Roll It Out

There is a dress code for every red carpet, but that is not so much a restriction as a chance for sartorial creativity.

Ah, the red carpet. Where the magic of Hollywood happens, the stuff of manufactured dreams. The glorified runner linking car to ceremony has become a runway for motion picture stars to strut their impeccable style, and thanks to its inherently formal nature, dress codes are inevitable. The arcane dictums on attire instil a sense of occasion to the event, and provide every awards show, party, and premiere with a different vibe: Grammy’s casual chic is a gateway to fashion faux pas; Oscar’s black tie is prom for adults; Met Gala’s white tie is Anna Wintour’s sadism manifest.