Let's Get Dressed

Episode: The Anatomy of a Press Tour with Stylist Karla Welch

Host: Liv Perez
Guest: Karla Welch
Date: January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features celebrated Hollywood stylist Karla Welch, looking behind the curtain of fashion’s most high-pressure season: the celebrity press tour. Host Liv Perez and Karla break down the step-by-step process of prepping major stars for red carpets and award shows, from creative concept to relationship management with top designers. They candidly discuss the unpredictability, artistry, and logistical challenges behind show-stopping looks, while touching on core themes like intuition, creative originality, and inclusivity in both fashion and Karla’s other entrepreneurial projects.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Is a Press Tour? (02:06–04:03)

• Karla's Perspective:
  • Press tours are ‘the circus’ where talent promotes projects—especially films—in a relentless series of events.
  • Award season promotion (for nominations) starts long before the Golden Globes, often as early as the Cannes Film Festival in May.
  • The journey includes Sundance, Cannes, Venice, Telluride, Toronto, and then various galas and award events.

"A press tour is the circus… and my job as a stylist is to dress them for all these engagements. But an awards season press tour is different because the talent is campaigning for nominations." — Karla Welch (02:06)

2. The Stylist’s Strategy: From Moodboards to Flow State (05:29–09:13)

• Process:
  • With clients like Tessa Thompson and Renata Reinsve, Karla prioritizes making them feel incredible amidst the grueling schedule.
  • Karla rarely makes moodboards—her vision is internal, developed through decades of art and culture references.
  • Tight contracts and designer exclusivity now often limit true creative storytelling on red carpets.

"When someone asks me for a mood board, I’m going to disappoint them because the mood board’s in my brain." — Karla Welch (06:23)

"I don’t want to give you an image you’ve seen before, because everything’s in my brain... forty years of watching movies and listening to music." — Karla Welch (06:39)

3. Fashion’s Changed Landscape: Clothes Shortage, Designer Contracts (09:13–10:04)

• Many collections are unavailable due to exclusive deals, and fewer gowns are made for press use.
• The proliferation of social media and instant coverage makes collections quickly feel stale.
• Notable commentary on the “closed desert” where stylists struggle to obtain standout pieces.

4. Intuition Over Aesthetics & The Art of Personal Style (10:23–16:58)

• Karla’s Approach:
  • She avoids imitating trends or formulas, relying instead on ‘flow’ and intuition.
  • She wants her clients to look like the best version of themselves—not a designer’s or Instagram’s vision.

"I just don't want anything to look like it’s on fucking Instagram… I want the person to look like themselves, but better." — Karla Welch (12:36)

• The connection between intuition and personal style is explored, referencing a Vogue profile of Miuccia Prada as one’s own muse.
• Karla’s major advice: cultivate intuition and original feelings, not just original ideas.

5. Case Studies: From Custom Louis Vuitton to Versace and Red Carpet Moments

a) Renata Reinsve, Custom Louis Vuitton at the Golden Globes (17:01–20:03)

• Built on deep trust: Renata lets Karla drive the creative process.
• Dress was conceived around movement and practicality (fringe, two-piece for weight, consideration of seating at the Globes).
• The look received instant acclaim.

"She put it on, and it was just like, perfect. It worked." — Karla Welch (19:41)

b) America Ferrera, Custom Pink Versace Chainmail for the Oscars (21:09–24:59)

• Karla approached Versace with a specific vision rooted in classic chainmail.
• The process involved careful shade/fit selection, emotional investment, and consideration of industry biases.
• Press tour lauded as one of her proudest; transformative for America’s fashion perception.

"All I want is a classic Versace chainmail dress. That’s it." — Karla Welch (21:26)

• Karla addresses industry realities: fashion often caters to a narrow ‘type,’ but America Ferrera’s tour proved impactful styling expands narratives and opportunities.

6. The Power and Politics of Designer Relationships (25:14–30:39)

• Cultivating Relationships:
  • Lasting partnerships with designers, PR teams, and adapting to frequent creative director changes. • Maintaining mutual respect and transparency when balancing competing offers.

"Don’t bite the hand that feeds you... The greatest thing is having one of these designers say yes to you, that they’re going to make you a dress." — Karla Welch (21:34)

• The mechanics of requests, PR coordination, and the stress when things go off-plan (e.g., late nominations, short timelines).

7. Landing Major Fashion ‘Gets’ and Red Carpet Debuts (31:16–34:50)

• Securing the First Looks:
  • Relentless pursuit and relationship building pays off—like styling Sarah Paulson in new Bottega just after the show.

