Real costs of a red carpet look

Charlize Theron's flawless complexion comes at an exponential price, but it's not her footing the bill. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Dior spokesmodel Theron donned this $30,000 couture gown for the Golden Globes. Picture: Getty Source: AFP

WHEN Charlize Theron sashayed down the Golden Globes red carpet, she looked a million dollars. Actually, if you add it all up it was more like $8 million.

With the film awards season in full swing, it's frocks and diamonds aplenty in Hollywood and in the run-up to the Oscars, Hollywood's best stylists are clamouring to up the ante.

The New York Post used the Young Adult beauty as an example of the mega-bucks it takes to look red carpet ready - and as expected, it's not cheap.

Theron's flawless Golden Globes ensemble, including the gown, diamond headband, makeup, hair, brooch, ring, handbag and shoes cost a staggering total US$8,079,905 ($7,596,000) for one night.

Not that she paid for it - that's what happens when you're a spokesmodel for Dior.

Stylist Phillip Bloch, the man behind the sartorial prowess of some of the biggest names in Hollywood, says not all of his top-tier clients fork out for his expertise.

While some are likely to net a red-carpet day rate of anywhere between $1500 and $10,000, not every star expects they will have to pay.

Honestly, Salma [Hayek] never paid a dollar, I dont think, in all the years Ive worked for her, Bloch told The New York Post.

She a! nd I wer e best friends.

It's not an easy job to assemble $8 million of outfit together in a matter of weeks either.

Stylists reportedly spend months trying to wrangle and plead for freebies from designers in the lead-up to the event, asking them to spare a gown or a purse so the star doesn't have to pay.

They often end up having to donate much of their time for free, in return for media exposure.

So if you think it's glamourous, think again. The job is more hustler-broker than celebrity best friend.

Here's the breakdown of Charlize Theron's Golden Globes 2012 outfit, according to The Post:

Vintage Cartier bandeau from 1920
Worth: About $2.5 million
Who paid for it: No one. It was a loan
Who keeps it: Cartier

Makeup
Worth: $251 in products, at least $1500 for Paish by Shane Paish
Who paid for it: Dior

Hair by Enzo Angileri
Worth: $79 in products, at least $400 for Angileri
Who paid for it: Likely Paramount Pictures

Cartier white-gold-and-diamond earrings
Worth: $76,525
Who paid for it: No one - a loan
Who keeps it: Cartier

Christian Dior couture gown
Worth: About $30,000
Who paid for it: No one. Dior lent the dress to Theron
Who keeps it: Dior

Vintage Cartier brooch from 1951
Worth: About $1.5 million
Who paid for it: No one - another loan
Who keeps it: Cartier

Cartier platinum and diamond ring
Worth: $3,950,000
Who paid for it: No one - a loan.
Who keeps it: Cartier

One-of-a-kind Dior couture handbag
Worth: About $20,000
Who paid for it: No one - a loan
Who keeps it: Dior, most likely

Givenchy spring 2012 shoes
Worth: $1150
Who paid for it: Likely a gift from Givenchy
Who keeps it: Theron

Total cost . . . . . . . . . $8,079,9! 05
Cost to Theron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0