vintage gowns

2022 was a vintage year at Venice Film Festival, particularly when it came to the red carpet. A whole host of stars, including Penélope Cruz, Tessa Thompson and Isabelle Huppert, opted to wear archival pieces – further evidence that the vintage boom we’ve seen on the red carpet of late isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Of course, vintage isn’t a new thing, with the likes of Cruz and Huppert, among others, often wearing pieces from the fashion vaults over the years. Back in 2018, Lady Gaga wore a white Azzedine Alaïa dress for the Venice premiere of A Star Is Born, while Irina Shayk sported a dazzling Versace number from spring/summer 1996 at the same event.
Ahead of this year’s Venice Film Festival, take a look back at the best vintage looks to have graced the Lido to date.
2016
Photo: Getty
Lily-Rose Depp wearing a vintage Chanel dress, featuring a white tulle corsage, from spring/summer 1995.
2018
Photo: Getty
Lady Gaga in a vintage white dress by Azzedine Alaïa at the premiere of A Star Is Born.
2018
Photo: Getty
Irina Shayk wearing a gold lamé dress from Versace’s spring/summer 1996 collection, also at the A Star Is Born premiere.
2021
Photo: Getty
Isabelle Huppert wearing a crystal-embellished gown from Giorgio Armani’s autumn/winter 2005 couture collection.
2021
Photo: Getty
Mariacarla Boscono wearing a burgundy corseted dress from Jean Paul Gaultier’s autumn/winter 2016 couture collection.
2022
Photo: Getty
Penélope Cruz wearing a white lace dress from Dolce & Gabbana’s spring/summer 2011 collection.
2022
Photo: Getty
Tessa Thompson in a futuristic silver top and black sequin skirt from Armani Privé’s autumn/winter 2009 collection.
2022
Photo: Getty
Emma Chamberlain in a red Valentino gown from autumn/winter 2007, sourced via Circa Vintage London.
2022
Photo: Getty
Taylor Russell in a strapless black dress from Ralph Lauren’s autumn/winter 2007 collection, sourced from Aralda Vintage.
Originally published in Vogue.co.uk

Zendaya. Photo: Getty
What’s old is new again—just look at the red carpets this awards season. Hunter Schafer, Zendaya, Cate Blanchett, and more used the red carpet as an opportunity to showcase vintage fashion at the BAFTAs, NAACP Image Awards, Oscars, and more. Many of the gowns and ensembles were from the recent past by designers like Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Dior, and more. One particularly popular era: 1995-2005 (which, coincidentally, encompasses some of the years Gen-Zers were born.)
And the looks feel remarkably of the moment. Take, for example, Olivia Rodrigo. The pop star, with the help of stylist Danielle Goldberg, wore horse-printed Chloé pants from Stella McCartney’s tenure at the brand on the red carpet. With a flared leg and low-slung waist, the pants, incredibly, hit multiple quadrants on the trendiness chart. While vintage Versace—namely the 90s— has been worn to events by Zendaya, Dua Lipa, and Bella Hadid. It’s fashion so good, it demands to be worn twice.
Vintage taps into the ever-growing desire for sustainability within fashion. Why make an entirely new dress when there are plenty of great ones waiting to be reworn? And the looks do not have to feel overly rooted in the past either. Popular archival shops such as Tab Vintage, Pechuga Vintage, and Shrimpton Couture have emerged as reliable go-to’s for remarkably curated and of-the-moment vintage fashion for celebrities and fashion enthusiasts.
And then there is Cate Blanchett, who has not only reworn looks from previous red carpets but also reworked garments into entirely new creations. An Alexander McQueen gown becomes a fitted top; repurposed lace from the Armani workshops is used for a new gown. Blanchett showcases that vintage fashion can be utilized in multiple and myriad ways.

Below, check out some of the best vintage fashion moments from this past awards season.
Cate Blanchett rewears her 2015 Oscars Margiela dress to the 2023 BAFTAs. Photo: Getty
Olivia Rodrigo in Chloé Spring 2001 at Billboard Women in Music 2023. Photo: Getty
Winnie Harlow in Armani Haute Couture Spring 2005 at the Academy Awards. Photo: Getty
Kendall Jenner in Jean Paul Gaultier Spring 2008 Couture at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Photo: Getty
Bella Hadid in 1987 Versace at Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Getty
Jurnee Smollett in 1996 Nina Ricci Haute Couture at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Photo: Getty
Gabrielle Union in 1989 Versace at the 54th NAACP Image Awards. Photo: Getty
Vanessa Hudgens in vintage Chanel at the Academy Awards. Photo: Getty
Laura Dern in Armani Privé Spring 2006 at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party. Photo: Getty
Laverne Cox in vintage John Galliano at the Golden Globes Awards. Photo: Getty
Rooney Mara in vintage Alexander McQueen at the Academy Awards. Photo: Getty
Jenna Ortega in Versace Fall 1994 at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Photo: Getty
Zendaya in Versace Spring 2002 at the 54th NAACP Image Awards. Photo: Getty
Megan Stalter in Vivienne Westwood Spring 2004 at the Scren Actors Guild Awards. Photo: Getty
Rooney Mara in Givenchy Spring 1997 at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Photo: Getty
Originally published in Vogue.com
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