Irene Albright

INVITING US INTO HER FASHION-FILLED BEVERLY HILLS MANSION IRENE ALBRIGHT ON COMING TO THE RED CARPET RESCUE OF HOLLYWOOD’S FINEST AND HER UNRIVALLED COLLECTION OF DESIGNER GOWNS

- Rosalind Powell

Fashion collector and style guru Irene Albright has provided many an outfit to stylists, celebrities and fashionistas over the years. And as there’s never a shortage of drama behind the scenes at red carpet events, the former stylist – who has dressed A-list stars including Beyoncé and Meryl Streep – has frequently come to the rescue in a fashion crisis.

“I get panic calls from clients all the time,” she tells HELLO! from the poolside of her magnificent Los Angeles mansion. “Often, they’ve been asked to wear something to an event, and then suddenly choose not to at the last minute. It’s so important to them that they stand out.”

This is something Irene, 68, can help with: she has amassed a collection of more than 70,000 high-end designer pieces, including evening gowns, suits, cocktail dresses, corsets, daywear, shoes, handbags, hats and jewellery.

Established in 1990, her Albright Fashion Library is split between New York and her stunning home high in Beverly Hills, with panoramic views across Tinseltown and down to the ocean.

“I’m like Rapunzel in this house,” jokes Irene. This is where she welcomes stylists, celebrities, socialites and the fashion-savvy public to hire outfits for photoshoots, red carpet events and film sets. “I offer a lifestyle experience,” she says. “People don’t want to go into a dressing room and be handed a bunch of clothes. They want the experience of working with someone in a warm environment. My home enhances the styling.”

A FASHIONABLE NEIGHBOURHOOD