. I also love working with emerging designers, such as 16Arlington and Conner Ives. Finding new designers is something that my clients find really exciting as well, so I always pull a mix of looks from more established designers and emerging talent.”
Embrace your style evolution
“I have a five-year rule when I’m dressing someone: I want you to be as youthful as you were five years ago, but I don’t want you to look the same or dress the same,” says Austin, who counts Sergio Hudson, Tom Ford and Max Mara among her favorite designers to work with. “It’s important to update small elements of your style so that you are always evolving.”
White shares a similar approach and aims to “create timeless, impactful looks that clients will look back at in five, 10 years, and immediately feel as great in that moment, looking at that picture, as they did when they wore the look,” she says. “I’m drawn to clean lines and love an oversized silhouette to make everything feel a bit more relaxed. Saint Laurent, The Row, Alexander McQueen, Jil Sander and Bottega Veneta would be among my favorites. I’m always questioning how to make minimalism interesting – what is the twist or detail that keeps it modern and fresh?”
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