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With the release of Wicked and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's strikingly coordinated pink and green outfits, press tour fashion has seemingly taken the spotlight like never before, demonstrating the true power of method dressing for all to see..
It seems that press tour fashion has gone beyond simply dressing for a red carpet event and has now extended to the channeling of characters, hence the title ‘method dressing’. Eileen Carter argues, ‘it used to be enough for actors to show up to a junket, make a couple quips about their latest projects, and call it a day. But with stylish stars like Zendaya and Timothée Chalamet showing out on every red carpet, now everyone else is expected to go fashion-viral too’.
Cynthia Ervio is pictured (left) in a leather Louis Vuitton look whilst presenting at the Oscars, with her co-star Ariana Grande wearing a baby pink puffed Giambattista Valli couture gown. Despite the Oscars being in March and Wicked not being shown in cinemas until November, the two began their press tour with statement outfits that reflected their characters, Elphaba and Glinda, simultaneously setting the precedent for the entire press tour that would follow.
The art of press tour fashion has now been labeled ‘Hollywood’s Fiercest Fashion Battleground’ as method dressing has evolved from simply being dressed glamorously for a red carpet to being dressed in theme. Zendaya, without doubt, has been the celebrity to carve her way into the film industry by making a splash in the fashion world. GQ labelled her as the celebrity who has pioneered ‘method dressing’, with the help of her long-term stylist Law Roach, making it clear that her press tour fashion choices are have both intent and purpose.
Zendaya is pictured (right) in a custom Balmain, sand coloured dress at the Venice Film Festival, mirroring the desert backdrop of the film Dune. Similarly, for the promotion of Challengers in 2024, she is pictured wearing a custom Thom Brown ensemble, embroidered with tennis racket detailing (pictured below).
The question arises of whether method dressing offers celebrities a clear direction when it comes to press tour fashion. While Zendaya is renowned for her red carpet success, Margot Robbie captured immense attention with her bold press tour looks for Barbie. As both the star and producer of the film, Robbie's wardrobe choices were undoubtedly part of the film's promotion, but could they have also made life easier for her stylist? It’s a suggestion worth considering. Choosing a fashion direction for press tours can be a challenge for both celebrities and their stylists, yet method dressing allows the character to come to life on the carpet, giving actors a chance to continue embodying their roles as they promote the film. The question then must be posed: is there a fine line between dressing as a character on the carpet and using it as a foundation for curating press tour looks?
Margot Robbie was seen channeling the 1960 “Solo in the Spotlight” Barbie at the film’s LA premiere (pictured above) and in custom Vivienne Westwood at the London premiere (left), emulating the ‘Enchanted Evening’ Barbie first released in 1960 and later reproduced in 1995.
Vogue donned 2023 ‘the age of method dressing’, a time when the red carpet seemed to blur the lines between a performer’s personal style and an extension of the cinematic universe they inhabit. Yet in 2024, Vogue decisively squashed their previous statement, instead proclaiming, ‘Enough with the Method Dressing!’. As celebrities such as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Evrio continue to embrace this era of fashion, using their press tour looks as a key tool to promote their films, the question emerges: is the press tour a canvas on which a celebrity’s personal style is to be explored or is it a stage for something larger than themselves?
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