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The Who What Wear Podcast
Celebrity Stylist Petra Flannery on Emma Stone’s '90s-Inspired Press and Award Show Looks for Bugonia
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- [00:02]
Podcast Host
Tell me if I'm alone here. Who, what where Listeners. But shopping used to feel more fun before all the algorithm fed blah and the endless sea of dupes. But I have a confession. I found that fun feeling again on ebay. Because on ebay, it's not just shopping. It's a full on fashion pursuit. And when you find the thing, that adrenaline hit is real. Like when you squeeze that rare Adidas collab that's lived on your mood board. The Dior saddlebag you ripped out of a magazine in 2007 and never got over. Or something like The Cecily Bonson GT2160s that sold out in five seconds. Yeah, those. It's about the thrill of finding pieces that feel like me. And I want you to find pieces that feel like you. There's always more to discover. Ebay has no millions of pre love finds from hundreds of brands backed by ebay. Authenticity guarantee. EBay, things people love.
- [01:17]
Hilary Kerr
Welcome to the who what wear Podcast. I'm your host, Hilary Kerr. And today I'm sitting down in studio
- [01:23]
Podcast Host
with with celebrity stylist and friend of the pod, Petra Flannery.
- [01:27]
Hilary Kerr
Petra has been styling for over 20
- [01:29]
Podcast Host
years now, and her client lists include
- [01:32]
Hilary Kerr
some of Hollywood's most talented women, including Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, and Claire Danes. Today, Petra is joining us to talk about the current awards season, the complexity
- [01:45]
Podcast Host
of a simple dress and her favorite custom looks that she's done over the years. It's all coming up on who, what, where?
- [02:01]
Hilary Kerr
Petra, welcome to the show. I am so excited that we get to have you back on. I know that you spoke with Kat Collings, our editor in chief, not that long ago, right after the Oscars when your longtime client Emma Stone won best actress for her role in Poor Things. So I'm really thrilled to have you back here today and this time we are right ahead of the Oscars and in fact, right ahead of the sags too. So you have a lot going on right now, to put it mildly, right?
- [02:30]
Petra Flannery
I do. I do. And first of all, thank you for having me again. I always love talking fashion and I've known you for so many years and this is a great, great platform. So thank you.
- [02:41]
Hilary Kerr
Okay, so talk to me about award season. How many clients are you working with right now? What is it like? Because you also have clients who have other things going on. So how do you, like, orient yourself in such a crazy moment in time?
- [02:55]
Petra Flannery
That's true. There are so many things these days beyond just, you know, film. When I started, which was the focus and so now everybody's got, you know, their series and tv, and that's all so exciting because it just keeps everybody busy and, you know, keeps my world busy and, you know, knock on wood. But, yeah, I have, as you mentioned, Emma Stone attending everything this year because she's once again very talented, beautiful actress, once again nominated across the board. Zoe Saldana, extraordinary, who will be coming back to pass on the torch, so to speak, to the best supporting actress this year for the Oscars. And then I have Claire Danes, who's nominated. Nominated for. She was nominated for a Globe and then nominated for the Actors Awards.
- [03:42]
Hilary Kerr
They're still the sags to me.
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Petra Flannery
Silas sags. I know. I was like, wait, yeah, yeah, definitely keeps me busy. Emma Keeps me extraordinarily busy. Zoe, you know, we had. Maybe it's a bit lighter this year, you know, in terms of the awards, red carpets, but we really, you know, ended the year with a bang, you know, back to having, you know, a global, global tour. Just a casual avatar across China. Avatar. You know, we were like, oh, my God, we're back.
- [04:11]
Hilary Kerr
No big deal. Just like a small, little international global tour for a casual, small independent film.
- [04:18]
Petra Flannery
Right.
- [04:20]
Hilary Kerr
Okay, so I want to talk a little bit about Emma Stone, who is obviously a longtime client of yours. I still to this day think about that peachy backless Calvin Klein gown that you put her in back in, I think was the Globes 2011, if memory serves. Talk to me about that. Look, did you know that you were going to make such a stir? Because it felt really monumental and really noteworthy, and I'm wondering how. How much do you know that it's gonna happen ahead of time?
- [04:52]
Petra Flannery
I knew I loved the color when. And I love the sketch and I love the color. And it was Calvin. And what I loved about it, it felt, you know, it felt fresh. She was blonde. And, you know, it's interesting finding the right color for things. Right. Like, it's. It really helps. Like, what's the silhouette that felt like this very. I don't know, it's like a, like effortless, like a T shirt dress. You know, I knew I loved it, but I didn't know what. Yeah. How it was gonna be received. And it was received so well. And I think it really put her on the map. Even with Vogue. I remember there being the next, you know, issue of Vogue had, like, a full page spread on it. And I think that's where right when, like, Anna Wintour and the fashion department there really, you know, really were recognizing her, you know, as like, oh, here you Know, here's somebody that's really doing it, you know, wearing it well. And I mean, obviously it takes somebody like Emma to, you know, to bring it across. You know, I just do one part of it, but she takes it home.
