Zac Posen

If you love old-Hollywood glamour, a Zac Posen gown is among the most photogenic pieces you can wear. The label built its name on sculptural ball gowns with exacting seaming, draping and hand-finished detail, the kind of construction that reads beautifully on camera. Because Posen's namesake label closed in 2019, the original gowns now carry collector's appeal rather than retail availability.

Start with one of his signature voluminous evening gowns, the silhouette that made his red-carpet reputation. These are cut for drama, with strong waists, sweeping skirts and architectural bodices. If a full couture gown is out of reach, the Truly Zac Posen bridal and evening line he created with David's Bridal in 2014 was conceived as a more accessible entry point.

From his earliest collections, Posen dressed a wide circle of stars, and his gowns became award-season staples. Names from Natalie Portman and Rihanna to Beyonce wore his designs, with Glenn Close in a Posen gown at the 2012 Academy Awards and Sofia Vergara at the 2014 Golden Globes. That steady stream of marquee moments cemented the brand as red-carpet shorthand for glamour.

Zachary E. Posen is an American fashion designer, born in New York City on 24 October 1980 and raised in SoHo. He showed an early obsession with dressmaking, studied at the pre-college program at Parsons and then earned a place in the womenswear program at London's Central Saint Martins. He launched his own label in New York in 2001.

In 2014, Posen was named Creative Director of Brooks Brothers, brought in to modernize the heritage house's women's clothing and accessories. He renewed that contract in 2017. It was a notable pairing of his glamorous instincts with one of America's oldest clothiers.

In February 2024, Posen was hired as creative director of Gap and chief creative officer of Old Navy, part of a strategy to revitalize the brands. He is the first executive-level creative lead at Gap Inc. since Patrick Robinson's 2011 departure, signaling a return of his name to mainstream American fashion.

Yes. In 2008 he created a capsule collection with Target, Zac Posen for Target, and in 2014 he partnered with David's Bridal on Truly Zac Posen, his first official bridal collection of affordable gowns. These collaborations let a much wider audience own a piece of his glamorous design language.

On 1 November 2019, House of Z and Z Spoke, the fashion brands behind Posen's company, announced an immediate closure of the label. It came shortly after Barneys New York, a major client, filed for bankruptcy. The Zac Posen trademark was later acquired by Centric Brands at auction, which is why original-era pieces are now hard to find new.

Because the namesake label closed in 2019, most genuine pieces now circulate on the resale market, so scrutiny matters. Look for the quality of construction the house was known for, clean interior finishing, precise seaming and substantial draping, and check labels carefully, since the name has passed through different owners. When in doubt, buy through reputable consignment sellers who authenticate.

Yes. Among his honors, Posen received the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2004 Swarovski Perry Ellis Award for Womenswear, recognition that arrived early in his career. He also became a familiar television presence as a judge on Project Runway, joining from season 11.