Grammys 2014: Night of the no-name designer
It wasn’t Givenchy, Elie Saab or Versace who made news on Sunday night’s Grammys red carpet.
It was Michael Costello, Nicholas Jebran, Johanna Johnson and Haus of Milani.
Never heard of them? I must confess, I hadn’t either. And that’s a good thing.
For once, it didn’t seem as though everyone on the red carpet was dressed by the highest bidder -- angling for, or fulfilling the obligations of, six-figure endorsement deals with luxury companies.
They went their own way, which may be the new way in fashion.
The big talk this awards show season has been about how the ultimate status symbol is to have a one-of-a-kind couture gown made by one of fashion’s biggest names. But what about a gown by a name no one knows yet? It seems that may be an even bigger status symbol, and a true sign of individuality.
And as viewers, it certainly left us guessing, and sometimes scratching our heads, just like awards shows did in years gone by, when you never knew what stars were going to show up wearing. (An Indian headdress? Sheer beaded pajamas? A swan dress?)
Beyonce chose a dramatic sheer white lace gown by L.A.-based Michael Costello, a “Project Runway†alum who shows his collection in New York but is not widely known or stocked in big stores.
John Legend’s wife, model Chrissy Teigen, wore a glorious golden gown by Johanna Johnson, who is based in Sydney, Australia, and started with bridal (which is still her core business) before developing her evening-wear line.
Paula Patton’s whimsical animal-themed dress was by Nicholas Jebran, a Lebanese designer who launched his collection in 2010.
And Paris Hilton’s white gown with sheer panels showing off every asset was created by L.A.-based Haus of Milani designer Xtina Milani.
Of course, the Grammys is an awards show where costume dressing is encouraged, and we expect a certain level of individuality, creativity and daring from performers walking the red carpet. So this is a trend that may be limited to the music biz.
But let’s hope not. Even if all the dresses weren’t slam dunks, I for one was happy to see some new names in the mix.
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Grammys 2014: The red carpet that never was
Grammys 2014: Beyonce designer Michael Costello on that dress
