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When sustainability and recycling are part of the design process, celebrity fashion takes on a whole new meaning. Stars have taken environmental concerns to heart in recent years and are adjusting their wardrobes accordingly. The rise in vintage dresses, repeat wearing, and the use of cruelty-free materials has been a game-changer for those looking to use their presence in the public eye for good. From utilizing upcycled household items like coffee filters to discarded glass bottles transformed into crystal beads, a designer’s ingenuity is on full display when they create consciously. Below, a look back at the most daring, dramatic, and environmentally-sound pieces to have appeared on the red carpet in recent memory.
Photo: Getty Images1/132012 - Meryl Streep Wins an Oscar in Upcycled Lanvin
Meryl Streep knows a thing or two about dressing for Oscars night. The acting legend attended the 2012 ceremony in gilded Lanvin by Alber Elbaz. The eco-certified fabric only added to the uniqueness of the design. What’s more, the all-gold number proved to be Streep’s good luck charm: she picked up a record third Oscar for The Iron Lady.
Larry Busacca2/132012 - Cameron Diaz Shines in Stella McCartney
No list of eco-conscious fashion would be complete without Stella McCartney. The designer has led the pack when it comes to creating styles that ars cruelty-free and environmentally conscious. Over the years there have been countless McCarthy hits on the red carpet but one of the most striking was the sparkling number Cameron Diaz wore to the 2012 Met Gala. Long-sleeved with an open back the look complimented Diaz’s statuesque figure with golden organic silk and recycled glass beading.
Photo: Getty Images3/132014 - Lady Gaga Takes Coffee Filters Beyond Starbucks
The outlandish sensibility of Lady Gaga’s outfits means Mother Monster has worn plenty of standout runway pieces over the years. And yet few are as remarkable as the Gareth Pugh Fall 2014 look she wore for a trip to Jimmy Kimmel Live’s South by Southwest special. Made out of upcycled coffee filters, the frothy white coat and towering hat are an example of Pugh’s design ingenuity. “You can do anything with your crazy ideas if you just put your mind to it,” Gaga told Kimmel and his audience. Well said.
Photo: Getty Images4/132016 - Emma Watson Wear’s Calvin Klein’s recycled plastic dress to the Met Gala
No celebrity is more committed to the concept of eco-fashion than Emma Watson. The actor has devoted the majority of her wardrobe to brands that align with her beliefs, and at the 2016 Met Gala, she took things a step further. Watson looked stunning in a corset, train, and matching trousers made with yarns crafted from recycled plastic bottles, a custom Calvin Klein look created in partnership with Eco-Age. Each element of the outfit was sustainable, from the zippers made of recycled metals to the organic cotton bustier. After the event, Watson thanked the design team for allowing her to reuse plastic, one of the biggest pollutants on the planet, in a meaningful way. “Being able to repurpose this waste and incorporate it into my gown for the Met Gala proves the power that creativity, technology, and fashion can have by working together,” she wrote in a post on facdbook. “I am proud to say it is truly sustainable and represents a connection between myself and all the people in the supply chain who played a role in creating it.”
Photo: Getty Images5/132016 - Lily Cole Oscars Look Gives Plastic Bottles a Hollywood Makeover
The Academy Awards are the pinnacle of cinematic glamour, so when model-actor Lily Cole was choosing a look for the 2016 ceremony, she went old school. Cole’s corseted silver Vivienne Westwood gown channeled the spirit of Old Hollywood via a silhouette that was utterly modern. The ruched metallic fabric was made entirely from repurposed plastic bottles. It was worn as part of the Red Carpet Green Dress challenge started by Suzy Amis Cameron, the environmental activist wife of Titanic director, James Cameron.
Photo: Getty Images6/132017 - Rooney Mara Brings H&M to the Oscar After Parties
The environmental drawbacks of fast fashion are numerous, but manufacturers of inexpensive clothing are beginning to do their part. H&M’s conscious collectsion is the Swedish mega-brand’s attempt at a more sustainable approach: each piece must contain at least 50% recycled materials. In 2017, Rooney Mara wore one of the first looks from the collectsion to the Vanity Fair Oscar party. The beige ruffled dress was created with repurposed polyester and managed to look as luxurious as anything else on the carpet that night.
Photo: Getty Images7/132018 - Thandie Newton’s Sustainable Star Wars Tribute at the Cannes Film Festival
The one-of-a-kind Vivienne Westwood dress that Thandie Newton wore to the Cannes premiere of Solo: A Star Wars story made headlines for its hand-painted renderings of the black characters in the franchise. More than a homage, the look created in collaboration with Eco-Age featured organic peau de soie silk and upcycled crystals.
Photo: Getty Images8/132018 - Gisele Bundchen Takes Versace into Sustainable Territory
At the 2018 Met Gala, supermodel Gisele Bundchen showed just how appealing the idea of eco-conscious fashion could be in a custom Versace gown. Donatella’s creations are known for their sex appeal and the asymmetric dress with a daring thigh-high slit delivered on that, but it was also completely sustainable throughout its supply chain. Made with organic silk, cotton, and crystals that came from recycled glass bottles from Brazil, it was a luxurious take on ethical dressing. \
Photo: Getty Images9/132019 - Adut Akech Debuts Valentino’s “Eco-Couture.”
As a muse to Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli, Adut Akech regularly wears the house’s sumptuous gowns on the runway and in real life. For the 2019 Green Carpet Awards, the model—who served as one of the night’s hosts—wore a turquoise look made of reclaimed materials and organic silk. Designed just for her, the couture piece was a real showstopper.
Photo: Getty Images10/132019 - Billy Porter Raises the Final Curtain on Kinky Boots at the Tony Awards
Billy Porter’s outfits have become the stuff of red carpet legend. Still, he outdid himself at last year’s Tony Awards ceremony by turning the velvet curtain from the hit musical, Kinky Boots, into his look. Celestino Couture designer Sergio Guadarrama transformed the set-piece into a gown complete with a train and matching pair of cigarette pants. The high drama outfit was a fitting tribute to the show, which netted Porter his first Tony win and helped to expand his fashion horizons
Photo: Getty Images11/132020 - Lea Seydoux Does Plant-Based Louis Vuitton
Vuitton’s ethical, eco-responsible gowns have gotten a lot of play lately. At the Oscars alone, Laura Harrier, Kaitlyn Dever, and Michelle Williams have all worn variations on the concept. Still, the white tiered look French actor Léa Seydoux wore to this year’s ceremony was exceptional. Made from TENCEL luxe filament yarn and organic silk faille, it was completely sustainable.
Photo: Getty Images12/132020 - Saoirse Ronan Shows the BAFTAs How It’s Done
Though the 2020 BAFTAs encouraged an eco-friendly dress code, only a few celebrities in attendance actually followed it. Little Women star Saoirse Ronan led the pack in a custom Gucci design that utilized discarded satin. Ronan carried the theme through the rest of awards season, using the same fabrication for her Oscars look a week later. \
Steve Granitz13/132020 - Joaquin Phoenix’s Stella McCartney Tuxedo
Sometimes the best style statements are the simplest. Such was the case for Joaquin Phoenix’s 2020 award season wardrobe. To prove a point about reducing waste, the award-winning actor wore a single Stella McCartney tux to each and every show, including the Oscars. Along the way, Phoenix also managed to demonstrate that one good suit is all you need.
