Stephanie Branchu/Netflix
Step into the closet of your favorite A-list celebrity. Imagine racks that stretch on for days, lined with dresses straight off the runway, shelves stacked with the latest "it" bags and shoes, and drawers dripping in high jewelry. For most celebrities, this fashion fantasy is a reality. Every red carpet and talk show appearance brings a new head-to-toe designer look, never to be repeated. How do the stars sustain such expansive, expensive, ever-changing wardrobes?
A glimpse into Singaporean socialite Jamie Chua Birkin collection. Instagram/@ec24m
The answer lies in an intricate web of brand partnerships, borrowing agreements, and contract perks — a system that keeps celebrities looking flawless while keeping costs (for them) surprisingly low. That's not to say celebs don't love to shop — some A-listers do invest in jaw-dropping wardrobes, complete with high-security safes for their Birkin bags and priceless jewels. More often, though, the clothes simply circulate from runway shows to celebrity photoshoots or TV appearances and back again, never staying in a star's personal possession for long.
The Myth of Celebrity Style
Have you ever seen Jennifer Lopez repeating outfits? Every item in her closet is coded and scanned and every outfit worn is documented so she would not accidentally go for it twice. Instagram/@jlo
From the outside, it's easy to assume celebrities shell out to own every stunning outfit we see them in. Spotting the same star in new designer looks for every appearance, we might imagine their shopping budgets and closet space know no bounds. In reality, much of what celebrities wear is borrowed, gifted, or supplemented as part of wide-ranging endorsement deals. Their envy-inducing wardrobes are the product of a complex ecosystem of fashion industry relationships — a far cry from the average person's approach to getting dressed.
Eiza Gonzalez in Christopher Esber. Instagram/@eizagonzalez
To understand how celebrities play by different fashion rules, we first have to examine their roles as brand ambassadors. Formal contracts with fashion houses have stars wearing certain labels almost exclusively, in exchange for perks like custom clothes, free products, and, of course, major paydays.
The Brand Ambassadors
On the red carpet, we often see Anya Taylor-Joy in Tiffany & Co. jewelry: she is a house ambassador. Instagram/@anyataylorjoy
Many of the long-term, loyalty-driven partnerships between celebrities and fashion brands fall under the umbrella of ambassadorships. A celebrity signs on to represent a fashion house for a set period, often lasting years, and becomes the face of the brand. As part of these symbiotic arrangements, celebrities get early access to new collections, one-of-a-kind custom pieces, and their pick of items to wear for high-profile appearances.
Jennifer Lawrence in custom Dior gown inspired by archive 1950's dress. Instagram/@dior
Actress Jennifer Lawrence's ambassadorship with Dior, for example, ensures she has a steady stream of glamorous gowns and accessories for every red carpet. As a face of Louis Vuitton, actress Emma Stone regularly sports the brand's latest wares both on and off duty. These partnerships allow celebs to step out in fresh-off-the-runway looks without spending a cent, while boosting public awareness and prestige for the brands they rep.
Lisa from Blackpink is Bulgari's Global Brand Ambassador. Instagram/@lalalalisa_m
Of course, not every outfit a celeb wears comes courtesy of an ambassadorship. For many one-off events and appearances, stars (or their industrious stylists) simply borrow the clothes, a practice that keeps their personal wardrobes hyper-current without requiring them to buy everything.
The Borrow and Return Strategy
Do you remember that time Kim Kardashian wore historic Marilyn Monroe dress to the Met Gala? It was lent to her by Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press
Award show red carpets, photo calls, press tours — the list of occasions requiring celebrities to dress to impress never ends. To keep up with the constant demand for new looks, most celebs rely heavily on borrowing designer clothes, shoes, and jewelry just for the event, and returning them immediately after. It's a clever strategy to maximize sartorial impact while minimizing personal investment.
All those rings worn by Blake Lively are borrowed from Lorraine Schwartz. Instagram/@blakelively
Here's how it works: stylists put in requests, called "pull letters", to design houses, specifying the items and sizes they want to borrow for their celeb clients. If approved, the chosen clothes are transported to a fitting with the star, alterations are made if needed, and then it's off to the red carpet. After the event, the loaned looks are promptly returned, often by the next day.
Selena Gomez in Magda Butrym clothes, Manolo Blahnik shoes and Effy jewelry, styled by Erin Walsh. Instagram/@erinwalshstyle
This borrow-and-return system is especially common for pricey couture gowns and high jewelry, which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. When Charlize Theron shimmered in $3.7 million worth of Tiffany & Co. diamonds at the 2020 SAG Awards, or Zendaya channeled Cinderella in a Tommy Hilfiger light-up gown at the 2019 Met Gala, they enjoyed these fairytale fashion moments on a temporary basis, no down payment needed.
