By Jasmin Rosemberg By Jasmin Rosemberg | May 19, 2022 | Style & Beauty, Awards,
Celebrity stylist Michael Fisher PHOTO BY STEF MITCHELL
WITH A CLIENT ROSTER THAT INCLUDES OSCAR ISAAC, KIERAN CULKIN, SEBASTIAN STAN AND MURRAY BARTLETT, STYLIST MICHAEL FISHER’S LOOKS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THIS YEAR’S AWARD SHOW RED CARPETS. HERE, HE DISCUSSES HOW THESE LEADING MEN HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING FORMALWEAR RULES AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO SEE AT THE EMMY AWARDS.
Ethan Hawke in Prada at the premiere of Disney series Moon Knight. PHOTO COURTESY OF PRADA
What new looks, styles and color combinations have you been playing with on red carpets?
I have been pushing it with my guys this season and they each have a different comfort level with what that is—from strong color statements to silhouette shifts, each guy was down to challenge the carpet norms. For Oscar [Isaac], an unusual color pairing of browns paired with pink, like the custom Prada tux, was a standout at SAG Awards, while the skirted looks worked for Europe premieres. The all-blue Versace look Ethan Hawke wore on Jimmy Fallon was definitely a departure for him, and a welcome burst of color coming out of winter and this pandemic. I really like seeing color on my guys, but I also like pushing the silhouettes forward.
Critics’ Choice Award winner Murray Bartlett wore a Zegna burgundy wool tuxedo PHOTO COURTESY OF ZEGNA
I love the Thom Browne looks you’ve done with Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Oscar Isaac. What inspired those? I've been a longtime fan of Thom Browne’s artistry. His runway shows are performance art pieces, and finding the right client and event is crucial to pulling off a successful TB collaboration. For Kelvin’s look, we really liked the ‘schoolboy’ uniform—it really worked on him. When Kelvin and I work together, we enjoy coming up with a vibe and we always think of the narrative first. As for Oscar, he’s been a longtime fan of skirts in his off-duty life and he really wanted to carry it over to his work life and red-carpet events. Thom Browne for the London premiere was the perfect moment to do that. It was also a very interesting statement considering he’s playing an unconventional ‘superhero.’
Sebastian Stan in Dolce & Gabbana at the Pam & Tommy finale event PHOTO BY STEVE GRANITZ/FILMMAGIC
Which are some of your favorite looks you've done with clients this year? I would say Jake Gyllenhaal’s custom Prada pale-pink tux for the Tony Awards was one of my favorite collabs with a brand. It was inspired from the Prada fall 2021 runway stage, and the use of those pale backgrounds seemed like such a direction shift for the brand that it was important to capitalize on that. Jake’s Prada campaign for their new men's cologne had just come out and it was a very dark and very stormy image of him sailing through a hurricane. For his first red carpet wearing the brand, I wanted to make an opposite statement—something very spirited and uplifting, as the Tonys carpet is always a fun mix of pomp and circumstance. Other favorites are Sebastian Stan’s Teddy Vonranson suit for Jimmy Kimmel: a fiery red suit with a tan leather shirt, which was perfectly in sync with his Pam & Tommy Hulu image during the press tour. Another one is Adam Driver’s Burberry tux for Cannes Film Festival—tailored, fitted and perfectly classic!
Kelvin Harrison Jr. rocked a multicolored Thom Browne look to the Morbius screening PHOTO BY RODIN ECKENROTH/FILMMAGIC
You have so many great TV clients who play such distinct characters! What’s been your approach to dressing Kieran Culkin, Murray Bartlett and Sebastian Stan? They are all at different stages in their careers and press relationships, so it’s important to take note of that. Kieran has his DNA and is not as comfortable in a jacket, so it’s about the vest and sleeves rolled more than anything and how we can build that in. … Kieran is a big fan of Saint Laurent because of the fit on him. [For the DGA Awards], I personally liked the idea of turning a pinstripe from ‘business power suit’ to fashion-forward. This makes sense with the character he plays and the man that he is. … Sebastian is blossoming and looks great so many ways that it’s fun exploring the breadth of options with him. Murray is strong and handsome always, so we’ve been breaking him in.
Jake Gyllenhaal chose a custom pink Prada tux for the Tony Awards PHOTO COURTESY OF PRADA
Tell us about the ways your clients have shown creativity and done something unexpected, from the mermaid on Ethan Hawke’s Moon Knight shirt to Oscar Isaac’s skirt to Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s Vanity Fair ensemble. Ethan loved the vintage tattoo reference of the mermaid; Oscar has been ready to show his legs; and Kelvin is my most daring chameleon, embracing fashion on his own terms.
Oscar Isaac donned a Thom Browne skirt suit for the London Moon Knight premiere. PHOTO COURTESY OF THOM BROWNE
What sort of fashion do you think we’ll see from men at the Emmys?
Limits pushed as we’ve seen, but I hope that stylists listen to the needs of their clients. There’s nothing worse than seeing a guy on the carpet and noticing the ‘runway look’ before the person. I’ve pre-fitted one of my clients because I knew he deserved a nomination. … Let’s just say the look is nothing short of ‘leading man.’
Photography by: