Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/WireImage; Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesHow does one spot a Marchesa gown? A few dead giveaways include decadent draping, luxe layers of tulle and extravagant embellishments ranging from beautiful beadwork to fanciful feathers.
Perhaps it's Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig's unapologetic devotion to designing whimsical couture creations that keeps leading ladies like Eva Longoria and Naomi Watts returning to the brand's designers for major red carpet moments. Take Longoria, who opted for a breathtaking Marchesa number with a tulle train for the opening ceremony at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as a strapless gown with lavish layers for the closing ceremony at the Monte Carlo TV Film Festival. Similarly, Marchesa is a favorite of Watts, who also wore a gown by the label at Cannes this year, and stunned in a winter white cocktail dress with voluminous ruched sleeves for the Madrid premiere of her film, The Impossible.
But the brand also has a following among the younger Hollywood set. This year's Emmy Awards saw stars like Sarah Hyland and Hayden Panettiere turn up at the award show in gorgeous Marchesa designs. While Hyland chose a dress embellished with eye-catching crystals, Panettiere went for the design house's trademark tulle with a teal creation from the spring 2013 collection.