With pre-loved fashion on the rise, celebrities are putting the iconic pieces they have worn back into circulation.
Last week, Kim Kardashian held an auction of clothing from All’s Fair, the legal drama series she currently stars in.
Proceeds will benefit a non-profit law firm providing underserved communities with access to legal resources, specifically supporting women seeking to leave abusive relationships.
Her All’s Fair wardrobe features stunning pieces from luxury houses such as Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana and Mugler.
Gwyneth Paltrow recently held an auction of her dresses as well, with proceeds going to an NGO that delivers fresh meals to people in disaster zones.
“I was sitting with one of my great old friends, (fellow actress) Rashida Jones, and I said, ‘I have all this great stuff that doesn’t go anywhere. I wish I could just have a huge garage sale,’” Paltrow told Vogue.
Jones suggested she contact Julien’s Auction – and she did.
Read more: Second-hand chic: Dutch brides embrace circular fashion for greener weddings
Among the items Paltrow sold were a John Galliano-era Dior dress worn on the red carpet in 1999, as well as the famous ombre Atelier Versace evening gown she chose for the 2010 Country Music Awards and a silver Armani short suit for the Iron Man 2 premiere that same year.
Whoopi Goldberg also partnered with Julien’s Auction, selling a treasure trove of fashion items that defined her career.
Highlights included her 2008 Tony Awards dress by Christian Siriano, a 1999 Bob Mackie-designed costume from when she hosted the Oscars, and a blazer worn in Sister Act 2.
“I’m honoured to partner with the iconic Julien’s Auction to find new homes for these special pieces, which I hope can now bring someone else as much joy as they have brought to me,” she told Women’s Wear Daily.
A portion of the proceeds from her sale, held last month, went to nonprofit organisations One Simple Wish and DonorsChoose.
Sometimes, it is not the celebrities themselves selling their clothes.
As both a designer and costumier, he shaped some of the most iconic fashion looks in showbiz.
Among the pieces sold were Turner’s silver and gold fringed bodysuit from a 1977 performance at Caesar’s Palace and Cher’s pink embellished leotard from 1978.
Also auctioned off was a Mackie design first worn by Carol Burnett in 1973, which later found new life on Ariana Grande during her Saturday Night Live appearance last December.
Read more: Circular fashion steps: The Paris workshop that turns discarded sneakers around
Pre-loved fashion is indeed a booming trend.
According to Research And Markets, the global secondhand apparel market is projected to grow from US$198.64bil (approximately RM802.6bil) in 2025 to US$485.97bil (RM1.96 trillion) by 2031, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 16.08%.
Gone are the days when second-hand meant frumpy – today, “vintage” is celebrated as a mark of fashion savvy.
Shifting consumption habits among the Gen Zs and Millennials are driving this change.
A 2025 eBay report found that nearly 80% of these demographics identify as participants in the recommerce movement.
For celebrities, recycling dresses for different red carpet events is no longer a faux pas too. It is now praised for curbing waste.
In turn, the rich and famous digging into their closets to sell their clothes has become a decidedly chic act.
While they may not be doing it for profit, it does help shape perceptions about thrifting. They are transforming wardrobe recycling into a socially conscious and acceptable gesture.
