Celebrity Stylist Nicole Chavez on Picking an Oscar Dress

I started out working in the costume department for the TV show The O.C. There I met the actress Rachel Bilson, and I began helping her with red carpet appearances. She introduced me to Kristen Bell, who became my second client, and that led to me starting my own business. Now I work with actresses like Reese Witherspoon, Katherine Heigl, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who I’m styling for the Oscars, and who is presenting an award this year.

About three weeks ago I began reaching out to designers I thought would be right to create a custom gown for Catherine. There’s a small subset—Armani, Alberta Ferretti—who focus on gowns and create collections just for red carpet season. Other designers are showing at New York Fashion Week, and as stylists we already have looks from the shows pulled and held for our clients. In terms of which actresses get to claim which dresses, there’s a game to be played. The designers’ publicists make the decision based on exposure, relationships, and—I don’t like to say this—but who’s the bigger star. A nominee probably trumps a presenter.