Celebrities aren’t always just like us.
When it comes to red carpet dressing, stars are under the pressure of delivering one winning look after another. The constant cycle of premieres, parties and award shows demands a constant influx of new clothing, often with significant environmental consequences.
As a result, eco-conscious celebrities have begun turning to sustainable brands and vintage designs in recent years, but perhaps few good intentions get as much fanfare as a celebrity who recycles an outfit altogether.
It’s a savvy styling move we’ve seen perforating for decades, thanks in no small part to the late Princess Diana. While on the royal stage, the Princess of Wales was known for reimagining looks on the red carpet and beyond. Alterations were usually involved to seamlessly transform, for instance, a strapless ball gown into one with full sleeves.
Traditionally, real-life and Hollywood royals were expected to wear a new look for every appearance. Forward-thinking stars, like Tiffany Haddish, have challenged this norm. Haddish wore an Alexander McQueen gown from a 2017 Girls Trip premiere six times (and counting), all for very public events and for the sake of a great joke.
The second instance was in 2018 while hosting Saturday Night Live where Haddish quipped onstage: “I don’t give a dang about no taboo! I spent a lot of money on this dress. This dress cost way more than my mortgage. This is a $4,000 dress! I’m gonna wear this dress multiple times!”
But even billionaires like Kim Kardashian aren’t shying away from the trend. The entrepreneur proved the versatility of a black dress when she styled a Dolce & Gabbana gown for her sister Kourtney Kardashian’s 2022 wedding in Italy with a lace bodysuit underneath — a decade since she first wore it to an awards ceremony.
Victoria Beckham has similarly demonstrated the timeless appeal of classic suiting in a double-breasted white wool blazer and matching tuxedo pants of her own design.
Modern-day royalty have also joined in on the movement. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle regularly rewear designer pieces with aplomb, while giving royal fashion-watchers something “new” to talk about, even if it’s the same old dress.
Take a look back at these and more of our favorite wardrobe repeaters of all time:
