Upcycled, Reused & Sustainable: Our Favourite ‘Green’ Carpet Oscars Looks

While the red carpet is typically famous for featuring the most glamorous brand new custom-made gowns, this year’s Oscars saw high-profile Hollywood celebrities turn away from the wasteful tradition in favour of more eco-friendly looks. This comes as no surprise, as the climate crisis and the complicity of the fashion industry in fuelling greenhouse gases and pollution has taken over headlines in recent years. With more consumers waking up to the reality of the climate emergency, even the pre-Oscars menu went plant-based in a bid to lower the carbon footprint of the event, and accordingly, the stars decided to hop on the sustainable fashion trend too. From upcycled gowns to rewearing dresses, here are some of the green looks donned during the evening. 

Jane Fonda recycles previous 2014 look

After swearing off purchasing new clothing during a November climate protest, actress Jane Fonda stuck to her word by re-wearing a dress she wore in 2014 to the Cannes Film Festival at this year’s Oscars ceremony, where she was the final presenter of the night.

Léa Seydoux wears sustainable & plant-based Tencel dress 

French actress Léa Seydoux chose a floor-length gown by Louis Vuitton, made from renewable wood-based Tencel Luxe filament yarn in partnership with the Red Carpet Green Dress (RCGB) campaign, a women-led initiative working on making sustainable designs mainstream. It is the second year the luxury brand Louis Vuitton collaborated with RCGB to create greener red carpet looks.

Joaquin Phoenix in own preloved tuxedo

Best actor winner Joaquin Phoenix didn’t just steal the show with his impassioned speech calling out animal rights and climate change, he walked his talk by wearing the same Stella McCartney suit that he has worn during the entire awards season, from the Golden Globes to the BAFTAs. 

Sandy Powell rewears BAFTA white suit

Costume designer Sandy Powell decided to re-wear her white suit that she wore to the BAFTAs event last week. At the Oscars, her suit was signed by several nominees to be auctioned off in the future for a good cause.

Elizabeth Banks brings back 16-year-old dress at Oscars after-party

Elizabeth Banks showed off her Badgley Mischka dress she first wore to the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2004. In her Instagram post, she said she hopes to “bring global awareness to the importance of sustainability in fashion and consumerism” to inspire climate action. 

Olivia Colman showcases eco-velvet dress 

Olivia Colman wore a gown made by Stella McCartney using a sustainable velvet material created from eco viscose. 

Kaitlyn Dever also chooses Tencel gown

Kaitlyn Dever donned a red Louis Vuitton gown that was also designed and created with RCGB, and is made using the same eco-responsible silk satin blended with Tencel, embroidered with crystals and beads. She also wore custom-made platform shoes by Aldo, a certified climate-neutral brand that offsets 100% of its carbon emissions.  

Arianne Phillips repurposes previous Oscars dress

Costume designer Arianne Phillips wore a gown that had been repurposed and upcycled with the help of Moschino’s Jeremy Scott. She wore the original dress at the 2012 Oscars event, and Scott redesigned it into a black-sleeved dress.

Lead image designed by Green Queen, all others as credited.