A designer to the stars has shared the secret way he elevates his celebrity clients’ red carpet looks, which he believes everyone can use to enhance any ensemble.
Over the span of his decades-long career in the fashion industry, Marc Bouwer, 66, has helped curate looks for Hollywood’s most elite including Beyoncé, Angelina Jolie, Whitney Houston, Shania Twain, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessica Parker and Heidi Klum, to name a few.
He’s created some of the most iconic red carpet looks of all time – like Jolie’s famous 2004 Oscars dress, which was re-worn by Sydney Sweeney last year.
Now, he has revealed his secret to mastering a perfect red carpet ensemble exclusively with the Daily Mail: picking the right undergarments.
That’s right, according to the designer, all amazing looks start with your bra and underwear.
He explained that many people overlook what goes on underneath their dresses, but pointed out it really impacts how the design looks on your body.
‘I always say, it starts with the undergarments,’ he said. ‘Make sure you’re wearing the right size bra for you and the straps are equal before you put a dress on.
‘Make sure your underwear doesn’t show through the dress. And if you’re worried about any bulges that will show put on something on will control that.
Acclaimed fashion designer Marc Bouwer, 66, has made dresses for a slew of stars like Angelina Jolie, Whitney Houston, Beyonce and Sarah Jessica Parker
He famously created Jolie’s 2004 Oscars dress, seen here, which Sydney Sweeney re-wore last year
‘Then whatever you put on top of that will look a whole lot better.’
In addition, Bouwer said it’s important to ‘always look at yourself from the side’ and from the back when looking in a mirror, rather than just the front.
‘Not everyone sees you from the front all the time,’ he added. ‘Look at yourself from the side and back and make sure what you’re wearing looks good from as many angles as possible.’
He also reminded Daily Mail’s readers, ‘Don’t be afraid to try new things. Style is very, very personal and there’s certain things people find very beautiful but others find it horrible.’
Bouwer, who hails from South Africa, started his career off working for the designer Halston.
He ultimately parted ways with the designer after Whitney Houston noticed some of his dresses and hired him to make ensembles for her.
He went on to create some of Houston’s most iconic looks during the early years of her career.
But the true turning point in his career came when Jolie wore his ivory satin haltered gown to the Oscars.
Now, he has revealed his secret to mastering a perfect red carpet ensemble exclusively with the Daily Mail: picking the right undergarments. He’s seen showing off one of his designs
Bouwer, seen with one of his dresses in his New York studio, started his career off working for the designer Halston and created many of Whitney Houston’s looks
Bouwer is seen with model Sabrina Perlleshi wearing one of his gowns
Bouwer is pictured in his studio with model Sabrina Perlleshi wearing one of his gowns
When Jolie arrived at the acclaimed awards show in the iconic ivory satin gown it was a massive turning point in her own career – and a moment that has been hailed by some fashion experts as one of best red carpet moments in history.
‘It was a total image-changing look for her,’ he said of the Girl, Interrupted star wearing the gown.
‘She had been known as the wild child of Hollywood, carrying the blood vial around her neck, stuff like that.
‘And all of a sudden she was perceived as a humanitarian. She was this angelic, beautiful woman on this red carpet.
‘It totally shifted her whole image and I think that’s why it has become so iconic. Many editors have considered it one of the best Oscar dresses of all time. It was the perfect dress on the perfect person at the perfect moment.’
