The world of fashion is no stranger to daring statements made through outrageous designs and attention-seeking stunts. However, this Fashion Month took a different approach. It was all about one thing: star power. From prime-time performances to one-of-a-kind cameo appearances, a host of celebrities stole the show once again. As Vogue Business takes a look back, it’s easy to see why this season shined.
1. Fashion Month Gets a High-Wattage Red Carpet Treatment
This year’s Fashion Month was like no other, featuring a star-studded lineup of celebrities and influencers flaunting the latest labels on the red carpets of each show. Whether outside the runway shows as the models arrived, or inside the venues as presenters strutted in, Fashion Month attracted the shine of some of the biggest names in fashion, film and music.
A number of trend-setting celebs and legendary stars graced the multiple scenes all across New York, Paris, and beyond. From the Hadid Sisters and Kendall Jenner at the shows of Off-White and Balmain, to Lupita Nyong’o and Uma Thurman lighting up the Valentino, Versace, and Givenchy venues. The circuit proved to be a melting pot of creativity and artistry as couture wrapped itself around fabulous figures.
- Priyanka Chopra making a statement with her bright red Ralph Lauren gown
- Victoria Beckham walking in her own show with playful, modern looks
- Lady Gaga in avant-garde fashion at Tom Ford
These looks all contributed to the celebration of fashion design in a way that highlighted its importance on a very personal level.
2. How Celebrity Endorsements Elevate the Catwalk
Celebrity endorsements set the catwalk on fire. While fashion designers experiment with colours, materials and the silhouettes on show, it’s the star power of celebrity approval that takes the runway to another level.
From global superstars like Naomi Campbell and Gigi Hadid to up-and-comers like Halima Aden, high-fashion catwalks come to life with A-listers who demonstrate that the brand has arrived. Brands find that celebrity endorsements allow them to not just introduce the catwalk to the world, but also communiate key messages to the audience.
Here are a few ways in which celebrity endorsements elevate the catwalk:
- Increase recognition: A celebrity face on the runway means that more people will recognise the brand, which helps to build its reputation.
- Add impact: Not only can a celebrity offer their fashion expertise to a company, they can add a spark of glamour to the show. This helps to create an impactful performance that will be remembered.
- Authenticity: When celebrities promote a brand, they give it a stamp of authenticity. This means that audience members will view the content more favourably as the endorsement will seem more genuine.
The presence of celebrities on the catwalk establishes a brand’s fashion status and helps to set its trends in motion. It’s no wonder, then, that companies continue to woo the world’s hottest stars to be the face of their high-fashion shows.
3. From Dua Lipa to Harry Styles and Beyond
The year 2020 saw some of the biggest and most beloved musical influences come alive. From the young and prodigious Dua Lipa to the soulful Harry Styles, we had everything that made this pandemic year a worthy one.
- Dua Lipa – The 23-year old English singer-songwriter gave us a battery of chart-topping hits, with songs like Don’t Start Now and Levitating, becoming instant classics. Blessed with Scintillating vocals and a distinct yet daring splice of Pop and Disco, Dua broke several records in 2020, even bagging 6 wins in the 2020 Brit Awards!
- Harry Styles – The British singer and actor released his second studio album, Fine Line in December 2019. Aining extraordinary success and reception, Harry collaborated with trailblazing artists, including popular American musician, Lil Nas X. His electric track, Watermelon Sugar, becoming the soundtrack of 2020 for many, we’re beyond thrilled to hear more of Harry’s soulful tunes in 2021!
- Plus! -Let’s not forget incredible artists like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and many more musical stalwarts, who kept us going through these trying times. 2020 was a year where even the outer space heard our music! In February, the musical track by K-pop band, BTS, was beamed into space and brought us all a little bit closer together.
On a final note, the world of music couldn’t be been any more incredible this year and we can all vouch for that! We can only hope that all our stars continue to write, sing and produce more of the musical magic we’ve heard through 2020, in 2021!
4. How the Fashion Industry is Betting Big on A-list Appeal
In the competitively fashionable world of high-end retail, celebrity appeal is paramount. Before a label can make its debut on the Paris fashion big stage, it needs recognizable – and well-dressed – figures to hype it up. But now, even more A-list presence is popping up, thanks in no small part to the industry’s newfound embrace of digital influencers.
In an effort to remain fresh and at the forefront of new trends, many fashion houses are increasingly tapping into “it-girls” to inspire millennial and Gen Z shoppers. Beauty mogul Kylie Jenner and her sister Kendall are just two of the many Instagram stars that brands have signed on to promote their products. British designer Alexander McQueen cast rap star Cardi B in their campaign. Versace and Michael Kors have also added celebrity faces to their stable of models. Beyond even that, celebrities themselves have taken the initiative to launch their own lines and collections, from Gigi and Bella Hadid’s “Gigi x Bella” to Tracee Ellis Ross’s collar collaboration with J. Crew.
- Beauty mogul Kylie Jenner and her sister Kendall are two of the many Instagram stars that brands have signed on to promote their products.
- Rap star Cardi B was cast British designer Alexander McQueen’s campaign.
- Celebrities have also taken the initiative to launch their own lines and collections, from Gigi and Bella Hadid’s “Gigi x Bella” to Tracee Ellis Ross’s collaboration with J. Crew.
As this fashion month comes to a close, we’ve seen celebrities who are using their platform and influence in an incredibly powerful way – to bring attention to both fashion and the issues that matter in the world. Whether it’s through making their own statements or teaming up with organisations to create a movement, this surely won’t be the last we hear from the A-listers!
