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Billie Eilish was a showstopper in a custom Oscar de la Renta dress at the Met Gala this week.
Not only did she look stunning, but she did it for a cause — animal rights.
Because of the 19-year-old singer/songwriter, the iconic fashion house agreed to stop using fur in all future designs.
Billie Eilish’s Dress
Eilish graced the carpet in an gorgeous Oscar de la Renta beige/slightly peach tulle dress that boasted a 15-foot train.
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She had a vision for what she wanted to wear to the event and worked with designers to bring it to life — a mix of old Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe, and Holiday Barbies. It very much gave us Princess Peach vibes from Super Mario Bros. but in a very good way.
But her donning the gown came with a price.
They struck a deal — she would work with them if they agreed to stop using fur.
What is the Met Gala?
Designers compete to dress celebrities for any red carpet event, but the Met Gala is THE event in the world of fashion.
“The Met Gala, formally called the Costume Institute Gala or the Costume Institute Benefit and also known as the Met Ball, is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York City.
“It marks the opening of the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibit — each year’s event celebrates the theme of that year’s Costume Institute exhibition, and the exhibition sets the tone for the formal dress of the night, since guests are expected to choose their fashion to match the theme of the exhibit.”
THE Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief (you may not know her, but you certainly know Miranda Lambert, the fictional character based on Wintour in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’) runs the benefit committee and the uber exclusive guest list.
So you can understand why designers clamor to dress attendees, as it is “widely regarded as among the most prominent and most exclusive social events in the world.”
The Bargain
When Oscar de la Renta wanted to dress Eilish, they found out that she does not work with any company in the fur business.
That’s how a mutually beneficial bargain was struck.
She pressured the luxury brand to stop using fur altogether — and was thrilled to announce in her IG post that the fashion brand agreed to stop selling fur products in stores.
The 19-year-old animal rights advocate (who has been vegan since age 12) said in her caption that “it was an honor to wear this dress knowing that going forward oscar de la renta will be completely fur-free.”
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Eilish was the final catalyst — luxury brands have faced mounting pressure over the years from animal rights groups to cease using fur.
Environmental Advocate
Eilish’s only job at the first Met Gala in 18 months wasn’t solely to serve looks — she also served as the youngest ever co-chair of the Met Gala.
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She said she was “beyond thrilled that the fashion label’s creative directors and the entire team heard me on this issue, and have now made a change that makes an impact for the greater good, not only for animals but also for our planet and environment too.
“I’m honored to have been a catalyst and to have been heard on this matter,” she added, imploring “all designers to do the same.”
Ditching Fur
Even though Oscar de la Renta said it would stop using fur during its runway shows, Alex Bolen, Oscar de la Renta’s chief executive, told the New York Times he had “resisted similar urgings against fur from his wife, his creative directors, and his mother-in-law Annette de la Renta, who is Oscar’s widow.
“Eilish’s opposition,” he said, “reminded him to listen to what younger people have to say.”
“I thought a lot about what Oscar said — he was a big fan of fur, by the way — that the one thing he really worried about in the fashion business was his eye getting old,” Bolen said. “I have to surround myself with people with different points of view.”
The company announced in August that it would stop selling fur products when its fur contractor license expires.
“No new products that use fur and bear the Oscar de la Renta trademark will be offered for sale,” the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade reported.
Designers Commit to Going Fur-Free
Oscar de la Renta is just the latest designer to jump the fur ship.
The houses of Gucci, Versace, Michael Kors, Armani and Prada, have all said they plan to phase out the use of fur in the next few years. Chanel banned all furs and exotic skins in 2019. Stella McCartney’s brand has been vegan from day one.
If these legendary brands can go fur-free, other designers should follow suit.
Pun intended.
Do you agree with Billie Eilish and other animal advocates that fashion should be fur-free? Let us know below!
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