Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesWith the Oscar Awards quickly approaching this weekend, Hollywood's biggest names (and their trusted team of fashion and beauty advisors) are working hard to ensure that the main event goes on without a hitch.
So when we had the chance to chat with celebrity stylist and Ask.com's style expert Leslie Fremar, who is dressing Charlize Theron this year, we jumped at the chance to learn the ins and outs of prepping for the Oscars red carpet.
Here's what she shared with us:
What are your trend predictions for this year's Oscars red carpet?
While neutrals and metallics always have a place on the red carpet, one of the trends that we've seen this awards season are bold colors. Ask.com saw a big spike in searches around jewel tone dresses after both the Golden Globe and SAG awards and I expect that trend to continue on Oscar Sunday.
Who do you think will be best dressed?
Cate Blanchett always looks beautiful and I am very excited to see what she will wear to the Oscars.
Which designers are making a major breakthrough on the red carpet?
While the awards season red carpet always features classic names like Christian Dior and Chanel, we're starting to see more from younger designers like Jason Wu and Prabal Gurung.
What can you tell us about styling Charlize or your other celeb clients? Tell us all about the process!
When styling my clients, I think not only about the silhouette and fit but their role at the award's ceremony, whether they're presenting or a nominee, as well as their personal style. I recently worked with Reese Witherspoon on the turquoise Calvin Klein gown that was custom made for her for the Golden Globes. It fit her perfectly and the color was really pretty with her coloring. I loved a number of the designs I just saw on the runway at New York Fashion Week. Michael Kors, The Row and Hugo Boss caught my eye because they're modern yet still classic and those styles are what I look for when dressing my clients.
What does it take to prep for an A-list fitting?
In addition to inspiration I get from fashion shows, I talk with my clients to see if they have thoughts on colors or particular styles they want to wear for a certain event. The process for finding the perfect Oscar dress is definitely a collaboration between the actress, her stylist, the designer, and the hair and makeup team. From trying on different gowns to alterations to the perfect undergarment, there's so much that goes into the look long before the day of the event. We also have to search for undergarments for the gowns. Dressing a celebrity involves taking all of those little details into account and I think real women increasingly understand how important the proper foundation is when dressing for an event.
How many dresses are typically tried on?
Sometimes an actress will fall in love with the first dress they try on, and sometimes we go through multiple gowns, discussions with a designer or numerous alterations to find the perfect dress.
What about jewels and accessories?
Most women love a gorgeous piece of jewelry or the perfect high heel and the accessories can make or break a look on the red carpet. After the Golden Globes, Ask.com saw spikes in searches for Lorraine Schwartz and Brian Atwood, but I'm sure Harry Winston, Chopard and Fred Leighton will also be mainstays at the Oscars.
And there you have it!
We can't wait to see which dress Charlize will wear this weekend.