Ariana DeBose with stylists Zadrian Smith and Sarah Edmiston as well as Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon. On DeBose: Carolina Herrera dress. On Smith: Giorgio Armani suit, Gucci shoes. On Edmiston: Giorgio Armani. From left: Smith, DeBose, Gordon and Edmiston were photographed March 26 at The Thompson Hotel in West Hollywood during a Carolina Herrera fitting.
They’ve been described as the “It” sisters of fashion, so it only seems fitting that the pair works with music’s “It” girl Olivia Rodrigo, who took home three Grammys, including the best new artist trophy. When it comes to their favorite look of the past year, the Delgadillos agree that it was the “Drivers License” singer’s vintage pink Chanel suit for an appearance at the White House to promote vaccine awareness alongside President Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci. “It felt like an iconic moment,” says Chloe of the Cher Horowitz-esque tweed style, circa 1995, that they sourced from Aralda Vintage in Los Angeles, avoiding anything in the politically tinged hues of red or blue. The two started out on their path together with similar dreams: “Chloe has always been the fashion one, and her dream was to style. I landed an internship at Vogue, and I loved being on set, so it was a natural progression to styling for both of us,” says Chenelle.
The FIT alums are Hollywood’s hottest newly minted styling duo. Smith, who comes from a dancer background and ran in Broadway circles, started working with West Side Story‘s Ariana DeBose nearly three years ago. “We come from similar backgrounds as Southerners and LGBTQ BIPOC people,” says DeBose. “I also loved his commitment to the history of fashion and to making the client feel seen, heard and represented in every look.”
Smith recently partnered with Edmiston, and the two tag-teamed on the Oscar winner’s epic awards season, which included a special tribute to DeBose’s character Anita and her own Afro-Latina roots for the same-day BAFTAs and Critics Choice Awards. A yellow chiffon Oscar de la Renta dress and a beautifully draped marigold Carolina Herrera gown — both brands founded by Latinx designers — were chosen for DeBose’s back-to-back best supporting actress wins. Edmiston especially recalls sitting front row with DeBose at creative director Wes Gordon’s Carolina Herrera show in February and “gasping” when DeBose’s dress came down the runway. “Ari clutched my hand, and we knew that she needed to wear it,” says Edmiston. Adds Smith: “It’s so important to us that our values and ethos as people and as a studio align with who we collaborate with, and from the very beginning, we’ve just had such a connection with Wes and his designs. They’re full of color and life, just like Ariana.”