There are moments in fashion history when a designer, brand, and creative vision come together to create a season or even an era-defining collection, which is forever immortalized as a masterpiece. The pieces in these collections serve as historical artifacts, providing a contextual component to a garment’s original narrative. Some of the most iconic fashion moments stem from sampling these “archival” pieces, which remind us of some of the most iconic collections or the individuals who wore them first. The archive has been working in overdrive in the 2020s, with an increasing number of people being drawn towards nostalgia, and increased pressure on public figures to be regarded as fashion-forward. Whether the referential fashion moments that seem to permeate all red carpets from recent memory are reflective of a wider cultural yearn or are a device for personal brand-building, some people pull it off where others fall short. We plan to walk through some of the most iconic archival fashion moments and why they worked so well. 

A testament to his irrefutable impact on the fashion industry, Alexander McQueen’s The Horn of Plenty F/W 2009 Collection has set an obstinate precedent on today’s definition of beauty. Dedicated to the late designer’s mother, The Horn of Plenty is a collection that augments feminine silhouettes while subverting the feminine gaze by erasing modesty and delicacy. 

Hosted in the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, McQueen staged his models gliding across disassembled black glass; indeed, McQueen was an artist who frequently critiqued the fashion industry’s greed via symbolism, and this runway setting is no exception. McQueen hired Camilla Nickerson for the insightful styling and Guido Palau for the iconic makeup. Palau set a decade-long trend with his overlined lips and bleached eyebrows; indeed, top models such as Amelia Gray and Gabbriette strive for this uncanny and avant-garde look today, thanks to McQueen’s project. 

This project can not be discussed without acknowledging McQueen’s inner turmoil during this project’s conception. McQueen was HIV positive and had mixed anxiety and depressive disorder; furthermore, his internal state undoubtedly manifested in the content and symbolism of his projects. The Horn of Plenty encouraged the fashion industry to gaze upon the everyday with an askew lens, asking the audience to view his creation without their prejudices of what is considered acceptable and normal.  

When thinking of celebrities who have been able to master the art of vintage styling, Gabbriette immediately comes to mind.  A model, musician, and newly crowned 2025 “it girl”, she’s known for her gothic, indie-sleeze feminine aesthetic marked by her distinctive thin, ‘90s eyebrows, cool-toned eye makeup looks, and black alien-style sunglasses. She gained popularity as the lead singer of Nasty Cherry, a punk-rock band formed by Charli XCX, her engagement to English musician and lead singer of the 1975, Matty Healy, and a mention in Charli XCX’s hit “360” off her 2024 album and cultural phenomenon, Brat.

Although Gabbriette has many iconic vintage fashion moments from dozens of red carpets and fashion shows, such as the Cannes Film Festival and the CFDA awards, one of her most striking looks appeared during Milan Fashion Week in February 2025, when she walked for Fendi’s 100th anniversary show. She was photographed wearing a sleek, dark two-piece pantsuit from Tom Ford’s final collection for Gucci in fall 2004. 

The ensemble consisted of a jacket and low-waisted pants in a deep plum color with a subtle sheen. The fitted high-neck jacket had strong tailoring through the shoulders and vertical seam details to sculpt the torso with a slight peplum flare at the waist, accentuating her hourglass figure. She wore matching pants, which were perfectly tailored, slim through the leg with a slight flare on the bottom, with a thick waistband. Both the jacket and the pants had velvet trim to add texture, contrast, and make the piece even more eye-catching. She paired the pantsuit with a large black Birkin featuring black hardware and pointed, black lace-up Jimmy Choo heels.

What makes this look so successful is the balance of structure, minimalism, and contrast. The silhouette flatters her body and sculpts her hourglass shape without being overtly feminine. The pants are slimly tailored, so the proportions stay long and sleek. The luxurious fabric brings subtle drama to the look, and the minimal styling with a slick-back bun, simple makeup, limited jewelry, and a black Birkin lets the outfit speak for itself. Overall, the look embodies Gabbriete’s signature iconic style and look; balancing masculine and feminine while being dark, sleek, and effortlessly cool. By: Fiona Poth 

Though an ample amount of the Dune: Part Two press tour accentuated Zendaya and stylist Law Roach gathering remarkable pieces from fashion archives, Zendaya’s New York City premiere look demonstrated how contemporary Haute Couture can be just as significant and relevant. At the premiere, the actress wore a breathtaking white gown made by French designer Stéphane Rolland for the Spring/Summer 2024 collection – a piece that flawlessly exhibits the coalescence between futuristic themes and the film’s desert setting.

Rollan’s collection was inspired by the beauty and boundless depth of the dunes. Crafted from white silk gazar and contrasted with striking gold embellishments, the dress exemplifies modern design and contrasts with the traditional red-carpet gown by its addition of dagger-like cutouts. By: Melany Millor Rodriguez

Kendall Jenner’s 2024 Met Gala look was a stunning 1999 Givenchy Gown designed by the one and only Alexander McQueen. The gown is fully beaded and black and gold. The theme of the Gala was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” — by literally bringing back an archival piece, Kendall was able to bring a courthouse gown back into the mainstream media.  She became the first human to ever wear the gown, truly bringing the piece to life. By: Sophia Shyer

Bella Hadid has become one of the defining figures of the modern archival-fashion movement, and her appearance in 2024 in this Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2004 slip dress only reinforces that reputation. Hadid wore the piece during the promotion of her newest Orebella perfume line, a trio of fragrances built around warm woody notes and soft florals. The dress mirrors this aesthetic: a sheer, neutral-toned slip with a deep V-neckline and delicate floral appliqués that feel both elegant and feminine.

Falling to the mid-calf, the dress is finished with a feathered trim that captures the unmistakable essence of early-2000s Dior. Its airy, translucent, and romantic detailing make it a perfect visual addition of the Orebella collection, finding balance between soft and salient. By: Aubrey Rogers

Mikey Madison is one of the emerging figures in the Hollywood landscape, best known for her role in Anora, for which she won the 2025 Oscar for Best Actress. 

At the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards, she chose a vintage black and white Giorgio Armani gown from the designer’s Fall/Winter 1992 collection, defined by sharp tailoring and its timelessness. The bodice is black velvet, and its simplicity served to emphasize the silhouette of the dress. This is contrasted by the structured ivory waistband that falls into a full, softly pleated skirt. Madison paired it with black gloves with white cuffs and Tiffany & Co. jewelry, further evoking the old-Hollywood glamour Armani often reinterpreted under a modern lens in the early ’90s. 

Through the utilization of contrast, both the textual contrast of the satin-like skirt and the velvet bodice, and chromatic contrast of the black and white Armani, was able to balance preservation of the classical sensibility and restraint he revered with imbuement of a subtle contemporary, exploratory boldness into the work, while aligning with the common aesthetic of minimalism that was ever-present in both eras evoked. By: Sunanya Guthikonda