Who Wore it Best? Recycled Hollywood Costumes

Did you ever watch a film and think "I've seen that costume before..."?


While studio-controlled Hollywood often spent lavishly on sets and costumes, it was also notoriously thrifty when it came to getting the most out of its investments. One area  where Hollywood really saved its pennies was in the recycling of costume design. Often, once a beautiful costume made for a star was worn, it had more lives than a cat on secondary or background players. However, once in a while, an outfit made for a star found its way back on a the back of a star or leading player in another film. Of all of the studios, it seems the Fox Studios really got their money's worth and barely let their costumes cool off before they were used again.

In this new era of thrift and making do, who would have thought we'd turn to Old Hollywood to teach us how to handle hand-me-downs? Let's take a look at some interesting re-treads that, with a little mink here and a button there, found life at least twice in the leading lady spotlight.

As the Fashionistas would ask: Who wore it best?

Adrian created this beautiful gown for Garbo to wear in 1931's "Inspiration."

Although Myrna Loy did not wear this knockout in any of her films, she wore it for some glamour shots taken by Hurrell.

Marilyn Monroe's costumes sure got around (though they were rarely filled as well). Here is Marilyn in a sweet little Travilla summer dress from "The Seven Year Itch."

Barbara Nichols showed up wearing the same frock in "Ten North Frederick." Although Charles Le Maire is credited with the costumes, the notoriously thrifty Fox gang probably had this one ready for re-use.

Niagra Falls took a back seat to the beauty that was Marilyn in 1953's "Niagra" looking stylish in this sexy daytime dress.

Was Barbara Nichols raiding Marilyn's closet when she wasn't looking? Here is Barbara in the same dress in 1959's "A Woman Obsessed."

This Orry-Kelly gown was made just for Marilyn's charms in "Some Like it Hot."

Yet, there is Barbara AGAIN in Marilyn's clothes - this time in 1961's "The George Raft Story." Orry-Kelly did not design for this film, but this must have been another case of "if Marilyn wore it, it will fit Barbara."

From what I can see, Marilyn barely got out of a costume before another star popped into it. Here's Marilyn filling her swimsuit admirably for a publicity shot.

Looks like Ann Miller donned the same suit to a slightly different effect.

Marilyn famously sang "That Old Black Magic" in this magical Charles Le Maire outfit in "Bus Stop."

Leslie Caron then fitted herself into the same get-up in 1959's "The Man Who Understood Women."

Fox was not above giving Marilyn a hand-me-down on occasion. Susan Hayward first appeared in this modest Charles Le Maire gown in 1952's "With a Song in My Heart."

In 1956, the basic design made another appearance, this time a little less of it, on Marilyn in "Bus Stop."

The Walter Plunkett costumes from "Gone With the Wind" found new life in other films. Once completed, many of these costumes found their way to the Western Costume Company and appeared, in altered forms, in many period films for years to come.

However, even mighty Scarlett got a re-tread.

This lovely paisley robe was originally worn by Katharine Hepburn in 1936's "A Woman Rebels."

I am sure Scarlett would not have been pleased to know that someone else had worn this ensemble before she did!

And then there is this dress. Apparently, there were several versions of Scarlett's iconic green velvet gown.

One was heavily altered for Anna Lee in 1946's "Bedlam."

And, rumor has it, this "lost" version turned up on a television show many years later...

Hollywood, I am listening and am now following in your thrifty footsteps! As soon as I hit the "publish" button on this article, I am going to comb through my closet and see if a mink trim, a button and a new off-the-shoulder design can kick it up a notch for fall! Why, I feel positively virtuous and just like a Hollywood star!