'Who are you wearing?'
Joan Rivers
Believe it or not, it was actually comedian Joan Rivers who was the first person credited with the iconic line when asking actors on the Red Carpet who they were wearing. According to CBS news, it started when Joan was hosting a red carpet special back in 1991. Since then, celebrities have walked the same carpet and been asked the exact same question by countless reporters and hosts.
I questioned this fact, because I assumed the red carpet was around a lot longer than it actually has been. The actual awards, began in 1927 when Louis B. Mayer, president of the Hollywood Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, conceived the idea of awarding prizes annually to the most outstanding films, directors and actors
The carpet did not make an appearance at the Academy Awards until 1961 and the reason was much more practical than just showcasing fashion. The carpet was laid as a sort of road map for those attending, guiding celebrities and guests from their arrival, into the event room.
But just three years later, in 1964, when the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences realized that the public and TV audience might also be interested to see the display of dresses, tuxedos, jewelry and hairstyles on the celebrities attending. The carpet was then extended and the arrivals were made more of a press event.
The first actual red carpet special to air on television didn't occur until 1979. It was then that television host Regis Philbin officially began the very first red carpet pre-show. This event however, was actually produced by KABC-TV, the ABC O&O station in Los Angeles, and was not broadcast anywhere but in the Los Angeles area.
The red carpet show has since taken on a life of it's own, with many tuning into to see who's wearing what, with many turning off the TV when the actual award show begins. Each year, the focus is mainly on the women, but since this is FH, I thought the men also needed their time in the spotlight. The Oscars are a celebration of Hollywood and all the glitz and glamour we conjure up when we think of tinsel town.
It was this glamour and beauty that first drew me to the designs of artist Alex Arreola. In addition to their beauty, the body chains from Coco Arreola are also incredibly hot. For the Oscars, most women coordinate their jewelry with their gown, but for these exquisite pieces, it's all about how they synchronize with skin.
Although the men on the red carpet, (this year it's going to be champagne) usually stick to wearing tuxedoes, there are a few fashion forward celebrities who I can visualize in one of Coco's creations. Can you imagine her reaction if Joan Rivers looked up to see Billy Porter, Shawn Mendes or better yet Timothée Chalamet walking towards here wearing a silver g string, and a body chain by Coco Arreola.
Which came first, photography, fashion and Jewelry design?
Fashion came first, as a child I dreamt of this but never followed through with that dream. In 2014 my circumstances changed and I decided to test the waters. I went back to school for fashion. I started making chains and when trying to set up shoots either the photographer would cancel or the model would. So I said fuck it, I'll do it myself and bought a camera. I doing shoots for my products I realized I was pretty good at it and I loved the whole process of putting a shoot together. Now I do both and more
Do you have a specific name for your body chains?
The brand is Coco Arreola, but each chain has their own name.
When did you create your first piece?
2015 or 2016
Jason (next 2 shots)
How have the designs changed over the years?
I started with very easy to make designs as a way to learn the craft. Now I create very difficult pieces such as the corset. Recently I started incorporating jewels into the design. We'll see where they go from there.
Do you have a favorite piece?
I think my favorite piece is Pride, it's also the hardest one to make. The neck is very time consuming.
Where is the most interesting place you know your designs have been worn?
The GayVN Awards, the Cyber Socket Awards, I actually went to the Cyber Socket Awards wearing my chains and Chi Chi Larue loved them that she asked for one and I took it off and put it on her. She wore it while hosting the show. I wasn't able to attend the GayVn Awards but I was tagged in so many pics from porn stars wearing my products on the red carpet I was so surprised.
What's the most memorable reaction or comment that someone made about one of your designs? Honestly, anyone that says something nice about my work is so memorable to me. I went to go meet Colton Haynes and wanted to take him a chain. As you know I'm quite busy so i didn't make one until just hours before and of course I had to make the Pride chain. Got it done in like an hour and was out the door. He loved it and was so surprised on the time it took to make it. I was too lol. He wore it all night.
You can shop the whole collection at my site HERE:
If you could choose one actor to wear your designs on the red carpet, who would it be?
Oh God, any celebrity would be amazing. But of course I would love Tom Holland to rock em.
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