Dress Dilemma: The Great Awards Season Gown Shortage

Have you ever seen anything like this? Zadrian Smith, one half of the styling duo of Zadrian + Sarah, says, “The showrooms have been wiped out – people are nervous about not having anything, that’s why it’s been happening.” It’s been a real fashion-show reality challenge.

After the SAG-AFTRA strike was settled on Nov. 9, studios and streamers hit the ground running with media tours, premieres, and other events to make up for lost promotional time this awards season, making the red carpet logjam overwhelming.

This December’s events have created a frenzy of pulling clothes as stylists grab looks and requests for that perfectly show-stopping red carpet style soars.

Jessica Paster, star stylist, says, “What’s tough is the amount of clothes you aren’t able to get. What we’re forced to do right now, and I don’t think it’s a negative thing, is that we need to edit ourselves.” This is a challenge to find exclusive fashions, even for the top stylists. 

Ilaria Urbinati, stylist to stars such as Saltburn’s Barry Keoghan and The Bear’s Jon Bernthal, also feels the pressure to shop smart due to the shortage of clothes, saying, “I can’t get that great head-to-toe look, so instead I’m piecing together and using my editorial stylist eye to create something that’s unique.” 

Awards-season dressing traditionally consists of a cocktail of factors each stylist must navigate, from months-long planning and pulls of the multiple looks needed for pre-parties, red carpets and post-parties to the privilege of accessing archival pieces or the additional advance work required for fashion houses to craft custom gowns and tuxedos. The top stylists often clamor for the most coveted runway looks. 

Make no mistake: the actor being dressed ultimately plays the paramount role in what’s made available or offered by a high-wattage label. 

“It’s amazing to experience it — you mention the name of a star everyone wants to dress,

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