It’s cool to repeat an outfit

Unlike the rest of us, celebrities are constantly in the spotlight with their everyday style being photographed and analysed. It’s no wonder then that they rarely repeat outfits, with a million-dollar closet at their disposal and designers often gifting them outfits. But there are still a few who like to make the most of their ensembles and sport it a second or third time around styling it up differently. At this year’s Oscars, Tiffany Haddish presented an award in a white Alexander McQueen gown with a thigh-high slit. This was the third time she was flaunting the eye-catching ensemble. She had, in fact, sported it first at the red carpet tour of Girl’s Trip and while hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL). Tiffany had mentioned in her SNL monologue that since she paid a whopping $4,000 for it, she wanted to make the most of it.

KATE MIDDLETON

The Duchess of Cambridge is a serial outfit repeater. Kate often steps out in the same dresses, coats and jackets mixing it up as much as she can. She has reworn her pink sequin Jenny Packham gown (that’s estimated to cost £3,000) twice, once for the ARK Gala dinner in 2011 and then again five years later, for a charity gala in Norfolk. She has been spotted in a yellow Roksanda Ilincic dress during a New Zealand tour in 2014 and then again at a Wimbledon match in 2016. Her red Luisa Spagnoli skirt suit and Temperley London lace gown have come out of her closet on several occasions as well.

KIRSTEN DUNST

Kirsten is cool with recycling her clothes but ensures that she spaces them out. The actress wore a lacey Christian Lacroix dress first at the Vanity Fair Oscars party back in 2004. Then 13 years later, she put it on again for a brand event in Paris, proving she’s still the same size.

KIM KARDASHIAN WEST

Not one generally to repeat her clothes, Kim sported a blush pink Lanvin creation first to a wedding in 2014. She styled the dress with a plunging neckline with nude heels. The fashionista later rewore it the following year at an event honouring her late father. This time, she layered it with a trench coat and opted for studded heels. 

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY

Keira believes there’s absolutely nothing wrong in repeating an ensemble. She wore a tulle baby pink Chanel dress to her low-key wedding to James Righton in 2013, which she had already sported at an awards dinner five years earlier. The actress then donned it a third time teaming it with a sheer lace sleeve for a gala night in London.

SARAH SILVERMAN

Sarah believes if you love an outfit, you should keep flaunting it. The comedian sported a black floral dress first for the premiere of Love & Friendship in 2016. She was then snapped in it during a TV panel event as well as while on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She tweeted at the time about the apparel, “Scandal! I bought it on Amazon, I like it, it’s easy, and I’ve worn it way more than three times.”

MERYL STREEP

Meryl showed her patriotic side in an American flag-inspired dress by designer Catherine Malandrino. Back in 2009, the actress donned the creation for a photo call for her film Doubt. She ressurected the dress again seven years later for the Democratic National Convention while lending her support to  Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

DESIGNERS SPEAK 

PAYAL KHANDWALA

Celebrities play a huge part in how we consume popular culture, especially in the fashion landscape. We take our cues from them and if the message changes to — it’s acceptable to repeat and reuse your clothes — then all of us can discard less and consume less. Today, one can easily change an outfit by accessorising it differently each time, going from chunky jewellery to minimal, changing sandals to boots, adding or removing a belt and experimenting with your hair and make-up.

SAAKSHA & KINNI

Kate Middleton is one of the best at recycling outfits. In fact, repeating outfits should not be frowned upon and instead be celebrated. With sustainable fashion being a hot topic right now, it’s important to recycle our own clothes rather than flooding our wardrobes with ensembles we will only wear once. If we actually strive to rewear our styles and buy less, we would actually be helping the environment.