- [05:50]
Hilary Kerr
I mean, but it's the right person with the right hair and makeup and the right dress and the right color and the right silhouette. It's a lot of stuff that has to come together. Talk to me a little bit about color. How much does the hair color depend on what tones you're even thinking about this year?
- [06:06]
Petra Flannery
Because she's back to red hair, you know. Yes. That has, like, definitely had an impact on the various colors that we've done. And I feel like color, not just the hair, but like, this color really depends on the silhouette of the dress. Things sometimes need just that darker shade. Or, like, it's a. It's. It's all about a very, you know, even if it's a unique silhouette or something that's just body hugging. Like what she Wore to the BAFTAs, which was actually navy. It was like a very, very deep, deep navy. Yeah. To me, like, it needed, you know, against her, like, porcelain skin. And that kind of just needed to be a dark color. Cause it was so it's, you know, the silhouette was dynamic. And it's like, you know, I look at it like it's almost like doing a, you know, taking a black and white photo. You know, sometimes you have those contrast with her skin tone or like, it's like, you know, like a Fellini movie or something.
- [06:53]
Hilary Kerr
Okay, so the last time when you spoke to Kat, you were coming off of Poor Things and all of the awards rigmarole that come along with that, and you talked a little bit about some of the through lines for that press tour. Begonia is obviously a very different sort of film. So I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit about sort of how you address this awards season and press tour and how you decide on a direction, because there are lots of different ways that you can go.
- [07:20]
Petra Flannery
I mean, I guess we're. We're really inspired by her hair and the length of her hair and having that shaved her head for the film.
- [07:28]
Hilary Kerr
That's so wild.
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Petra Flannery
It is so wild. But it really, you know, that's how dedicated she is and that's how good she is. That really set the tone, because it's been almost a year now where we saw her on the carpet from last year, where she had sort of a pixie Mia Farrow look. And we kind of, you know, Dressed around that kind of. Around that idea, kind of a little more 60s till now, knowing it was going to be growing out, it was going to be in this in between stage that, you know, kind of went more towards the 90s and like, you know, Amber Villetta and Shalom Harlow and Kate Mossman, you know, when they had the short haircuts and then. And that's why you've seen some, you know, mix of, like, the hair being, like a little loose sometimes and. Or sleek back. But that definitely was our. Was kind of our mantra of, like, okay, let's lean into the 90s and kind of go more minimal. And I think you've probably noticed that with some of the silhouettes very modern
- [08:22]
Hilary Kerr
and things minimal, like, there's just a sleekness to everything that is really interesting to watch. How do you collaborate? Cause, you know, obviously Mara Rozak does her hair very often. How do you work with the glam teams? When you're working through something? Like, is it, you know, if so much of it starts with the hair at this point in time, because it's such a statement, how do you think through, like, do you guys send ideas to each other? Is there an always on conversation? Is it. You say, this is the dress, and the glam team runs with their own ideas. How do you guys work together?
- [08:54]
Petra Flannery
It's kind of all of that combined this year, definitely. Yeah. The hair has been a focus, and then the minimalism of the silhouettes. But then, you know what, we'll share photos or I'll just even see something along the way. And I know Mara is a genius, and she has ideas all the time in our head, and she and Em have their own dynamic of what is it gonna be at this stage? How long will it be planning for now? Yeah. And then I bring the fashion end to it, and then we kind of all together. And Nina, who's incredible, who's been doing Nina park, who's been doing makeup. We all will all kind of throwing the ideas together. Obviously, the dress is kind of, you know, the first point when we're all together of like, okay, this is what it's gonna look like. This is the color, or this is, you know, and you. If I have all the dresses in line, which not all the time I do, you know, then you can kind of play around and be like, okay, like, so this is gonna be the sleek hair. This is gonna be the, you know, cool girl hair. Yeah. So, yeah, it's really. It's really a combination, but it definitely is collaborative. And someone like Emma's very, very involved and enthusiastic about it and spirited when it comes to doing all of that. So it's fun.
- [10:10]
Hilary Kerr
That's lovely.
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Petra Flannery
Yeah.
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Hilary Kerr
I also want to talk about. Obviously, she is an ambassador for Vuitton, so I want. And we've seen a bunch of guest gear looks on the red carpet, so let's talk through some of these looks. The shimmery white bubble hem dress at the premiere in Venice, and. And then that airy, sheer white look at the New York premiere. The orange column dress with the matching shawl in London, the black off the shoulder gown at the Governor's Awards, and then the butter yellow set at the Golden Globes. What is it that says yes to this color for this or this silhouette? Or we're gonna try something different with a set for the Golden Globes, which I thought felt so fresh and interesting and unexpected and lovely, and folks were just really excited about it. But, like, how do you determine the Globes is ready for this sort of moment? But for London, we want to go in this direction.