"I am relentless... I'm sure so many of the press people just laugh when my emails come in... I want that dress." — Karla Welch (33:38)

• Stylists as power brokers: choices on red carpet can alter careers, brand trajectories, and industry perceptions.

8. Red Carpet Logistics and Handling Disasters (34:50–39:11)

• Day-of Preparation:
  • Complete preparedness—back-up shoes, on-site tailors, all decisions locked in ahead of time.
  • Team delegates coverage based on nominees and relationships. • Glam teams are partners, but misalignment still happens.
• When Things Go Wrong:
  • Karla internalizes mistakes and feels the weight for years, citing industry pressures and public scrutiny in past decades.

"For me, the work’s done... you want to relieve the stress as much as possible for them on that day... What would happen if a zipper broke? Well, the tailor’s there to sew them in..." — Karla Welch (35:00)

9. On Criticism, Individuality, and Fashion's Homogenization (39:11–41:59)

• Laments how modern fashion/media has compressed reaction time, making standout moments short-lived.
• Critiques red carpet commentary culture: values substantive critique over random negativity.
• Karla wants more individuality and imperfection—urges for red carpets to show personality, not Instagram uniformity.

"I just wanna see a little more individuality... I want to see that feeling of when Robert Redford went on a press tour and he was wearing his own clothes... I want to see people who are in their clothes." — Karla Welch (40:36)

10. Perspectives on AI and Fashion Tools (41:59–44:51)

• Karla maintains skepticism, worrying about the loss of human connection and creativity.
• Acknowledges that AI can support practical needs (like outfit organizing), but styling’s true value lies beyond automation.

"I don’t think styling and fashion need to be exclusive, but I don’t think it's gonna give you anything you can’t do yourself." — Karla Welch (43:22)

11. Entrepreneurship & The Period Company: Purpose Beyond Red Carpets (44:51–53:39)

• Origin & Mission:
  • Created Period Company to provide affordable, effective period underwear—especially to address period poverty. • Inspired by her child’s early period and wanting a dignified, sustainable product.
• Impact:
  • Over one million pairs distributed, focusing on dignity and removing stigma.
  • Company has strong mission vertical—works with global partners; helps drive income, dignity, and autonomy for people in need.

"We’re activating people who are tired of the status quo... We love to say, like, if pads and tampons are Democrats and Republicans, we’re your third party." — Karla Welch (49:43)

• Case Study:
  • In Kenya, provided underwear to women tea pickers, resulting in five more days’ income per cycle.

"Within one cycle, they had five more days of income... it changes their life. It changes their community..." — Karla Welch (52:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I want the person to look like themselves, but better. It feels like Tessa looks like she could have styled herself. That is my goal, is to look like I'm not there." — Karla Welch (12:36)
• "You can have original feelings or the feelings that are right for that person. That's what I'm after." — Karla Welch (16:55)
• "Fashion only likes a certain type of girl. ... but we turned out consistent looks... That press tour is absolutely perfection." — Karla Welch (24:39)
• "I am relentless... I want that dress." — Karla Welch (33:38)
• "Individuality. ... I just wanna see a little more fucked up. I don’t wanna see perfect all the time." — Karla Welch (40:36)
• "We're activating people who are tired of the status quo... If pads and tampons are Democrats and Republicans, we’re your third party." — Karla Welch (49:43)
• "Within one cycle, they had five more days of income... it changes their life. It changes their community. It changes their status in their households." — Karla Welch (52:23)

Segment Timestamps for Major Topics

| Segment | Timestamps | |----------------------------------------|--------------| | What is a press tour? | 02:06–04:03 | | Creative process (intuitive styling) | 05:29–09:13 | | Fashion supply, contracts, challenges | 09:13–10:04 | | Intuition and personal style | 10:23–16:58 | | Renata/Louis Vuitton, custom process | 17:01–20:03 | | America Ferrera/Versace, press impact | 21:09–24:59 | | Relationships with designers/PR | 25:14–30:39 | | Fashion ‘power brokers’ & moments | 31:16–34:50 | | Red carpet logistics, disasters | 34:50–39:11 | | Criticism, individuality vs trends | 39:11–41:59 | | AI’s place in fashion | 41:59–44:51 | | Period Company origins & impact | 44:51–53:39 |

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is equal parts candid industry wisdom, technical explanation, and philosophical reflection—a masterclass in what it takes to shape truly iconic red carpet moments. Karla Welch’s style is passionate, honest, and marked by a fierce sense of intuition and purpose, both in Hollywood and in her social impact ventures. The conversation serves as inspiration for anyone interested in fashion's creative depths, the changing landscape of celebrity dressing, and meaningful change that starts with how we get dressed each day.