The Evolution of Glamour: Tracing the Red Carpet’s Journey from Ancient Greece to Hollywood

The Evolution of the Red Carpet: From Ancient Greece to Hollywood

A Quintessential Symbol of Hollywood

For the past few months, the red carpet has been noticeably absent in Hollywood due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. A-list actors, who are typically the stars of the red carpet, have been unable to showcase their movies and don glamorous outfits, instead opting for picket-line fashion. However, with a potential agreement in sight between SAG and the studio heads, it seems likely that the upcoming red carpet season will proceed as usual. Fashion stylists, designers, and actors will once again collaborate to embrace the esteemed tradition and showcase their curated outfits at premieres and award shows.

The Origins of the Red Carpet

To understand the popularity and relevance of red carpets in the entertainment and fashion industry, we must go back 2,480 years. The most popular version of the red carpet’s origins is linked to Greek playwright Aeschylus, who mentioned a red carpet in his play “Agamemnon” dating back to 458 BC. However, historian Dr. Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén believes that the history is more complex than that. She hesitates about this association because the texts have traveled through several translations and interpretations, leading to shifts in meaning to suit different phrasings and audiences.

In “Agamemnon,” the character Clytemnestra speaks of a “floor of crimson broideries to spread for the King’s path.” However, Lundén questions the use of the word “carpet” in this context, as different translations use words like “tapestry,” “cloth,” and even “purple-strewn way.” Additionally, she notes that the color mentioned is said to be purple rather than red. Lundén explains that the words used in different translations and interpretations vary, making it difficult to definitively claim “Agamemnon” as the first mention of a red carpet.

Why the Red Carpet is Red?

Before the color red, purple was the dominant color associated with royalty. “Tyrian purple,” a rare and expensive pigment, became the royal color after the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453. The color had a reddish shade and was often described as “blata” by the Greeks, meaning “the color of coagulated blood.” In the Elizabethan era in England (1558–1603), purple became officially reserved for royalty through legislation known as Sumptuary Laws.

Over time, the royal color purple became more red. In the 18th century, the French discovered how to dye wool, silk, and cotton in bright red. The color red was already associated with status, and it continued to carry various connotations throughout history, including love, passion, power, and aggression. The red carpet symbolized status and wealth, and it started to be used in different contexts, such as train travel and Hollywood premieres.

Trains, Airplanes, and the Red Carpet Treatment

The “red carpet treatment” can be traced back to American newspapers in the 19th century. The red carpet became a widespread practice in social circles, used for events such as weddings, balls, and receptions. Train companies started using red carpets to welcome their wealthy clients aboard, and this practice extended to the emergence of air travel and the jet-setting lifestyle in the 1950s.

The Red Carpet in Hollywood

It was theater magnate Sid Grauman who first introduced the red carpet to Hollywood for the premiere of his film “Robin Hood” in 1922. Hollywood was initially seen as cheap entertainment for the masses, and Grauman used the red carpet to make it more presentable to society. Over the years, the red carpet became a significant part of Hollywood events, especially with the emergence of televised coverage of award shows.

The Red Carpet Fashion Industry

In 1994, Joan Rivers famously asked guests on the Golden Globes red carpet, “Who are you wearing?” This marked the beginning of fashion becoming an essential part of the red carpet experience. The red carpet became a platform for fashion designers to showcase their creations, and it transformed into the world’s largest fashion show and advertisement. Celebrities’ outfits and designer brands became strongly intertwined, and the red carpet provided a massive advertising avenue for fashion brands.

The Challenges Facing the Red Carpet

In recent years, red carpet events like the Golden Globes, Oscars, and Grammys have seen a decline in viewership. Factors contributing to this include the focus on marketing, the rise of social media, and a loss of fun and authenticity. The red carpet has become highly commercialized, making it less appealing to the general public. The proliferation of red carpet events also contributes to a sense of dullness and lack of excitement.

The Future of the Red Carpet

Despite the challenges, the red carpet continues to hold importance in the entertainment industry. However, in order to regain public interest, it must evolve and adapt. Embracing authenticity, focusing on meaningful fashion choices, and finding ways to engage the audience beyond the traditional televised coverage are crucial steps for the future of the red carpet.

The upcoming red carpet season, with events like the Golden Globes, Oscars, and Grammys, will provide insights into the future direction of the red carpet. It remains to be seen whether the industry will be able to bring back the spark and excitement that have made the red carpet an iconic symbol of Hollywood glamour.

Sources: The New York Times, WWD, Statista, Launchmetrics.