- [11:04]
Petra Flannery
You know, first of all, it starts with Vitan. And, you know, Nicola is amazing to work with, and he will. He will sit down in the beginning all, like, we'll sketch in front of me, and we'll kind of hash out. Yeah. What will. What will happen, you know, for her together and be like, oh, okay. He's just talking about, like, the 90s and stuff. And so, you know, sometimes we just kind of hash out, like, certain ideas, and then, you know, we go through, like. Like mostly go through the sketches, and you go through the swatches of fabric. And, you know, obviously, Emma's very much involved in that, too. And. What. You know, picking colorways and shapes and designs. I mean, the one we started off this whole tour, I would say, you know. Yes. In Venice. And that was the. More the bubble dress, which was kind of like a dove kind of color.
- [11:48]
Hilary Kerr
Oh, like a pale gray.
- [11:50]
Petra Flannery
Yeah, it was. It was like, with the silvery, you know, kind of patterned, which was beautiful. I loved that fabric. And. And the bubble hem was kind of a little bit of a nod to the film. So I. You know, I don't know who's seen it all, but. But, you know, the kind of, like, cocoon silhouettes. So that was. That was our little nod. But again, we did a little straight across neckline, and I loved that because it just felt like with the makeup, everything was, like, glowy, and the hair was just a little bit windswept. It was all very, like, kind of a little diaphanous and I love that setting that had a little bit of a modern tinge. And I think that carpet is so beautiful, the jagged roof. And, you know, I love that 60s, like, element of Venice. And then next we did. Yeah. The New York premiere, which was also another kind of in that color tone. I mean, it was perfect. I think Nicola had her in mind when he designed that, but it was also in that color scheme. And I was like, we hit the cloud dancer. We were like. We were. I think somebody, you know. Yeah. Used Emma as an example of cloud dancer Pantone color of the year. And I was like, wow. Who knew? So, you know, you think that you plan all these things. Sometimes there's like.
- [13:01]
Hilary Kerr
There's room for whimsy.
- [13:02]
Petra Flannery
There's just these great things that happen along the way. And, you know, you start out thinking you're gonna do something, and then things change, or all of a sudden you're like, wow, that's a whole story. We created a whole story of dresses. But. So that dress was great in New York on her. And then what was the next one? Orange. Yeah, Tangerine, which was actually supposed to be. Was more of like our Moutard or must.
- [13:25]
Hilary Kerr
Oh, interesting.
- [13:27]
Petra Flannery
Which yellow came into play because that was a little bit of a nod to, like, the bees of Begonia. But that was an interesting color, and especially with. Not very many people can do it. It's a very chic color. I have always liked it, but it's like someone like Em can do it with her. Again with her complexion and the red hair. It's a really nice combination. And it was very impactful. And then you add the red carpet and. And again, that was. That was just very fresh 90s, the square neckline.
- [13:56]
Hilary Kerr
Do you think about the color of the red carpet? Because not all red carpets are red.
- [14:00]
Petra Flannery
Sometimes. Sometimes I'll get a glimpse of it ahead of time. Somebody will share. For the most part, they're red. It's always, you know, it's a bummer sometimes when the background is like, whoa, that's. Yeah, it's very busy. Or it's the. It's, you know, it's darker. And your client is wearing black. Cause, you know, it's less of a silhouette.
- [14:17]
Hilary Kerr
But can't control for everything. Correct, though. You try.
- [14:20]
Petra Flannery
You try. You try to do. You try to be as prepared.
- [14:23]
Hilary Kerr
And then what about the off the shoulder gown for the Governor's Awards?
- [14:27]
Petra Flannery
That was interesting because the band around her arms and her shoulders there where it fell, it was actually made of like. It was like a metal band. So all the beading was embroidered onto this metal band, and it was sort of like an orbit, you know, so it was again, like kind of a little. Had a little futuristic. I love that nod. So we do very subtle. I like to do subtle things.
- [14:49]
Hilary Kerr
You want futurism? Guess gear is your first call.
- [14:52]
Petra Flannery
100%.
- [14:54]
Hilary Kerr
And then talk to me about the yellow set, because it's not revolutionary, but it felt fresh. So was it always meant to be two pieces? How did that conversation happen? Because it's like the perfect, like, that pale, buttery color was so flawless. And I loved the boxier top. Like, the whole thing just felt really elegant and lovely.
- [15:17]
Petra Flannery
Oh, thank you again. She wore it beautifully. That was, yes. Meant to be two different. I didn't want to have an all beaded because the idea was that it's like two separates. It's almost like from the 90s where it was like the little T shirt and the skirt. And it felt. I wanted it to have that effortless feel. I always love when you set out to do something like, you know, when fancy's effortless. Right. You know, because fancy is fancy, and fancy can feel restricted. And, you know, it's nice when there's an ease to something, and it feels like, wow, they just kind of threw that on.
