Vintage has become an increasingly popular choice on the red carpet in recent years—no doubt a result of growing sustainability concerns, plus the added bonus of being able to create a real moment by opting for a piece of fashion history. It’s by no means a new phenomenon, though, with Demi Moore being one of the first to wear vintage at the Oscars way back in 1992. Kate Moss, too, has regularly worn pre-loved pieces on the red carpet over the years, including at Cannes Film Festival in 1998.
More recently, Cardi B had a stand-out moment in Thierry Mugler’s “Birth Of Venus” dress at the 2019 Grammy Awards, while Jennifer Aniston memorably wore an archival John Galliano gown at the 2020 SAG Awards. Meanwhile, the likes of Kim Kardashian, Bella Hadid and Zendaya have all flown the flag for vintage of late. Below, see the best vintage dresses to have graced the red carpet.
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Demi Moore, 1992
Wearing a vintage lilac dress dating back to the late ’40s or early ’50s at the Oscars.
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Winona Ryder, 1994
In a flapper-style slip dress, sourced from Lily et Cie, at the Oscars.
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Kate Moss, 1998
Wearing a ’50s feather-trimmed black cocktail dress by Jean Dessès at Cannes Film Festival.
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Renée Zellweger, 2001
At the Oscars in another ’50s Jean Dessès dress, this time in lemon yellow.
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Reese Witherspoon, 2006
Wearing an embellished vintage Dior dress from 1957 at the Oscars, where she took home the Best Actress award.
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Jennifer Lopez, 2006
In a vintage olive green dress by Jean Dessès on the Oscars red carpet.
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Natalie Portman, 2012
Attending the Oscars in a red polka-dot dress by Christian Dior, dating back to 1954.
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Penélope Cruz, 2018
On the Cannes red carpet in a vintage lace and feather-trimmed gown from the Chanel archives.
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Cardi B, 2019
In Thierry Mugler’s Botticelli-inspired ”Birth Of Venus” dress at the Grammy Awards.
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Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, 2019
Both sisters wearing vintage Chanel at the Met Gala.
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Gwyneth Paltrow, 2019
At the Emmy Awards in a black and white Valentino gown dating back to 1963.
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Rihanna, 2019
Wearing a black satin robe from John Galliano’s spring/summer 1995 collection at the Queen & Slim premiere in LA.
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Jennifer Aniston, 2020
At the SAG Awards in a Dior by John Galliano gown from 1999, sourced from Lily et Cie.
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Kaitlyn Dever, 2020
In a ’60s Christian Dior couture gown, sourced from Shrimpton Couture, at Vanity Fair’s Women In Hollywood luncheon.
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Kim Kardashian, 2020
Wearing Alexander McQueen’s “Oyster” dress from spring/summer 2003 at the Vanity FairOscar Party.
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Zendaya, 2021
Wearing ’80s YSL couture, pulled from stylist Law Roach’s own archive, at the Black Women In Hollywood Awards.
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Bella Hadid, 2021
Wearing an archival Jean Paul Gaultier gown, originally worn by Naomi Campbell on the couture spring/summer 2002 runway, at Cannes.
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Kirsten Dunst, 2022
At the Oscars in a ruffled gown from Christian Lacroix’s autumn/winter 2002 couture collection.
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Dua Lipa, 2022
Attending the Grammy Awards in a bondage-inspired dress from Versace’s autumn/winter 1992 collection.
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Adut Akech, 2022
Wearing a Christian Lacroix couture dress from autumn/winter 2003, sourced from Shrimpton Couture, at the Met Gala.
This story was originally published on British Vogue.
