You Won’t Believe Which 10 Celebs Nailed—or Totally Flopped—These Iconic Fashion Comebacks
Is it just me, or does watching celebrities resurrect iconic fashion moments feel a little like time traveling—but with a twist? Sometimes it hits you right in the feels—nostalgic, bittersweet, like a well-loved mixtape your ex made you. Other times… well, it’s like watching someone try to bake a cake without a recipe: ambitious but a bit of a disaster. Especially when these glamorous throwbacks crash the Met Gala or other high-profile red carpets, fans inevitably whip out their keyboards and the verdicts can be brutally hilarious or downright savage. From Beyoncé channeling the King of Pop to Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan vibes, some celeb recreations spark lively debates, questions of cultural homage, and even a dash of controversy. So, who nailed it and who missed the mark? Let’s dive in and dissect the moments that had us all scratching our heads, laughing, or just plain gawking. Ready to take a stylish stroll down memory lane?
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It’s always a blast from the past when celebrities try recreating iconic looks worn by other A-listers. Sometimes it’s a nostalgic, bittersweet feeling, especially if there’s an emotional story behind the outfit.
But other times, it doesn’t go quite so well — particularly when it comes to a prestigious fashion event like the Met Gala.
Fans tend to have strong opinions about celebrity fashion, more so when said celebrity is revisiting a look that’s been loved and talked about for years. From Gigi Hadid to Timothée Chalamet, here are a few people that sparked conversation by throwing us back in time.
#1
Beyoncé
Directing our attention to the Super Bowl 50 instead of the star-studded Met Gala, Beyoncé was seen strutting on stage in a black and gold ensemble that took inspiration from an outfit worn more than two decades ago by the one and only Michael Jackson.
It was a trip down memory lane for those who were fans of the King of Pop, but some weren’t huge on the comparison.
“Her name shouldn’t be even mentioned in the same sentence as Jackson,” someone slammed. “He stands alone as the greatest performer to ever take the stage.”
Coming in strong was the Euphoria star’s look for this year’s Met Gala: the theme emphasizing the history of Black menswear.
Sweeney showed up in a glittering black gown that pooled gently by her ankles, and one user on X, formerly known as Twitter, drew a comparison between her outfit and Kim Novak’s gown in the 1968 film The Legend of Lylah Clare, a custom design by Miu Miu.
Most people loved the look but believed it didn’t pay homage to the event’s dress code.
“Still not the theme,” someone wrote. “Was supposed to be in honor of black not white.”
“She said the dress is black,” another joked.
Zendaya’s white suit fit the theme perfectly and, as one fan said, “cleaned across the board.”
But the sleuths of the Internet managed to do a little more digging — and found some problematic dirt.
“The origin of the three piece suit and fedora can be traced back to northern Europe WHITE PEOPLE,” one person pointed out. “Stop the cultural appropriation.”
Another said, “Shame she chose a design by zionist Pharrell.”
Billie Eilish’s dress at the 2021 Met Gala was no doubt one of the highlights of the night. In addition to her blonde hair for her second album Happier Than Ever, the singer has drawn many comparisons to none other than Marilyn Monroe.
According to The Marilyn Report, Eilish said she had always wanted to create the lavish ballgowns of the ‘holiday Barbies’ she adored as a kid.
But those online believed the color palette wasn’t playing to her strengths.
“Yeesh, that is not a good color on her. What was de la Renta thinking?!” one person asked.
“She choose [sic] the worst possible colour for her skin tone,” a second chimed in.
Gigi Hadid’s golden dress was the right move… if it were on theme.
Many stars who attended the Met Gala were encouraged to reimagine previous historical outfits, while also honoring Black menswear and dandyism. But as deemed by fans, the model unfortunately missed the mark.
“Soooo disappointing,” one person commented. “Such an incredible opportunity to not wear a standard gown and to showcase tailoring in this gorgeous way.”
However, another person defended Hadid and claimed it did fit the theme.
“She is referencing Zelda Wynn Valdes, an African American designer who, in 1940’s Broadway opened a design and dressmaking studio (one of the 1st black owned business near) after learning her trade as a seamstress and designer at what I understand was her uncles tailoring shop,” they clarified.