Zendaya at Met Gala 2019 in custom Tommy Hilfiger gown. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Some stars, however, have found ways to hold onto those swoon-worthy looks for keeps. Built into certain acting contracts is a special clause that lets leading ladies acquire the designer costumes they wear on screen.
Closet Contract Perks
After "Clueless", Alicia Silverstone got tons of her character's clothing, but Cher aesthetic was too different from actress's personal style, so she ended up giving all those clothes away. Paramount Pictures via Getty Images
For celebs at the top of the A-list, wardrobe contract clauses can turn a single role into a significant expansion of their personal closets. After wrapping a film, the star gets to keep the character's meticulously crafted designer costumes — a major perk given the high budgets and custom work involved in outfitting lead actors.
Everything you see on Elle Woods in Legally Blonde 2, now belongs to the actress. Imdb.com
Reese Witherspoon, for example, famously had a clause written into her contract for Legally Blonde 2 allowing her to keep her entire wardrobe from the movie. The bubbly Elle Woods' on-screen clothes, all chosen by costume designer Sophie Carbonell, included pieces from Versace, Prada, and 77 pairs of Jimmy Choos, now a permanent part of Witherspoon's enviable wardrobe.
Sarah Jessica Parker on "Just Like That" set. One day, we might see exactly this outfit on SJP again. Instagram/@sarahjessicaparker
Sarah Jessica Parker also had a costume clause in her Sex and the City contract, granting her access to Carrie Bradshaw's designer-filled closet. Over the show's six season run, and two subsequent movies, Parker amassed a collection of enviable pieces from Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, Vivienne Westwood and more, often reaching for them in her real life.
While these clothing contract clauses are rare, even for celebrities, they demonstrate the unique ways stars can acquire impressive wardrobes as a job benefit, on top of the more common practices of ambassadorships and borrowing.
Kardashian/Jenner family is selling clothes they don't wear on their personal resale website. Instagram/@kardashiankloset
So what can us non-famous folks learn from the pros when it comes to dressing well? The real takeaway isn't about acquiring more clothes, but rather about making smart choices with what you have.
Curating Your Closet Like a Celebrity
Leonie Hanne in her closet. Instagram/@leoniehanne
We may not have access to endless designer freebies or bottomless borrowing budgets, but we can still apply certain celebrity-inspired strategies to get the most out of our wardrobes:
If you need more down-to-earth celebrity inspiration, look at Olsen twins: they own lots of basic pieces and wear them year after year. ECP
- Invest in versatile basics: Celebs build their wardrobes on a foundation of quality basics that can be mixed, matched, and accessorized many ways. Look for well-fitting jeans, tailored jackets, button-downs, and simple dresses in neutral colors.
Dark sunglasses are the most iconic part of Anna Wintour looks. GC Images
- Find your signature pieces: Every famous fashionista has a few statement pieces they're known for, whether it's Victoria Beckham's oversized sunglasses or Jennifer Aniston's little black dresses. Choose a couple of items that make you feel confident and incorporate them often.
Sleek, smart, tailored pieces are the cornerstone of Victoria Beckham personal style. Instagram/@victoriabeckham
- Tailor for the perfect fit: The secret to stars' polished look is largely in the fit. Find a trusted tailor who can tweak hemlines, nip in waists, and adjust lengths to best suit your body. This is an easy way to make inexpensive pieces look high-end.
Consider renting a dress instead of buying a new one. Instagram/@paolo_sebastian
- Borrow or rent for special events: Take a page from the celeb playbook and consider renting a dress or suit for your next wedding or gala. You'll get to experience a fabulous designer look for a fraction of the retail price.
When Kate Middleton rewears her outfits, she often styles them slightly differently. Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Getty Images
- Style creatively: Celebs and their stylists excel at making old pieces feel new again by switching up accessories, layers, and combinations. Challenge yourself to style your existing clothes in fresh ways before buying more.
Heart Evangelista in her walk-in closet. Sweet Escape via lovemarieescudero.com
Ultimately, the real key to celebrity-level style isn't designer labels or infinite options, but rather a sense of confidence and individual expression. While most of us can't build a wardrobe on freebies and loans, we can learn to make the most of what we have through smart shopping, creative styling, and a healthy dose of Hollywood-inspired fearlessness.
Designer Carla Rockmore and her TikTok-famous closet. Photo by Mackenzie Smith Kelley, Texas Monthly
When you find yourself staring wistfully at a certain star's impossible designer ensemble, remember this: you're not seeing the army of experts, brand agreements, and borrow-and-return logistics that brought that look to life. Chances are, their envy-inducing wardrobe is a temporary illusion, not a permanent collection. And for the clothes they do own, it's more about the woman than the wardrobe.
So rather than pining for a celeb's closet, focus on crafting a personal style that makes you feel every bit as fabulous as them, using what you already own. Because in fashion, as in life, true star power comes from within — no ambassadorship contract required.
