Cate Blanchett made headlines recently for repeating an item from her 2023 Oscars outfit. Her style statement in multimedia, as she showed it at Nicolas Ghesquière’s—immediately iconic—fall 2024 show. This decision makes her distinctive in an industry dominated by influencers and celebs who never wear an outfit twice. Her accomplishments make her an extraordinary exception on this troubling trend. Blanchett’s choice is representative of a larger movement among style-savvy consumers who favor sustainability over fast fashion.
The latest round of global tariffs has caused a lot of folks to rethink their approach to fashion. After years of economic recovery, costs have sky-rocketed. In response, consumers are more often choosing to re-wear their go-to looks instead of purchasing new apparel. This harmonizes with the growing idea of sustainable fashion, which has at its core the need to minimize waste.
Vogue contributor Lynn Yaeger is the poster child for this mentality. Famous for the favorite touch, Yaeger adds truly unique accessories and ornamentation to each outfit every time it is put on. This tactic allows her to maintain an eye-catching appearance. She’s able to even repeat outfits that other people wouldn’t immediately notice as a repeat.
Similarly, Nick Tran, a representative from Dover Street Market (DSM), emphasizes the importance of maximizing the wear of wardrobe items. Tran’s minimalist approach speaks to a larger commitment to sustainability, with each piece intended to be worn for as long as possible before being “decommissioned.” This belief strikes a chord with anyone wanting to take more sustainable steps in their apparel habits.
Steff Yotka, a representative from i-D, has made her own mark with a red and white Chopova Lowena dress that she frequently dons. Continually donning the dress, Yotka makes the dress her de facto uniform. That’s a refreshing sartorial decision from someone with all that sartorial clout to promote reusing known favorites versus always going after the new hotness.
Photographer Phil Oh has documented this phenomenon extensively, capturing showgoers who embrace their favorite looks. His practice celebrates a diverse community that rejects conformity in their unique personal expression, symbolized by re-wearing looks. It highlights the phenomenon of the “street style Olympics,” in which competitors express their creativity proudly without purchasing new garments.