Posted by babu 12:36pm GMT
"It's not about having a perfect body," says designer David Meister, about why so many celebrities look amazing in his dresses on the red carpet. "It's about a great fit, a little stretch and sometimes trying on a style you never thought you'd wear."
Last night, some of our favorite style bloggers were invited to join All the Looks at Meister's NYC studio to learn how he collaborates with his star clientele to create the perfect red-carpet moment. (Read more about David's collaborations in our exclusive interview with him here.)
Surrounded by David's recent collections for holiday and spring, this lucky group of fashion fans got up close and personal with the actual dresses worn by stars Jennifer Hudson, Sharon Stone, Valerie Bertinelli, Queen Latifah, Tina Fey and Elizabeth Hurley. The guests also asked David about shopping for the perfect dress for our sometimes not-so-perfect bodies.
The gracious designer, who recognizes that "the world is not made up of size twos," happily shared his tips with the attentive audience on picking out a great dress —and looking red carpet ready— for any size or shape:
1. Great fit can make a $50 dress look expensive
"If you have a $1,000 dress and it doesn't fit well, it won't look good. But, if you have a tailor make the smallest changes to a $50 dress so it fits perfectly, it will look spectacular."
2. A strapless dress shouldn't crush the "girls"
"The bodice of a strapless dress should fit flat across the chest. If it is too tight, you get skin that hangs over the sides. Look for good boning and structure to keep it the dress's top in place so you won't worry about it slipping down."
3. A comfortable dress will create a confident woman
"If you see a woman tugging at her clothes all night, there is no way she can be confident in that look. My celebrity clients can't be worried about their dress all night. In order for them to shine, the fit has to be perfect so they can feel their best — and this applies to every woman."
— Reporting by Kim Martin
Check out David Meister's favorite red-carpet looks. And see photos from Inside the Designer's Studio.