- [15:49]
Hilary Kerr
Well, it felt like she was wearing the look, not that the look was wearing her. And I think in this world of, like, extreme corsets, which, by the way, I love, but the dress is wearing the person, so this felt like very. She. She felt at ease. To your point, she looked like she felt at ease, which I thought was really nice.
- [16:04]
Petra Flannery
There is an ease to her.
- [16:05]
Hilary Kerr
Yeah.
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Petra Flannery
You know, how did you get the
- [16:07]
Hilary Kerr
tailoring right on that? Because it's just, like, also the right amount of skin. How do you decide, like, this is the right amount of stomach to show? This is where we should call it.
- [16:16]
Petra Flannery
There's a, obviously a comfort level, and then there's, you know, you take pictures and you make sure, like, okay, that's. That looks good. Um, I think it really, you know, it. I would have thought it was on this one that it was going to be all about the top, but it was more about the skirt because I, I, I thought the skirt was going to ride, you know, when it was designed that it was going to ride a little higher. And then as we played around with it, it was like, you know, how things just feel good. And then as it kind of just went a little bit looser on the hips, it was like, that's it. And that's Kind of like. And that's where fittings are important, too, because you see how somebody moves in
- [16:49]
Hilary Kerr
it and how they are naturally inclined to wear it.
- [16:52]
Petra Flannery
Exactly. And how. Yeah, their movement gives it a whole design, you know, so that's right.
- [16:59]
Hilary Kerr
Because you're like. If someone's, like, pulling something up or clutching something or pulling it down or, like, it naturally sinks. Like, you're right. That you can emphasize that or you can tweak that. And so much can be changed with the right tailoring.
- [17:11]
Petra Flannery
Yeah, absolutely. So that just kind of. That kind of fell into place. But, yeah, it was a beautiful color. And. And I did that. That was how I described it, too. That buttery yellow. And again, a little. A little B nod.
- [17:23]
Hilary Kerr
A little B nod. Let's talk about the Baptist dress, because I, like, literally had an intake of breath when I saw the first photos come through, because the fit is so perfect. Like, it just looked like it was, like, built on her. It felt so elegant and so lovely and sculptural and strong and incredibly sexy, but without being tawdry in the slightest. Like, that's a very fine line to navigate. How did you decide on this dress? What's the story behind it?
- [17:58]
Petra Flannery
At the baftas and in London, you'll see a lot of, like, a lot of glitz and things, and it's kind of nice sometimes to go. To go the opposite way. It really was about the silhouette. The silhouette was very impactful in the keyhole, and everything had to be placed just right. But Vuitton, the atelier, really, hands down, nailed it from the start. But then it had a lot of minor fittings along the way and refits and length and all that and little bit here and there. So, yes, it was fit, really, to perfection. But that's something about minimalism, right? It has to be the fit. And it's. You know, I always say sometimes those dresses that are, you know, simpler can become the most complicated because they actually have a little bit more, you know, behind them. Maybe they're a little more intellectual. Maybe they're a little more like, you know, design based than one might think. It's like the no makeup makeup, right? Yes.
- [18:52]
Hilary Kerr
The 40 products for no makeup makeup.
- [18:54]
Petra Flannery
I get it. I get it.
- [18:57]
Podcast Host
Tell me if I'm alone here.
- [18:58]
Hilary Kerr
Who? What?
- [18:58]
Podcast Host
Where? Listeners. But shopping used to feel more fun before all the algorithm fed law and the endless sea of dupes. But I have a confession. I've found that fun feeling again on ebay. It's not mindless scrolling. It's a fashion pursuit. And when you score that rare Adidas collab or the Dior saddlebag you've been manifesting, it's a rush. Ebay has millions of pre loved finds from hundreds of brands backed by ebay. Authenticity guarantee. EBay, things people love.
- [19:36]
Hilary Kerr
I also want to talk about some of the times that she has not worn Vuitton. When she's. When you've been able to play with some other brands. Can we talk about the Oscars lunch and that? Amazing. Was it a tuxedo dress? Like a mini dress?
- [19:47]
Petra Flannery
It had a bottom on the Runway, but no, it was short like that. But we didn't. We didn't pair it with. I think. I can't remember. I think it was a skirt underneath. I was gonna say it was pants, but it was a skirt, like a long kind of. Which is amazing too. And I didn't, you know, but when we tried it on, it looked great as a mini. And, you know, that's an event where it's the Oscars luncheon. It's one of those things that then you take the big picture afterwards, you know, that's kind of like, that's gonna run. It's timeless. So, you know, the tuxedo of it all. It's classic. Is classic. And then it had a little bit of a twist, and it had, you know, I loved. It had this, like, kind of very cool leather flower, which again, is kind of like the flower and the bee and then, you know, so. But. But yeah, it was great. I mean, she. She's known for doing that. That, you know, tuxedo look. And she's always loved doing pant looks and suit looks. She's, you know, kind of our generation, our Katharine Hepburn generation. And so that's just kind of the evolution of it, I would say her wearing that.
