Ditching the iconic oversized fit, Billie Eilish’s debut on the annual prestige Met Gala has people turning heads with her corseted gown followed by a 15-foot train. Paired with a bold red lip and short blonde bob, this Old Hollywood-inspired bodice with a nude tulle skirt was designed by Oscar de la Renta capturing the Marylin Monroe and Grace Kelly moment, a perfect homage to this year’s Americana-themed Met Gala. 

While the 19-year-old pop star has made her grand impression on her first Met Gala, she made another bold catalyst by turning the famous fashion house design policy on fur in their articles. For the longest time, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim – creative directors of Oscar de la Renta, have been telling Alex Bolen, chief executive of Oscar de la Renta, that the brand should stop using fur entirely as they didn’t find fur chic or relevant anymore. They also emphasize how the brand hasn’t been using fur in their design for quite some time. 

Although it has not been dismissed by Bolen, Oscar de la Renta still uses fur in stores but not in runway designs. Even Bolen has dodge pleas on the usage of fur including from his wife, Eliza, executive of the company, and his mother-in-law, Annette de la Renta who states that the practice was barbaric. Bolen claimed that Oscar de la Renta’s collection on fur has a “meaningful amount of sales and profit” despite the actual declining figures. 

The fashion house wanted to style Billie Eilish in Met, however, Eilish’s team said she does not work with brands associated with fur according to New York Times. As what probably triggered the brand to finally stop using fur. “I thought a lot about what Oscar said — he was a big fan of fur, by the way — that the one thing he really worried about in the fashion business was his eye getting old,” Bolen said in the article. “I have to surround myself with people with different points of view.” With Eilish’s ultimatum stance, it reminded Bolen to listen to what young people have to say. 

Not just the youngest co-chair in the Met Gala, Billie Eilish also has been a vegan for 7 years. Eilish has always been actively using her influential platforms to fight for animal rights issues, and it has finally paid off as the fashion house decided to terminate the usage of fur altogether. “It was an honour to wear this dress knowing that going forward Oscar de la Renta will be completely fur-free!!!!” she stated in her Instagram last Monday “I’m honoured to have been a catalyst and to have been heard on this matter. I urge all designers to do the same.” she continued.