Just when we thought Harvey Weinstein had been locked up forever and the key was thrown away came the shocking news that the disgraced Hollywood producer has had his conviction overturned by the New York court of approvals. The waters are murky about what it all that means, but what we do know is that in addition to being a convicted sexual predator, Weinstein also bullied some of Hollywood's biggest stars into wearing dresses by his ex-wife's fashion label Marchesa.
Not long after the label launched Cate Blanchett famously wore a Marchesa dress to the premiere of the Weinstein-produced film The Aviator in 2005. And throughout the years a long list of A-listers followed in her footsteps endorsing Marchesa on the red carpet at world-famous events like the Oscars, Golden Globes and Cannes. Then there were those that refused Weinstein's requests.
Like Jennifer Aniston who admitted she felt "bullied" by the producer when he insisted she wear Marchesa to the 2005 premiere of the Weinstein film Derailed. "I remember, right when Georgina's clothing line Marchesa was starting. That's when he came to visit me in London while we were shooting. He'd be like, 'Ok, so I'd like you to wear one of these to the premiere,'" Aniston said in an interview with Variety. "I went through the [fashion label's] book. It was not for me. He was like, 'You have to wear the dress, "said Aniston, who stood firm on her refusal. "Well, what was he going to do? Come over here and make me wear it?", she went on.
Jessica Chastain also divulged in an interview with WSJ Magazine that Weinstein tried to pressure her into wearing Marchesa to the 2014 Cannes premiere of The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby and that after she refused he publicly criticized her. Chastain defiantly wore an electric blue Atelier Versace gown instead.
The Rise and Fall of Marchesa
Marchesa founder and creative director Georgina Chapman was married to Weinstein from 2007 until their official divorce in 2021. Although the fashion designer denied Weinstein made any financial contributions to her label throughout their marriage, Weinstein was listed as a "president" and "officer" of the company and it was an insider secret that he pressured many actresses into wearing Marchesa. When Weinstein was outed for sexual harassment in 2017, Chapman issued a statement in support of the victims, separated from her husband and admitted in a Vogue interview she didn't leave the house for five months. "I was so humiliated and so broken. I didn't think it was respectful to go out."
The label was also tarnished and although many thought it wouldn't survive, Marchesa is still in business and celebrities including Scarlett Johansson—who put the brand on the map post-Weinstein by wearing it to the 2018 Met Gala. The gesture was praised by Vogue EIC Anna Wintour who has also been a vocal supporter of Chapman and Marchesa."Georgina is a brilliant designer, and I don't think that she should be blamed for her husband's behavior," Wintour said during an appearance on Stephen Colbert's The Late Show. More recently Chelsea Handler wore Marchesa to the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Ahead we look back at other A-listers who "chose" to wear Marchesa on the red carpet while Weinstein was one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.
Jennifer Lopez
Superstar singer and actress Jennifer Lopez — who is hosting this year's Met Gala—was reportedly friendly with Harvey Weinstein and ex-wife Georgina Chapman and wore a soft pink Grecian Marchesa gown to the 2007 Oscars — her red carpet appearance was one of the fashion brand's earliest major celebrity endorsements. The same year, Lopez attended the couple's wedding along with actresses Naomi Watts, Cameron Diaz and Renee Zellweger.
Nicole Kidman
Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman— who was just honored with the American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award— starred in many Weinstein-produced films including Cold Mountain, The Others, and Lion, which earned her an Oscar nomination. At the 2017 Director's Guild Awards she wore an embroidered gown by Marchesa.
Renee Zellweger
In 2004, the same year Marchesa launched Renee Zellweger wore a strapless red and gold Marchesa dress to the London premiere of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason. Weinstein even admitted that he helped facilitate the fashion placement. "Maybe I helped, but just very, very little, with Renée Zellweger, " the disgraced producer said in an interview with Vogue.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams "chose" to wear this soft pink strapless fishtail Marchesa gown to the 2013 Golden Globes, when she was nominated for the Weinstein-produced film, The Master. The next year she starred in Big Eyes (also produced by Weinstein).
Sienna Miller
Actress, style star and queen of Boho dressing Sienna Miller, wore this stunning white and silver embroidered Marchesa gown, which she accessorized with boho braids, to the 2007 Golden Globe Awards, two weeks after the release of her starring role in the Weinstein flick Factory Girl.
Penelope Cruz
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz wore this classic Marchesa dress to the 2008 Cannes premiere of Vicky Christina Barcelona, which yep, you guessed it, was produced by Weinstein.
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