When it comes to glamorous Hollywood red carpets, it’s a given that superstars will look to the top luxury brands—Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, the whole shebang—for gowns, and for good reason too. These iconic labels have substantial budgets (sometimes even contracts) to craft bespoke looks. However, this year, celebrities and their stylists have also been making room to showcase and back up-and-coming designers, and the emergence of fashion’s new wave has been incredibly refreshing.
Brands such as Colleen Allen, Hodakova, Fforme, Khaite, and Ashi Studio have all made appearances on the red carpet circuit this year, and their collective influence is rapidly becoming a significant factor in dictating where fashion is headed. Perhaps it’s heralding a new age, one where it’s less about Classic Hollywood allure, and more about discovering looks that feel more contemporary and slightly edgy.
Ashi Studio, the label from the Saudi Arabian couturier Mohammed Ashi, has become a new favorite for celebrities like Zendaya, Teyana Taylor, and FKA twigs. He specializes in sleek, sculptural gowns that highlight the silhouette and the body. (An approach that aligns perfectly with this year’s Met Gala theme, which explores clothing in relation to the centrality of the body.)
Another designer becoming a hotspot for powerful, assertive outfits is the New York-based designer Colleen Allen, who has honed her skills at labels like The Row. Her understatedly elegant looks possess the timelessness and refinement that a red carpet necessitates, while still appearing current and suitable for a 2026 event. Everyone from Nicole Kidman to Michaela Coel and Britt Lower has been drawn to her classic black dresses, sometimes enhanced with a sculpted peplum or bias-cut skirt.
