What happens with the outfits of celebrities after the red carpet

The different life paths of red carpet outfits

The fates of these outfits can vary very differently. Some are stored, others are shown in exhibitions, some get to the open market, while some are bought by the supporting personalities themselves. In some cases they don't even survive the night.

Lucy Bishop, an expert in fashion and handbags at Sotheby’s, notes that the importance of red carpet outfits has increased enormously in the past two decades. A key moment was the Chartreuse-colored, embroidered dior dress, which Nicole Kidman wore at the Oscars in 1997 and which initiated the partnership trend between fashion houses and celebrities.

The role of the fashion houses

fashion brands are often responsible for the fate of the outfits because they often have the designs. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Zendaya have known to keep some of their most famous clothes in their wardrobe. Kardashian stated that she "kept" her Met Gala-Outfits, with the exception of the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress, which she was wearing two years ago and then to Ripley’s Believe it or not! gave back.

The preservation of clothes

The first step after a red carpet event is the cleaning of the garment. Sarah Scaturro, chief holder in the Cleveland Museum of Art, explains that lotions, oils and makeup residues can form that cause oxidation over time and change the color and texture of the fabric.

After cleaning, the outfits end up in specialized storage facilities, either in the archive of the fashion houses or in private archives such as that of Julie Ann Clauss, founder of The Wardrobe. There the outfits are kept carefully for years and only removed for exhibitions or reuse, which is increasingly popular due to the trend vintage fashion on the red carpet.

exhibitions and their challenges

The presentation and storage of the approximately 100,000 parts in the storage of Clauss are always treated individually. Some pieces are hung up, others stowed and some have to be draped in a certain way, for example on a tailor. The logistics to transport these outfits to exhibitions requires specialized know-how, especially with fragile or elaborate designs.

The story of red-carpet dresses

Before the influence of the fashion houses in the 1990s gained importance, it was common for the wearers to keep their clothes or to pass it on. Elizabeth Taylor gave away the dior dress that she was wearing at the Oscar ceremony, and it was later found in a suitcase of her friend before it was sold at an auction for $ 200,000.

In today's world, however, unexpected discoveries are still passing. After the Golden Globes 2019, Lady Gaga left her shimmering dress in the hotel room, where it was brought to the lost property office by a hotel employee. It spent months there until it was offered as a gift for the employee for auction. In other cases, clothes simply do not survive the event. Tyla carried a unique Balmain dress to the MET GALA, which was later shortened by designer Olivier Rousteins during the event so that it could move.