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Hilary Kerr
Okay. And then I also have to ask about the Colbert look, which is that the actual Donna Karan look from Great Expectations.
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Petra Flannery
It's not. It was an archival. It was. It was remade. Oh, my goodness. I'm pretty. I'm pretty. I would hope that Gwyneth has that.
- [21:04]
Hilary Kerr
I would hope so too. You know, so that is my favorite scene from Great Expectations, and she looks phenomenal in it. And when Emma showed up and I was like, oh, my God, this is crazy. The green is flawless. This green was made for her. How did you end up deciding on that moment? Because it was such a wonderful nostalgic, but modern. Like, you don't have to know the movie. You don't have to be me who saw it in the movie theaters. And swooned and got the soundtrack on it.
- [21:29]
Petra Flannery
I was there with you, probably.
- [21:31]
Hilary Kerr
Like, it was maybe a cd, but it was. I mean, that movie was everything. And that's the most epic look from an entirely important film. So how did you guys come up with that idea? What was the story behind it? Because I loved it.
- [21:45]
Petra Flannery
Well, I mean, given the whole 90s nod, that was, you know, it's. What's more, 90s apropos. And I thought, you know, at the office, we were like, okay, reach out to Donna Karan. And in talking about redoing that look, you know, we sat with Emma. He was like, do you want to do a different colorway or something? And she's like, no, I think it has to be this. And I'm like, you're kind of right, you know, So I think it was just our fan. Our fan out to Gwyneth and Great expectations, which is 1998, I think. So we still hit that 90s mark. Yeah.
- [22:18]
Hilary Kerr
That was an absolute dream.
- [22:20]
Petra Flannery
It was fun. It was really fun to do.
- [22:22]
Hilary Kerr
But it's crazy how modern it looks. It literally could be something that was on a Runway today. It does not feel vintage or a throwback. It doesn't feel costume. It's very, very modern.
- [22:35]
Petra Flannery
Yeah.
- [22:36]
Hilary Kerr
You're probably under lock and key about the SAG Awards, but this will come out after the SAG Awards, so is there anything that you can share with us ahead of time about, like, are you decided? Do you guys know for sure? Are you final?
- [22:49]
Petra Flannery
We are. We are final. And I don't know I'll be interested. I'm not going to give you any hints. I want you to see it. I want you to. You can text me on Monday.
- [22:56]
Hilary Kerr
You have a backup dress? Do you always have a backup dress? Do you never have a backup dress?
- [23:00]
Petra Flannery
I typically have a backup dress. I mean, there's other things, but I'm not. I don't really have a backup dress on this one.
- [23:05]
Hilary Kerr
Have you seen it?
- [23:06]
Petra Flannery
Yes, I have.
- [23:07]
Hilary Kerr
In person?
- [23:07]
Petra Flannery
Yeah.
- [23:08]
Hilary Kerr
Earlier today?
- [23:09]
Petra Flannery
Yes.
- [23:09]
Hilary Kerr
Is it what you wanted it to be?
- [23:11]
Petra Flannery
Yeah. Yeah, it really is. It really is. We, you know, we tweak some things to give it, like, certain. You know, I just love the fact
- [23:19]
Hilary Kerr
this dress, like, just flew into LA. Hand carried, right?
- [23:23]
Petra Flannery
Hand carried. Yeah.
- [23:24]
Hilary Kerr
I mean, I think that's the coolest way. One time, I had the good fortune of being at a fashion PR friend's house when a dress arrived, like, from the Runway, and to see the way, like, in the box, it was. I mean, it is. It is.
- [23:40]
Podcast Host
No Joke.
- [23:40]
Hilary Kerr
Transporting these gowns.
- [23:41]
Petra Flannery
Oh, no. Yeah.
- [23:42]
Hilary Kerr
Especially he's not just throwing it around.
- [23:45]
Petra Flannery
I remember back in my day of, you know, of assisting, and we. There were these dresses one time they came in crates.
- [23:50]
Hilary Kerr
Yes.
- [23:51]
Petra Flannery
It was like Dior, you know, couture and. Yeah. Good fun. That's part of the, you know, that's part of the allure of this job, too. You know, it's like the unpackaging of things and seeing it in person and touching things and feeling things.
- [24:04]
Hilary Kerr
Okay. I also want to talk about Zoe Saldana, because she is incredible, and you guys have done such phenomenal work together over the years. Only having a presentation at the Oscars and a global tour. Is this a little bit easier, or does it feel like the same level of pressure when you have a global tour going on?
- [24:24]
Petra Flannery
Well, you know, with awards season, I mean, I always really, It's. I'm always very heightened about all the dresses and doing a good job. And, you know, it's such a big. It's such a big stage that I always want everybody to. I do really do put a lot of effort into making sure that everybody feels their best and, you know, looks her best and feels her best. So, you know, it's a little bit of a lighter year with Zoe this year because she's just going to be coming back and, you know, passing the torch on.
