The struggle for celebrities to find designers willing to work with them is not a new phenomenon, and it appears to be driven by issues such as size, race, and affordability.
Christina Hendricks, named Esquire’s “Sexiest Woman Alive” in 2012, found it hard to secure a designer for awards shows, despite her enviable status.
In fact, Hendricks reported that not a single designer in town was willing to loan her a dress due to her size 12 figure.
The designer’s only provided dresses in size 0 or 2. Although Hendricks was still able to stun on the red carpet, this experience highlights the exclusivity of the fashion industry.
Many other celebrities have faced similar issues, and some have been forced to take matters into their own hands.
Beyoncé Knowles has undoubtedly established herself as a fashion icon, but she also had to overcome fashion industry bias when starting her career with the girls’ group Destiny’s Child.
During her acceptance speech at the 2016 CFDA Awards, Knowles revealed that high-end labels were not interested in dressing four “black country curvy girls,” which forced her and her mother to design their own outfits.
Her mother also designed many of her iconic dresses, including her wedding dress and her first CFDA and Grammy dresses.
This experience shows how a lack of inclusivity in the fashion industry can be turned into an advantage by creative and resourceful people.
Megan Mullally, the actress set to host the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards, could not find a designer who was willing to work with her.
She was forced to search for dresses online, scrolling through the gowns sections of various websites.
When she finally found a dress she liked, the store canceled her order.
Frustrated, Mullally took to Instagram to share her story, leading to a groundswell of support from fans.
Christian Siriano eventually offered to design a dress for Mullally, but it was too late. Mullally instead chose a stunning black number from Alexander McQueen’s online store.
Although Mullally had to endure a frustrating experience, her story shows that online shopping can be a reliable alternative to designer gowns.
Bryce Dallas Howard, who turned heads at the 2016 Golden Globes in a black and metallic blue number, preferred to buy dresses from department stores instead of working with designers.
Howard noted that department stores offer a wide selection of size 6 dresses, which can be hard to find from designers.
In contrast, designers typically offer only one option.
Howard argued that she needed to stop trying to have a conversation with fashion and get back to having a conversation with herself about what looks and feels best.
She added that she is not sample size and never will be, highlighting the lack of size inclusivity in high fashion.
These experiences demonstrate that celebrities face various challenges in finding designers to work with them, from size exclusivity to affordability and race.
The fashion industry is gradually moving in the right direction, but systemic change will require the continued efforts of those who speak out against discrimination.
As celebrities continue to use their platforms to raise awareness of these issues, it is possible that the fashion industry will become more inclusive and welcoming to people of all body types, races, and backgrounds.
