From voluminous gowns to oversized hats, celebrities stepping out in style on the red carpet is something we all love to see. But just like us mere mortals, they sometimes make fashion faux pas that leave us wondering what they were thinking. Join us as a we take a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the most outrageous red carpet fashion disasters from the world of celebrity.
1. A Red Carpet Hall of Fame: Fashion Disasters
Every now and then, celebrities bring their boldest looks to the red carpet – and every now and then it falls flat. From oversized matching outfits to more fashion faux pas, we’ve compiled a list of fashion disasters that we will never forget:
- Nicollette Sheridan in All-Black: In 2004, actress Nicollette Sheridan appeared on the red carpet wearing a black halter dress, waist belt, fur stole, and matching black boots. Many thought her outfit was a bit too much and didn’t quite belong together.
- Anne Hathaway in the Headgear: In 2011, actress Anne Hathaway made an impression wearing a sleek black and gold gown that was accompanied by an extremely tall and impressive headdress. Although Anne’s dress was beautiful, the headgear was a bit of an eyesore.
- Kim Kardashian in the Leather Jumpsuit: In 2017, Kardashian matriarch Kim Kardashian made a fashion statement wearing a tight leather jumpsuit. The jumpsuit included a long white cape, white pointed boots, and a white head wrap – a truly outrageous look.
- Kissy Suzuki in the Animal Print: In 2016, actress Kissy Suzuki arrived on the red carpet wearing what seemed to be a straight-off-the-runway animal print dress. Although her dress was undeniably eye-catching, many thought her look was too over-the-top.
Although fashion is meant to be daring and bold, these celebrities’ looks fell flat on the red carpet. The notoriously stylish celebs we all know and love had to take a few risks on the red carpet – and in some cases, these risks didn’t pay off.
2. Pose and Pout: How Celebrities Mishandle Fabulous Finery
Celebrities have always had an influence on the fashion world, and their impact on the trends we see today continues to be immense. But, there’s more to the story than just looking fabulous! Posing and pouting are two of the most common habits of celebrities when they are wearing a fabulous outfit—and sometimes, they can get in the way.
- Sometimes celebrities don’t do justice to their incredible fashion choices by overposing and overdoing it.
- They may appear too exaggerated and overly eager to garner attention.
The truth is, everyone makes mistakes when it comes to posing for the perfect photo; however, this is amplified in the lives of celebrities because of the number of eyes that are upon them. What might be seen as an innocent mistake or a reaction to the camera flashing can actually distort the original beauty of the outfit. Clicking the wrong pose or pouting the wrong way can instantly detract from the impact of the designer’s outfits.
The key is to remember that the fashion piece speaks for itself—without any distractions. Enhancing the fashion item through the camera should not be about getting as many eyes on the celebrity as possible. It should be about enhancing the clothes, and the celebrity’s presence should be a secondary factor.
3. Magnify Your Missteps: When Haute Couture Becomes a Faux Pas
Anyone with an eye for fashion might believe they’re unable to make a mistake when it comes to styling an outfit. But, haute couture is a tricky thing – and an outfit that is perfect for one occasion can be the worst possible ensemble to wear in the wrong circumstances. Luckily, mistakes can be a learning opportunity and allow your style to grow.
To help you understand when haute couture should and shouldn’t be worn, here are three tips:
- Keep it casual: When in doubt, stick to jeans and a t-shirt. This classic combination will never go out of style, and is always appropriate.
- Understand the venue: Some places call for more sophisticated looks – like an outdoor formal dinner or a prom. Pay attention to these events to better gauge which pieces to wear.
- Accessorize: Like it or not, accessories matter. A simple pair of jeans can look stylish if you add well-placed jewelry or a statement belt.
It’s good to experience the occasional faux pas. It’s a great opportunity to practice and hone your fashion skills. The key to learning from missteps is self-awareness. Pay attention to your looks and understand the occasion. As you grow, you can all but ensure that your haute couture will be the perfect fit for every occasion.
4. Stylists to the Rescue: Working Outfits from Red Carpet Catastrophes
Put on your best pun and join us for some comedic relief as we explore some of the most heinous fashion faux pas from the red carpet. Where some Hollywood starlets failed to shine, the talented stylists that keep celebs looking chic rushed to the rescue! Here are four looks that went from catastrophic to covetable.
- Scarlett Johansson – 2019 Met Gala
In an early style misfire, Scarlett made a strong impression at the 2019 Met Gala in a circus-like frock. However, leave it to her stylist to turn it around. Later that year, for the Hollywood Film Awards, Scarlett was an ethereal beauty that looked as if stepping down from Olympus. In a stunning Gucci gown, Scarlett exuded effortless sophistication.
- Brie Larson – 2018 Academy Awards
The memorable statement sleeves of Brie Larson’s custom gown from the 2018 Academy Awards were a sight to be forgotten. Fast forward to the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, where Brie looked nothing less than breathtaking. With a stylish, flapper-inspired outfit from Celine, Brie looked modern and chic.
- Kendall Jenner – 2017 Cannes Film Festival
Not all fashion risks pay off. In the case of Kendall Jenner’s 2017 Cannes Film Festival look, it had a lot of potential, but sadly fell short. Later that year, while attending the Angel Ball, Kendall shined. The talented and fashionable model coupled a sheer, sequinned Balmain gown with matching hooded cape. Sashaying and striking a pose, it was a major hit.
- Gwen Stefani – 2015 Academy Awards
Gwen Stefani’s fashion transformation for the 2015 Academy Awards had the crowd in awe. Slipping into a somewhat overwhelming red gown by designer Atelier Versace, Gwen was then dressed in a reworked version of a Tuxedo Dress for the American Music Awards. The new and improved outfit drew beaming compliments, and Gwen turned out to be a showstopper.
5. Shining Despite Slip-Ups: When Celebrities Generate Positive PR From Disastrous Styles
Everyone makes mistakes, and for celebrities, their slip-ups are usually broadcasted all over the world. We may roll our eyes when we hear about a celebrity making a mistake, but the truth is that celebrities can use these scenarios to create waves of positive publicity.
Take Rihanna’s memorable 2015 arrival on the red carpet for the The Costume Institute Benefit in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sure, it was a bit of a “slip-up” with her yellow fur robe and rather extravagant choice of headgear. But what happened next was nothing short of amazing. Everyone was talking about her unusual look and she was catapulted into the limelight. The barometer of Huffington Post’s social media reaction surged as a result and everyone still remembers the outfit today.
Another instance of a celebrity rebound was Kanye West when he ‘ruined’ the cover of Fader magazine in 2011. It was a simple mistake of wearing a leather jacket over a vest, when he should have stuck to just one of those clothing items. Regardless of his misstep, he eventually calmed his critics and even flipped the memes to his favor, incorporating the incident into his tour branding.
Slip-ups can be turned into publicity-generating stories with some strategic PR. Here’s what to do:
- Embrace the situation and don’t take it too seriously.
- Leverage a positive external reaction (i.e from fans) and use it to create more visibility.
- Ride the momentum of the situation and use it as an opportunity to inspire others.
When managed well, mistakes and missteps can be reframed to create positive waves of PR for any celebrity, as illustrated by the two examples here.
Clearly, when it comes to red carpet fashion, the verdict is still out on what constitutes good and bad taste. Entertainment’s elite sometimes lean towards being bravely daring while still being mindful of the potential consequences. It’s a tightrope, one in which it would be downright foolish to assume no one will ever fall off. And, when they do, it’s safe to say that it will be etched in the mind of the viewing public for quite some time.