- [24:51]
Hilary Kerr
What sort of look do you have in mind for something like that? Like, how do you prepare for something? Because it's not. It's a celebration of, you know, the work. The reason she's there is because she won last year and had that amazing, emotional, delightful speech, and she was just so incredible. Do you think about, like, oh, I want a nod to what she wore then, or to take it in a totally different direction of what's going on now. And how do you put it in perspective? I feel like that's kind of the hardest. Like, it's both easier and harder, if that makes sense.
- [25:19]
Petra Flannery
Yeah, it can be. I mean, I always, you know, it's. I always take different occasions and make sure that, you know, people, you know, there's an unexpectedness to think about, and then there's also the expectedness in terms of, like, what is. What's appropriate. You know, if you're going to an arch opening, this is like, you can go a little this way or that. So, yeah, she is going back this year and celebrating, you know, somebody else's win. So, you know, we'll. We'll see. Okay, we'll see.
- [25:45]
Hilary Kerr
I love that she always seems to take more risks, too, than, like, your standard actress. Like, she obviously has, like, such a love for fashion and will do trends and take some risks. So talk to me about the Avatar 3 premiere that I believe is deep teal.
- [26:02]
Petra Flannery
Oh, yes. From the. From the Los Angeles Saint Laurent gown.
- [26:05]
Hilary Kerr
Yes. And I mean, that was about as high of a. As a dress can handle. How do you do that? And also, like, can you tell me a little bit about the Cartier jewels? Because they were kind of ridiculous.
- [26:17]
Petra Flannery
Yeah, they were spectacular. The stones were, like, the perfect color because they. They brought in a little hint of the. The bow. But the dress. Yes. It's funny, you know, the. The dress came shown. The dress had like, a little, kind of a little striped hot pant with it.
- [26:32]
Hilary Kerr
Oh.
- [26:33]
Petra Flannery
But we got the dress sans hot pants. Yes. So we tried it on with that. We were like, wow, it'. But actually it's quite beautiful, you know, sculptural. Absolutely. And then we thought, well, why don't we try the sheer hose with it? Which is very Saint Laurent, very Anthony Vaccarello. And so once we did that, it kind of. Everything coalesced. Yes. And so it wasn't as like, oh, my gosh, it's leg. It's leg. Or. But, you know, I mean. Yeah, and her leg's beautiful to present, but it wasn't like a raunchy thing. You know, we took, like, any little, like, ooh, like, scandalous, like, out of it. But it's funny because even if we didn't put that on, like, no matter what Zoe puts on, it can be. It could, you know, have a little, like, ah, scandal to it or super sexy.
- [27:21]
Hilary Kerr
It's elegant.
- [27:22]
Petra Flannery
It's so elegant. I was gonna say that, too. She always has this way about her.
- [27:28]
Hilary Kerr
So it's the posture, too.
- [27:29]
Petra Flannery
It's the posture. It's a dancer in her. It's a beautiful complexion. So we just went with it.
- [27:35]
Hilary Kerr
Okay. Well, I loved it. I also loved how sculptural some of the other looks were. The white gown that she wore for the premiere in China, the black Balmain peplum look that she wore at one of the European premieres. This is, like, a really structural look. It feels like it's pushing the envelope more, which, again, I love. How did you decide to do those two looks?
- [27:58]
Petra Flannery
Well, for one, like you said before, Zoe really is a risk taker. She's very confident with. With, you know, fashion, and, you know, she loves it. And we ooh and ah over things, and, like, she'll send me DMs and we're always, like, ooh. Ing on the Runway and stuff. Like, you know, like, we'll see, like, shows that just came out, and she'll send me. She's like, I love that. And, you know, we had the white Erdem dress for a while. I think we tried it. Even when she came into town to go to the Academy gala, I had it for so long, and it was really sweet because Erdem, his team had written that the meaning behind that collection there was, like, I think it was a French philosopher, and she was all into kind of futuristic, you know, philosophy and a little bit almost a little sci fi. Ish. So he was really excited that Zoe was going to be the one. So I had all this, you know, leading into. I was like, we can't. We have to wear this dress. It really means so much. I mean, it looked stunning. But that was kind of an interesting part, that Zoe, having done so Avatar and so many sci fi films like that, that this dress felt like it really was her dress. But I think to speak to the silhouette, you know, when you have these structural dresses, you really have to make sure that they have some kind of element that, again, the person's not, you know, the dress isn't wearing the person, because that one had, like, such a defined waist and then the hip pads. So, you know, your eye kind of went into that. Besides all the beautiful, like, slips of lace, as well as the balmain that she wore in Paris, which, again, kind of like, we. It had a waist, but we really noticed this, like, extreme or exaggerated corsetry on top and neckline, and then that beautiful decolletage of Zoe. So it's a fine line. When you do those more interesting sculptural silhouettes, you really want to make sure that you're, you know, you're zeroing in on something to, you know, to make sure that they're the fit. Make sure it feels right. Yeah, exactly. That you see. Really see that they're wearing that.
