Who are you wearing? The evolution of red-carpet style
It's one of the questions asked of every actress who makes it onto the red carpet. Abid Rahman traces the evolution of the highest of high-fashion relationships.
"Who are you wearing?" and "How long did it take you to get ready?" are two questions that are as indelible to the awards season as "Who will win?" The red carpet, the pre-show procession in which the stars peacock in one-off creations, has become as newsworthy as the ceremony itself. Some who triumph on the red carpet are better remembered than those who win prizes inside the venue.
And it's not just at the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the Grammys; red-carpet events all over the world have become an industry unto themselves - so much so that stars often go into autopilot, spitting out designers' names to any journalist in earshot. This reporter recalls a moment at the amfAR gala, in Hong Kong last year, when a succession of celebrities, including Wendi Deng (who was, for the record, wearing Calvin Klein), deigned to utter no more than a brand name to him under the misguided impression that he was reporting just on their outfits.
It's easy to recall the successes - think Jennifer Lopez in a green chiffon silk Versace creation at the 2000 Grammy Awards. With a neckline that plunged to her navel, the dress so captivated the paparazzi and critics that a duplicate is now on display at the Grammy Museum, in Los Angeles. Similarly, the pink Dior haute couture dress Jennifer Lawrence wore at the 2013 Oscars has gone down in legend for its stunning simplicity - as well as her tumble on the way to pick up the best actress award.
We also remember the disasters and the plain outrageous. Cher and Kim Kardashian West are serial offenders, dividing opinion with their revealing and outré attention-seeking outfits. Bjork memorably skewered the pomposity of the Oscars by wearing a swan dress in 2001 and Lady Gaga has a long history of eccentric outfits.
For major female stars, and increasingly the men, the red carpet has become an important arena in which to project success. For the world's leading designers, it has become a mini-runway and unparalleled platform from which to reach the masses.
"Stars wearing certain designers helps create a sense of brand awareness, especially with social media," says red-carpet watcher Stephanie Chan, associate digital editor at The Hollywood Reporter and its fashion section, Pret-a-Reporter. Chan says the process is much more complex, political and convoluted than simply a star picking out a dress.