The rise of the celebrity stylist: Does Anyone Dress Themselves Anymore?

Style is an abstract, objective term that is constantly being disputed and redefined. Who determines what is “in fashion” and what is “out?” Celebrities are looked up to for fashion trends; however, their look is often created by someone else. Today, more than ever, the rich and famous rely on a stylist to dress them in a way that portrays a certain image—an image of effortless, individual style that is entirely crafted and not at all their own.

The emersion and increasing prominence of stylists can be attributed to several factors: the most significant being the rise of the red carpet affair. Oscar night used to be about honoring an entertainer’s achievement, but in the mid-1990's, as the media became more interested in fashion, the focal point of award shows seems to have changed. Hadley Freeman, a features writer for The Guardian, discusses the shift of focus from “best actor” to “best dressed” and notes how stylists have taken over the red carpet. Designers have recently recognized the power of the red carpet to act as a nationally televised runway show for their clothes. The glamour of the red carpet added to the allure of all the clothes that came down it, making the items instantly desired by people around the globe. The power of the Oscars can make a no-name designer into a global powerhouse virtually overnight. Just look at the 1995 example of what was, at the time,an obscure little label called Prada; Uma Thurman walked the red carpet in an light blue gown, see right, and helped turn Prada into a world recognized brand. Celebrities equally benefit from TV and magazine exposure they receive for being fabulously dressed. So in this symbiotic relationship between designer and celebrity, the stylists job is to act as a liaison between the two: with the responsibility of making their client look good, and with the power of making a designer's dress seen across the country.

The stylist’s job of dressing celebrities part-time during award season has expanded into a business where stylists are now called upon daily, and are sometimes considered as essential as an agent or publicist. This is partly due to columns such as “Who wore it best,” which compares celebrities wearing the same outfit only to vote on who looked best, and “What were they thinking” which makes a mockery of stars who were photographed in unfortunate outfit. Articles like these tabloid regulars feed the pressure for those in the spotlight to appear perfectly put together at all times.

Having a personal stylist makes maintaining a constantly chic image more obtainable. There are even examples of celebrities who’s entire fame is based off the images their stylists created for them. Rachel Zoe, pictured left, is by far the most famous stylist in Hollywood today, credited with making Nicole Richie famous by turning her into a fashion icon. Of Richie, Zoe says, “Nicole is now what people refer to as the big thing that happened...Nicole was about creating a look. Because of her fashion sense, which was really my fashion sense, she became famous. It was a huge moment: Nicole became a style icon without being a star.” Zoe’s signature style, Seen Left, was replicated on all of her other tabloid-friendly clients such Lindsay Lohan, Micha Barton, Keira Knightley and Kate Beckinsale, and an entire new fashion fad was born.

Stylists are extremely influential in the fashion industry; not only do young women across the States and the UK copy the looks of celebrities, but new collections reflect the trends set by stylists. Designers are even asking for Zoe’s help with their new collections.

What does this say about our perception of style? Are we all just being influenced by a few significant players in the fashion industry? We have always looked up to fashion icons for inspiration and admired their personal style. It is highly agreed upon that one of the most noted style icon’s in film history is Audrey Hepburn, below, and what made her so respected is the fact that she disregarded seasonal trends and remained true to her personal style of elegance and simplicity. This type of unique, individual style no longer exists. When stylists create a look, it becomes a formulaic style that is merely replicated on different celebrities, resulting in everyone looking the same. Fiona McIntosh, columnist for Grazia fashion magazine points out the irony in this, saying, “People look at celebrities who look good and they become fashion icons, whereas they look at models and think they just wear what they are told.” How is a runway model different from a celebrity? Stylists create a look on their clients, just as designers on their models. The fashion icon becomes a facade: celebrities do not even need to have any fashion sense to become one. All they need to know how to do is smile, look good, and hopefully find a way to end up in the tabloids.