Behind the Scenes of THR’s Four Power Stylists Covers With Amy Schumer’s and Brie Larson’s Go-To Pros

For its sixth annual Power Stylists issue, The Hollywood Reporter’s style team focused, as always, on the breakouts who were the talk of awards season and the red carpet. The 25 Most Powerful Stylists in Hollywood portfolio included Saoirse Ronan (with Elizabeth Saltzman) and Tessa Thompson (posing with up-and-comers Micah and Wayman) and four different covers featuring Rami Malek, Brie Larson, Amy Schumer and Michael B. Jordan and their go-to sartorial pros.

Check out what each of the stylists had to say about their turns front of the camera.

‘It’s very exciting,” says Leesa Evans (in a Lanvin gown) of her cover shoot with the Trainwreck star wearing a black and red Antonio Berardi dress. Shot in New York at the Carnegie Club, Evans says the vibe of the shoot wasn’t exactly straight-laced. “The brilliant part about working with a comedienne like Amy is that she is never serious,” says the costume designer (they met on the set of Trainwreck). Even though Evans admitted she wasn’t exactly accustomed to being in the spotlight, she and her client had a blast. “It was just so fun and Amy made me feel more comfortable; she was styling me and I was styling her.” Adds Evans, who can also be seen playfully bag-spanking her client in the opening spread (“That was all her idea!”), photographed by David Needleman:  “We are both really honored to be recognized this way.”

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Ilaria Urbinati (in a Rebecca Minkoff leather jacket, Kelly Cole vintage shirt and Helmut Lang pants) and Mr. Robot star Malek had trouble keeping a straight face during their shoot at the retro-inspired Break Room 86 inside the Line Hotel, shot by Urbinati’s husband, Eric Ray Davidson. The actor rocks a purple Calvin Klein suit for their cover shot. “We love to push the boundaries within something that still looks iconic and classic, but not too many bells and whistles,” described the L.A.-based stylist of the looks she puts together for Malek. Urbinati, who recently had her first child with Davidson, calls being on the cover “such a fun honor!” Of Malek’s ASOS denim shirt (sans tie) and Dolce & Gabbana suit jacket seen in the portfolio, Urbinati says, “We went a little Johnny Cash for that look.”

“I am still in shock that we are a cover,” said Jeff K. Kim, who has worked with the Creed star since 2013, of the photo by Dewey Nicks. The L.A.-based stylist admitted to having a few “butterflies” until Beyoncé came on at the shoot, prompting his “inner Zoolander to come out.” Kim’s inspiration for the cover look was to focus on brands that have been supportive of his and Jordan’s careers over the past few years, putting the actor in Prada, Kenzo and Hermes and donning for himself Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Alexander McQueen and Piaget (Jordan is a new ambassador for the timepiece brand). “It was fun being able to style myself with the clothes and to create something cohesive between us,” says Kim, who “literally cried” when he found out they were on the cover. Jordan texted Kim on Wednesday morning to tell the stylist he was “floored” by the images. “Five years ago, I made a vision board and I wrote that I would be on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter before I am 30,” recalled Kim. “Since next week is my 29th birthday, it’s pretty much the best gift ever.”

“That shoot and Oscars feels like a lifetime ago,” says Ehrlich of her time in front of the camera with Oscar-winning Room actress Brie Larson. The set for the day was the Houdini Estate in West Hollywood that was complete with a tomb-shaped pool and gargoyle statues on the property. “After last year’s cover with [Lady] Gaga in Coco Chanel’s apartment, this was the only location that could get close to topping it,” said Ehrlich, wearing Monse. Larson donned Gucci ensembles throughout the day, starting with a sparkling tulle frock and black platform sandals seen on the cover. “It was such a wonderful day, and Zoey [Grossman] the photographer made me feel really at ease,” explained the New York-based stylist who donned Monse and Neil Lane. “I had an amazing year, I’ve got beautiful clients and even though it feels a little weird to have the focus be in reverse, it’s OK for one day.”

The ranked list of the town’s top dressers was announced Tuesday night during dinner co-hosted by THR and Jimmy Choo at the Tower Bar, with all four covers hitting newsstands March 16.