Brunette Ambition (18 page)

Fitting photos Estee and I took of the gowns before they hit the red carpet.

It probably also helped that it was a short dress, which is my go-to: I love to show off my legs, and so I always feel extra-confident when I’m playing up that part of my body. It’s very important to know what flatters your frame best and to be realistic about your body (e.g., I’ll never, ever be tall). I never go into fittings planning to lose five pounds to make something that doesn’t quite work look great, just as I never try on gowns with my hair and makeup done. If you try on an important dress without any of the extras, and you still like how you look, then you can know that on the big day, when you’re all put together, the entire effect will be next-level.

Those next-level moments are insanely fun and still feel so special. Getting ready takes me right back to those evenings with my mom when I played dress-up: It’s all such a fantasy, I can barely believe it’s my real life. To make your real-life moments truly magical—whether it’s a school dance, your wedding, or a black-tie affair—Estee agreed to share all her red carpet tips to help you look your very best, to find the right fit for your body, and to elevate any dress with accessories. But first, we wanted to recount the stories behind some of our favorite gowns.

MY FIVE FAVORITE RED CARPET MOMENTS

1.
The first year I was nominated for an Emmy, I was going through an Oscar de la Renta phase. It was one of those nights where everything worked: the blue dress, the hair, the makeup, the jewelry. I felt so pretty and landed my first
Women’s Wear Daily
cover, which in the world of fashion is major.

2.
As I mentioned, I felt like a princess in the black Oscar de la Renta gown I borrowed from Estee to wear to my first Golden Globes (see
this page
). I couldn’t believe that I could wear something so beautiful and not be considered overdressed. Instead, I completely fit in, and as I was coming from an entirely different world (Broadway), it was so important that the dress made me
feel
like I belonged. You wouldn’t guess, but it was actually one of the more comfortable dresses I’ve ever worn. You always remember when a dress is comfortable.

3.
I wore a Pucci dress to the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball in 2012, and I went with Cory. I remember being so excited for him to see me in that dress because I thought it was gorgeous, with a low back and an awesome print. Mark gave me some cool new bangs, Melanie did a fun pink lip, and it was an amazing night all around.

4.
I wore a see-through silver Marchesa dress to the Golden Globes in 2012 that was a bit risky because it was quite revealing, but the minute I got there, I ran into Ryan, and he looked at me and said, “
Love.
” Not only is Ryan my work hero, but I always defer to his taste—he has a deep knowledge of fashion, and so I always appreciate it when he likes what I’m wearing. This dress was a home run for me, and another example of when the dress, jewelry, hair, and makeup all worked together.

5.
I loved the dress that I wore to the SAG Awards in 2012: It was Versace and it had a huge slit that featured the legs, which is rare to find. We did very simple hair and makeup and really focused on the gown, which made me feel so sexy.

THE DRESS THAT MADE ME ILL (ONE OF ESTEE’S PICKS)

I wore a Marchesa dress to the 2011 People’s Choice Awards that was absolutely stunning: It was covered with this beautiful white flapper-style beading. I loved the hair and makeup too, because Melanie did a fabulous bright pink lip. I took my cousin as my date that night and won an award—I felt a little ill but chalked it up to nerves from the night. After, we all went to a big dinner, where I ultimately had to excuse myself because I just didn’t feel good. I headed back to my house with my cousin, changed out of my dress, and instantly felt better—it was only at that moment that my cousin picked up the dress and exclaimed how heavy it was. We weighed it, and it came in at more than twenty pounds! I was literally being pulled to the ground by my dress all night!

Comfort

We’ve talked a lot in this chapter about how to look great at an important event, but it’s equally important that you feel comfortable. Because when you’re comfortable, you’re relaxed, which is a key ingredient to looking your best. If you slip on a gown and feel uncomfortable in the dressing room, then you’re certainly going to be uncomfortable at the end of a long post-event party. You have to be able to breathe, and you have to trust that your dress isn’t going to fall down or split up the back. And you need to be able to walk without limping! Every woman loves an amazing pair of shoes, but if they’re not going to be front and center, go for comfort instead. With most long dresses, nobody will ever see your heels, so there’s no point in destroying your feet. It’s much more elegant to be able to move around an event with ease.

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

At the beginning of
Glee
I went to the Fox Eco-Casino Party, and I picked out my dress myself: It looked like a rock ’n’ roll tutu! We did a red lip and long, black Morticia Addams extensions to match. I remember feeling confident that I looked hot, but when I look back now I cringe: too much hair, too much makeup, and a totally crazy dress. This was a perfect illustration of why it is often wise to focus on just one thing.

The Spotlight

1.
Never choose a dress that requires you to change yourself; find one that truly works for you, as
you
.

2.
When trying on a gown, remember that if you don’t go to the dressing room all done up, you’ll be able to get an idea of the dress without hair and makeup.

3.
Being comfortable will make you look even more beautiful. Obviously, we all want to look amazing and big-event-worthy, but if you don’t feel like you can move and hang out with ease, it’s not worth it.

4.
Always pick something that’s timeless rather than trendy—you’ll be able to look back on it in a decade and still love how you looked.

5.
Try to block out the noise when your friends are telling you that something looks great when it doesn’t feel right. You are the most important judge.

ESTEE STANLEY’S TEN RED CARPET TIPS FOR REAL-LIFE EVENTS

1. CHOOSE SOMETHING TIMELESS
rather than trendy. Your money is much better spent investing in a great-quality dress that you can wear again and again, rather than on something that will look instantly dated.

2. VINTAGE CAN BE A GREAT OPTION
if you’re on a budget. People dressed up a lot more back in the day, so you can often get a dress with a ton of character without spending a fortune. Plus, you can trust that no one else will be wearing the same dress!

3.
Very few things fit perfectly right off the rack.
ENLISTING THE HELP OF A TAILOR
for a couturelike fit isn’t cheap, but it can elevate a dress from good enough to great.

4.
You can have a perfect body and still benefit from a
BODY SHAPER
: They smooth out lines, hold your tummy in (even after a big meal), and are an extra layer of fabric between your skin and the camera’s flash.

5. GIVE YOURSELF A ONCE-OVER
before you leave the house and check for deodorant marks. You can usually remove these by rubbing the fabric against itself or using the foam part from the top of a drycleaning hanger to lift the stain. Better yet, use clear deodorant.

6. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR BODY
when you apply makeup. You never want a line of demarcation between the color of your face and the color of the rest of you, but you should take the time to apply either lotion and a bit of bronzer, or a shimmery self-tanner.