Hollywood Details at L.A. Launch

Anna Wintour doesn’t come to Los Angeles often, so when she touches down, it usually means there’s important fashion business on the horizon.

That proved to be the case Wednesday when the global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer at Condé Nast assumed position at a podium situated on the Chateau Marmont terrace just before 11 a.m. in front of the city’s fashion elite. But a few faces in the crowd — specifically Governor Gavin Newsom, mogul Casey Wasserman and costume designers Arianne Phillips, Colleen Atwood and Ruth E. Carter — signaled that the official business would stretch beyond fashion.

“We are thrilled to be here in Los Angeles, a city we love, that we admire, which gives us so much and has been constantly in our thoughts since the winter. This is a moment when coming to Los Angeles, joining in the effort to rebuild and reweave its community and its creative life, feels of a piece with turning toward what needs rebuilding in America. And Vogue wants to be part of this, which is what we are here to talk to you about this morning,” explained Wintour in revealing details for the anticipated Vogue World: Hollywood event.

Set to take place at Paramount Pictures on Oct. 26, the fourth installment of the starry event promises to be more than just a spectacle of, as Wintour detailed, “a one night only show with a huge cast of models and actors and dancers and musicians and surprises.” It will serve as a tribute to “the love affair between fashion and film” with a special focus on philanthropy and lifting up the costume designers impacted by the catastrophic Los Angeles wildfires. As such, 100 percent of ticket sales will benefit the Entertainment Community Fund.

“Nobody loves a party more than fashion people, and Vogue World is a party, a runway show and a cultural happening all rolled into one,” she continued. “You can ask anyone who went to Vogue World in New York or London or Paris. But we also recognize the power of an event like this to draw people together in moments of challenge.”

That’s precisely why it began. Vogue World debuted in New York as a way to celebrate a resurgent city in the wake of the pandemic. In 2023, the event took place in London as a way to support the theater community that had suffered cutbacks and challenges before moving on to Paris ahead of the Olympics for a sports and fashion hybrid party at the iconic Place Vendôme, the most beautiful building in all of Paris per Wintour. “As many questioned the city’s strategy for the Olympic games, it turned out those folks were just wrong,” Wintour said of why they turned their attention to France.

Scheduling the next installment on the West Coast had been in the works since last fall as a way to help revitalize the entertainment industry in the wake of devastating labor strikes. But then the fires hit. “Crises happen usually when we least expect them,” Wintour added. “Mixing fashion and the arts and culture in the center of a city, and by raising funds for a vital cause, Vogue World has become a runway show as a rallying cry, a way to fix the attention of a huge global audience, to bring awareness and sound and unmistakable notes of positivity, creativity and hope.” (It’s also delivered some green: Since its inception, the event has donated more than $3 million to various charitable organizations.)

Wintour then welcomed her “longtime close friend, collaborator and constant source of inspiration” Nicolas Ghesquiére to the podium. The French fashion designer and artistic director of women’s collections at Louis Vuitton called L.A. his adoptive home and “a place of immense cultural richness” that inspires him the more time he spends here.

“Of course, Hollywood and its vibrant movie industry is at the heart of it all. Cinema has been a proven source of inspiration and creative exchange for me over the years. Like many of us, I spend hours as a child watching movies and naturally I see it in my work,” said the designer, who cited some of his Tinseltown collaborators like Oscar-winning muse Emma Stone, Jennifer Connelly and Alicia Vikander.

Fittingly, another actress made her way to the microphone to pay tribute to and introduce the trio of costume designers who will play key roles in Vogue World: Hollywood. Taylor Russell had the honor of introducing Phillips, Atwood and Carter, and she shouted out the latter as her most recent collaborator on the upcoming remake of The Thomas Crown Affair.

The accomplished costume designers will have some of their work on display at the event alongside peers like Milena Canonero, Catherine Martin, Sandy Powell and Jacqueline West with additional character costuming by Shirley Kurata. The Vogue World creative team also includes Wintour, Mark Guiducci, creative editorial director at Vogue, and Lisa Love, Los Angeles creative director of Vogue World: Hollywood. Juan Costa Paz from Paris-based creative studio Convoy has been tapped as creative director with fashion spearheaded by Alex Harrington and makeup by Pat McGrath and Pat McGrath Labs.

Phillips, Atwood and Carter shared words, too, expressing their excitement for the event at such a critical juncture for the film industry in Los Angeles. Atwood’s remarks proved to be the most poignant as she revealed that she lost her home in the Palisades Fire. The four-time Oscar winner also brought one of her statues that was rescued from the rubble.

“As a costume designer and a victim of the Palisades Fire, I thank Vogue for this amazing support,” Atwood said. “I can say the stages of reality and the need for support will be long lasting. First, it is a roof over your head, the basics, food, clothing, schools in each individual’s needs. Then the fog shifts to the hovering unanswerable we will continue to be searching for. Without the help of my friends, I do not know what I would’ve done. The continued support of our fellow artists and this organization is going to be an ongoing need for this. We all thank you.”

Someone who has thought long and hard about the needs of Los Angeles is Casey Wasserman. The entertainment and business mogul, who serves as the chairperson and president of LA28 Olympics, followed the costume designers and doubled down on the need for such high-profile events like Vogue World: Hollywood.

“It’s about so much more than putting on a show. It’s about economic opportunities, celebrating creativity and showing the world that no matter what we face, L.A. will rise stronger and better. Every concert, sporting event, movie premiere and award show is an opportunity for people to find work,” said Wasserman. “These events create immediate jobs and an economic ripple effect as visitors flock to the city and boost restaurants, hotels, and other local businesses, and they directly provide people with the opportunity to earn a living and support their families and thrive in their fields. Finally, the very choice to host in Hollywood sends a clear message about resilience. It is a testament to the fact that we will not back down or retreat in fear or uncertainty.”