Renate Reinsve arrives at the Cannes Film Festival wearing a custom Ami Paris suit first seen on her Sentimental Value co-star Stellan Skärsgard. Courtesy of UNIVERS
From Julia Roberts to Cate Blanchett, Renate Reinsve’s reworn suit is an ode to more than just Stellan Skärsgard.
“Still smells like daddy,” Renate Reinsve wrote on her latest Instagram post. At the Cannes Film Festival, the Fjord and Backrooms actress was photographed in a custom oversized Ami Paris suit designed by Alexandre Mattiussi, complete with a slim pair of frames and pointed leather pumps. Swipe the image to the left and the reason for her caption becomes clear: the exact look made an appearance on the carpet just days before, on Stellan Skärsgard, the actor who played Reinsve’s father in the Oscar-nominated film Sentimental Value, where the two received Best Actor nods.
Reinsve’s borrowed menswear ensemble is reminiscent of Julia Roberts’ seminal Armani suit, which at the time garnered attention for subverting sartorial gender norms. Reflecting on that moment nearly four decades later, Roberts told Vogue, “This was one of my all time favorite outfits for the Golden Globes… I could not have known that it was going to become this, like, statement outfit. I just thought I looked fabulous, and I still have that suit.”
Today, distinctive binary labels in fashion matter less than they ever did. If in the past, luxury houses would disallow stylists to pull womenswear for menswear talent, women now take to events clad in suits, while traditionally masculine-presenting men like Brad Pitt are printed on magazine covers donning dresses or skirts. Fluidity is not so much a novelty as it is a way of life; even the words “unisex” and “androgyny” have transcended garment categories and are also used to describe hairstyles, objects, and restrooms.
In a similar vein, rewear isn’t new, not even at silver screen premieres. Comedian, actress, and author Tiffany Haddish happily wore her Alexander McQueen frock five times, while Cate Blanchett’s new and vintage gowns have stolen the spotlight on more than one occasion. The latter’s Armani Privé was even given a new life by Zendaya, who, for her The Drama press tour, wore Blanchett’s custom gown. (Fans speculate that Zendaya’s wardrobe for the nuptial-themed film revolved around the popular wedding tradition of wearing something old, new, borrowed, and blue. Blanchett’s dress was ostensibly her “borrowed.”)
On our shores, we resonate with a similar tradition of shared rewear. Clothes get passed on from sibling to sibling to cousin to offspring when outgrown, and shared closets between couples are not uncommon. Back in 2022, Vogue Philippine’s own launch party had a dress code of Rewear, prompting guests to scour their closets for items they already owned, or look elsewhere for those they could rent for the night. For some, it was an opportunity to introduce contemporary touches to past-season pieces, like actress Gabbi Garcia who sported archival Celine reworked by designer Neric Beltran.
Reinsve’s recent outfit might be one in a slew of many, but any addition to the growing list of reworn and repurposed fashion looks is a win, especially for an industry responsible for between two to eight percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That it also reinforces the newfound futility of gendered sartorial labels is an added bonus. To paraphrase Olivia Dean, fashion, like love, is never wasted when it’s shared.
Frequently Asked Questions
Renate Reinsve is a Norwegian actress best known for her breakthrough performance in The Worst Person in the World, which earned her the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.
Stellan Skärsgard is a Swedish actor known for his work in films such as Good Will Hunting, Mamma Mia!, Dune, and Pirates of the Caribbean, as well as the television series Chernobyl and Andor.
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Held annually in Cannes, France, it showcases new films from around the globe and is known for its influential awards and red-carpet appearances.
Sentimental Value is a drama film directed by Joachim Trier and starring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skärsgard. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received critical acclaim.
Rewear fashion refers to the practice of wearing garments multiple times rather than treating them as single-use outfits. It is often associated with sustainability, conscious consumption, and extending the life of clothing.
