Everyone from mainstream celebrities such as Kim Kardashian to royalty like Meghan Markle and fashion world darlings like Adwoa Aboah have all opted for distinctly ‘old’ dresses on recent red carpets.
We don’t know if it’s a growing awareness of fashion’s ecologically damaging love of ‘new’ or a desire for individualistic style in the face of Instagram homogeny, but either way, we are very much on board with celebrities wearing vintage.
Of course, the A-list set wearing pre-loved pieces is really nothing new. From Winona Ryder in vintage Pauline Trigère at the 2000 Oscars to Emma Watson in vintage Ossie Clarke at the Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince London premiere in 2009, here are all the times our favourite stars styled themselves in the clothes of a bygone era – and looked utterly fabulous while they were at it.
Zendaya for the NAACP Image Awards, February 2022
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Styled by the brilliant Law Roach, Zendaya wore multiple looks for the NAACP Image Awards, where she had been nominated for ‘Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture’. One of the looks was this glorious vintage Balmain gown, dating all the way back to 1956 and oozing classic glamour.
Iris Law attends a party in London, February 2022
The model daughter of Jude Law and Sadie Frost was spotted arriving at a London Fashion Week party in an archive Versace dress from 2003. If you’re thinking the look feels familiar, that’s because Beyoncé wore the exact same piece almost two decades ago. Talk about a throwback!
Rihanna in Los Angeles, February 2022
Rihanna’s penchant for vintage certainly didn’t go anywhere when she got pregnant. The singer was seen stepping out in LA wearing a major throwback look, featuring low-slung jeans, a tie-up top and a statement coat which dates back to Roberto Cavalli’s Noughties collections.
Zendaya attends the Ballon D’Or, November 2021
The style star chose to wear an AW/20 Roberto Cavalli dress, that features a metal spine detail at the back, for the Ballon D’Or. The actor paired the black dress with large gold hoop earrings and wore her hair in a side-parting.
Ariana Grande on Instagram, November 2021
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Ariana Grande’s stylist Mimi Cuttrell proudly posted a picture of the singer wearing an iconic vintage look which she had spent months tracking down – the 2003 Versace dress worn by Jennifer Garner in 13 Going On 30.
Kylie Jenner at her 24th birthday party, August 2021
The pregnant mogul finally shared a picture of her 24th birthday party, a mere three months after it happened. Since she was keeping her second pregnancy under wraps, Jenner didn’t post in real time. Finally, the brunette posted a film snap showing herself and sister Khloé Kardashian at the low-key celebrations: ‘i wasn’t showing yet’ [sic], she wrote. Jenner wore Roberto Cavalli slip dress from the Spring/Summer 2003 collection.
Addison Rae at a Pandora event in London, October 2021
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The actor and make-up brand owner embraced vintage fashion at a Pandora event in London. The 21 year-old chose a yellow Versace mini dress from Janet Mandell for the evening.
Kendall Jenner out in New York City, October 2021
The 25-year-old model wore a skin-tight vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dress for a 818 tequila part and dinner with her sister Kourtney Kardashian. The ‘Soleil’ dress is from the 1990s and features an eagle and waves printed in black, brown and yellow tones.
Cardi B attends the ‘Thierry Mugler : Couturissime’ opening in Paris, September 2021
A few months since giving birth to her second child, rapper Cardi B made a triumphant return to the red carpet during Paris Fashion Week. To attend the opening of the ‘Thierry Mugler : Couturissime’ retrospective the 28-year-old chose an archive Mugler design, from the AW95 collection. Featuring feathers and sequins, we can’t think of an ensemble that better declares: ‘I’m back.’
Olivia Rodrigo attends the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, September 2021
The ‘good 4 u’ singer looked like the pop princess she is at the MTV Video Music Awards wearing a vintage Versace gown from the SS01 Couture collection. That makes the dress two years older than the 18 year-old, but it looks fresh as ever.
Maisie Williams attends the GQ Men Of The Year Awards, September 2021
The Game of Thrones star debuted a bold look on the red carpet. Williams paired her bleached hair with bleached brows plus a vintage Alexander McQueen slip gown.
Dua Lipa filming the music video for ‘Demeanor’, August 2021
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Dua Lipa has long been a fan of vintage, frequently pulling looks from the archives for red carpet moments as well as her own music videos. Here, she wears a vintage haute couture look from Jean Paul Gaultier’s 1998 show.
Bella Hadid attends the Cannes Film Festival, July 2021
To attend the Cannes Film Festival Opening Ceremony, the model opted for a glorious vintage Jean Paul Gaultier dress, which he originally sent down the runway in 2002 on none other than Naomi Campbell.
