“I'm trying to see how long I can save money,” Damson Idris joked to E! News on the 2026 Oscars red carpet. The F1 actor wasn’t referring to saving on rent by having roommates, but to his outfit: A custom Prada suit based on the memorable fall 2012 menswear runway show in which Adrien Brody, Willam Dafoe, and Gary Oldman walked, a show also nicknamed “The Villains.” He paired the look with a custom F1-inspired brooch from his own jewelry brand Didris. Idris explained that, in contrast to industry norms, he didn’t work with a stylist for the occasion. It was a deliberate choice, for a stylish star on one of fashion’s biggest and most brand partnership-centric nights. Although it helps, of course, that he’s already an ambassador for Prada.
These days, it can seem like everyone is clued into the machinations of celebrity style. With the rise of online red carpet discourse, the terms “brand contract,” “full look policy,” and “designer credits” can get thrown around on high fashion twitters as much as they do in an internal editorial messaging channel. And so, it’s all the more surprising to hear an actor take a now untraditional route when it comes to dressing.
This is especially given the moment, where burgeoning stars are getting snapped up earlier and earlier into their career. Just look at Heated Rivalry’s Hudson Williams, who made his Oscars debut as an official friend of the house for Balenciaga. However, Idris isn’t alone in his sartorial risks. Some celebrities famously don’t ever work with a stylist, like Blake Lively. And, at times, Bella Hadid.
It may feel like a lifetime ago, but there was once a time where Timothée Chalamet was an emerging star, fresh off the success of Call Me By Your Name, and wearing a slew of experimental Louis Vuitton and Haider Ackermann looks to all of awards season’s biggest carpets. These were all self-styled moments, too. His genuine friendship with the now-creative director of Tom Ford led to some of the red carpet’s most memorable recent fashion risks, like his quicksilver suit or the backless halter top that some said resembled The Chronicles of Narnia’s Mr. Tumnus, that helped put him on the best-dressed map. Now, the actor works with stylist Taylor McNeill who, beginning with his press tour for A Complete Unknown, helped transform his public image from a soft spoken indie darling to Marty Supreme’s exuberant leading man.
Teyana Taylor is also one to dabble in self-styling. The actress told Vanity Fair ahead of the 2026 Oscars that it’s dependent on the type of look she wishes to wear. She regularly works with styling duo Wayman and Michah, who dressed her in Chanel for the night’s look. However, when she wears custom—like her tromp l’oeil Thom Browne at the 2026 Actor Awards—she prefers to work directly with the brand and foster those personal relationships. One glance at the rolodex of fashions that Taylor has worn over the course of the 2026 awards season, and it’s clear that stylist or not, the actress knows exactly what works for her, and it’s usually form-fitting, sparkling, and a touch avant-garde.
That being said, by constantly changing her methods, she keeps her fans guessing, not locking herself down with one house or another, which leaves much more flexibility to sport a wider variety of brands in comparison to ambassadors and “friends of.”
The same goes for Odessa A’zion, whose quirky yet relaxed style has been charming the red carpets. The actress opted for a vintage Armani jumpsuit at the 2026 Actor Awards, telling hosts on the red carpet that she always prefers to sneak in a pair of pants where she can. Last night at the Oscars followed suit, with a fringed look fresh off of the Valentino spring 2026 couture runway; she then donned a sculptural Harris Reed dress for the Vanity Fair Oscars after party. For A’zion, her self-styling feels as fitting as her slightly off-kilter awards season fashion, helping to quickly carve out a signature look.
While snagging a brand ambassadorship for an evening like the Oscars may feel like an Olympic level sport that every celebrity (and their stylist, manager, and agent) is all of the sudden competing in, certain stars are still making a distinct mark solo. Taylor and A’zion are keeping things interesting and constantly leaving us wanting more. Meanwhile, Idris’s choice to refrain from a stylist felt fitting when paired with his own bejeweled designs, making the evening a truly personal event from top to toe.
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