- [29:59]
Hilary Kerr
That makes sense. I love it. I loved both of them. And I also just. I. I always get a kick out of seeing what she's wearing. It's always like, she can wear anything. And so it really, like, it feels joyous because she's not repeating herself. And no shade to people who repeat themselves, because Lord knows I wear a uniform, but, like, I don't. That's not what I love for the red carpet. And so I. You can just see the joy that she takes.
- [30:22]
Petra Flannery
Yeah, she's great with it. Great with it.
- [30:23]
Hilary Kerr
I Also want to talk about Claire Danes, because, you know, like everyone in the world, I'm a big fan of hers. And I was so thrilled. My very first job was at the Gap when I was in high school, so I always am rooting for the Gap. And so the fact that she was wearing custom Gap Studios, which makes sense because she has a long standing relationship with Zach. I almost said Efron. That would have been hysterical. Zac Posen, who is the creative director of the brand. I had Enrique Melendez on the podcast a few months ago. We were talking about a collab that he had done for Jenna Ortega with Gap Studios. And this T shirt inspired dress and how they ended up, like, acid washing it and cutting it in certain places. And I love. And that feels like such a very different look than what you created for Claire. And I love that it's authentic to both women. And two Gap, and so very different. And. But still, I can see a little bit of a through line in the Gap orientation of it. So talk to me about how this dress came together.
- [31:26]
Petra Flannery
Well, it really was, like you said, their relationship between. The relationship between Zack and Zach Efrain. Yeah, exactly. Can you imagine?
- [31:39]
Hilary Kerr
Whoops. Yeah.
- [31:41]
Petra Flannery
So the relationship.
- [31:43]
Hilary Kerr
Zach Posen and Claire were like old friends, right?
- [31:46]
Petra Flannery
Yes, old friends. I think they grew up. They grew up in the same area in New York. And I think he might have made her something like one of her first, you know, events she went to and, you know, two creatives in New York. And I think running around. So cool as you do. You know, Claire, again, is like, just
- [32:01]
Hilary Kerr
like me in high school.
- [32:01]
Petra Flannery
She's like the epitome of the 90s, maybe all her cool, you know, Angela Chase for everything. Exactly. That's kind of the. You know, Zach had sent the sketches, and I love the idea because this was the T shirt dress. And I thought, that's so cool. And it had to have the pocket. And then when the first fitting happened. Cause that, again, is like, during the time it's over the holiday. The first fitting happened in New York of the toile, and I was on Zoom. And then it was kind of like this. Oh, let's roll the sleeve. And it was very cool to give it, like, that one next element of a T shirt. And again, yeah, very 90s gap. You know, I've always loved the Gap, too. I'm from San Francisco, so it's in your bun. I've got a lot of emotions for that. But, yeah, it just felt very cool because. Okay, again, it's this effortlessly chic thing. You know, Fancy becomes effortless, and you marry in Zack, who is such a. You know, his workmanship and his knowledge of female body and, you know, where the lines go and the seams and the beading. He does a perfect job with that. So it was really fun. It felt fresh.
- [33:17]
Hilary Kerr
It felt so personal, too.
- [33:18]
Petra Flannery
And white. I just loved it.
- [33:22]
Hilary Kerr
I was like, this is the combo that we didn't know we needed, but we absolutely did. And it felt like it landed beautifully. Before I let you go a little lightning round, which I realized is perhaps not what your Capricorn self would love to bring to this, because Capricorns always want to have the right answer for everything, but we're gonna do our best. Okay, so tell me one look that you've put together that felt like a risk and really paid off.
- [33:45]
Petra Flannery
You know, the one that always kind of stands out. And, I mean, it doesn't even seem it now, but at the time it was. Was when Emma wore the Lanvin jumpsuit to the globes. It was beaded on top, and then not many people were wearing pants. And that kind of look, that menswear, you know, now we see it a lot more, and I love it, you know, and that was kind of, again, like, she's always been known for that. And Albert designed that, and she tried it on, and it's not at all what we thought that she was going to. You know, we had other things in mind. And then that came along, and it was like, wow, that's really, like, the
- [34:19]
Hilary Kerr
wild card that made it.
- [34:21]
Petra Flannery
And she was. You know, she and Albert had such a sweet and very dear friendship, and that's the first person she went to the Met Ball with and, you know, wore Lanvin, so. And she went a couple times with him so that, you know, it just. It was one of those things. It was. The whole thing together was magic.
- [34:37]
Hilary Kerr
And also, what a crazy world we live in. That's like, ooh, menswear, Right?
- [34:42]
Petra Flannery
Right now, everything has become more androgynous and cool and, you know, and mixing things up. So I love it.
