11 Stars Who Recreated Legendary Outfits and Got a Round of Applause for Their Efforts

Designers and stylists often see the past as a source of inspiration, for example, the bold Marilyn Monroe dresses, or the elegant suits Audrey Hepburn wore. And in the past several years, fashion has been duplicating the tendencies of the 2000s. This is why celebrities regularly appear at red carpet events wearing outfits we have seen before. This is how they pay tribute to great actors and iconic movie characters.

We at Bright Side compared the looks of stars that wore certain outfits for the first time and those that decided to recreate them.

Marilyn Monroe (1953) and Jessica Chastain (2015)

During the 2015 Golden Globe Awards, Jessica Chastain wore a bronze Atelier Versace dress. It was most likely inspired by the famous Marilyn Monroe dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The golden pleated dress was created by costume artist William Travilla and became a benchmark for many future clothing designers.

Audrey Hepburn (1954) and Saniyya Sidney (2022)

At the 2022 Oscars, the star of King Richard wore an Armani Privé dress with floral appliqués, inspired by Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina. In an interview, Saniyya said Audrey was a fashion icon and the epitome of elegance for her.

Marilyn Monroe (1962) and Kim Kardashian (2022)

At the Met Gala, Kim Kardashian made a splash when she appeared wearing the famous Monroe dress. She didn’t stop there, and after the event, she wore another dress from the most famous Hollywood blonde: a green dress by Norman Norell that Monroe wore for the 1962 Golden Globe Awards. Kim even found the very award Monroe got that night — the Henrietta Award.

Aretha Franklin (1976) and H.E.R. (2022)

In 1976, legendary singer Aretha Franklin appeared on stage to accept an American Music Award. She wore a bright yellow dress with a cape and glitter. In 2022, singer H.E.R. recreated the look by wearing shiny yellow overalls with a tangerine-colored cape.

Whitney Houston (1987) and Sarah Jessica Parker (2008)

In 1987, a photo of Whitney Houston was taken that later appeared on the cover of Life. The 24-year-old singer wore a stunning white dress with big gold hibiscus flowers on her shoulder. It was from Eugene Alexander.

2 decades later, Sarah Jessica Parker’s character in Sex and the City turned it into a mini dress. She wore it at the age of 43 and wasn’t shy. The dress looked almost identical to Houston’s, but it was changed a bit for the film: one of the giant flowers on the shoulder was removed.

Sharon Stone (1998) and Zendaya (2022)

During the 2022 Oscars, Zendaya wore a short Valentino blouse and a long sequined skirt. Everyone loved her bold look, and she was on the list of the most stylish celebrities. This outfit was a tribute to Sharon Stone, who wore a similar look at the 1998 Oscars.

Right now, it’s a classic look, but at the time, the star of Basic Instinct was laughed at for wearing a mass-market shirt, “borrowed from her husband,” tucked into a satin Vera Wang skirt. In the ’90s, luxury clothes and mass-market were rarely mixed. And, definitely, not on the red carpet.

Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston (1998) / Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion (2022)

During the 1998 MTV VMAs, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston wore absolutely identical Vera Wang dresses. In 2022, singers Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion did exactly the same at the Grammys. But this time, they were wearing Versace dresses.

Björk (2001) and Laura Dern (2021)

Everyone remembers the swan-like dress Björk wore at the 2001 Oscars. The feather dress Laura Dern wore during the 2021 Oscars is often compared to the one the singer had. The actress wore the Oscar de la Renta dress that consisted of 2 parts: the top was a black turtleneck, and the bottom was a white skirt made from ostrich feathers.

Gillian Anderson (2001) and Hailey Bieber (2019)

Hailey Bieber’s Met Gala dress sends us straight to the 2000s. It’s closed at the front but open at the back and has a spicy detail. Gillian Anderson wore a similar dress at a party in 2001. The star of X-Files noticed the similarity and praised Hailey Bieber for her choice.

Kate Hudson (2003) and Scarlett Johansson (2004)

Kate Hudson wore a silk yellow dress in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. The look instantly became iconic. And one year later, in 2004, at the Met Gala, Scarlett Johansson recreated it, wearing a tender yellow Calvin Klein dress.

Jennifer Garner (2004) and Ariana Grande (2021)

Ariana Grande wore an iconic vintage dress for The Voice, where she was invited as a jury member. This Versace dress became famous after Jennifer Garner wore it in the romantic comedy 13 Going On 30. By the way, this was not the first time Ariana Grande recreated a look from Jenna Rink. In her music video “Thank U, Next” she appeared in a red blouse and jeans from the same movie.

In your opinion, which of these stars make truly memorable public appearances?