When it comes to splashy Hollywood red carpets, it’s a given that mega stars will turn to the top luxury houses—Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, the works—for dresses, and for good reason, too. These historic labels have big budgets (sometimes even contracts) to create custom looks. But this year, celebrities and their stylists have also been making space to spotlight and support more emerging designers, and the presence of fashion’s new guard has been entirely refreshing.
Labels such as Colleen Allen, Hodakova, Fforme, Khaite, and Ashi Studio have all cropped up on the red carpet circuit this year, and their collective influence is quickly becoming a big part in shaping where fashion is heading. Perhaps it’s signaling a new era, one where it’s less about Old Hollywood glamour, and more about finding looks that feel more modern and slightly unconventional.
Ashi Studio, the label from the Saudi Arabaian couturier Mohammed Ashi, has been a new go-to for stars like Zendaya, Teyana Taylor, and FKA twigs. He specializes in sleek, sculptural gowns that put the emphasis on silhouette and the body. (An approach that’s a perfect tie-in to this year’s Met Gala theme, which explores clothing in relation to the centrality of the body.)
Another designer becoming a destination for strong, powerful garments is the New York-based designer Colleen Allen, who has cut her teeth at labels like The Row. Her quietly elegant looks have the timelessness and polish that a red carpet demands, while still feeling updated and fitting for a 2026 event. Everyone from Nicole Kidman to Michaela Coel and Britt Lower has gravitated towards her classic black dresses, sometimes finished with a shapely peplum or bias-cut skirt.
