Marchesa fashion brand founded by Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife makes its return to the red carpet
>
It looks like fashion label Marchesa, founded by Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife Georgina Chapman, is making a comeback as celebrities have started showing up at the designer label once again.
The popularity of Chapman’s New York-based label, first founded with his school friend Keren Craig in 2004, appears to have rebounded despite being funded by Weinstein.
Although the 46-year-old fashion designer divorced Weinstein shortly after the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2017, support among her female client base initially began to falter.
In the immediate aftermath, the brand was forced to postpone its spring and summer preview presentation, brand collaborations halted, and not a single A-list star chose to wear a Marchesa design at the Golden Globes for the first time in years. .
But in the last few months, it seems like a lot of famous faces are getting excited to venture out with the brand again on the red carpet.
The popularity of Georgina Chapman’s New York label seems to have recovered despite being financed by her ex-husband, Harvey Weinstein.
Chelsea Handler, who wore an off-the-shoulder Marchesa gown to the 2022 Grammys (left), continued her affinity for the label at the Critics’ Choice Awards earlier this month (right)
Amy Forsyth turned red on the red carpet when she wore a Marchesa design with cascading ruffles to the Oscars in 2022
Chelsea Handler, Laura Prepon and Paige Butcher are among the stars who have led the charge as the brand returns to awards season.
Handler, who wore an off-the-shoulder Marchesa gown to the 2022 Grammys, continued her affinity for the label at the Critics Choice Awards earlier this month.
Hosting the evening, the actress/comedian donned several outfits for the occasion, but her second look of the night was a fuchsia Marchesa gown.
But she wasn’t the only one at the event to do so, as actress Laura Prepon also opted for an outfit from the embattled designer.
It looks like the brand has been gaining momentum over the past year with Amy Forsyth, Paige Butcher, Naz Perez, Autumn Rowe and Christina Jackson also stepping out on Marchesa in the last 12 months.
Actress Laura Prepon also opted for an outfit from the embattled designer at the Critics Choice Awards earlier this year.
Singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe wore the Marchesa at the Grammys last year
Chapman herself, who had kept a relatively low profile in recent years, even appeared and gave an interview to Vogue in September about her “lightning trip” to the Venice Film Festival with her boyfriend Adrien Brody.
Having shared a dossier of sun-drenched images from the trip, he told the publication: “Venice is a city that evokes so many emotions… I got lost in the magic of the city through the sensory experience of the mesmerizing architecture, the maze of channels”. , and incredible cuisine.’
But what has sparked this resurgence of interest in Chapman and his brand?
Marchesa was once a favorite brand for celebrities, but its reputation did not escape unscathed after the allegations against Weinstein came to light.
The former movie mogul had backed Marchesa with his own investment and also persuaded friends to put their money behind the brand.
Fashion fans called on celebrities to boycott the label after claiming Chapman was aware of her then-husband’s alleged treatment of women.
Eddie Murphy’s fiancée, Paige Butcher, also made a statement in a Marchesa gown when the couple arrived at the Golden Globes earlier this month.
Host Naz Pérez was also among the famous faces who brought the brand to the Golden Globes, as the brand is apparently making a comeback.
Actress Christina Jackson was also seen wearing a design from the fashion brand at the ‘Devotion’ premiere.
These calls only grew louder when it came to light that, according to industry insiders, Weinstein pressured stars like Sienna Miller and Felicity Huffman to wear Marchesa dresses on the red carpet to promote his wife’s business.
It is alleged that the stars complied out of fear that he could sabotage their careers if they did not follow his orders.
Weinstein himself admitted to pushing the label on Renee Zellweger, who was one of the biggest movie stars in the world at the time, before she wore a Marchesa gown to the premiere of Bridget Jones’s Diary.
In the wake of the allegations, Marchesa co-founder Keren Craig left the fashion house in June 2019.
But there was a small enclave of die-hard fans of the brand.
Among them was Scarlett Johansson, who walked the red carpet at the 2018 Met Gala in Marchesa before issuing a statement reading: “I wore Marchesa because their clothes make women feel confident and beautiful, and it’s a pleasure to support a brand created by two”. incredibly talented and important designers.’
Anna Wintour also joined Chapman and his brand, telling Stephen Colbert’s Late Show at the time: “Georgina is a brilliant designer and I don’t think she should be blamed for her husband’s behaviour.
“I think it was a great gesture of support for Scarlett to wear a dress like that, a beautiful dress like that, on such a public occasion.”
Just a few days later, Chapman broke her silence in a Vogue profile, telling the publication, “I don’t want to be seen as a victim because I don’t think I am.” I’m a woman in an ass situation, but she’s not unique.
Although outside support was limited beyond these statements, it seems time may have begun to heal Hollywood’s rift with the Marchesa brand as Weinstein continues to serve a 23-year prison sentence in New York, with his lawyers appealing the conviction. .