It was the “hint of mint,” though, that truly captured Flannery’s imagination. Waking early one day (a habit when crossing transatlantic time zones for ceremonies, shows, and parties), Petra googled what that palest of greens means, metaphorically speaking. The phrases “rebirth,” “growth,” and “new beginnings” greeted her. Texting Stone immediately, she wrote, “This is Bella! This is the character! It plays beautifully into the story.”
“It feels celebratory,” continues the Hollywood mega-stylist, who is resolutely unflappable and always the picture of professionalism, keen to do every single one of her collaborators justice and credit each element of the gown precisely. “I want everyone to look at Emma and see her—it’s so elegant,” she continues, effusing nothing but warmth when talking about Nicolas Ghesquière. Make no mistake, though: the simplest-looking dresses are always the most complex to finesse because there is absolutely nowhere to hide. The team has been “fine-tuning” the complex inner workings of the gown and its peplum with laser-sharp precision, so that on Oscars night Stone can channel the “energy” of Baxter and let the “modern simplicity” do the talking. “We won’t leave Bella behind,” muses Flannery, adding with a smile: “This dress exudes the journey—and it’s been fun.”
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