Red Carpet

Lindasy Shih

The Grammys. The Oscars. The Emmys. These names signal accomplishment for an artist, whether that’s on a record or on a screen. The question “Who should we nominate” only goes hand in hand with another question: “Who are you wearing?” The red carpet has always been a spectacle to behold. Designers clamor for chances to dress the attending celebrities in custom gowns, suits, and other ensembles meant to captivate and stun audiences, thus cementing their status as fashion icons. In recent years, however, the red carpet has become somewhat of a lackluster parade of “safe” looks. Crowd-pleasers, if you will. Red carpet fashion has become boring, and frankly, disappointing, lacking any personality. “Experimental” doesn’t have a place in anybody’s vocabulary, especially regarding their wardrobe choices. Daring ensembles have faded into near obscurity, leaving audiences with bland and uninspired looks that ultimately fail on the carpet. Boundary pushing seems to have also been relegated to the sidelines, causing celebrities and stylists to veer toward such “safe” fashion choices. In the past, the red carpet was used to showcase inventive, inspiring fashion. How can such a precedent be disregarded in this day and age? There’s no singular answer to this growing emphasis on conformity. Most glaringly obvious is the rise of social media. With the rise of social media, celebrities and stylists are exposed to a near-constant stream of commentary – whether it be positive or negative. Everyone’s eyes are on everyone else all the time. Due to the all-seeing nature of social media, celebrities turn to “safe” looks for fear of online criticism. Stylists and celebrities choose classic silhouettes and colors, which become predictable and repetitive. Stale, even. Fashion houses also contribute to the loss of personality on the red carpet; designers have shifted to focus on creating wearable pieces for commercial success, rather than embracing the avant-garde. It would be ignorant not to address the fact that awards shows are still dominated by white people with the industry’s ideal bodies. Progress has been made, but there is still much to do in terms of representation of different body types, races, and genders. Designers don’t design for diversity – they don’t create inclusive fashion that would stun on a diverse range of people. Fashion houses are not dedicated to creating fashion-forward designs, and are lagging behind in a sense. If designers started to design outside of these arbitrary boundaries of beauty, they would create innovative pieces that flatter people who don’t fit the fashion industry’s mold.

The 2018 Met Gala (theme: “Heavenly Bodies”) was a prime example of how fashion houses use the red carpet as a platform for promotion. While some outfits stunned with their creativity, more often than not, celebrities relied on more traditional looks from established designers. This pattern not only reinforced the theme of conformity but also served as a way for designers to promote their brand and capitalize on the Met Gala’s popularity. At the 2019 Academy Awards, monochromatic gowns (particularly white gowns) dominated the red carpet. Yes, Lady Gaga dared to wear a statement-making look, but others opted for more conservative looks that were forgettable and lacked personality. The pattern continues into the 2020 Golden Globes. At the Golden Globes, celebrities displayed a sea of black, white, and neutral color palettes. Few celebrities ventured into bolder hues. Again, there were some standout moments (namely Billy Porter’s feathered suit), but overall, the attendees underwhelmed. The trend in sameness is, again, in part due to the fact that celebrities choose the safety of established fashion houses instead of taking risks by exploring lesser-known designers. These choices in attire further perpetuate the cycle of conformity and commercial gain for these established designers. Outfits end up looking like cookie-cutter copies of one another, lacking originality. Possibly due to the pandemic, the 2021 Academy Awards continued the trend of conformity. While there were some stunning looks, many celebrities still stayed in the “safe” zone with understated colors and the same silhouettes. It wasn’t surprising, given the past few years of red carpet fashion, but it was still disappointing to see a lack of excitement and creativity. Take two all-black ensembles, for example – Cher at the 1988 Oscars and Olivia Rodrigo at the 2023 Grammys. No, I’m not talking about the Cher look with the feather headdress (though, it is iconic). I’m talking about the beaded sheer wonder that she wore when she won Best Actress for Moonstruck. Cher’s “revenge dress” (as it is called) was floorlength, low-cut, and sheer. It was a provocative and elegant take on a traditional black dress. In other words, it showed Cher’s personality through its exquisite beadwork and ruching. It was bold. It was daring. It was so very Cher – designed to make a statement and grab attention, exuding confidence. She was looking to stand out. Rodrigo, however, was looking to fit in at this year’s Grammys. Her sense of style typically plays with vintage and contemporary elements, combining to create an edgy, youthful eclecticism. It often reflects her personality and artistic vision. At this year’s Grammys, I was disappointed by her look. Her Miu Miu ensemble featured similar elements to Cher’s in that both were sheer and followed the natural shape of the body. Although, Rodrigo’s dress had too few details, going too far towards minimalist. She also didn’t accessorize very much, save for a big Elsa Peretti bean (which I do love, just not here). Black is always a safe option, but in this case, Rodrigo played it a little too safe. That’s not to say that it’s an objectively bad look, but it’s not particularly enthralling.

Red carpet fashion has lost its luster. Predictability is becoming the norm for celebrities and stylists. This lackluster parade emphasizes conformity rather than showcasing innovation and pushing the boundaries of formal attire. In order to break this cycle of banality, designers must expand and create fashion that shatters fashion’s homogenous standards. Stylists should take risks with lesser-known designers instead of relying on contracts with designer monopolies. Embracing uniqueness is the only way the red carpet can recover from years of lifeless monotony.