EXCLUSIVEStep into style: Daily Mail visits the Albright Fashion Library where celebs go for their show stopping looks
Founded in 1990 by Irene Albright, The Albright Fashion Library is a renowned resource and archive for high-end designer clothing, accessories, and jewelry.
With a location in New York and Los Angeles, the library is famous for its extensive collection of vintage and contemporary couture pieces, including one-of-a-kind-gems from some of the most iconic labels in the world.
‘Anything that’s good is here,’ Irene tells Daily Mail at her new sprawling location in Beverly Hills.
The library caters primarily to fashion professionals, including stylists, photographers, designers, and celebrities.
It offers wardrobe rentals for editorial shoots, red carpet events, and film productions, with the new location housing a 700 square foot photo studio.
Daily Mail's Style Director, Pandora Amoratis, visits the go-to fashion destination to get a glimpse into the world of celebrity and tries on one of the most controversial dresses of all time.
Founded in 1990 by Irene Albright, The Albright Fashion Library is a renowned resource and archive for high-end designer clothing, accessories, and jewelry
Irene Albright has been styling celebrities for over 40 years.
She’s worked with all the top photographers for some of the world’s biggest publications, including German Vogue, Vanity Fair, and The New York Times, among others.
Irene’s an artist at heart with a degree from RISD (Rhode Island School of Design).
‘My love is really about art and that’s what this is,’ Irene tells me while sitting on a white couch looking effortlessly chic in an all-black look with her hair styled in a loose ponytail.
‘I was a stylist back in the ‘80s and there was a lot of waste,' she said.
'I’d go on a photoshoot and bring these amazing clothes, and they would get lost after the shoot, they would disappear, and no one would know where they had gone.
‘So, I decided I’m going to keep these clothes from now. I kept collecting and collecting and basically made no money because I bought everything after the shoot.’
'I decided I’m going to keep these clothes from now. I kept collecting and collecting and basically made no money because I bought everything after the shoot’
Irene tells Daily Mail that she started with about 1,000 pieces and now between both showrooms she houses approximately 20,000
In the 1980s, the concept of a “clothing stylist” as we know it today was still evolving.
‘In those days I was one of maybe eight stylists and there was not a lot of competition because there was so much work, so it wasn't threatening to lend pieces to friends of mine who were also stylists.
‘They all encouraged me to charge them for it so that’s how it became a company.’
Irene tells Daily Mail that she started the business with about 1,000 pieces and now between both showrooms she houses approximately 20,000.
‘I have Alexander McQueen pieces from day 1 and Saint Laurent,' says Irene about the expansive collection.
Her oldest piece is a 1978 Saint Laurent tuxedo dress that she bought for herself that is still in mint condition.
Shoes have their own room at the library
Shoes in every color are organized by silhouette and shade
Gowns in the showroom are separated by color and sleeve length to make it easier on the stylists
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Cocktail dresses, coats, ready-to-wear, jewelry and handbags have their own display areas in the showroom
Gowns in the showroom are separated by color and sleeve length to make it easier for stylists to find what they are looking for.
Cocktail dresses, coats, ready-to-wear, jewelry and handbags have their own display areas in the showroom, while shoes have their own room.
Meticulously organized by style and color, finding the perfect pair to complement a look is easy.
Rummaging through the racks, I saw everything from Jennifer Lopez's infamous green Versace dress to Angelina Jolie's highly publicized Giambattista Valli mini that she wore with in a W magazine spread with Brad Pitt while he was still married to Jen Aniston.
The most expensive garments at the Albright Library are by haute couture fashion house Lever Couture, valued for their unparalleled craftsmanship - with the highest retailing for $50,000.
Hanging on the wall of the library is a gold Lever Couture gown recently worn by Rachel Zoe at the 2024 LACMA Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The stunning piece retails for $30,000
According to Irene, only a select few can borrow a Lever Couture piece.
'Lady Gaga wears it, Beyoncé wears it, they're really special pieces, they are one of a kind,' she explains.
Hanging on the wall of the library is a gold Lever Couture gown recently worn by Rachel Zoe at the 2024 LACMA Art+Film Gala at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The stunning piece retails for $30,000.
While Lever Couture is the most exclusive label, Zac Posen is one of the most popular brands at the library, with a floral tea-length being the most borrowed dress in the collection.
'It's perfection and everyone looks amazing in it,' says Irene. 'That dress has danced more than any other dress.'
Zac Posen is one of the most popular brands at the library, with a floral tea-length being the most borrowed dress in the collection
While the library primarily caters to industry professionals, non-industry clients are welcome with an appointment
Many dresses hanging on the racks come with rich histories, having been worn by iconic figures at high-profile events
Many dresses hanging on the racks come with rich histories, having been worn by iconic figures at high-profile events.
Seeing them up close, you can't help but react.
'There's a dress that Angelina Jolie wore, it's a Gianbattista Valli dress with all feathers, she wore it in a W magazine spread with Brad Pitt when they were promoting "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", that spread ended up ending their (Brad and Jen's) relationship,' says Irene.
Adding, 'Everybody says it was the dress.'
Hanging on the rack the light pink number looked like an innocent cocktail dress so of course I had to try it on!
Made of boning and feathers, it had no give and fit very snug. It fell just below my backside, even though I'm only 5'3.
Expertly crafted, with a meticulous attention to detail, it exuded elegance and femininity, while maintaining a super sexy allure. Ok, it good have been the dress!
'There's a dress that Angelina Jolie wore, it's a Gianbattista Valli dress with all feathers, she wore it in a W magazine spread with Brad Pitt when they were promoting "Mr. and Mrs. Smith", that spread ended up ending their (Brad and Jen's) relationship,' says Irene. I had to try it on!
'Everyone has been here to pull,' says Irene, naming Cameron Diaz as a recent guest.
Irene and her daughter go to Europe four times a year to buy the collections.
'I'm constantly looking for beautiful pieces and making people feel empowered and beautiful, but the truth is, it's really for the stylists.
'I wanted them to have a safe haven, something that was easy for them to navigate.
'This new space is what I always dreamt about, it's on one acre and a half of land and you can shoot here.'
The new Beverly Hills location houses an incredible 700 square foot daylight studio space, with views of the ocean, valley mountains and city
The Beverly Hills location houses an incredible 700 square foot daylight studio space, with views of the ocean, valley, mountains and city.
'I’ve always imagined this as being what I really wanted to do because as a stylist we shlep clothes. We bring bags and bags and bags, and after the shoot is over we're still not finished.
‘We then have to send everything back, we have to make sure everything is organized. For me, this is heaven because I still style and when I do, I do it right from this house.’
While the library primarily caters to industry professionals, non-industry clients are welcome with an appointment.
'I don’t believe in waste and it’s been an adventure because I realize how much waste there is in the world.
‘Younger people are more mindful of waste than my generation was but I think they're finally recognizing it and happily they love being dressed head-to-toe by an editor and not having to think twice about it because they'll never wear it again.
'The flat fee is $1250 and I dress them head to toe.'
