It is no secret that the red carpet, oh sorry, beige carpet (if you are imagining the 2023 Met Gala) has lost its original exclusivity and glamour. Iconic looks such as Jennifer Lopez’s Versace jungle dress, which graced us with its presence in the 2000s Grammy Awards Show, are unimaginable in today’s overstimulating and rather lacklustre fashion world. Now, this is not an article discussing the impending doom of fashion or how we will never be able to recreate the allure of the 90s red carpet, rather this article seeks to explore why the red carpet has drifted away from its once iconic status.
The plunge of red carpet fashion originated from its decline in exclusivity. Of course, the red carpet still maintains its prestige, yet, it seems more accessible to the ordinary person than ever before. In 2021 alone, TikTok stars such as Addison Rae and Dixie D’Amelio shocked the internet by making their debuts at the Met Gala which was thought of as being a highly prestigious event.
Naturally, this influx of influencers and e-celebs means that there are more people than ever before attending these events. Because of this, viewers are oversaturated with hundreds of looks per event meaning that it becomes harder to find extraordinary, original outfits that will shock the cultural zeitgeist. Furthermore, with this increase of attendance, designers are under increasing pressure to dish out unique and aesthetic designs for all of the brand ambassadors that they are collaborating with: instead of just partnering with one or two celebs, most brands now have at least five plus celebrities representing them on the carpet. Unfortunately, with the lack of time and pressure to impress, most designers opt for boring but safe looks resulting in disappointingly average outfits. This is evident in the 2023 Met Gala where Chanel designed for a range of celebrities including (but not limited to) Kirsten Stewart, Sofia Coppola and Jennie. However, the results fell flat as all of the outfits culminated into some variation of an ivory dress/blouse combined with black accessories such as a tie or a ribbon. This resulted in a frustratingly mediocre outcome for one of the most fashionable events.
Moreover, social media as a whole has contributed to the fall of red carpet fashion. Each and every outfit displayed on the carpet becomes harshly analysed and critiqued as audiences can now see them all over Instagram/YouTube/X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Looking at articles published by Cosmopolitan such as The 25 best and worst dressed celebs at the 2023 Met Gala is quite telling on how the media adopts a more critical perspective these days, something prior audiences were unable to do as they were restricted to stealing glimpses from magazines or TV broadcasts to see their beloved icons at these events.
However, let us not get too carried away. Like I said earlier, this is by no means dictating the end of red carpet fashion as a cultural legacy. We are currently experiencing a difficult period of transition where social media and fashion are trying to adjust with each other. This could mean that for a while we may experience more ‘unoriginal’ and ‘cringey’ looks yet, with a more critical audience than ever before. But with an emphasis on supporting newer independent brands, I am positive we will begin to see new, creative and innovative designs on our screens once again.