Celebrities are increasingly turning to vintage fashion

 

Celebrities are increasingly turning to vintage fashion for their red-carpet appearances, with many opting for museum-quality gowns that have been preserved for decades. The trend has been building for years, but it reached new heights at the 2024 Met Gala, where Emily Ratajkowski, Zendaya, and Kendall Jenner all wore vintage haute couture gowns.

Zendaya, in particular, has become known for her love of archival fashion, having worn a 30-kilogram full metal robot suit from 1995 to the London premiere of "Dune: Part Two." The look, which was loaned to her by the French fashion house Mugler, generated a $152 million media impact value for the brand and was the result of a year's worth of planning.

But how do celebrities get their hands on these museum-quality gowns? According to Erin Walsh, a celebrity stylist, it's a combination of hard work and good relationships. "Vintage is wildly accessible," she said. "I've been using stores like Shrimpton Couture, New York Vintage or Decades since I started my career 15 years ago."

However, not everyone has the same level of access. Mugler, for example, has a secret archive in the center of France that houses over 6,000 priceless pieces, including the 1995 robot suit. The archive is off-limits to the public, and only a select few are allowed to browse its contents.

For those who do get access, the experience can be overwhelming. Kendall Jenner, for example, sent a team to scout out the Brooklyn Museum's 2022 exhibition "Thierry Mugler: Couturissime" before it was even finished, and she was allowed to try on several pieces straight off the mannequins.

But the process of borrowing and preserving these delicate pieces is a complex one. Julie Ann Clauss, a professional archivist and owner of The Wardrobe, a private LA-based storage facility, said that it requires a deep understanding of chemistry, language, and museum studies. "You need to understand the things that will go wrong if fabrics are stored improperly, or glass beads for example," she said.

Despite the challenges, many believe that the risk is worth it. "If it's always stuffed away in boxes, people won't get to enjoy it," said Adrian Corsin, managing director of Mugler. And for the celebrities who get to wear these pieces, it's a chance to make a statement and be part of fashion history.

As the demand for vintage fashion continues to grow, it's likely that we'll see even more museum-quality gowns on the red carpet in the future. And with the rise of social media, it's easier than ever for celebrities to share their looks with the world and generate buzz around the brands they're wearing.

But for now, it's clear that the trend of wearing vintage fashion is here to stay, and it's a testament to the power of fashion to bring people together and create a sense of community. As Kendall Jenner said on the night of the Met Gala, "It's such a special moment. I feel extremely honored that they're allowing me to wear it."