Iris Law attends Bulgari’s Magnifica Gala dinner, June 2021
Iris Law, 20, glittered in vintage Roberto Cavalli for a Bulgari event at Spencer House. The actor would have been only three when the extreme cut-out maxi dress debuted on the runway during the AW/04 collection, but the green column dress looks like it was made for her.
Kylie Jenner joins Travis Scott and Stormi Webster at the 72nd Annual Parsons Benefit
In a rare red carpet appearance with on-again-off again partner Travis Scott and daughter Stormi Webster, Kylie Jenner attended the 72nd Annual Parsons Benefit. For the event the beauty mogul opted for a vintage, bodycon, khaki, midi dress by Jean Paul Gaultier. Featuring the iconic cone bra, the dress appears to be from 1987, a mere 10 years before Jenner herself was born. The mother-of-one paired the zip-front dress with sheer gloves and clear shoes.
Zendaya attends the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards, 2021
Zendaya stunned in a 1982 Yves Saint Laurent Couture gown from her stylist Law Roach’s personal collection at the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards. Roach wrote in his Instagram post, showing the 24-year-old pose in the plunging, peplum, puff-sleeved blue and black gown, that the dress was previously owned by Black entrepreneur and trailblazer Eunice Johnson, noting: ‘We pay homage’. Johnson co-published Ebony magazine and founded The Ebony Fashion Fair, which highlighted and celebrated the work of Black models and designers across the United States for 50 years.
Princess Beatrice marries Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 2020
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For her micro-wedding, Princess Beatrice opted to wear her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II’s, old dress for her nuptials. The 32-year-old had the Norman Hartnell-designed gown altered by Royal dresser Angela Kelly and designer Stewart Parvin for her special day. On the dress’ first outing to a state dinner in Rome in 1961, the Queen wore it with embellished shoulder straps., while Kelly and Parvin updated the design with puffed organza sleeves.
Zendaya wins the Visionary Award at the Green Carpet Awards, 2020
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To receive her Visionary Award at Eco Age’s virtual Green Carpet Awards ceremony, 24-year-old Zendaya wore a vintage Versace dress. The deep chocolate brown, beaded gown, was from the AW96 collection – which was the year she was born. ‘The whole look is inspired by 1990s supermodels,’ stylist Law Roach told British Vogue. ‘She was actually born in 1996, so I thought that it’d be fun [for her] to wear something from that year. It’s taking her back—if Zendaya had been of age then, maybe she would have been a Versace model.’
Jennifer Aniston presents at the Virtual Emmys, 2020
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Aniston wore a black, bias-cut, silk dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior to present the virtual Emmys. This is the second vintage Dior piece she has worn recently, leaving us wondering if she has quite the vintage collection at home.
Kylie Jenner on holiday in the Bahamas, 2020
The make-up mogul appears to be wearing one of Jean Paul Gaultier’s most iconic pieces of work – his tattoo skins. First introduced in SS94, the designer repeatedly returned tattoo skins throughout his career, and they since have been referenced by Commes Des Garçons, Vetements and Dior. This particular piece of fashion history, however, looks suspiciously like the Gaultier ensemble Kylie’s sister Kendall was wearing earlier this month. Fingers crossed the mother-of-one didn’t take a pair of scissors to the famous two-piece.
Kendall Jenner at the LOVE LFW party, 2020
Kendall Jenner wore a Jean Paul Gaultier two-piece from around 1994 to the LOVE LFW party in February 2020.
Kim Kardashian at the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party, 2020
The make-up mogul wore an Alexander McQueen dress from his SS04 ‘Shipwrecked’ collection to the 92nd Acadamy Awards after party.
Kaitlyn Dever at the Vanity Fair and Lancôme Women in Hollywood celebration, 2020
Booksmart star Kaitlyn Dever wore a 1960s Christian Dior Couture gown from Shrimpton Couture to the event in Hollywood.
Jennifer Aniston at the SAG Awards, 2020
Jennifer Aniston wore a vintage Christian Dior by John Galliano silk bias-cut dress to pick up her Best Actress in a Drama Series award for her work in The Morning Show. The gorgeous dress, that she was wearing during her public reunion with ex-husband Brad Pitt, is part of the Friends actor’s personal collection. ‘This is John Galliano for Christian Dior, this is a vintage dress that I sort of gave to myself as a present,’ Aniston told Entertainment Tonight. ‘This is an investment. These are designers that are working for particular houses – I only have a couple.’
Kim Kardashian West at Diddy’s 50th Birthday party, 2019
The mother-of-four wore a bridal gown worth over £8,000 from Vivienne Westwood’s 1999 collection to Sean Combs’ birthday bash.
