The epitome of red carpet elegance, awards season, may have come and gone, but its influence lingers, shaping our fashion vocabulary for the year. In 2025, A-list celebrities took a striking approach, embracing vintage charm like never before. Traditionally, the red carpet is a showcase for fresh-off-the-runway looks—stunning but often impractical for wear. However, a refreshing trend has emerged, blending nostalgia with high fashion: the rise of retro fashion on the red carpet. Yes, you read that right—stars are diving into the archives, reviving some of the most iconic looks from past decades and proving that great style doesn’t always have to be brand new.
As we move further into the year in fashion, let’s talk about how retro fashion has made a dazzling comeback. Celebrities have been turning red carpets into full-on nostalgia trips—only with more diamonds and far less angst. Whether it’s a striking designer piece from the ’90s or an even older archival gem, these stars are proving one thing: when done right, vintage never goes out of style.
Why the recent obsession with retro fashion?
Vintage fashion has made a striking comeback on the 2025 red carpets, with more celebrities embracing iconic looks from past decades. Kendall Jenner, at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, perfectly embodied this trend, donning a sheer lace gown from Mugler’s Spring/Summer 1992 collection. Paired with dangling red earrings and sleek black heels, Jenner’s look not only paid homage to vintage glamour but also showcased how timeless fashion can feel fresh and modern. This resurgence of retro styles is becoming a defining moment in this year’s awards season, with celebrities increasingly turning to fashion archives for red carpet inspiration.
See our favorite retro fashion looks spotted on the red carpet during awards season…
#1. Keke Palmer: Chanel in 1985, Because Why Not?
At the 2025 SAG Awards, Keke Palmer had everyone doing a double-take with her breathtaking vintage Chanel gown. The luxurious black dress, adorned with gold trim on the bodice, was originally worn by Jamie Lee Curtis back in 1985. Yet somehow, Palmer made it feel completely fresh and modern. It was the perfect fusion of old Hollywood glamour and contemporary cool, and she absolutely nailed it. Let’s be honest, though—Keke Palmer could make a garbage bag look runway-ready. But in this Chanel number? She looked like the lead in a high-stakes period drama about a chic French spy (who definitely has a fleet of well-trained dogs).
#2. Ariana Grande: The Couture Queen with a Vintage Twist
Ariana Grande, a true connoisseur of vintage fashion, turned heads at the 2025 Golden Globes in a stunning 1966 Givenchy couture gown. With its delicate beadwork and buttery yellow hue, the dress was a flawless nod to the swinging 60s—elegant, timeless, and undeniably chic. But the best part? Ariana has fully embraced vintage this awards season, and we’re absolutely here for it. From Chanel to Dior, she’s been serving up archival perfection with every red carpet appearance.
#3. Olivia Rodrigo: Bringing Back Y2K Coolness
If anyone can transport us straight to the golden era of Y2K fashion, it’s Olivia Rodrigo. At the 2025 Grammys, the pop star delivered a masterclass in early 2000s glamour, stepping out in a sleek black Versace cutout gown from the Spring 2000 collection. Minimal effort, maximum impact—it was everything we loved about the era wrapped up in one striking look. Channeling the best of turn-of-the-millennium style, Rodrigo gave us Paris Hilton-level confidence with a dash of pre-meat-dress Lady Gaga edge. But she didn’t stop there. Vintage has become a staple in her awards season wardrobe, and she’s been leaning all the way into the Y2K aesthetic, proving time and again that retro can feel refreshingly modern.
#4. Kylie Jenner: A Chainmail Dream in Versace
Kylie Jenner is no stranger to jaw-dropping vintage, but at the 2025 Golden Globes, she outdid herself. The reality star turned business mogul stunned in a show-stopping Versace chainmail gown from the Spring 1999 collection. Now, chainmail has been creeping back into fashion, but let’s be real—most of us would end up looking like we wandered into a renaissance fair. Kylie, on the other hand, looked like she was ruling over a futuristic fashion empire. Originally worn by Elizabeth Hurley, this vintage masterpiece got a fresh, modern revival thanks to Kylie’s signature confidence and impeccable styling. If chainmail ever needed a queen to bring it into 2025, Kylie just claimed the throne.
#5. Mikey Madison: A ’90s Dream in Armani
Mikey Madison, the breakout star of the 2025 awards season, made a statement at the Critics’ Choice Awards in a vintage black-and-white Armani gown from the Fall 1992 collection. The look was effortlessly chic—understated, yet dripping with that “I just threw this on and still look flawless” energy. A perfect nod to 90s minimalism, the gown was sleek, refined, and undeniably elegant. It had that rare quality of being both low-key and high-fashion, striking the perfect balance between nonchalant coolness and red carpet glam. It’s the kind of dress that whispers, “I’m effortlessly stylish,” while subtly screaming, “Put me on the cover of a magazine with a martini in hand.”
#6. Chappell Roan: Jean Paul Gaultier Couture That’s Anything But Boring
Chappell Roan brought pure drama to the 2025 Grammys in a Jean Paul Gaultier Couture gown from the Spring 2003 collection, and it was nothing short of spectacular. The intricate craftsmanship, the bold silhouette, the sheer theatricality—it was avant-garde fashion at its absolute finest. Roan has never been one to play it safe, but this look proved she’s in a league of her own. If there’s one takeaway from her red carpet moment, it’s that vintage isn’t just about nostalgia—it can be daring, boundary-pushing, and completely futuristic. Roan, consider your crown officially secured as the reigning queen of making archival fashion feel ahead of its time.
#7. Cynthia Erivo: A 90s McQueen Masterpiece
Let’s wrap things up with the incomparable Cynthia Erivo, who shut down the 2025 SAG Awards in a breathtaking archival Givenchy gown from the Fall 1997 collection, designed by none other than Alexander McQueen. The printed masterpiece was the perfect blend of glamour and drama, making Erivo look like she had just stepped out of a high-fashion 90s music video, ready to command the spotlight. Radiant and effortlessly regal, she proved once again that vintage fashion isn’t just a nostalgic throwback—it’s a timeless statement that can still turn heads decades later.
Conclusion: Vintage Fashion Never Goes Out of Style
In conclusion, the 2025 awards season has made one thing clear—retro fashion isn’t just a relic of the past; it’s a full-fledged red carpet revolution. From Olivia Rodrigo’s sleek Y2K throwbacks to Kylie Jenner’s chainmail moment, celebrities have proven that the most unforgettable looks don’t always come straight off the runway. And let’s be real—if we had access to these fashion archives, we’d all be rocking vintage, too. The takeaway? Style isn’t about chasing the newest trends; it’s about recognizing timeless elegance. So, maybe it’s time to raid our grandparents’ closets—you never know, your next show-stopping outfit might just be waiting for a second life.
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