Tonight, the wait for swankiest night in movie-land is finally over, because at 4pm in Hollywood – that’s midnight our time for the hardcore of you who don’t require sleep before work on Monday – the 86th Academy Awards will finally kick off.
The Oscars used to be pretty inaccessible for us mere mortals who are unlikely to ever attend the award show, but these days with A-Listers Instagramming their every move backstage, the shroud of mystery is beginning to get lifted. But is the nitty gritty of the biggest night in Hollywood really as glamorous as we all assume? What’s it actually like to attend? Well we obviously have no idea, so we asked someone who does – stylist Jeff K Kim who’s dressed some of Hollywood’s biggest names for just about every Awards show going. Here’s what he had to say:
How much planning goes into choosing a dress for the Oscars?
Lots. I usually start planning a season ahead – the couture shows are in January – so I start placing things on hold for actresses then. Then we have to sort through the samples. How many samples we have to choose from really depends on the client and if they’ve got a definitive idea of what they want to wear – it can range from 5 to fifty dresses on the rack. If I’ve worked with a client before, the number of options is less because I have a better idea of their body type, personal taste and what colors they like. On the night, I’m addicted to social media and watch E! Live from the Red Carpet. I scour the Internet for images on Instagram, Getty Images, Twitter, to see how the client looks – after my clients hit the carpet, I’m a glorified publicist in my own right.
How do you make the final decision about the dress?
At the end of the day, the ultimate final decision is based on what the client feels the best in. But there’s lot of other things to think about. Does the dress have enough drama? Is this it going to get enough press? How are the style critics react to it? But at the end of the day, I don’t give a damn what other people think because it’s really down to what we want as a team.
How important is posing? How do you avoid an Angelina’s leg moment?
I always work together with my clients to find the perfect pose. Different body types require different poses, but I can always get to the bottom of how someone should stand - I was definitely a female supermodel in my past life. Depending on the specific dress, we always practice posing in the mirror so that they look the best on the night. Long and lean is what we want – ALWAYS, no ifs, ands or buts!
**How often is there a last minute change? **
It is a case-by-case basis when it comes to a last minute changes. If you find out someone is wearing something similar, then we as a team make an executive decision to switch it out. Example, at Cannes Film Festival, if a celebrity wore a very similar dress that we have in our lineup the night before, then surely a change is in order. (But that’s what being prepared and having a plan B is for!) A crucial part of my job is to know who is wearing what, up until the very evening that my client is scheduled to hit the red carpet.
Where the hell do actresses keep their phones?
Usually I give my girl clients a clutch that works perfectly with their look. It has to be big enough to carry their essentials; phone, lipstick, compact, credit cards and ID. Sometimes I think a dress would look weird with a clutch, so then their publicist will step in and carry their clutch while they own the red carpet.
I bet it’s really hot under all that taffeta – how to actresses keep cool?
If it is really hot out then we use a fan to minimize perspiration. Usually I, or someone from my team, is in the car with the client for any last minute adjustments to the dress and to make sure she is ready for the red carpet, pulling the dress down or straightening a seam. Making sure her puppies look great and are in place – she’s got to look perfect for the pictures.
I bet there’s a lot of champagne being drunk, has an actress ever got pissed and trashed their dress?
NEVER. Every single client that I work with is really respectful of the designer who’s dressed them because they know they’re wearing a creation by an artist. Sometimes there might be an incident because of the weather, but we make sure that the dress stays in perfect shape and is returned in the same way it was received. As much as it is an honor for the designer to have a moment with that specific actor, it is equally an honor for the actor to be wearing the designer’s dress – it’s a two way street.
Follow Sophie on Twitter @sophiecullinane
Picture: Getty
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.