FTC Regulates the Red Carpet

October 7, 2009

Celebrities, stylists need better disclosure

Following immediately on the heels of The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new guidelines aimed at better transparency in the blogosphere, the government agency once again took steps to regulate full disclosure, this time from celebrities regarding the clothes they wear and the beauty products they use. The new guidelines, expected to be published later this week, will mandate that celebrities who dress for the red carpet, more accurately reflect results typical of the average American woman.

It is common practice in Hollywood for fashion designers to give celebrities couture gowns to wear to awards ceremonies, movie premieres and parties. The commission has determined that the stars and the designers must disclose if the dresses were given to the celebrities for free and that the disclosure must be “clear and conspicuous.” They did not, however, specify how the disclosure should happen.

One famous Hollywood stylist/reality television star said, “We will determine how to best to reveal that information on a case-by-case basis. If my client is wearing a classic dress –perhaps a Ralph Lauren –we may monogram the information onto the dress. After all, monograms are so preppy and 80s. And the 80s are back baby! If my client is wearing Versace, we will probably advertise on her chest because most of it will be showing.”

The commission also said celebrities often convey an unrealistic image on the red carpet. These images and the resulting photo spreads in tabloid magazines, give false hope to American woman that they too can look like their favorite star. When the new guidelines go into effect, the stylists who dress the stars will have to better reflect what the average woman can expect if they were to wear the clothes. Entertainment news hosts will no longer just ask, “Who made your dress and where did you get those diamonds?” during pre-awards show interviews. Now they will also ask, “Are you wearing Spanx? Do you use double-sided tape to lift your breasts? When was the last time you ate? How much foundation are you wearing? And, is that a wig?”

The new guidelines have the industry on edge. Celebrities are concerned they will be forced to reveal too many trade secrets. “What will they want next,” says one two-time Oscar winner. “For us to stop airbrushing our magazine covers?”

But some insiders see this as a positive move. “The fashion world, and the red carpet in particular, hasn’t seen any real innovation since Bjork’s swan dress in 2001. I think we will see some new trends emerge as a result of the FTC guidelines,” said Nigel Kipling, fashion director for Runway magazine. “I predict back fat, bat wings and lipstick on teeth, will be hot looks on the runway next season.”

Finally, 14 will be the new 6.

Full Disclosure: This is not a true story. But it should be.