How Kelly Clarkson’s Stylist Gave Her Look a ‘Rock Star’ NYC Makeover

When rumors about Kelly Clarkson shifting her daytime present from Los Angeles to the East Coast first began in 2023, superstar stylist Micaela Erlanger was tipped off by dressmaker Jason Wu that the singer may very well be in search of a brand new wardrobe staff. Erlanger, who was finding out enterprise at Harvard on the time, put collectively a presentation and reached out to her.

“It was form of a kind of good examples of being in the proper place on the proper time,” Erlanger instructed WWD. 

Clarkson, who turns 42 on Wednesday, was certainly making the transfer. After settling her divorce with Brandon Blackstock in 2022, the singer and TV hostess determined emigrate along with her two youngsters, nine-year-old River Rose and seven-year-old Remington Alexander to the Huge Apple — the fifth season of “The Kelly Clarkson Present” is filmed at NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. 

Erlanger embraced the interval of modifications in Clarkson’s life and proposed a visible transformation. “New York. New Look. New Kelly,” the stylist mentioned, including that her purpose was to create appears “a little bit bit extra refined, stylish, with that New York Metropolis sensibility and extra tailoring, with out dropping observe of who she [Clarkson] is or her character.” In spite of everything, “she is a rock star.” 

Certainly one of her objectives was to “spotlight” Clarkson’s “stunning determine.” “I believe possibly previously, there was a distinct perspective on find out how to showcase her good gear and my feeling was ‘No, let’s embrace it, and let’s present it off and let’s spotlight it, and let’s do this in probably the most flattering approach.’”

“The Kelly Clarkson Present” 

Used to working with Lupita Nyong’o and Meryl Streep for crimson carpet appearances, Erlanger was confronted with the problem of dressing a daytime TV host for the primary time. The method requires fittings of 30 to 50 outfits in someday. “It’s large as a result of we’ve got to save lots of [outfits for] a month forward of the present schedule,” she mentioned. 

“I’ll have 10 racks of garments with all the things you could possibly probably want, and all of the equipment and sneakers and jewellery, and we construct out outfits. Then she’ll come into my studio and we are going to hammer it out,” Erlanger mentioned. 

Each single outfit is photographed, pinned and tailor-made. Clarkson will then undergo all the footage and “kill something she doesn’t love.” “We’re attempting issues on, we’re laughing, we’re listening to music, we’re having a great time, however it’s a marathon,” she mentioned. 

Since working with Erlanger, Clarkson’s speak present wardrobe has featured items from many native New York Metropolis manufacturers, together with Jonathan Cohen, Cara Cara and Eléa, in addition to different luxurious labels comparable to Gucci and Alexander McQueen. 

Kelly Clarkson on the Crimson Carpet 

Erlanger’s work with Clarkson had a full circle second on the 2024 Grammy Awards in February, when the stylist collaborated with Jason Wu on a customized white costume. 

“It was enjoyable and particular given the truth that he was a little bit little bit of a matchmaker between us,” she mentioned. 

Clarkson’s fan base reacted to the look with a wave of compliments on social media. “Actually, to not toot my very own horn, I believed it was the perfect she’s ever regarded,” Erlanger mentioned. “I believe she appears blissful, glamorous. Neglect about me, she was sporting that robe so fantastically. She was proudly owning it. It was refined. It was attractive. She regarded like a star. And that’s precisely what she is.” 

Erlanger now prepares for one more chapter with Clarkson; dressing her for the 2024 Paris Video games. The singer was chosen as certainly one of NBC’s cohosts for the sporting occasion. “It will likely be one thing to look out for. We’ve at all times received surprises up our sleeves,” she mentioned.