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7 Hollywood stars who recycled their red carpet outfits: from Meghan Markle’s Nonie trench dress on tour with Prince Harry and Cate Blanchett’s Alexander McQueen top, to Gwyneth Paltrow’s Gucci suit

Celebrities including Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow have re-worn outfits from their past. Photos: Reuters; Getty Images; FilmMagic

A decade ago, any Hollywood star would be mocked for wearing the same outfit on the red carpet more than once. “Repeat offender” the headlines would scream. But the fashion industry has evolved and celebrities have come a long way, embracing a culture of sustainability.

From Gwyneth Paltrow to Jane Fonda, we look at how celebs have salvaged designer items from years back to create a longer-lasting fabulous look.

1. Gwyneth Paltrow – Tom Ford for Gucci

Gwyneth Paltrow first wore the striking red suit at the 1996 MTV Music Awards in New York. Photo: FilmMagic

In 1996, while attending the MTV Music Awards, Gwyneth Paltrow wore a ruby velvet Tom Ford for Gucci suit. The look became one of her most iconic fashion moments at the time. The Avengers star wore what looked to be the same suit, styled exactly as it was in 1996 to the Gucci Love Parade in Hollywood in 2021.

Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at the Gucci Love Parade in November 2021 in California. Photo: Getty Images
While the suits look identical, the luxurious velvet outfit most recently worn was designed by Gucci’s then-creative director Alessandro Michele, per Vogue. The suit was for Gucci’s 100th anniversary runway show and was part of the 2022 spring collection. Years later, Paltrow still looks incredible in statement ruby.

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2. Cate Blanchett – Alexander McQueen bodice

Cate Blanchett attends the Winner’s Room at the BAFTAs in February 2016. Photo: Getty Images
Back in 2018, Cate Blanchett was among a handful of Hollywood celebrities who spoke positively about recycling outfits. She told The Hollywood Reporter that it “seems wilful and ridiculous that such garments are not cherished and re-worn for a lifetime”. In 2016, the actress stunned onlookers in an Alexander McQueen bodice.
Cate Blanchett re-wears her gorgeous Alexander McQueen top at the 77th Venice Film Festival in September 2020. Photo: Reuters

The intricately embroidered top was teamed with a feathered skirt. Fast forward to 2020 and she kept the eye-catching bodice and swapped out the skirt for a pair of tailored trousers and heels at the Venice Film Festival red carpet. McQueen’s creation certainly proved to be the gift that kept on giving.

3. Jane Fonda – Elie Saab gown

Jane Fonda attends the opening ceremony and the Grace of Monaco premiere during the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival in May 2014, in Cannes, France. Photo: FilmMagic

In 2019, Hollywood legend Jane Fonda committed to never buying a new item of clothing again, according to HuffPost. The move was part of an anti-consumerism and climate change initiative.

The Grace and Frankie star took part in “Fire Drill Fridays” every week in Washington, DC. She aimed to promote and discuss action around climate change. It was at one of these events that she said she would stop buying clothes.

Jane Fonda presents the award for best picture at the Oscars in February 2020 wearing the same dress she had worn in 2014. Photo: AP

Since then, the actress has famously recycled several red carpet looks. One of her most well-known rehashes was an Elie Saab gown she wore at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. The glitzy red dress is pinched at the waist and shows off her strong physique. She turned heads when she wore the gown again to the 2020 Academy Awards. This time round, she had a short and funky hairstyle and left her grey hair on full display.

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4. Laura Dern – 1017 Alyx 9SM

Actress Laura Dern attending the Sheba Humanitarian Awards Gala honouring Whoopi Goldberg in 1995. Photo: Getty Images
Laura Dern has worn her iconic 1017 Alyx 9SM dress three times. According to Insider, she first wore the cut-out black dress to a gala event celebrating her then-boyfriend Jeff Goldblum and Whoopi Goldberg in 1995.
Actress Laura Dern attends the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscars party at the Sunset Tower Hotel in February 2013, in West Hollywood, California. Photo: Getty Images

She then wore the dress to the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2013. This time, her hair was curled, and she accessorised with dangly earrings and a chunky gold bracelet.

Celebrating her best supporting actress Oscar win for her role in Marriage Story in 2020, Dern chose to wear the dress at Vanity Fair’s Oscars party once again. This time round she had soft curls around her face, a pink jacket, and her Oscars award in her hand. Same event, same dress, just a golden statue in the hand years later.

5. Elizabeth Banks – Badgley Mischka

Elizabeth Banks during the 2004 Vanity Fair Oscars Party at Mortons in Beverly Hills. Photo: FilmMagic

The fashion theme for the 2020 Academy Awards was sustainability, and Elizabeth Banks made sure she stayed on topic. The Cocaine Bear director first wore her revealing red dress to the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2004.

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Elizabeth Banks wearing the same red dress she wore 16 years prior. Impressive! Photo: @elizabethbanks/Instagram

16 years later, she decided to don the outfit again. She said she wanted to highlight the importance of sustainability in fashion and the effects of consumerism.

6. Joaquin Phoenix – Stella McCartney

Joaquin Phoenix promised Stella McCartney he would reduce waste by re-wearing his suit to various awards shows. Photo: AP

OK, so Joaquin Phoenix didn’t repeat an outfit from years before. He wore the same suit in the same year, multiple times.

Joaquin Phoenix, winner of Leading Actor for the film Joker during the 73rd annual British Academy Film Awards in London in February 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

It was designer Stella McCartney who first heaped praise on Phoenix for his fashion sustainability efforts. In 2020, he wore the same McCartney tuxedo to every awards show. In an Instagram post, McCartney said he had decided to “reduce waste” commenting “I am proud to join forces with you,” while boasting about his fashion decision. Phoenix won the Academy Award for best actor for his role in Joker and a Golden Globe for the same flick. Staying true to his pledge, he wore the same suit to both events.

7. Meghan Markle – Nonie trench coat

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre in July 2018, in London, England. Photo: WireImage
The Duchess of Sussex recycled a sleeveless trench coat dress by Canadian label Nonie during the royal tour of Africa in 2019. She wore the mid-weight cotton-blend fabric dress for her meeting with Nelson Mandela’s widow, Graça Machel.

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arriving at the British High Commissioner’s residence, Johannesburg, South Africa, in October 2019. Photo: Reuters

According to People magazine, Markle first wore the dress in July 2018 at an exhibition to mark the centenary of the former South African president’s birth. She replicated the look while in South Africa on the final day of a royal tour with Prince Harry. The dress retails for around US$800 according to the Nonie website.

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  • Years ago, re-wearing an outfit on the red carpet might have been frowned upon, but times have changed: today, celebs champion sustainability at events, like Laura Dern who wore a dress three times
  • Jane Fonda sported her Elie Saab gown at Cannes and at the Oscars, while the Joker’s Joaquin Phoenix had no problem collecting multiple prizes in the same Stella McCartney tuxedo