How does a celebrity decide which gown to wear to red-carpet events like the Oscars? Apparently, some are offered bribes by designers hoping to convince stars to wear their creations on a high-profile evening.
There is plenty of competition for the best gowns, notes the Daily Mail, because a great dress will be seen by millions, and can aid a starlet's career even more than actually winning an award. Meanwhile, a poor choice can overshadow their actual accomplishments. It's no wonder that designers are clamoring for their dress to be seen at the Oscars – seen as an endorsement of the designer's cache. “Having Anne Hathaway, Nicole Kidman or Gwyneth Paltrow walking in your dress is worth an enormous amount of money in terms of advertising and brand” explains stylist Philip Bloche, who chose Halle Barry's iconic 2002 gown, a red satin number by Elie Saab.
Merle Ginsberg, senior writer with the Hollywood Reporter, told the Daily Mail that “Actresses are very often paid to wear a certain gown.” Some fashion houses bribe stylists and even celebrities themselves in a bid to persuade them to wear the gown. Bloche reveals “I’ve heard of them offering vouchers for liposuction and other nip/tucks.” In the image-conscious world of high fashion, such a bribe may be attractive. Some designers even offer facelift surgery or $5,000 “tokens of appreciation,” he claims.
