This year, some of the most photographed women in the world have chosen the same designer. In July, Zendaya and Florence Pugh both wore Tamara Ralph couture to the London premiere of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In September, Taylor Swift followed, stepping onto the MTV Video Music Awards red carpet in a Tamara Ralph gown on the night she became the most-awarded artist in VMA history.

It's the high point of a remarkable three years for the Australian couturier, who rebuilt her career from scratch under her own name.

Where it started

Tamara is the fourth generation of her family to work in couture, and she was designing by twelve. She grew up in Sydney, studied fashion design at Whitehouse Institute of Design, and moved to London in 2005. There she co-founded Ralph & Russo, dressing clients from Beyoncé and Angelina Jolie to Meghan Markle. In 2014 she became the first creative director from the UK in nearly a century invited to show at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. After leaving the house in 2021, she stepped back to regroup and plan what came next.

2023: Back in Paris

Tamara's return began on the red carpet before it reached the runway. In the first half of 2023, Queen Rania of Jordan wore her designs to the coronation of King Charles III. Lily James chose her for both the BAFTAs and the Met Gala.

In July 2023, she presented her debut collection under her own name at Paris Haute Couture Week. The theme was strength in femininity: gowns in white satin, sorbet taffeta and black velvet, set off by crystal-encrusted, armour-like structures, pearl-covered chain mail and three-dimensional roses. Much of her original atelier team returned to work with her.

2024: Building the house

The brand grew quickly in its first full year. At her Spring 2024 show in January, Tamara unveiled her first venture into watchmaking: a limited-edition Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Flying Tourbillon, produced in just 100 pieces in frosted pink gold. Her Fall 2024 collection offered a romantic, vintage-inspired vision of Paris.

In November she opened the Tamara Ralph Maison at 1 Rue François 1er in Paris's 8th arrondissement. The salon covers around 220 square metres, with views over the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. It became the brand's first permanent client space outside its London atelier, where the team had grown to around 45 people.

2025: New categories, new heights

In 2025 Tamara expanded beyond fashion with the Poétique collection for French crystal house Daum. The pieces reinterpret Art Nouveau through draped, flower-like forms, pearls and soft pinks. Her Fall 2025 couture collection celebrated the centenary of Art Deco with chandelier-like beading, strands of oversized pearls and crystal mesh. Its opening look featured a hand-polished resin bodice inlaid with mother-of-pearl that took months to develop.

The collection soon reached the red carpet. Hailee Steinfeld sat front row at the show, and in November Jennifer Lopez wore a Fall 2025 velvet and satin gown with a sweeping train to the Governors Awards in Los Angeles.

2026

Tamara opened 2026 with her Spring collection at the Pavillon Cambon in Paris, inspired by fans and origami, with sharp folds sculpting the body. In July her Fall 2026 collection turned to South Asia, a region close to her heart. It brought elongated lines, sari-inspired asymmetry, sheer draping, hand-embroidered lace and diamond baguette embellishment.

Then came the red carpet run. At the Spider-Man: Brand New Day London premiere, Zendaya wore an ivory Fall 2026 gown with a corseted hourglass bodice and gold baguette embellishment. On the same night Florence Pugh made a surprise appearance in a silver bugle-bead fringe gown with a dramatic winged neckline from the Spring collection. Two months later Taylor Swift closed out the VMAs in a Fall 2026 gown with a velvet halter-neck bodice and a draped skirt of silver crystal mesh.

Three years after her return to couture, Tamara Ralph is stilldressing the most famous women in the world.

Start your own journey

Tamara Ralph's journey to the world's biggest red carpets began in the studios of Whitehouse Institute of Design. If you dream of dressing the stars, launching your own label or working with global luxury houses, it starts with the right foundation. Study fashion design at Whitehouse in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Learn couture techniques, work on real-world briefs, build your portfolio and take the first step toward your own place in global fashion.

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