The top 25 stylists in Hollywood, along with their muses, the celebrities, were all in on the Jimmy Choo power dinner at the Sunset Tower in West Hollywood. What was interesting about it? Everything. 

The brand has an annual 25 Most Powerful Stylist List that brings together the best of the best every year to talk about style and interact at a level that feels spiritual to artists in the industry. Is it an elitist social event? Most likely, but it says much about the style trends that Hollywood runs after at this time.

Celebrities such as Megan Thee Stallion, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Barry Keoghan, and many stylists responsible for styling celebrities throughout the award season attended the event.

A Place To Connect

Some called it a family reunion, but that’s only for big-deal insiders who dawn on attire from Chanel or Dolce and Gabbana with a mint pair of Jimmy Choos. Of course, not everyone can be a part of the family. Celebrities attended the event with their most recent stylist. The Fanning sisters, Dakota and Elle, hung out with their stylist Samantha McMillen.

“No one deserves this more than Samantha,” said Elle. “Like Elle said, she’s really part of our family. We see her outside of all the fun styling things that we get to do, and she’s the most hardworking and unassuming person,” Dakota completed her sister’s sentence. “She doesn’t want any of the lights on her, but she really does deserve it.”

Stylists are often not always at the forefront, the celebrities and brands take away the fame. Now, stylists are getting more and more attention as time moves on further. Hollywood is already at risk of a writer’s strike, a stylist’s strike would be more than devastating so it’s about time to give them the recognition they deserve. 

McMillen And Stewart 

The Fanning sisters further explain how McMillen is a big part of their family. How she’s the one who’s always out there supporting the two, whether it’s with her work or just her supportive nature.

“She’s someone who helps you to feel your best or however you want to feel in any particular moment. Stylists help you to feel comfortable in your own body; you’re literally very intimate with them because you’re naked half the time,” said Dakota. It’s obvious that having to find that level of comfort with your stylist is essential. The dresses you put on become a style symbol, especially when you have millions of eyes on you. McMillen makes the sisters just about comfortable enough to shed their clothes and try new ones.

“It’s having someone who understands your personality, your body, and your vibe so much that it makes everything come to life in the best way possible.”

The event returned to the public eye for the first in-person meeting after the infamous COVID-19 virus that shook Hollywood like the rest of the world. Elizabeth Stewart, a veteran in the styling industry, received Stylist of The Year for her work with Cate Blanchett and Viola Davis. 

Another big name at the dinner was Law Roach, who arrived at the event with his client Megan Thee Stallion. Roach was recently recognized as one of the most powerful stylists in the industry and became the center of attraction for many eyes. However, he later announced his retirement from the personal styling industry. Perhaps he has other plans up his sleeve.

The event was a big deal for many celebrities, but most importantly, it was for artists who received the well-deserved spotlight.

The recent BAFTA awards have been a huge blast, with many well-deserving nominees winning awards for their work. German director Edward Berger’s new project All Quiet on The Western Front won big time, accumulating several awards, including Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Director. 

On the other hand, Austin Butler won Best Actor for Elvis, and Cate Blanchett took home Best Actress for her portrayal of Lydia Tar in Tar. While awards were all the heat at the ceremony, fashion was also quite noticeable. Here are some celebrities who showed up in outstanding outfits and damn near stole the show.

Jodie Turner-Smith and Michelle Yeoh

Turner-Smith is known for her highly acclaimed film White Noise. She also stars in the prequel to The Witcher series, The Witcher: Blood Origins. Turner-Smith stars with actress Michelle Yeoh who was nominated for her fantastic role in Everything Everywhere All At Once. Jodie Turner-Smith was seen wearing a bold yet elegant lilac gown by Gucci. She also wore a beautiful Chopard choker studded with diamonds and sapphires to accentuate her overall look.

“I wore all the sparkles tonight,” said Turner-Smith

On the other hand, her co-actress from Bloof Origins, Michelle Yeoh, showed up in a sophisticated high-class Dior suit that perfectly went with the actress’ persona and character. She also wore a diamond-studded watch by Richard Mille and a blue ribbon around her finger to show support and solidarity with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. Other celebrities were spotted wearing the same.

