Fashion plays a large role in media events such as the Golden Globes, Emmys, Oscars, and the Met Gala and features celebrities, stylists, and designers who go all out to create and showcase glamorous and unique outfits. Many spectators tune into these events just to see what dress/tux their favorite celebrities will wear, despite not being huge fans of the movies, television shows, etc. that are highlighted during these events. Still, some fashion fans may wonder what happens to these lavish designs after each event is over and the outfits are no longer needed or used.
Most of the outfits made for award shows and other events, such as the Oscars and the Met Gala, are loaned to celebrities with the purpose of wearing and promoting a certain designer or brand. The outfits are often returned to the designer after the event is over. They are then cleaned and stored in the fashion house’s archive or private storage, especially those from bigger design houses. There, the outfits are maintained and preserved until they are chosen to be shown at museums and other exhibitions, or can have the option to be worn again at another red-carpet event. The design houses may also rent or sell the same or similar designs to the public, especially through bigger fashion rental companies such as Rent the Runway, D’Marsh Couture, and Nuuly. Bigger designers may also hold sample sale events or sell a limited number of replicas of the popular outfits.
Occasionally, celebrities will buy or are paid to wear certain designs, accessories, etc. during these events. Sometimes, an outfit is gifted to the celebrity that wore it when the event is over, especially if it was custom made/designed or made a big statement at said event. However, this was more common before pre-award show fashions became more popular in the 1990s. Some outfits kept by celebrities after big events are even sold on the open market, whether that be from the celebrity themself, someone who acquired the outfit from them directly, or from the fashion house.
There are also rare occasions where red-carpet looks are damaged, lost, or stolen. Damaged outfits are often too fragile after being worn. In that state, they can no longer be preserved and moved or reworn due to them being torn, stained, or damaged during the event or when removing them. For example, Kim Kardashian wore a historic Marilyn Monroe dress to the 2022 Met Gala to highlight clothing preservation and fashion history, needing to lose weight to wear it. The dress had been intentionally fragile, custom made for Monroe, and had aged since last being worn and, combined with not properly fitting Kardashian, was left with threadbare sequins, tears along the back closure, and puckering and pulled seams despite being worn a short period of time before Kardashian changed into a replica. There are also occasions when outfits have been lost by or stolen from the celebrity to turn up later either damaged or being sold by another source. For example, Lady Gaga’s 2019 Golden Globes Gown was allegedly left in her hotel room where it was picked up by a housekeeper and given to lost and found. After months there, the housekeeper was “given” the dress and put it up for auction although it is unclear if the sale went through.
There are many possible lifespans of red-carpet designs after their time at award shows, afterparties, and other events. While some are gifted to or bought by the celebrities that wore them, most are returned to the designer or fashion house to be cleaned and preserved to be shown at museums and exhibitions, reworn at other events, or otherwise rented, auctioned, or sold by the designer. A small amount of these outfits get damaged beyond being preserved or reworn or get lost, stolen, or sold by a third party.