Dressing For Fame: Sophie Lopez on Styling Kate Hudson

When did you begin styling Kate Hudson? How did that relationship come about?

I began working with Kate in 2012. I met her through her fiancé, Matt Bellamy of Muse, whom I’ve worked with since 2009. She was spending so much time in London, so she needed a London-based stylist. I began helping her with a few personal events, and the relationship grew from there. Our first big carpet together was the Venice Film Festival in 2012, which is still one of my favorites.

What’s your approach when starting on a press tour? Do you tell a story, or is each look its own?

First and foremost, my approach is to simply consider who is my client and what is the particular event. Also, where the event is taking place is important. For example, Hollywood versus New York or London. I approach each appearance individually. I don’t usually have any running theme or thread unless it has been requested by the client. I like every look to be different so it doesn’t become predictable.

With red carpet, what’s your aim when beginning to craft a look with Kate?

My aim for every client is to create looks that reflect and magnify their personalities authentically. I work from what exists already and build off that. Kate has an exceptional body, and she is confident and at ease with it. This reflects many of our choices.

How involved does she get in the process?

She is very involved. She knows what she likes and what works for her. She has a great eye and she enjoys fashion, which is always so wonderful when working with somebody. The good thing is we tend to gravitate toward the same options.

How do you balance Kate’s boho persona with her glam red carpet appearances?

Kate’s day-to-day casual California style is effortless. When selecting options for a red carpet, I think we instinctively retain an essence of effortlessness — as much as you can in a gown. Our choices are never busy, complicated, or overly structured. We lean toward a relaxed glamour, which comes naturally to Kate.

Having worked with musicians like Muse, Kings of Leon, etc., do you find any challenges unique to the music industry?

Music is a totally different beast to red carpet work. It’s pretty full on. There’s a lot to consider, especially when dressing musicians for performance. They need to be able to play instruments, dance, and perform comfortably in their outfits. You need to consider stage concepts and lighting. You have to think about fabrics, nothing too hot or restrictive. The great thing about music styling is it can be incredibly creative with the right client.

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