Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Style

The Girl and The Dress: Actress-Designer Pairs

In light of recent news that Mad Men star, January Jones, will be the face of Versace’s 2011 Spring ad campaign, I got to thinking about actress-designer relationships. Some celebrities find a particular designer’s creations so appealing that they wear their garments exclusively to every public and red carpet event. But the origin of these sartorially monogamous star-designer relationships is often quite blurry. How exactly does say, Natalie Portman, decide that Zac Posen will be the lucky artist whose creations will appear on all fashion magazines because she is wearing them? Did these two meet at a Vanity Fair Oscars Party and become bffs? Or maybe Zac sent Natalie a free strapless dress and she fell in love with the tailoring. Whichever the case, here are four of my favorite actress-designer collaborations:

1. Renee Zellweger and Carolina Herrera

I doubt Bridget Jones has any of this Venezuelan designer’s creations hanging in her closet. But these days, the ultra-fit Renee isn’t photographed without one of Carolina’s elegant gowns (that is, unless she’s caught on her way out from yoga class, or walking her dog, or grabbing Starbucks…but you get the point).

2. Diane Kruger and Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel)

Diane is German, sophisticated, and speaks perfect French. Karl is, well, Karl. These two couldn’t make a more perfect pair (sorry, Joshua Jackson).

3. Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney

Gwyneth’s mum is English and she’s married to Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin. Stella, who is British rock-and-roll royalty (Beatles, anyone?), helps her friend dress the part.

4. Marion Cotillard and John Galliano (Dior)

Ever since Marion Cotillard made me cry for two hours while watching her performance as the famed Edith Piaf in La Mome, I’ve been completely obsessed. Guess John Galliano feels the same way: he placed Marion on the ads for the fashion house (watch the Hitchcock-inspired film for Lady Noire starring Cotillard), and she wears Dior to most events.

Who are your favorite actress-designer pairs? Which designer do you wish were your bff?

Photo Sources

http://www.instyle.co.uk/news/donatella-versace-hosts-star-studded-party…

http://www.instyle.com/instyle/parties/party/0,,20279836_20623422,00.html

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/09/karl_lagerfeld_and_diane_kruge.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7316835/Gwyneth…

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/party-snaps/paris-fashion-week-scen…

Patricia Ball is a senior at Boston University, where she is majoring in English with a minor in French Language and Literature. Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, Patricia moved with her family to South Florida at the age of fourteen. She began writing as a way of exploring her identity within three different cultures (she is also a self-professed francophile!), and has been reporting, scribbling and blogging ever since. Patricia is also a fashion fanatic and has spent summers in Milan and Paris studying styling and design. She is excited to pursue her passion for writing, culture and fashion as an Editorial Intern for Her Campus and is looking forward to reading what all of you have to say!