Gwyneth Paltrow, Mary J. Blige and Dakota and Elle Fanning attend star-studded power stylists dinner

“Where’s the owner of this house?” Kevin Hart shouted while perched on the patio of a 10,700-square-foot Midcentury Modern mansion that’s nestled above the Sunset Strip and on the market for $38 million. Hart soon borrowed a microphone from the event’s DJ booth. It wasn’t for a comedy bit. Rather, it was in hopes of locating whoever had parked a car in front of his during a fashion dinner inside the Lenny Kravitz-interior-designed Stanley House in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

“I can’t get out because he’s blocking the gate,” Hart continued as the group roared with laughter. “I’ve got a wife and baby at home. This is style at an all-time high, but I’ve got to go.”

The event

Hart joined Gwyneth Paltrow, Armie Hammer and Chadwick Boseman as they celebrated those working tirelessly behind-the-seams of Hollywood to keep stars stylish on the red carpet. In honor of the Hollywood Reporter’s annual 25 Most Powerful Stylists in Hollywood issue, the night was hosted by the publications’ fashion and beauty director Carol McColgin and style and fashion news director Booth Moore as well as Jimmy Choo’s creative director Sandra Choi.

The crowd

Mary J. Blige attended in support of her stylist Law Roach, with whom she worked closely during awards season. “Law opened me up to another world,” said the Oscar-nominated “Mudbound” actress. “He’s transformed me into something, fashion-wise, I didn’t have the courage to be. He’s adventurous. He knows what he’s doing. And he knows his girls. He knows exactly what I need. He’s given me life on a whole other level.”

Blige said her favorite recent looks with Roach include her “Oscar moments,” in which she wore a custom white Versace gown on the red carpet and a burgundy Vera Wang gown for her performance. “He made me try different things,” Blige added. “I wasn’t afraid to …” Hart interrupted and put his head on Blige’s shoulder. “Kevin!” she laughed.

“I want to chat with her,” Hart said. “She’s the best thing ever.”

The comedian proceeded, unprompted, to discuss Blige — in front of Blige — for about two minutes. “Kevin Hart will always bow down to those that I should,” he said, speaking in a mix between first and third person. “Mary J. is a legend. And I want the world to know that she deserves the title legend.”

“You’ve got enough, right?” Blige then joked to The Times.

But back to the stars and their fashion confidants: Boseman and Elle Fanning joined their stylists Ashley Weston and Samantha McMillen, respectively. Fanning’s big sister, Dakota, also works with McMillen.

The eldest Fanning revealed that she, her sister and McMillen had gotten dressed for the dinner together. “We got ready in the green room at James Corden — all three of us,” laughed Dakota Fanning, who was clad in Prada with Jimmy Choo accessories.

“It’s really important to us to work with people that feel like family,” Dakota Fanning added. “We definitely have that with Samantha. She’s such a kind, warm person and works so hard. Elle and I both love her so much.”

Also in attendance were Daveed Diggs, Elizabeth Chambers and Yara Shahidi as well as stylists Tara Swennen (who dresses Allison Janney), Jason Bolden (Taraji P. Henson), Micaela Erlanger (Meryl Streep), Petra Flannery (Reese Witherspoon), Jeff Kim (Michael B. Jordan), Elizabeth Saltzman (Saoirse Ronan), Marni Senofonte (Beyoncé), Jeanne Yang (Kumail Nanjiani) and Kate Young (Margot Robbie).

The scene

While overlooking a breathtaking 270-degree view of the Hollywood Hills, guests tucked into a three-course meal prepared by L.A. chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Son of a Gun and Trois Mec restaurants. The menu included pickled beet salad; striped bass, chicken paillard and vegan rice bowls; with frozen lime yogurt and Dutch chocolate fudge cake for dessert.

During the meal, Diggs kept close to John Tan. “He’s the only stylist I’ve ever had,” Diggs said. “He changed my life.”

While Diggs acknowledges that the red carpet is part of his job, he admitted that it doesn’t necessarily come naturally to him. “Events like this aren’t easy for me,” Diggs said, clad in a look by Comme des Garçon with Jimmy Choo shoes. “But, with John, we’re always going to have fun and put on some really cool [clothing]. And then I’m going to feel great all night wearing some wild piece of art. … It’s like putting on a suit of armor.”

For her part, McMillen said it was “surreal” seeing her magazine cover on a wall at the party. She and the Fannings posed by it shortly after.

Elsewhere, Swennen caught up with old friends. “It’s lovely to get together with our peers,” Swennen said. “Normally, when we see each other, we’re stressed. We’re in our sweatpants, running around, pulling [clothing for clients], and pulling our hair out.”

Tan agreed, “As stylists, we all work in our own little cocoon. It’s really nice that there’s an opportunity where we can celebrate what we do.”

The quote

Dakota Fanning admitted she doesn’t always make it easy for her stylist. “I hate trying on clothes,” Fanning laughed, divulging that half of McMillen’s job involves “wrangling” Fanning to get her “in a room for long enough before I’m like, ‘I think that’s fine. I think I should just wear that.’ She’ll say, ‘Can we, please, try on a few more things?’”

The actress then clarified her statement. “I love clothes. I just don’t like trying on clothes.” Fanning said she’s been that way “for some reason since I was a small child. I’ve been traumatized, I think, somewhere along the line. So that’s her struggle with me.”