10 Times When Celebrity Outfits Told a Whole Story

More often than not, individuality is the way to go, especially regarding fashion and outfits. When celebrities step out to show off their gorgeous looks, there is more to them than meets the eye. These icons have hidden messages behind the clothes they wear, but sometimes it’s hard to recognize them. We’ve gathered a list of exciting style backstories you might want to read about.

1. Jared Leto

Jared Leto’s expression after seeing the green suit with the pink trousers says it all, as his face looked like he was experiencing love at first sight. However, he claims that it’s not what happened at all.

“The thing about the photo is — I’m going to be honest with you — I was actually making a face at someone across the runway. I have that feeling with most things Gucci makes because they make such beautiful things. But I was actually goofing off with a friend, and you can’t actually tell from the picture.” He sure seemed to love the outfit, though, as he wore it to the premiere of Suicide Squad.

2. Elle Macpherson

“Flashback to the Met Gala 2005...Calvin Klein and flip flops.” Elle Macpherson, no matter what she wears, always looks stunning. But when asked about her favorite red carpet moment, she admits it was when she wore the yellow dress at the Met Gala in 2005. She could pull off the risky flip-flop look, even when her feet were visible most of the night, probably thanks to her tall, beautiful frame.

3. Spike Lee

Spike Lee, an American filmmaker, wore a custom fit that paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant. 2 weeks prior, Bryant had passed away along with his daughter, Gianna, and this basketball fan couldn’t help but show his love and support. Not only that, but he shared a deep connection with the basketball star as he directed the documentary, Kobe Doin’ Work. He wore purple pants and Kobe 9 shoes, one of the 11 signature models in Bryant’s line of sneakers.

4. Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix seems to be an active environmentalist because he wore the same tuxedo to multiple award events to reduce waste. Fashion designer Stella McCartney praised him for this, saying, “This man is a winner... wearing custom Stella because he chooses to make choices for the planet’s future. He also wore this same tux for the entire award season to reduce waste. I am proud to join forces with you.” British broadcaster, Piers Morgan, was also pleasantly surprised, “Wow, this is an incredible sacrifice. Thank you, Joaquin — your planet is grateful.”

5. Zendaya

Zendaya showed up at the 2020 Critics Choice Awards in the same iconic breastplate that Gwyneth Paltrow wore in her Harper’s Bazaar shoot. However, Zendaya wanted it to be designed to fit her body. “We actually tried it a while ago, and Zendaya said that she wanted it to be, in her words, ‘her boobs and no one else’s.’ That one was molded and made specifically for Zendaya,” a source revealed.

6. Beyoncé

At the 2015 Met Gala, Beyoncé was late. But since it was Beyoncé, we can all agree that it’s better late than never. She wore a Givenchy dress with a very high ponytail that caught many people’s attention. Since it looked so chic, one might assume it was planned — but surprisingly, it was done entirely last minute.

Beyoncé’s hairstylist says that her hair was initially supposed to be styled in an Asian-inspired chignon. However, Queen B noted that it looked a bit too costume-like, so they changed it in the elevator five minutes before she stepped out to the Met Gala.

7. Celine Dion

Celine Dion sure knows how to make an incredible entrance no matter what she wears. But one outfit with a specific backstory made her stand out. “When I wore that look, yes, it was at the Oscars, and when I wore that, everyone was wearing dresses, not pants. I was the only one with pants in a backward suit from Galliano, and if I would do this today, it would work. It was avant-garde at the time. And it doesn’t matter, you just have to assume what you wear, you wear, and I did.”

8. Gwyneth Paltrow

During the 2002 Academy Awards, Gwyneth Paltrow decided to take a different path with her style. She wore a Goth and punk look and an Alexander McQueen dress. She has, however, shared some regrets about it. “There were a few issues. I still love the dress itself, but I should have worn a bra, and I should have just had simple beachy hair and less makeup. Then it would have worked as I wanted it to — a little bit of punk at the Oscars,” said the actress.

9. Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid attended the Cannes Film Festival in 2021, and the supermodel prepared seriously for her appearance on the red carpet. The black dress had a very deep cleavage, which was complemented by gilded brass jewelry in the form of lungs. The celebrity later admitted that the outfit was not easy to pull off. She said, “When I looked down, you could see everything. It was very bizarre walking onto the carpet with a breeze in places you wouldn’t usually have a breeze. It was like, ‘It’s gonna happen now. And if five minutes from now there are pictures of my breasts everywhere, then that’s what was supposed to happen.’”

10. Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera’s outfit for the VMAs in 2002 has become one of her most iconic. The singer later said about her wardrobe: “That was literally a scarf. I just scooped it around my back. Trush pulled it up the sides, and I was like, ‘Ok, great. We’re done, we’re going. That’s the look.’”