The Glamorous Afterlife of Red Carpet Fashion
Every time a celebrity poses on a red carpet, countless cameras flash, forever immortalizing their outfit and preserving the hundreds or even thousands of hours it has taken to create. The Golden Globes, held on a recent Sunday night, were no different. Stars like Zendaya channeled old Hollywood glamor in a saffron Louis Vuitton gown, while Angelina Jolie dazzled in a crystal chain McQueen dress, and Tilda Swinton turned heads in a custom embroidered Chanel jacket.
These outfits, while celebrated in the moment, often have a less publicized fate after the spotlight fades. What happens to these stunning garments once the cameras stop flashing? Where do they go, and when are they seen again?
The Journey of Red Carpet Outfits
The afterlives of red carpet outfits can take many forms. Some are kept in storage, others are displayed at exhibitions, some find their way onto the open market and are auctioned, and occasionally, some don’t even survive the night. Over the past two decades, the outfits worn by celebrities at red carpet events have garnered increasing attention and significance. Lucy Bishop, a specialist in handbags and fashion at Sotheby’s, notes that the iconic Dior chartreuse embroidered gown worn by Nicole Kidman at the 1997 Oscars marked a turning point in red carpet fashion. This event signaled the beginning of a formal partnership between fashion houses and celebrities, leading to a more strategic approach to red carpet dressing.
The Evolution of Red Carpet Dressing
Before this shift, red carpet dressing was less formal, with celebrities often choosing gowns without the backing of a fashion house. The rise of stylists and designers working together to create a cohesive look has changed the landscape of red carpet fashion, particularly for high-profile events like the Met Gala and the Oscars. Today, there is usually a plan in place for what happens to a gown after it has been worn, ensuring that the immense work involved in producing these looks is preserved.
Fashion houses often own the red-carpet outfits they design, and while some celebrities choose to purchase specific gowns, many are returned to the designers or stored in specialized facilities. Kim Kardashian, for instance, revealed that she has saved all her Met Gala outfits, except for the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress she wore in 2022, which was returned to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Similarly, Zendaya bought the black taffeta Givenchy gown she wore at the previous year’s Met Gala.
The Preservation Process
The first step after a red carpet event is cleaning. Sarah Scaturro, chief conservator at the Cleveland Museum of Art, explains that outfits may carry traces of body lotions, oils, perfumes, and makeup, which can oxidize over time and alter the fabric’s color and texture. The cleaning process typically involves dry cleaning, but may also include wet cleaning or careful vacuuming and brushing.
Once cleaned, garments are usually stored in specialized facilities, such as fashion house archives or private storage studios. Julie Ann Clauss, founder of The Wardrobe, emphasizes the importance of meticulous maintenance and preservation, considering factors like light levels, temperature, and humidity. Each garment is treated on a case-by-case basis, with some items hung, boxed, or mounted on dress forms to maintain their shape.
Exhibitions and the Art of Fashion
Occasionally, outfits are selected for exhibitions, showcasing their historical and cultural significance. For instance, the “Crown to Couture” exhibition at Kensington Palace featured iconic looks like Billie Eilish’s Marilyn Monroe-inspired dress and Rihanna’s voluminous Balenciaga coat dress. In this context, these outfits transcend their original purpose as clothing and become artifacts, admired for their craftsmanship and artistry.
Transporting these garments for exhibitions is a meticulous process. Clauss recalls the challenges of moving delicate pieces, which often require custom mounts and specially built crates to ensure their safety during transit.
The Changing Landscape of Ownership
Historically, it was common for celebrities to keep their gowns after wearing them, sometimes giving them away or selling them. Elizabeth Taylor famously gifted the Dior gown she wore to collect her Oscar, which later fetched $200,000 at auction after being rediscovered in a suitcase. Today, however, the trend has shifted, with fashion houses retaining ownership of many high-profile gowns.
Despite this, some gowns still find their way to the open market through unconventional means. After the 2019 Golden Globes, Lady Gaga allegedly left her periwinkle gown in her hotel room, where it was later picked up by a housekeeper and eventually offered at auction.
The Fragility of Fashion
Not all red carpet outfits survive the night. For example, singer Tyla wore a stunning custom Balmain dress to the Met Gala, but after the event, designer Olivier Rousteing cut the long skirt off to allow her to walk more easily. This act symbolizes the ephemeral nature of fashion, where even the most striking designs can be altered or discarded.
In the world of red carpet fashion, the journey of an outfit is as captivating as the event itself. From the moment a celebrity steps onto the red carpet to the garment’s eventual fate, each piece tells a story of creativity, collaboration, and the ever-evolving relationship between fashion and celebrity culture.
