The Fashion Psychology of Celebrities Wearing Archive Pieces on Red Carpets
The Fashion Psychology Behind WEARING ARCHIVAL PIECES
Merging past and present on the Red Carpet
In recent years, celebrities have increasingly embraced the art of wearing archival fashion pieces on red carpets, with a particular spotlight on moments where one star dons a piece previously worn by another icon. The emotional and symbolic power behind these sartorial choices is significant, merging the past and present to create a profound dialogue between fashion, celebrity, and nostalgia.
One of the latest examples of this phenomenon occurred at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), where singer Sabrina Carpenter made headlines for wearing an archival Bob Mackie shimmering, silver corseted gown that Madonna originally wore to the 1991 Oscars. By choosing this particular piece, Sabrina brought Madonna’s legendary red carpet moment into the modern pop landscape, reinforcing the cyclical nature of fashion and celebrity influence. But what’s even more fascinating is the deeper psychology behind such decisions—why are celebrities drawn to these archive moments, and what does it say about their relationship with fame, legacy, and identity?
Nostalgia and Its Power
Wearing a gown once worn by Madonna, one of pop culture's most transformative figures, allows Sabrina Carpenter to channel the energy and legacy of the star. Nostalgia plays a significant role in this act.
Psychologically, nostalgia creates a sense of comfort and continuity, both for the wearer and for the audience. In an ever-changing fashion world, revisiting a classic or iconic piece offers a moment of stability, a reminder of cultural moments that have shaped pop and fashion history.
For Sabrina, wearing an archival Bob Mackie piece isn’t just a fashion statement—it’s a way of aligning with the legacy of Madonna’s rebellious and trailblazing persona, creating a bridge between generations of entertainers. The appeal of nostalgia is particularly potent in an era where the digital age moves rapidly, with trends coming and going at lightning speed. Celebrities and their audiences often crave these throwbacks to "simpler" or more recognizable times, making these archival moments more emotionally resonant.
The Art of Tribute and Cultural Conversation
Wearing another celebrity's archival piece can also function as a tribute. It’s a form of homage, paying respect to the wearer’s predecessors. This was evident when Kim Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe's iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress at the 2022 Met Gala. The moment sparked conversations about Monroe’s influence on Hollywood glamour, as well as debates over who has the right to wear such iconic garments. The psychological dynamic at play here is one of admiration and acknowledgment. By choosing to wear an item tied to such a historic figure, Kardashian connected her own influence to that of Monroe, subtly drawing parallels between their personas as modern symbols of beauty, sexuality, and fame.
The conversation around these moments often extends beyond the dress itself to include themes of celebrity power, personal branding, and the performative nature of fame. In a sense, wearing archive pieces is an intricate form of storytelling, where the wearer and the original icon both share the narrative spotlight.
Fashion as a Vessel for Reclaiming Identity
Beyond nostalgia and tribute, there’s a deeper layer of identity reclamation. When celebrities like Zendaya wear archive pieces, as she did with her 2021 BET Awards look—a tribute to Beyoncé’s 2003 BET outfit—it’s not only about the dress but also about reclaiming a piece of cultural history. The decision can signal a desire to be part of a continuing legacy, positioning oneself within a lineage of power, success, and iconicity.
From a fashion psychology standpoint, this act of “fashion reincarnation” offers a psychological boost. Wearing a dress with a historical or emotional connection to another prominent figure allows the celebrity to tap into that figure’s charisma and influence, subtly borrowing from their aura while contributing their own twist to the garment’s narrative.
The Red Carpet: A Stage for Fashion’s Cultural Recycling
Ultimately, the phenomenon of celebrities wearing archive pieces on the red carpets of other stars is more than just a fashion trend—it’s a cultural statement. The red carpet itself is a performative space where celebrities project their identities, aspirations, and affiliations to the world. By wearing a dress from another era, a star taps into the emotional potency of that time, blending their personal image with the legacy of the original wearer. This fusion creates a powerful emotional response in the audience, who not only admire the dress but also engage in the cultural conversation surrounding it.
In Sabrina Carpenter’s case, wearing Madonna’s Bob Mackie gown at the 2024 VMAs represents both a nod to the past and a declaration of her place in the present, an attempt to inherit the rebellious spirit of Madonna while shaping her own identity as a modern pop star.
From Madonna to Marilyn Monroe, Beyoncé to Zendaya, archive pieces on red carpets highlight the interconnectedness of celebrity culture, the cyclical nature of fashion, and the psychological desire for continuity, nostalgia, and homage. They blur the lines between past and present, creating a space where the wearer, the original icon, and the audience all interact in a shared moment of cultural reflection.