9 Celebs Who Repeat Outfits

Have you read the tabloids? It’s chic to repeat! Wearing an outfit twice used to be considered a fashion “faux pas,” but we’re quickly seeing a shift in this idea. More and more celebrities are starting to re-wear expensive gowns and go-to outfits on a regular basis. That’s because repeating outfits is better for the environment – and better for your wallet. Plus, these celebs are also realizing that fashion is art, and re-wearing a piece shows their appreciation for a particular designer, style, or silhouette.

At Current Boutique, we believe in curated wardrobes filled with items that make us happy. That means re-wearing outfits that bring you joy! That’s why we’ve created a list of some of our favorite celebrities who are normalizing “repeat fashion.”

1. Kate Middleton

If royalty can repeat outfits, so can you. There’s no doubt Kate Middleton has a huge wardrobe, and she could easily rewear a new look every day if she’d like. But she doesn’t. Instead, Kate Middleton loves rewearing her designer looks, especially some of her more classic essentials like this royal-worthy blue Stella Mcartney short sleeve dress. She keeps the pieces fresh by styling them in different ways, like pairing it with blazers, necklaces, and different purses.

The Duchess is particularly good about repeating expensive gowns and suits, like the Alexander McQueen white gown she wore to a BAFTA event in 2011 and again at the Earthshot Prize Awards in October 2021.

Check out all of Kate Middleton’s many outfit repeats with this Town and Country article. She really is the queen of outfit rewearing – and we love her for it!

2. Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle is also well-known for recycling her outfits, even outfits that are particularly memorable. Markle is known for her opposition to royal traditions, so it’s no wonder she too (like Middleton) likes to step outside the custom of always wearing new outfits. She is most known for rewearing this stunning trench dress that is casual yet classy and sophisticated.

She is also an accessory repeater, like rewearing this Philip Treacy hat at two public outings in 2018. She often reuses hats, shoes, purses, and jewelry in new ways to create an infinite number of stunning outfits.

Check out more of her well-known recycled outfits with this Australian Vogue article.

3. Tiffany Haddish 

Outfit repeating is popular now in 2022, but back in 2018, it was still considering a faux pax. But actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish didn’t care about what was “acceptable.” She happily made headlines for repeating her white halter-neck Alexander McQueen dress four times: to the premier of Girls Trip in 2017, as a host on Saturday Night Live in 2017, while presenting at the 2018 Academy Awards, hosting the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards, and in David Letterman’s Netflix show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.

Haddish told W Magazine that the dress cost $4,122, which is the equivalent of a down payment on a car or a medical bill. It fit her perfectly, she loves the dress, and she’s practical about her money – so she has blocked out the media noise and worn the dress as often as she likes! As she said to People Magazine, “I spent so much money [on this dress], and every time I wear it, it’s like another huge moment. Maybe the next time I wear it, it’ll be at my wedding reception!” This dress is like her lucky charm! We absolutely love her in this gorgeous gown, so keep wearing it, Tiffany! 

4. Winona Ryder 

I’m a stan for Winona Ryder, and her recent work in Stranger Things has made me love her (and the ‘80s style) even more. She is one of the OG outfit repeaters, because she focuses more on her own sense of style rather than what is considered “cool” or trendy at the time. She’s been rewearing the same Tom Waits t-shirt for nearly three decades, and she always looks incredible in it.

She also rewore a vintage dress she got for $10 at both the premiere of Murderball in 2005 and the Help Haiti Home Gala in 2014. She told Red Magazine, “I know that’s kind of a no-no in the fashion world, but why wear something just once if you love it?”

Like an edgier style? Check out these 8 fashion trends as told by Tim Burton’s cult characters.

5. Kate Moss

Another stunning celeb who rewore a vintage dress is Kate Moss. In 1998, she wore this feathered little black dress to the Cannes Film Festival. Six years later, she wore the dress to Coty’s 100^th-anniversary celebration, looking equally as stunning and elegant. Even supermodels like to rewear their favorite thrifted pieces.

6. Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett treats fashion as an artform. She likes to show off her favorite art pieces, rather than wear them once and then retire them to the back of her closet. In a 2018 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she said, “Particularly in today’s climate, it seems willful and ridiculous that such beautiful garments are not cherished and reworn for a lifetime.” We’re thrilled to see her re-wearing this stunning Armani dress.

Elizabeth Stewart, Blanchett’s stylist, agreed, “It’s not just couture gowns that take hundreds of hours to make, but all clothes that are filling landfills. We need to get the word out to get rid of this ridiculous notion that dresses cannot be worn twice! Beautiful clothes should last a lifetime.”

7. Kiera Knightley

Kiera Knightley is known for her elegance and sophisticated French “it” girl style. She’s also made headlines for repurposing her Chanel wedding dress time and time again. She’s worn it to events like the Finch & Partners Pre-BAFTA party in 2008 and the Serious Fun’s London Gala in 2013, and she’s even rocked the dress in casual settings with a blazer or sunglasses. Knightley is proof that even wedding dresses can be repurposed.

8. Rita Moreno 

Rita Moreno has one of my favorite moments in outfit-repeating history. In 1962, Rita Moreno won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in West Side Story while wearing a stunning black boatneck gown with gold skirt print. In 2018, she re-wore that same gown to the Oscars with a few tweaks. She made the boatneck strapless to add a more modern feel, and she added gloves to better suit her current style. I love that she wore the same dress 56 years apart and still looks absolutely fabulous.

9. Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is well-respected for her outfit repeating. She’s a pro at rewearing the same outfits but making them look fresh through her use of accessories. She is as fashionable as she is brilliant!

Michelle Obama cares more about the environment and the American citizens than she does about trying to constantly wear new outfits. By rewearing outfits (that are elegant and fashionable), she is demonstrating her commitment to sustainability, the environment, and the American people.

Which outfit are you going to rewear?

Take it from these gorgeous ladies: it’s beautiful, sustainable, and smart to re-wear your favorite outfits. Huge wardrobes are out, and repurposing fashion is in. Which outfits in your closet deserve to rock your runway again soon?

Photo Sources

• Kate Middleton Blue Dress: Getty Images - https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/g25620264/kate-middleton-repeat-outfits/
• Kate Middletown Gown: Getty Images - https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/g25620264/kate-middleton-repeat-outfits/
• Meghan Markle Repeat: https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-repeat-outfits-iconic-looks-2019-3#she-wore-this-house-of-nonie-blush-trench-dress-to-a-royal-engagement-in-july-2018-and-again-during-her-tour-of-africa-this-past-october-on-first-glance-it-could-appear-both-photos-were-taken-on-the-same-day-since-she-styled-her-hair-and-makeup-almost-identically-12
• Meghan Markle Hat: https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-repeat-outfits-iconic-looks-2019-3#she-choose-this-stunning-philip-treacy-fascinator-for-a-wedding-in-august-2018-and-then-wore-it-again-during-her-australia-tour-in-october-that-same-year-8
• Tiffany Haddish: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/19/style/our-hero-tiffany-haddish.html
• Winona Tom Waits: https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/news/winona-ryder-keanu-reeves-twinning-in-pantsuits-after-marriage-news-pic/
• Winona Vintage Dress: https://www.glamour.com/story/winona-ryder-on-wearing-10-dre
• Kate Moss: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/celebrities-rewearing-red-carpet-looks
• Cate Blanchett Armani: https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/style/2018/05/09/cate-blanchett-cannes-red-carpet/
• Cate Blanchett Navy Dress: https://www.eonline.com/news/1184778/cate-blanchett-proves-its-chic-to-repeat-while-wearing-5-year-old-dress-at-2020-venice-film-festival
• Kiera Knightley: https://outfitideashq.com/celebrities-caught-repeating-outfits/
• Rita Moreno: https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/03/rita-moreno-oscar-dress-2018-re-wore
• Michelle Obama White Dress: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/double-duty-michelle-obam_n_380263
• Michelle Obama Black Dress: https://www.insider.com/first-lady-fashion-repeat-outfits-2021-10