7 Times Celebrities Mastered the Art of Theme Dressing

What’s your earliest fashion-related memory? You might recall an apron you loved to wear as a toddler while playing with paint in school, a fun print from your favourite hat and bikini beach set, a pair of pink-and-sparkly plastic boots… or perhaps that Cinderella costume you begged your parents to wear non-stop from school to bed.

From our earliest days, fashion has played a significant role in shaping memories that go beyond mere functionality. You might assign the title of ‘Favourite Wardrobe Item’ to that denim jacket because of its seemingly perfect fit, or because it was a cherished hand-me-down that reminds you of a loved one every time you pull it from your closet. And when it comes to using garments as memory-inducing pieces, celebrity stylists understand the magic like pros.

While some industry giants — and fashion icons, albeit in a different way — play it safe and stick to the purest definition of glam on red carpets during press tours, others dare to embrace the playful side of the game. From Zendaya’s talk-of-the-town and ongoing Challengers looks, bringing a literal tennis aesthetic to couture-worthy productions, to Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo’s off-screen homage to the upcoming Wicked film — and let’s not forget Margot Robbie’s pink-drenched Barbiecore season — these are the celebrities who took our breath away and proved to be masters of theme dressing. Keep reading…

If we were to award the crown of theme dressing to one duo, there’s no doubt Zendaya and stylist Law Roach would deserve to sit in the golden chair. Since their early days of working together, these creative minds have been defying the line between costume and couture, delivering a tour de force of creativity, glamour, and disruption in fashion. For the ongoing press tour of Challengers, Luca Guadagnino’s new film, Zendaya draws inspiration from the tennis court to serve up red carpet looks. Think custom designs by Loewe, Jacquemus, and Thom Browne, with references as literal as having a tennis ball in place of a heel and a gown adorned with tiny rackets. We’re obsessed!

Arguably one of the most iconic figures in theme dressing in recent years, Margot Robbie immersed herself in a pink extravaganza during the press tour of Barbie, embodying a fresh-out-of-the-Mattel-box look. Sparkles, feathers, drapes, layers, and volume — she embraced them all. From journalist Barbie and Old Hollywood Barbie to vintage Chanel and custom Prada, Robbie not only sparked a worldwide fashion trend (#Barbiecore, anyone?) but also reaffirmed her status as a mastermind of storytelling both on and off the screen.

For the press tour of Netflix’s critically acclaimed Wednesday, lead Jenna Ortega didn’t hesitate to infuse her character’s dark and gothic essence into her red carpet wardrobe — with a touch of glam. Think all-black ensembles, of course, with no exceptions, but with an intriguing selection of textures for an added edge: see-through gowns, lace, and ruffles did the trick.

Did someone say “Catwoman”? At the 2022 premiere of Batman, Zoe Kravitz proved that there’s no such thing as being too literal when it comes to theme dressing, stunning in a sleeveless column custom piece from Oscar de la Renta, complete with a cat-shaped corset.

Wonderland cover star Halle Bailey channelled her inner Ariel on the press tour for The Little Mermaid — and it had us wishing we were “Under the Sea” with her. From her shimmering custom Valdrin Sahiti look at the Hollywood premiere to all of the seashell motifs and pearl accents adorning her Miss Sohee London premiere look, she continuously stepped out looking like the underwater princess she is. Whozits and whatzits galore, her mermaid-core accessories are still on our minds today.

Pink and green! For the Wicked press tour, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Eviro are embracing their respective Good Witch and Wicked Witch energy with looks in their characters’ signature colours. At the Oscars, Grande stepped out in a gloriously girly pink Giambattista Valli couture gown — and Eviro brought the Elphaba green in a leather Louis Vuitton look. Similarly, the stars’ Cinemacon looks played into their roles’ opposite aesthetics, with Eviro sparkling in a fierce green bodice and matching thigh high boots and Grande turning into a literal flower.

Emma Watson’s looks for the 2017 Beauty and the Beast press tour were straight out of a fairytale. Wearing only sustainable brands, she stunned in Belle-inspired yellow gowns (the Dior dress for The NY Film Society For Kids event springs to mind) and accented with “enchanted rose” motifs plucked from the movie.