by Julianne Hough made her debut 16 years ago as part of the professional dancers matched with celebrities on “Dancing With the Stars”. And now – since the ABC series returned for its 32nd season in September – she’s dancing to her own beat in a new role and expanded wardrobe as the show’s co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro.
The television personality made a dynamic statement of sensuality and strength on Tuesday for the grand finale, choosing a structured black dress with a corset-like bodice and voluminous skirt from the Versace fall 2023 collection. Lady Gaga wore the dress to the Oscars in March.
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“Gaga wore it. Gigi [Hadid] of course he wore it on the runway. So, it’s already iconic, and to be at the finale and just be able to wear Versace is really cool too,” Hough told WWD exclusively in Los Angeles in her dressing room before the show, which ended with the actress Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovsky named the winners.
However, Hough’s choice to end her first season as host in Versace had more to do with substance than style—it’s a full-circle moment on her path toward self-expression. “I think it really is [represents] empowering women,” Hough said of the brand. “When you look at the evolution, and Donatella, she has such a narrative of strong women and shows that she’s sexual…there’s still a very strong place for that.”
Styled by Jennifer Mazur, she accessorized with Jimmy Choo heels and a Shy Creation necklace.
“We wanted something that was a ‘wow’ moment, and also still chic and glamorous, and in a way that didn’t feel too glitzy because I think in the past when I was on the show as a judge or a dancer, it was my style a little bit more glitzy – like sparkles and stuff,” explained Hough.
Gentiles. Rhinestones, sequins, fringe and eye-catching colors are expected every season in the ballroom. So far the pros and their celebrity partners have performed foxtrot, tango and cha-cha outfits inspired by theme nights such as Disney, Motown and even Taylor Swift.
Hough did her share of fierce dressing as a cast dancer, but after a hiatus in 2009, she returned to the air five years later as a judge — and with an elevated wardrobe that was a little reminiscent of her style as a contestant.
“That vision was very different because you could only see from my chest [upward], so I always tried to get something interesting from the top,” Hough explained. “But it was much more in that kind of glitzy era of my fashion evolution.”
Hough tapped Mazur two years ago to help refine her look for each of her appearances, including highlighting her changing style on “Dancing With the Stars.” She counts Olivia Culpo, Camila Cabello and Alessandra Ambrosio among her clients.
For the show’s female co-hosts, dressing for “Dancing With the Stars” has been an evolution of their own signature look. Brooke Burke regularly slipped into an evening gown, Erin Andrews offered cocktail dress fare, and Tyra Banks brought flamboyant high fashion—often going viral in the process. This year, when Hough took over hosting duties from Banks, who left after three seasons, the series gave her a platform to show viewers that her own fashion journey is here too.
“It was completely intentional,” Hough said of strategizing her on-air appearance. “My style has evolved a lot over the last few years.…I’ve always had a vision of how I feel on the inside, but it doesn’t reflect how I look on the outside, so I’ve been work with Jen. [Mazur]she really helped me get into staple pieces and specific vibes, and I feel like I’ve finally found my voice and my way.”
Hough’s history with the series gave her an advantage — she’s well aware of the delicate dance between individuality and synchronicity with the show’s reputation for campy-esque cultism.
“With this show, I was like, I want to make sure I’m still part of the same show — meaning I don’t want to get so far away from it that people are like, ‘this doesn’t make sense. ‘ So, there’s still an element of glamour, while also trying to add a bit more sophisticated, elevated fashion,” explained Hough. “And that was always the goal from the beginning. I want to feel like I’m coming in as me — I’m not adapting to any project I’m working on.”
Hough and Mazur chose the wardrobe before the premiere, and finalized the look through weekly group texts with her hairstylist Riawna Capri and makeup artist Kate Synnott. “Jen has a very specific vision and she knows exactly what the story and the plot is going to be for the entire season,” Hough said. “So she’s definitely going to make references to hair and makeup, and then hair and makeup is going to chime in as well.”
On September 26 Hough kicked off the season in Saint Laurent, and has since worn Brandon Maxwell, Valentino and other luxury labels, as well as custom and exclusive looks.
In fact, for the semi-final episode that aired last week, she wore an architectural white gown by Del Core with dramatic sculptural petals that flared around the bodice. The design house has yet to produce it for anyone else but Hough, Mazur said. “I begged them to do it…that dress wouldn’t be available until, like, January, February,” she said. “So I contacted the designers in Milan, and I was like, ‘please do this for me.’”
Although she is often praised on social media after each weekly outfit reveal, she had a viral moment when she wore a white collared Valentino dress. Her brother Derek Hough called it a “bed sheet” on Instagram – and it quickly became a top Google Trending search.
But the polarizing look almost didn’t happen after it failed a lighting test for filming. Hough and Mazur don’t have complete autonomy over her costumes because the show’s production staff can veto anything that poses technical challenges.
“We were so obsessed with it, and it was so hard to find,” Mazur said of the Valentino dress, which took her two weeks to find the only one left in Hough’s size. “And a few days before the show, the production texts me and they say, ‘do you have something else she can wear? He’s not working with Alfonso’s outfit.’”
That night, fashion won.
“We did a bit of finagling and got them to approve it and fix the lighting. Dress was too important to miss the opportunity. And it was quite expensive.”
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