What Happens to Those Dresses After the Gala?

Have you ever wondered what happens to those incredibly fancy gowns worn to the Oscars, Golden Globes and other awards shows once the night is over? Certainly most women would never be caught in the gown again – and they wouldn’t exactly loan it to their friend to wear for another occasion. So what happens?

CNN recently covered this topic and their findings were quite illuminating. The afterlife of a red carpet gown is far more complex and carefully orchestrated than you might imagine. Immediately after an event, these garments undergo a cleaning process to remove any traces of makeup, perfume, or body products that could damage the fabric over time. This preservation step is crucial, as even invisible residues can oxidize and alter the garment’s color and texture.

Most gowns then make their way to specialized storage facilities, either owned by fashion houses or private archivists like The Wardrobe. These aren’t ordinary storage units – they’re more like museums, with carefully controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions. Each piece receives individualized treatment: some hang, others rest in boxes, and some require custom dress forms to maintain their shape. The storage method depends entirely on the garment’s construction and materials.

These preserved gowns can follow several paths. Some are selected for museum exhibitions, becoming historical artifacts that document both fashion evolution and cultural moments. The logistics of moving these pieces are incredibly complex – some require seven-foot-tall custom crates for transportation. Other gowns become part of fashion house archives, preserved for future reference and inspiration.

Occasionally, celebrities purchase their gowns, as Kim Kardashian has done with her Met Gala outfits. In rarer cases, gowns take unexpected journeys – like Elizabeth Taylor’s Dior Oscar dress being discovered in a friend’s suitcase years later, or Lady Gaga’s Golden Globes gown allegedly ending up in hotel lost and found. Some garments, like Tyla’s 2023 Met Gala Balmain creation, are even deliberately altered or partially destroyed after their red carpet moment, becoming part of the evening’s performance art.

This careful preservation of red carpet gowns reflects their evolution from mere clothing to significant cultural artifacts, worthy of museum-quality care and documentation.

Happy Birthday Kate!

The Duchess of Cambridge celebrated the big 30 earlier this week.  Yes indeed, Kate Middleton – wife of the Duke of Cambridge (aka Prince William), exited her second decade in life and became 30.  Rumors of various plans for this celebration were discussed in a previous post but, at the end of the day, what really did Kate get to do on her special day?

Well, it seems that contrary to rumors of the big birthday bash being thrown for her by her sister and brother-in-law Pippa and Harry, her celebrations were quite low-key.    She simply ate dinner with family and friends in private quarters at Kensington Palace.

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It seems therefore, that rumors preceding the day (along with the press) got it quite wrong – or maybe they were being purposefully misguided.  Ultimately what Kate did on her birthday was just enjoy a pleasant dinner with those nearest and dearest to her.  Neither the gifts she received – nor the food she ate on the night of her special day prepared by her favorite chef – have as yet been revealed.

The only thing we did manage to find out was the gift she – sort of – received from Kim Kardashian.  On the day of the Duchess’ birthday, Shoe Dazzle and Kardashian presented the world (in her honor) with ‘The Duchess’ a black, leather-quilted platform pump.  It is unlikely however, that Kate will be seen wearing a pair of these shoes, but still, as they say, the thought was there.