EXPOSURE – HOTEL ROOM THE FASHION COCOON
And here we are in the hotel room, where the red carpet magic actually begins.
This is where, behind closed doors, celebrities transform from private selves into public icons. Garments and accessories are all laid out, the air is saturated with the potential for an ideal combination that will create that final look, while stylists, hairdressers and assistants work in perfect sync.
Amid the bustle, the space is intimate. Celebrities rehearse poses and mentally prepare for the spotlight. Mirrors capture this subtle transformation, turning the ordinary room into a stage to practice metamorphosis.
Today, these private moments are often shared online but, historically, hotel rooms have always held this mix of myth and reality, from Audrey Hepburn adjusting her gown to 1990s supermodels amid racks of couture.
When the event is over, this same room becomes a space of release, where the night’s intensity fades. Sometimes shared with friends, sometimes in solitude, it’s the moment when glamour dissolves and the real world person re-emerges.
The hotel room is a paradox: private yet public, ordinary yet legendary. It frames the red carpet spectacle, holding both preparation and aftermath, showing that fashion’s glamour is carefully built in these quiet, in-between spaces.
Let’s discover more about two of the garments and accessories on display here.
LADY GAGA – MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA
Starting from the circular black leather jacket. Arriving in Manila, the Philippines, on May 19th, 2022 for her Born This Way Ball Tour, artist Lady Gaga wore this Maison Martin Margiela Artisanal black leather Circle Jacket. This bold piece is in itself fashion history. It comes from designer Martin Margiela’s last collection before he famously retired from fashion (remaining as elusive as ever): the haute couture Spring/Summer 2009 collection which also marked the 20th anniversary of the brand.
The show obviously went down in fashion history, marking the end of an era for a designer that radically changed our perception of fashion, influencing so many others during and after his career. So many are the details we take for granted today which were actually introduced by Margiela.
The big difference between how Gaga wore this jacket and how Margiela presented it on the runway was in the lower part of the look: Margiela’s ensemble featured simple black tights and pump shoes, whereas Lady Gaga opted for a full black leather ensemble, pairing the jacket with a black leather gown and high heel boots.
MADONNA – LARA JENSEN
Now look for the sparkling crystal tiara, can you see it?
When “Madame X”, Madonna's 14th studio album, was released, the “Dark Ballet” music video made headlines for its political approach and cinematic construction.
almost removed herself from the video because she wanted the attention focused entirely on the message, but in her rare appearances it was impossible to miss this dramatic crystal tiara crafted by British milliner Lara Jensen, whose work is renowned for its theatrical, sculptural intensity. The piece encircles the head with jagged, ice-like shards, creating a celestial yet foreboding halo. It was the perfect choice to echo the video’s themes of martyrdom, rebellion, and spiritual spectacle.
Jensen’s crown was chosen precisely because it transforms Madonna into a mythic, battle-armored icon—merging religious imagery with avant-garde couture in a way that underscores the song’s fusion of vulnerability and defiance.
Speaking of accessories, let’s move on to the next section, entirely dedicated to them.