12 Celebrities Who Have Recycled Their Red Carpet Looks

12 Celebrities Who Regularly Recycle Their Red Carpet Outfits

Although we do love a good awards season red carpet, the month-long string of events is enough to put a strain on the wardrobes of even some of the world’s biggest celebrities.

One-of-a-kind custom pieces, like Jennifer Aniston’s Christian Dior Golden Globe’s gown, and Lady Gaga’s periwinkle Valentino masterpiece are commissioned months in advance, and when the night is over, often take up residence in a closet somewhere, never to resurface.

But it’s 2020, and with the words ‘sustainable fashion’ on everyone’s lips, it seems ridiculous that celebrities (no matter how famous), should only wear an item of clothing once.

Famous women like Cate Blanchett, Duchess Kate Middleton and Tiffany Haddish have been quite open about their love for “outfit-repeating”, a long-standing fashion faux pas that has divided people for many years.

Thankfully, the list of celebrities who agree with Blanchett and co seems to be growing – even the Kardashians are jumping on board! Below, we’ve rounded up 12 times our favourite celebrities recycled their outfits!

Elizabeth Banks

Elizabeth Banks has rewore her Vanity Fair Oscars party from 2004 sixteen years later to make a statement on sustainability in the fashion industry.

Cate Blanchett

In 2018, the Australian actress discussed the importance of wardrobe recycling with The Hollywood Reporter, saying, "Particularly in today's climate, it seems willful and ridiculous that such garments are not cherished and re-worn."

Her stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, echoed the sentiment, encouraging women and men to disregard the notion that an outfit can’t be worn more than once. "We need to get the word out to get rid of this ridiculous notion that dresses cannot be worn twice! Beautiful clothes should last a lifetime."

Below, Blanchett at the New York Film Festival in 2015, and at the American Film Institute's Award Gala in 2018.

Below, at the 2014 Golden Globes wearing Armani Prive, and at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

Below, at the 2016 BAFTAs in an Alexander McQueen bodice, and at the 2020 Venice Film Festival.

Below, at the 2015 London Film Festival in Esteban Cortazar, and at the 2020 Venice Film Festival.

Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party 2004, and at a Chopard Party in 2017.

Eva Mendes

Eva Mendes at the cocktail party for "Last Night" at the 5th Rome International Film Festival in 2010 and the next day at the premiere of "Little White Lies."

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton at The Royal Variety Performance in 2014 and at a Gala Dinner in 2017.

Below, at the British Academy Film Awards in 2017 and the National Portrait Gala in 2019.

Tiffany Haddish

Tiffany Haddish on Saturday Night Live in 2017 and at the Oscars in 2018.

Kim Kardashian & Kris Jenner

Kim Kardashian at a fragrance launch in 2012 and Kris Jenner on an E! Red Carpet in 2013.

Kate Moss

Wearing vintage at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998, and at Coty's 100th-anniversary celebration in 2004.

Meghan Markle

While visiting Australia in 2019 the Duchess of Sussex wore a striped Reformation maxi, and again in South Africa that same year.

Jane Fonda

In 2019, Jane Fonda promised to never buy a new piece of clothing again to raise awareness of climate change - and it seems she stuck to that promise, pulling out a dress she'd previously worn for the 2020 Oscars. The actress re-wore an Elie Saab gown she'd previously worn at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.

Rita Moreno

Iconic actress Rita Moreno - who is among some of the very few to hold an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy Oscar and Tony) - dipped into the archives for her appearance at the 2018 Academy Awards. She first wore this dress to the 1962 Academy Awards, where she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in West Side Story.

Elyssa Kostopoulos

Elyssa Kostopoulos is a freelance writer.

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