Last Night, the Most Stylish Gathering of Hollywood Stylists Took Over Hotel Bel Air

We’ve been to a few — more than a few — glittery Hollywood cocktail parties, premieres, charity balls, awards soirees, each celebrating entertainment-related accomplishments, with everyone turned out in power evening attire.

But last night, Nov. 3, one party was centered on celebrating attire itself — the artistry that goes into a look, its power to tell a story, and the people who make it happen. THR’s fete for “The Top 26 Looks of 2026, According to 50 of Hollywood’s Biggest Stylists” feature, held at the Bel Air Hotel, was a glamorous insider gathering of 80, composed mostly of red carpet stylists. The power list, released on THR.com at the top of the evening, is the first of its kind, driven solely by data from ballots submitted by 50+ stylists themselves.

Hosted by Amina Ghali, head designer of Azza Fahmy, and her team from the famed Egyptian jewelry company founded in 1969, the event enjoyed the attendance of such power stylists as Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald (their clientele includes Colman Domingo, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti); Jessica Paster (Emily Blunt, Quinta Brunson, Maria Bakalova); Erica Cloud (Robert Downey, Jr., Walton Goggins); Mimi Cuttrell (Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Ariana Grande); Tara Swennen (Kristen Stewart, Ali Wong); James Yardley (Connor Storrie, Hannah Waddingham); Enrique Melendez (Jenna Ortega, Inde Navarrette); Frank Fleming (Matthew Rhys, Keri Russell); and Negar Ali Kline (Jessica Lange, Nobody Wants This costumes), among many others.

Displays of Azza Fahmy thoughtfully crafted and bejeweled necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets were admired and discussed among the guests. “It’s almost like wearing a family heirloom that you’ve had a long time,” said Cuttrell of the timeless workmanship. Other stylists milled around sipping champagne and barely tasting the caviar with fingerling potatoes and tuna sashimi while talking shop and exchanging gossip, as a harpist played in the background.

THR editor-in-chief Maer Roshan welcomed the high-powered, well-attired guests to the first such gathering in Hollywood style circles, pointing to the gallery of the 26 looks, a consensus of elevated taste among peers. “It’s so great for stylists to nominate and celebrate each other,” noted veteran stylist Erica Cloud, glancing around the room at her contemporaries. “This is a rare opportunity.” It was also a rare opportunity for her to sport a piece from her prize vintage Prada collection, a belted camel coat worthy of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy.

After years in the biz, Mimi Cuttrell admits, “I still love shopping for my clients. I really enjoy collecting personal pieces for them, sourcing them and having them wear one look for one night or red carpet event. Mixing pieces is when the best things happen, like mixing family heirlooms with a dress from the Dior runway.”

Another red-carpet vet, Tara Swennen, described her current styling credo: “More is more right now! More embroidery. More opulence. We’re in a sea of black tonight, but in fashion at large, I’m seeing a lot of color. I just put Allison Janney in hot pink Christian Siriano at the CFDA Awards. It was a lot of drama. Bring it on! Bring back real elegance. And lots of color.”

Christian Stroble, (Jay Shetty, Teddy Swims) who’s also worked with Theo James, Charlie Hunnam and Paul Anthony Kelly in the past, described what’s inspiring him these days in menswear: “There’s more and more fluid masculinity in fashion, and therefore, on the red carpet. Men are much more open to being bold and eye-catching. I’m looking to fine tailoring and structure, more dressed up than sloppy and street.”

Stylist and costume designer Ron Jeffries, whose golden oversized MiuMiu shades added to the evening’s glitz, noted by the Azza Fahmy cases, “Jewelry is always a big thing for awards season, but I think we’ll see more of it this season than ever. And new shapes. Look at the THR list: We’re seeing more and more stars embrace dramatic shapes,” citing Florence Pugh in Vivienne Westwood, as styled by Rebecca Corbin-Murray for the NYC East of Eden premiere earlier this fall.

Jessica Paster — who’s worked with everyone from Cate Blanchett to Sandra Bullock to Mariah Carey, and who’s responsible this year for Emily Blunt’s head-turning looks on The Devil Wears Prada 2’s press tour — showed up with another major client, actress Maria Bakalova (Borat), both of them decked out in flattering soft neutral MaxMara suits. “Maria’s like my little sister!” the always ebullient Paster laughed. “She comes over to watch movies all the time. That’s all we do. We first met when Maria got her Oscar nomination in 2021. We had her in Prada, MiuMiu, and Louis Vuitton made her Oscar dress. And then you couldn’t see any of it because of the pandemic!” But both of their work will be very visible together in the near future. “I have six movies coming out” Maria said shyly. “I’ve been busy. — With reporting by Elycia Rubin.