by Julianne Hough made her debut 16 years ago as part of the group of professional dancers who met 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 tune in a new role and expanded wardrobe as the show’s co-host alongside Alfonso Ribeiro.
The television personality made a dynamic statement about sensuality and strength on Tuesday for the grand finale, choosing a sheer structural black dress with a corset bodice and voluminous skirt from Versace’s fall 2023 collection. Lady Gaga wore the dress to the Oscars in March.
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“Gaga wore it. gigi [Hadid] Obviously I wore it on the runway. So, it’s already iconic, and for this to be the end and to be able to wear Versace is really cool too,” Hough told WWD exclusively in Los Angeles in her dressing room before the show, which concluded with actress Xochitl Gomez and Val. Chmerkovskiy named the winners.
Still, Hough’s decision to end her first stint as a presenter at Versace had more to do with substance than style: It’s a full-circle moment on her path to self-expression. “I think I really [represents] female empowerment,” Hough said of the brand. “When you look at just the evolution, and Donatella, she’s been a narrative of strong women and she’s shown that being sexy… there’s still a really strong place for that.”
It was designed by Jennifer Mazur and accessorized with Jimmy Choo heels and a Shy Creation necklace.
“We wanted something that was a ‘wow’ moment, and that was also elegant and glamorous, and in a way that didn’t feel too ostentatious because I think in the past, when I was on the show as a judge or a dancer, my style was a little more ostentatious, like sparkles and stuff,” Hough explained.
Indeed. Every season, rhinestones, sequins, fringes and bold colors are expected in the ballroom. So far, the cast of professionals and their celebrity partners foxtrotted, tangoed and cha-cha-cha while wearing costumes inspired by theme nights like Disney, Motown and even Taylor Swift.
Hough has done her share of whimsical 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 had faint reminders of her style as a competitor.
“That vision was very different because you could only see from my chest. [upward], so I always tried to find something interesting from above,” Hough explained. “But it was much more in that ostentatious time of my evolution in fashion.”
Hough turned to Mazur two years ago to help her refine her look for all of her appearances, even highlighting her style transformation on “Dancing With the Stars.” She counts Olivia Culpo, Camila Cabello and Alessandra Ambrosio among her clients.
For the show’s previous co-hosts, dressing for “Dancing With the Stars” has also been an evolution with their own signature looks. Brooke Burke regularly donned evening gowns, Erin Andrews offered cocktail dresses, and Tyra Banks brought extravagant couture, often going viral in the process. This year, when Hough replaced Banks as host, who left after three seasons, the series gave her the platform to show viewers that her own fashion journey is here, too.
“It was absolutely intentional,” Hough said of the strategy for her on-air appearance. “I’ve really evolved my style over the last few years… I’ve always had a vision of how I feel on the inside, but it doesn’t represent how I look on the outside, and that’s why working with Jen [Mazur]“she really helped me create basic pieces and specific vibes, and I finally feel like I found my voice and my fashion.”
Hough’s history with the series has given her an advantage: She’s well aware that there’s a delicate dance between individuality and synchronicity with the show’s reputation for campy costumes.
“With this show, I thought, I want to make sure I’m still part of the same show, meaning I don’t want to go so far that people say, ‘this doesn’t make sense.’ ‘So there’s still an element of glamour, while also trying to add a little more sophisticated and elevated fashion,” Hough explained. “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 fit into whatever project I’m working on.”
Hough and Mazur selected the wardrobe before the premiere and finalized the looks via weekly group text messages with their stylist Riawna Capri and makeup artist Kate Synnott. “Jen has a very specific vision and knows exactly what the story and narrative of the entire season will be,” Hough said. “So she will definitely make references to hair and makeup, and then hair and makeup will come into play as well.”
On September 26, Hough debuted the season at Saint Laurent and has since worn Brandon Maxwell, Valentino and other luxury brands, as well as custom and exclusive looks.
In fact, for the semi-finals episode that aired last week, she wore a white Del Core architectural dress with dramatic, sculptural petals that flared out around the bodice. The design house hasn’t produced it yet for anyone but Hough, Mazur said. “I begged them to do it…that dress wouldn’t have been available until January or February,” he recalled. “So I contacted the designers in Milan and said, ‘please make this for me.’”
While she’s often showered with praise on social media after each weekly outfit reveal, she had a viral moment when she wore a billowing white Valentino collared dress. Her brother Derek Hough called it “sheet” on Instagram and it quickly became a top Google search trend.
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 their clothing, as the show’s production team can veto anything that creates technical challenges.
“We were so obsessed with it, and it was an ordeal to get it,” Mazur said of the Valentino dress, which took her two weeks to acquire the only one left in Hough’s size. “And a few days before the show, production texted me and said, ‘Do you have anything else I can use?’ It doesn’t work with Alfonso’s team.’”
That night fashion won.
“We did a little fixing and got it approved and the lighting fixed. It was too important a dress to miss the opportunity. And it was quite expensive.”
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