In a dazzling showcase of style and substance, actresses Hunter Schafer and Rachel Zegler left an imprint on the red carpet of the premiere tour of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes last week, demonstrating an artful mastery of method dressing—a sartorial strategy that goes beyond mere fashion choices to channel the essence of their characters. From bold fashion statements to subtle nods to the narrative, Schafer and Zegler’s red carpet journey unveils a fascinating intersection of cinematic
storytelling and high fashion.
Playing Tigris Snow, a Capitol stylist and designer, Hunter Schafer obviously wouldn’t disappoint with her red carpet looks. Debuting the premiere in Berlin, Schafer wore a winter 2023 Schiaparelli Couture dress made up of hand-painted fragments that had an almost surreal mosaic and feather-like effect. Throughout the press tour, all her looks made reference to the Capitol’s over-the-top fashion, and we have her new stylist, Dara Allen, to thank for that. Thank you, Dana!
Rachel Zegler, who portrays Lucy Gray Baird, the district 12 tribute, chose an eyecatching Alexander McQueen that couldn’t have made a clearer reference to the OG protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, played by Jennifer Lawrence. The dress was sleeveless, black and had a fiery red mermaid tail referencing a memorable moment from the series, where Katniss’ dress bursts into flames, earning her the nickname “The Girl on Fire”.
Moving on to the tour’s second destination, London, Schafer chose a vintage Prada set dating from the summer of 2009. The set, consisting of a top, fitted skirt and an elegant bolero in fabric that evokes the texture of liquid gold, serves as a nod to the gilded glamour of the Capitol in the film.
As for Rachel Zegler’s look in London, fans of the franchise noticed that her Christian Dior Couture dress looked a lot like Katniss’ chariot costume, also from Catching Fire. Zegler, together with her stylist Sarah Slutsky Tooley, are what we might call a dream team for providing so many references for us to marvel at.
For the Los Angeles premiere, Hunter wore a stunning Alexander McQueen gown with slashed slits and armor-like paneling, reminiscent of Effie Trinket’s, portrayed by Elizabeth Banks, famous wardrobe that featured a lot of McQueen in the original movies.
The last stop on the tour was New York, where Hunter Schafer refused to tone down her look and showed up in a Marni Spring 2024 mini dress adorned with individual paper flowers, which was also reminiscent of Effie Trinket’s iconic butterfly dress. We can all say she ate and left no crumbs!
From the opulent gilding of the Capitol to the fiery echoes of Katniss Everdeen’s iconic moments, each look told a story beyond the seams. Hunter Schafer’s eclectic choices and Rachel Zegler’s homage to the franchise’s roots created a dazzling spectacle, leaving fans and fashion enthusiasts alike in awe. We can conclude that they have certainly mastered the art of method dressing!