A new wave of young Hollywood stars is turning to the past for red carpet inspiration, reviving iconic dresses from the 1990s and early 2000s. Celebrities like Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, and Maisie Williams are breathing new life into vintage ensembles, a trend that has designers and stylists taking notice.
Most recently, Lili Reinhart, 29, donned a recreation of the ethereal yellow silk gown worn by Kate Hudson in the 2003 romantic comedy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days." Reinhart's stylist, Ib Abdel Nasser, revealed the dress was a 2000s Caché iteration of the original custom Carolina Herrera piece, designed in collaboration with the film's costume designer, Karen Patch. This look is part of Reinhart's press tour for her new film, "The Love Hypothesis," which pays homage to leading ladies of classic romantic comedies.
Gigi Hadid also recently paid tribute to fashion history by modeling Elizabeth Hurley's iconic black Versace dress, held together with safety pins, for the cover of 72 magazine. Hurley originally wore the striking gown to the premiere of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" in 1994. The dress, a relative unknown designer choice for Hurley at the time, gained significant media attention. Maya Jama previously recreated this look for the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards.
Maisie Williams, 29, has drawn inspiration from Sandra Bullock's style for her press tour for "Practical Magic 2." Williams wore a black off-the-shoulder dress similar to one Bullock wore to the premiere of "Infamous" in 2006. Another look for Williams' press tour was a red satin dress that mirrored a red carpet style Bullock sported in 1999 for the premiere of "Forces of Nature." Williams' stylist, Dino Bonačić, aimed to capture the rebellious energy of the 1990s that he felt connected with Williams.
Zendaya, 30, has also embraced this trend, notably wearing a vintage Caché one-shouldered floral dress to the ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards in March. This dress was famously worn by Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie Bradshaw in the 2008 "Sex and the City" movie. However, the original gown was a 1987 Eugene Alexander design worn by Whitney Houston for the cover of Life magazine.
Sydney Sweeney, 28, emulated Angelina Jolie's 2004 Academy Awards look at the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Sweeney recreated the plunging halter-neck Marc Bouwer gown, complete with a matching shawl and layered necklaces.
Experts suggest the appeal of this trend lies in nostalgia and the desire among Gen Z to find pieces with existing stories, moving away from the constant cycle of new fashion. This approach not only allows young stars to stand out but also connects them to fashion history. The trend extends beyond individual celebrities, with children of stars also borrowing from their mothers' wardrobes. Carys Douglas, daughter of Catherine Zeta-Jones, wore a vintage Emanuel Ungaro dress to her 21st birthday, and Valentina Paloma Pinault, daughter of Salma Hayek, wore a 1990s Isaac Mizrahi gown to the Oscars.