- [34:48]
Hilary Kerr
Okay. Favorite custom look that you've ever done. I know you love them all, but
- [34:52]
Petra Flannery
I know it's so hard. There's been so many. And, you know, working with Vuitton is. Has been amazing because of getting to work with Nicola. I mean, you know, Balenciaga was everything for me. Like, it's a casualty to. Yeah, so there's probably everything we've done Vuitton. And, you know, I have to say, though, her dress, that she won her first. That Emma wore her first Oscar in was. There was just a lot of stuff going on that year, and that was, you know, there was just a lot of steps to it. And it was beaded and it was painted. And I remember waking up in the middle of the night and thinking, as much as it, like, it tortured me, I also was like, it. You know, it's such a big moment, you know? And, yeah, beads were painted. And then I'd wake up thinking, did they paint it? Was it degradate the right way? And I would call, you know, pr. Anyway. So cool.
- [35:43]
Hilary Kerr
I'm stressed out.
- [35:45]
Petra Flannery
Exactly. Again, the Capricorn. Go to sleep.
- [35:50]
Hilary Kerr
Okay. Biggest styling disaster that you've ever had to recover from. Carla told me about a dress that got thrown away. So I know you have a story like that.
- [35:57]
Petra Flannery
Oh, my goodness. You know, on this one, I almost want to just set a lesson for anybody listening out there, and especially anybody that wants to be a stylist. Learn to have thick skin. Because the things that you, you know, read and hear and all that, you know, somebody's gonna say, it's a mishap, Right. But when you did it, you didn't. You weren't doing it because you wanted to. Mishap. You know, it's like someone's gonna take something that, you know, was. Some people like it, some people don't. So it's like. And I don't know, there's always that time where your assistant gets on the plane without the premier dress and is on their way to London. But fortunately, you can get World Net just in time. No, to get. Yeah.
- [36:37]
Hilary Kerr
You had an assistant to take the dress, and they forgot the dress.
- [36:41]
Petra Flannery
They forgot the dress.
- [36:42]
Hilary Kerr
They got on the plane.
- [36:43]
Petra Flannery
They got on the plane and there was like.
- [36:44]
Hilary Kerr
Did they forgot their dress?
- [36:46]
Petra Flannery
I can't remember all of those details. The stars were aligned that, like, it wasn't happening. Right. When they landed. I think there may have been, like, the day in between.
- [36:55]
Hilary Kerr
So you had.
- [36:56]
Petra Flannery
It was like I was calling the designer. Like, katie, we have World Net. Like, can they make it in time? They were like, I just did break it down, too. You know, a lot of times you're like, oh, God, what am I going to say? But I was like, this is what happened. I need help. Emergency911. And anyway, they got it there in time, and it was.
- [37:11]
Hilary Kerr
And also, just for our listeners who might not know, WorldNet is like the FedEx for the fanciest things in the world with the high door to door service. Yes.
- [37:20]
Petra Flannery
And you can reroute it and you can, it is bespoke fest. It can arrive at midnight. It's not gonna be like you weren't home to sign for it. Sorry, we'll reattempt on Monday. No, this is like, this is like
- [37:31]
Hilary Kerr
it's in your hands, ma'. Am. Lastly, who is your favorite working stylist right now?
- [37:36]
Petra Flannery
Oh, gosh, there's give someone their flowers. Oh. I mean, I love what Jason Bolden does. Then I love like you brought up Enrique Melendez because, you know, he and Jenna Ortega look like they're having so much fun.
- [37:49]
Hilary Kerr
Right?
- [37:49]
Petra Flannery
And I look at that and that, that's like, I just know, like how when I, you know, I'm still, I still love what I do, but I know that feeling when you're just like, wow, you, you know, you just start to have so much fun. It's definitely clicking. I mean, my 13 year old son was like that dress, that silver dress with the tape measures on. He's like, that was really cool, you know, so I'm like, people are noticing. So kudos to Petra.
- [38:12]
Hilary Kerr
Thank you so much for your time. This was such a pleasure. I always love talking to you. I'm always thrilled when I know one of your clients will be on a red carpet because I know it's going to be great and I am never disappointed. So thank you for taking the time. I know you're crazy busy. Thank you for more details.
- [38:27]
Petra Flannery
Thank you for having me. Exactly. I'll text me on Monday.
- [38:30]
Hilary Kerr
Okay, fine, fine, fine, fine. Thank you.
- [38:32]
Petra Flannery
Thank you.
- [38:38]
Hilary Kerr
A huge thank you to celebrity stylist
- [38:40]
Podcast Host
and capricorn Petra Flanner. You can now watch all episodes of the pod on our new who What where podcast YouTube channel. So please subscribe and check us out there if you have any guest suggestions or any other feedback. Find us on social at whowhat Where. See you next Wednesday on the who what Where Podcast. This episode was produced by Hillary Kerr, Summer Hammeris and Natalie Thurman. Our production assistant is Raven Yamamoto. Our audio engineers are at Glen Canyon Audio, and our music is by Jonathan Leah.