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. However, 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 percolating for decades, thanks in no small part to the late Princess Diana. 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. Modern-day royalty have also joined in on the movement with Princess Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle regularly rewearing designer pieces with aplomb.
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!”
Meanwhile, Halle Berry revived the memorable Elie Saab look she wore to the 2002 Academy Awards (when she won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball), taking it for a turn down the brand’s runway for the “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” fashion show in November 2024. Just as history-making, the dress was previously on display at the Academy Museum.
Take a look back at these and more of our favorite wardrobe repeaters of all time: