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Before Lupita Nyong’o floated down the Oscars red carpet in that whimscial Prada dress that caught fashion lover’s eyes, neither she nor her stylist had actually been to Hollywood’s biggest awards show, but awards season 2014 has made stars of them both.

Just a few weeks after the Academy Awards, Micaela Erlanger (above, center), the woman behind the rainbow of designer looks that have helped raise the “12 Years A Slave” actress’ star power, is now considered one of the top stylists in the country. Erlanger was ranked #3 on “The Hollywood Reporter’s” second annual “25 Most Powerful Stylists” list.

The super stylist was introduced to Oscar-winning star by her first “major” client, “Downtown Abbey ” star Michelle Dockery (above, right).  Erlanger first collaborated with Dockery for the 2013 Golden Globes in a Alexandre Vauthier Couture gown that was a hit, so when Dockery worked with Nyoungo on the film “Non-Stop”  she spread the word. “Michelle said, ‘When you’re ready, I have the perfect stylist for you,’” recalls Nyong’o. Adds Erlanger, who first outfitted Nyong’o in white-and-gold Prada (No. 7) during the Toronto Film Festival: “The rest is history.”

Erlanger graduated from Parsons The New School for Design with her BA in Design and Management, but it was her six-year tenure as the Senior Stylist and Assistant to Annabel Tollman that she credits as the most significant training experience of her life and career. Surely we’ll be seeing more of her magic touch in the future!

The gorgeous rainbow of designer dresses we saw Lupita in during awards season? Micaela Erlanger did that!

Kerry Washington’s stylist Erin Walsh who has daringly put the actress in belly-baring gowns during  her pregnancy,  Oprah’s new stylist Kelly Hurliman and stylist duo,  Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn who have dressed Rihanna, Solange and now Pharrell also made the list,  but while the stylists behind these few Black stars were recognized, there were no Black stylists included.

See the complete list of honorees and pictures of the stylist and their high wattage clients at TheHollywoodReporter.com.

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