You might have noticed there’s a new trend all over the red carpets. No, not floating shoulders, the bro-brooch, or toothpicks — though, those are all apparently real things. We’re referring to the growing list of stars who are dressing the part (correction: their part) long after films wrap. While the phenomenon — aka “method dressing” — isn’t entirely new, we’ve certainly entered, as Vogue put it, an “age of method dressing.” Thanks to, you guessed it, Margot Robbie/Barbie, who honestly deserves some sort of award for her dedication to staying in sartorial character. (Here’s a compilation of her best looks, since they alone could fill this entire newsletter.) But also, Halle Bailey, Maisie Williams, Jenna Ortega, and Zendaya, whose futuristic, sci-fi looks for “Dune: Part Two” were so good, the press tour felt more like a fashion show. Even effortlessly cool Kristen Stewart has committed to the bit in recent weeks. And there is evidently much more method dressing to come — especially if Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s “Wicked”-inspired Oscars looks were a preview of what’s to come around the film’s release.  

Part of this is that promoting a film has become much more involved. What used to entail a few photo shoots, late night appearances, a junket or two, and a premiere has become a world tour, where celebs criss-cross the globe for at least two continents worth of premieres, festivals, press conferences, and promotional events. Each of those is designed to generate headlines, if not viral moments. And fashion — instead of being a sideshow to the film — is officially an integral part of this new movie marketing extravaganza. Somebody give the stylists a raise.