The Cost to Mail Red Carpet Gowns to Celebrities Is an Arm, a Leg — Basically Your Whole Body

When a celebrity shows up to a red carpet event looking beautiful, we know that didn't all happen miraculously. Behind the scenes, it takes a village of makeup artists, hair experts, and celebrity stylists pulling gowns, shoes, and jewels to get to that final point. The journey, for some stylists, starts months in advance in the search for the perfect gown. Some fashion houses, like Givenchy, only dress one major star for an event (Meryl Streep received that honor in 2017 for the Golden Globes), so you can imagine the pressure stylists face when tracking down that It dress.

Instead of guessing what the life of a celebrity stylist is like though, we went straight to the source for answers. We tapped Hollywood power players Elizabeth Stewart and Micaela Erlanger for their insider celebrity styling secrets. Stewart (who dresses the likes of Viola Davis) and Erlanger (who works with Diane Kruger and Meryl Streep) both have a personal approach to tackling fashion dilemmas for clients, and they shared some fun insights with us.

On the designer's side, Christian Siriano revealed some interesting tidbits about dressing celebrities. During an interview with Sirius XM's The Michelle Collins Show, he explained just how much designers have to spend to ship the dresses to their clients. In 2018, Siriano said his team sent approximately 100 dresses from New York to Los Angeles for events and shows. The estimated FedEx bill was around $50,000! (Stars like Whoopi Goldberg, Laurie Metcalf, Kelly Ripa, and Janet Mock wore Siriano designs to the 2018 Oscars.)

See what everyone had to say about dressing celebrities for major occasions, below.

— Additional reporting by Nikita Ramsinghani

Behind the Scenes of an Award Show Fitting
Getty | Steve Granitz

Behind the Scenes of an Award Show Fitting

"One year, Cate Blanchett arrived the morning of the Oscars. Whatever year that was, you can look it up, she was eight months pregnant. Dries Van Noten made her dress, and she didn't try it on till that morning — I'm not joking. It's insane, but it all worked out. So, you know, sometimes it's rushed, sometimes it's not." — Elizabeth Stewart

"This was a couple Oscars ago, but Jessica Chastain was in town and we said, "Let's make this really fun!" We got all our favorite snacks and Champagne. It was just a really, really fun fitting." — Elizabeth Stewart

How to Prep For Wardrobe Malfunctions
Getty | George Pimentel

How to Prep For Wardrobe Malfunctions

"Everyone [that I'm styling] has a custom dress that I started planning months ago, but that doesn't mean it works out because they often come in late. And, of course, there are backups. You don't need a backup if you have a backup, that's the general rule." — Elizabeth Stewart

"Wardrobe malfunctions are prevented far, far in advance. Everything is fitted and double checked and tried on several times before the big day. Nothing is left to chance. And then I have my massive styling kit. It is a duffle bag, and it's full of every wardrobe solution and preventative measure you can imagine. There's always a backup of some kind [whether it's] a backup dress or a seamstress on hand to sew in someone. We leave nothing to chance." — Micaela Erlanger

The Type of Measures Taken to Get a Dress Onto the Red Carpet
Getty | Jeff Vespa

The Type of Measures Taken to Get a Dress Onto the Red Carpet

"Definitely transportation is something to be considered when a dress is picked. You don't want to show up all wrinkled, so laying down or reclining in a chair [are some options]. I really just choose dresses that hold up in a car. You don't want to be stressed out about if your dress will wrinkle. I like to alleviate any pressures my client might be feeling. The dress should not be a worry!" — Micaela Erlanger

"[It's] so much money to make these custom things and send them around the world. I mean, it can be $2,000 to overnight a large box to LA." — Christian Siriano

The Secret to Wearing Heels For Hours on End
Getty | Alberto E. Rodriguez

The Secret to Wearing Heels For Hours on End

"Viola [Davis] hates heels. She carries these rolled up flats and this spray called Still Standing — you spray it on your foot and it sort of numbs it and helps with high heel pain." — Elizabeth Stewart

"Platforms generally tend to be more comfortable. I try to look for a shoe that has a reasonable pitch. That's what determines the pressure that is put on the ball of the foot. Anything with a strap or support is comfortable. At the end of the day, you're generally not seeing the shoe under the dress, so you can do something slightly more supportive. You're on your feet for the entire night! It's a long day." — Micaela Erlanger

What Celebrities Carry in Their Clutches on the Red Carpet
Getty | Steve Granitz

What Celebrities Carry in Their Clutches on the Red Carpet

"The number one thing they need, if you talk to a makeup artist, is their lip gloss or lipstick. They usually have an energy bar because the Oscars are really long and they're starving . . . Oh, and our IDs, you need your ID to get into the Oscars. No matter who you are." — Elizabeth Stewart

"It's a very simple answer: not much. You generally get your cell phone, ID, maybe a credit card or room key, and tube of lipstick and makeup compact. You're lucky if you get that all in. Otherwise, your date better have pockets. At this rate, we have to get away with the basics." — Micaela Erlanger