This October, celebrities and fashion moguls at Vogue gathered to celebrate the inextricable marriage between fashion and cinema.
Vogue World: Hollywood took place this year on Sunday Oct. 26 at Paramount Studios. Teasing the event beforehand, American Vogue’s September issue featured Ayo Edebiri, Nicole Kidman and Greta Lee. A rather new outing, the first Vogue World show premiered back in 2022, held in New York to celebrate Vogue’s 130th anniversary.
A few years have passed since then, and the production team certainly delivered this time around. Sponsored by Chase Sapphire, eBay and Eli Lilly and Company, the catwalk was a street lying behind Paramount Studios, graced with celebrities, models and spectators alike.
Los Angeles was the ideal setting for a cinematic evening. A diverse clientele traveled to attend, from Anna Wintour herself to California Governor Gavin Newsom and entertainment executive and sports agent Casey Wasserman.
Split into seven acts, costume designers from corresponding films and creative directors of fashion houses collaborated to revive film fashion favorites.
“Act 1: Hollywood Glamour,” Catherine Martin (costume) and Miuccia Prada (Prada); “Act 2: The Renegades,” Colleen Atwood (costume) and Seán McGirr (McQueen); “Act 3: Historical Heroines,” Milena Canonero (costume) and Nicolas Ghesquiere (Louis Vuitton); “Act 4: Summer of Love,” Arianne Phillips (costume) and Marc Jacobs (Marc Jacobs); “Act 5: Avant-Garde,” Sandy Powell (costume) and Alessandro Michele (Valentino); “Act 6: Afrofuturism,” Ruth E. Carter and Olivier Rousteing (Balmain); “Act 7: New World,” Jacqueline West (costume) and Pieter Mulier (Maison Alaïa).
It was an atypical runway show, but an exceedingly typical movie set. Crew members moved props and pushed costume racks in the midst of the affair. Los Angeles native Gracie Abrams performed Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move” and her hit song “That’s So True,” in a burgundy fresh-off-the-runway Chanel set.
Kidman, opening the catwalk in a custom silk black dress and gloves, emulated Rita Hayworth from the 1946 noir film “Gilda” — designed by Matthieu Blazy at Chanel. Director Baz Luhrmann shouted from ahead with film equipment, summoning Kendall Jenner to the forefront of his own production, “Moulin Rouge” (2001). Designed by Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie, she stunned in the black and silver showgirl look of Satine, originally played by Kidman.
Let them eat cake! Julia Garner emerged in Canonero’s recreation of Kirsten Dunst’s dress from the 2006 Sofia Coppola film, “Marie Antoinette.” The French monarchy may have been in decline, but the audience’s reaction to the robe à la Française said otherwise.
Shortly after, Diane Keaton’s nostalgic rendition of “Seems Like Old Times” from the movie “Annie Hall” (1977) echoed purposefully as model Betsy Gaghan glided in Ralph Lauren. Not a dry eye in sight, it was a phenomenal tribute to the late actress.
Model Marimar Cardenas stepped in the shoes of Elizabeth Taylor as “Cleopatra” (1963). Posing as the ultimate seductress, the glazed gold attire is one of Hollywood’s most expensive and jaw dropping on-screen looks.
Angela Bassett reprised her role as Queen Ramonda in her “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (2022) ensemble.
“Such an undertaking and a lot of work,” Oscar winning costume designer Carter said. “But tell me first of all, the electricity tonight was on another level…The support we got was unbelievable…It was a real snapshot of what it’s like to be on a movie set.”
Looks were served by Adut Akech as Daisy Buchanan from Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” (2013), wearing the original dress with Tiffany & Co. jewelry.
“Baz wanted the Gatsby costumes to be rooted in the silhouettes, fabrics, and details of the 1920s, but infused with an energy that would resonate with modern viewers,” Martin explained to Vogue. “This led me to favor the idealized forms over strict historical accuracy.”
With fog machines clouding the air and dark music erupting, Anok Yai appeared as “Edward Scissorhands” (1990). The costume replicated by Atwood (original designer) was identical to the one Johnny Depp wore in the film.
On the men’s side, Jeff Goldblum was spotted charming the crowd in a silver and purple sequined suit made by Gucci. Kyle MacLachlan was as dashing as ever in a baby blue Tom Ford dressing gown, a tone pairing perfectly with his exquisite silver hair.
Apart from the main curations, several others walked beside them. Sandy from “Grease” (1978), Grace Kelly’s black and white ball gown in the Alfred Hitchcock film “Rear Window” (1954), Audrey Hepburn’s signature black dress with pearls and gloves from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) and Cher and Dionne’s school girl outfits from the ’90s film “Clueless” (1995) were sprinkled in the mix.
Nearly 400 enthusiasts in attendance, the off-the-runway looks were just as interesting as on: Miley Cyrus appeared in all leather attire by Saint Laurent, Hailey Bieber sitting beside her donned a Mugler 2026 collection leather off-the-shoulder dress and Halle Bailey turned heads in a copper organza gown by Lever Couture.
Opening up the finale, Doja Cat strutted the runway performing “Gorgeous,” as she channeled Tina Turner’s look from “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (1985). This last act brought forth the original costume selections from Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” (2021). The long silk gowns in shades of earth tones with draping sleeves and crystal head pieces cascading over the face continue to artistically stun audiences.
The extravagant 45-minute show was broadcast live, raising $4.5 million. Wintour declared that the funds will be allocated to the Entertainment Community Fund — a 501(c) charitable organization supporting performers and film workers in the performing arts and entertainment.
A significant number of costume designers were impacted by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, losing their cherished creations in the process. These generous donations will provide the assistance they desperately need to return to their craft.
“Mixing fashion and the arts and culture in the center of a city, and by raising funds for a vital cause, Vogue World has become a runway show as a rallying cry, a way to fix the attention of a huge global audience, to bring awareness and sound and unmistakable notes of positivity, creativity and hope,” Wintour expressed.