Cate Blanchett and Austin Butler

The star winners of the evening both came in magnificent black colors and looked fantastic, holding their awards for Best Actress and Actor. Blanchett and her stylist worked together to repurpose one of her older outfits that she wore at the Oscars back in 2015. It was a black Maison Margiela dress which was sleeveless and topped off with “repurposed Tahitian pearls and a step-cut tourmaline recovered from a previous High Jewelry design,” according to the Instagram post of her stylist, Elizabeth Stewart.

Austin Butler, on the other hand, wore a black woolen tuxedo by Alexander McQueen. Butler won Best Actor later in the evening, which is a huge feat and well deserved too. Butler had to undergo rapid body transformations gaining and losing weight for his role as Elvis Presley. Fitting back into the stellar black suit is nothing short of magic. Butler put his best foot forward and took the award home. “This means the world to me,” he said as he received the award.

Angela Bassett and Viola Davis

The veteran actress Angela Bassett showed up in stunning colors wearing a silk Pamella Roland dress.  Angela Bassett was one of the nominees for her famous role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. 

Her stylist Jennifer Austin took to social media to talk about the dress and the inspiration behind it. She noted that the dress “was inspired by the tulips and flowers of spring.” Basset was spotted wearing luxurious silk extensions around her arms that gave her a majestic look, completed by the  Judith Leiber Couture clutch shaped like a flower.

Her co-actress from the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Viola Davis, was also present and nominated for her leading role in The Woman King, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. Davis was seen wearing a purple dress by Stella McCartney. The message of the dress was quite environmental in nature, according to Davis’ stylist, Elizabeth Stewart:

“This Stella McCartney dress shows their commitment to being a zero deforestation brand by using a beautiful cellulose acetate fabric made from traceable wood pulp and lead-free crystals.”

Pharell Williams is known for a lot of things, his expansive career as a producer, his rapping skills, his singing, and songwriting, as well as his keen sense of fashion. The star is really a jack of all trades. He is often seen wearing classy street wear fused with other sorts of styles that really go with his whole personality. Maybe this unique sense of fashion was what landed him a job as the menswear creative director at the luxury French fashion brand Louis Vuitton. Pharell will be bringing his own vision to the brand and will have his own show very soon as well.

Previous Director And Pharell’s Show

The position of menswear creative director was held by none other than the famous Virgil Abloh. Unfortunately, the American designer suffered from a rare form of cancer for over two years until succumbing to it in November of 2021. Abloh was the founder of the Off-White fashion brand which in itself is very famous and successful. His days at Louis Vuitton were still fruitful as his last fashion show was one of the most beautiful. 

The show was created after the designer’s fateful demise and had an elaborate Dreamhouse concept with models and dancers dressed up as angels. The clothing also featured gender-less features blurring the concept of gender-specific clothing. A true visionary like Abloh rightfully deserved this perfect sendoff from the brand he gave so much. The new choice to fill the role is Pharell Williams, an artist at heart and fashion supernova in the making.

The death of Abloh was mourned by all the celebrities of Hollywood. It does look like Pharell has big shoes to fill. The brand and the artist had previously worked together back in the years 2004 as well as 2008. This could be one reason Pharell will feel comfortable with his fellow designers at work. Here’s a statement by the chairman and CEO Pietro Beccari:

“I am glad to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new Men’s Creative Director,” he said. “His creative vision beyond fashion will undoubtedly lead Louis Vuitton towards a new and very exciting chapter.”

Williams will have his first-ever menswear collection shown at Men’s Fashion Week in Paris. This show will take place in the month of June and will mark Pharell’s entry as the menswear creative director. Pharell has had a brilliant journey in the world of music with his songs breaking records and earning him many accolades over a career that began back in the 1990s. He formed his own R&B duo called The Neptunes, and since then Pharell has been active in the scene for a very long period of time.

In fact, the artist has been so popular and impactful that he has often been called the most influential artist of the 21st century. In 2006, he released his own solo album and later his song Happy was the lead soundtrack in the 2013 animated film Despicable Me 2. Williams has been on the roll ever since. He was awarded Record of the year, as well as Best Pop Dup/Group performance for Daft Punk’s song, Get Lucky which featured him.

The 49-year-old singer-songwriter has won 13 Grammys over his lifelong career and various other accolades. He is also the co-founder of a streetwear fashion brand called Billionaire Boys Club with Japanese talent Nigo. He has also worked with high-profile brands like Adidas, Channel, and Moncler. Clearly, the artist is no stranger to the world of fashion.