Adwoa Aboah at GQ Men Of The Year Awards, 2019
The supermodel wore a Tom Ford for Gucci, green sequinned, asymmetric dress from 2004 to the event where she presented Stormzy with the Haig Club Solo Artist awards.
Kim Kardashian West at the 2nd Annual American Influencer Awards, 2019
The make-up mogul wore a John Galliano for Christian Dior AW97 Cheongsam-style dress to the awards ceremony.
Gwyneth Paltrow at the 71st Emmy Awards, 2019
The actor and businesswoman wore a monochromatic Haute Couture Valentino dress from 1963 to present the award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series to Jodie Comer.
Meghan Markle in New York, 2019
The Duchess of Sussex wore a Courrèges Haute Couture black trapeze coat in matelassé silk, from circa 1965 via William Vintage to her bridal shower in New York.
Amal Clooney at a dinner celebrating The Prince’s Trust at Buckingham Palace, 2019
The mother-of-two wore a white, Grecian dress from 2007 by Stephane Rolland at Jean-Louis Scherrer.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at the Camp: Notes on Fashion-themed MET Gala, 2019
The fashion moguls wore vintage leather Chanel to the 2019 Met Gala.
Bella Hadid in SoHo, 2019
The former equestrian wore a velvet Galliano-era Dior dress for her 23rd birthday celebrations in New York.
Meghan Markle depart the Bristol Old Vic, 2019
During her pregnancy the for Suits star wore a ’60s-era cashmere swing coat during a royal visit.
Miley Cyrus poses for a photo during NBC’s ‘The Voice’, 2017
Cyrus wore vintage Bob Mackie – one of Cher’s famous designers – while judging on The Voice.
Amal Clooney in Paris, 2017
The human rights lawyer dressed her blossoming baby bump in an unnamed vintage ivory suit with brown vinyl trim, from around 1965 according to vintage dealer William Vintage.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at the China: Through The Looking Glass-themed MET Gala, 2015
The stylish twins wore all black John Galliano for Christian Dior to the 2015 Met Gala.
Ashley Olsen at the PUNK: Chaos to Couture- themed MET Gala, 2013
The designer wore vintage Dior to the 2013 Met Gala.
Natalie Portman at the 84th Annual Academy Awards, 2012
The Black Swan star wore a red and black polka-dot gown by Christian Dior from 1954 to the Oscars.
Kristin Davis the TIME/CNN/People/Fortune 2010 White House Correspondents’ dinner pre-party, 2009
The Sex And The City star wore a white and gold vintage Pierre Balmain haute couture dress from 1969.
Emma Watson the ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’ film premiere, 2009
The Little Women star wore a vintage Ossie Clark dress to the premiere.
Mary-Kate Olsen at the The Model As Muse-themed MET Gala, 2009
The New York Minute star wore vintage Christian LaCroix to the 2009 Met Gala.
Kate Moss at ‘The Golden Age Of Couture’ party at the V&A, September 2007
Kate Moss wore a gold, vintage Christian Dior gown to attend a party at the Victoria & Albert museum in London.
Reese Witherspoon at the 78th Annual Academy Awards, 2006
The Big Little Lies star wore a vintage Christian Dior gown to receive her Best Actress Oscar for her lead role in Walk The Line.
Kate Moss at her 30th birthday party, 2004
The supermodel wore a deep blue sequinned gown and cape that she found in a vintage shop for her birthday celebrations.
Vanessa Paradis at The 76th Annual Academy Awards, 2004
The ‘Joe Le Taxi’ singer wore vintage Chanel to the Oscars that year.
Kate Moss at the Another Magazine and Svedka Vodka party 2003
The supermodel wore a yellow 1950s dress by French couturier Jean Dessès, that she famously remade for her Topshop collaboration.
Jennifer Lopez at The 75th Annual Academy Awards, 2003
The singer and actor wore a vintage sea foam green Valentino dress to the Oscars.
Renée Zellweger at The 73rd Annual Academy Awards, 2001
The Bridget Jones’ Diary star wore a sorbet yellow 1950s Jean Dessè dress to the Oscars.
Julia Roberts at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards, 2001
The Pretty Woman star accepted the Best Actress Award for Erin Brockovich in a monochrome Valentino dress from 1992.
Winona Ryder at 72nd Annual Academy Awards, 2000
The Stranger Things actor wore 1940s Pauline Trigger gown in back to the Oscars at the turn of the Millennium.
Kate Moss at the 51st Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, 1998
The model wore a vintage dress to the film festival.
