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

When rumors about Kelly Clarkson transferring 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 could possibly be in search of a brand new wardrobe crew. Erlanger, who was finding out enterprise at Harvard on the time, put collectively a presentation and reached out to her.

“It was sort of a kind of excellent examples of being in the correct place on the proper time,” Erlanger advised 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 kids, nine-year-old River Rose and seven-year-old Remington Alexander to the Massive 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 “slightly bit extra subtle, stylish, with that New York Metropolis sensibility and extra tailoring, with out shedding monitor of who she [Clarkson] is or her persona.” In spite of everything, “she is a rock star.” 

One in all her objectives was to “spotlight” Clarkson’s “stunning determine.” “I believe possibly up to now, there was a special perspective on the right way to showcase her excellent gear and my feeling was ‘No, let’s embrace it, and let’s present it off and let’s spotlight it, and let’s try this in essentially the most flattering method.’”

“The Kelly Clarkson Present” 

Used to working with Lupita Nyong’o and Meryl Streep for pink 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 sooner or later. “It’s huge as a result of we have now to save lots of [outfits for] a month forward of the present schedule,” she mentioned. 

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

Each single outfit is photographed, pinned and tailor-made. Clarkson will then undergo the entire footage and “kill something she doesn’t love.” “We’re attempting issues on, we’re laughing, we’re listening to music, we’re having an excellent 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 resembling 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 slightly 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. “Truthfully, to not toot my very own horn, I assumed it was the very best she’s ever regarded,” Erlanger mentioned. “I believe she appears glad, glamorous. Overlook about me, she was sporting that robe so fantastically. She was proudly owning it. It was subtle. 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 one in every of NBC’s cohosts for the sporting occasion. “Will probably be one thing to look out for. We’ve all the time acquired surprises up our sleeves,” she mentioned.