“The dresses will be quite spectacular,” promises designer Carolina Herrera, who’s hoping a few actresses will traipse down the red carpet in her creations. “It’s time to celebrate dressing up.”
It’s beauty as usual for Charles Worthington, the London-based hairdresser to the stars. He’s bringing two assistants and two technicians from across the Atlantic to set up spa in the L’Hermitage Hotel—where scores of designers, make-up artists and hair stylists try to lure celebrities back to their suites for gratis pampering.
“Celebrities are going to make a statement,” he says. “They’re gonna say, ‘We’re here and we want to feel good and look good.’” Instead of the severe, back-swept hair viewers saw at the Golden Globes, Worthington predicts attendees will wear it loose and tousled into sexy waves, a nod to the recent fall fashion shows in New York, which highlighted romantic hippie and prairie fashions.
Tom Julian, trend analyst and style guru for Oscar.com, believes the dresses will still reflect a sense of comfort. “We’ll see designs that harken back to the closet and the attic,” he says. Expect lush, antique-looking fabrics—high-style with a decidedly down-home feel.
The red carpet may have even less black than prior to 9/11, as many think actresses will try to keep things cheery. Kim Cattrall did her part at the Golden Globes, to which she wore a super-tight tangerine halter by Erick Gaskins. Similarly, Britney Spears made a statement at the Grammys with her (surprisingly) demure, but striking, full-length red gown with train. “Clear strong colors stand out in a sea of gimmicks,” Julian says.
Even the jewels will be colorful, predicts Harry Winston’s Carol Brodie, reversing a years-long trend of pretty-but-boring diamond domination. The legendary jewelry designer, known for its one-of-a-kind creations featuring massive diamonds, is sending out pieces that incorporate semi-precious stones like aquamarines and turquoise. “People want to see color, because the world is kind of a sad place right now,” she says. “Color makes us happy.” The pieces are also not as over-the-top as usual, in part because Harry Winston is trying to reach a new demographic (those who can drop $20,000 on a choker, but not $200,000), and in part because of economic realities.
In all likelihood, the rough economic times—which hit luxury retailers especially hard—will also keep up-and-coming designers off the red carpet. Less-established houses simply don’t have the kind of cash to woo celebrities and can’t offer them super-expensive freebies. “Established designers send dozens [of dresses] out and have them fall where they may,” Julian says. “These days, smaller designers can’t pretend they’re big players.”
But don’t expect those economic tribulations to be manifest in the style choices of the stars. After all, Hollywood’s return to normalcy could hardly be complete without furs and jewels. “The world is a very difficult place right now, we all know that,” says Harry Winston’s Brodie. “But when you turn on the Oscars, you don’t want to feel that pain. You want three hours of fantasy, and the celebrities are going to deliver that.” They’d better, or it’s going to be a very long night.
