‘Tis the season to be merry—and, if you’re Kourtney Kardashian, to dress in extremely rare archival pieces. The eldest Kardashian sister was tasked with hosting the family’s annual holiday bash this Christmas Eve; so to mark the occasion, she tried on not one, not two, but three vintage outfits. “The vibe of the affair was eclectic wintery chic, including aged hardwood floors, green velvet drapes, chandeliers, fireplaces, and comfort food to bring a homey feel to such an elegant evening,” her stylist of two years Dani Michelle shares with Vogue. “Kourtney wanted to dress up for the occasion, and was most inspired by rich jewel tones.” One look that certainly fell in line with that rich, megawatt color palette, was an emerald green Jean Paul Gaultier silk dress, complete with the designer’s signature cone bra. (This isn’t the first time that Kardashian has worn Gaultier, either—she’s long been a fan of the designer, in particular the label’s vintage semi-sheer, stretchy pieces from the Soleil line.) Then, Kardashian tried a slinky plum dress with crystallized flames by Thierry Mugler. She finally settled on a Tom Ford-era Gucci corseted gown from the Fall 2003 collection, in ruby red. (Look 44 to be exact, originally worn by model Carmen Kass.)
Over the past few months, Kardashian has been regularly gravitating towards vintage outfits, from the aforementioned Jean Paul Gaultier garb, to the ’90s Gucci leather dress she wore to attend the Dior Men fall 2020 show in Miami. Now, the eldest Kardashian is delving even further into the world of hard-to-find archival looks. (After all, her middle sister Kim has long been a fan: Peep her museum-worthy Thierry Mugler, Azzedine Alaïa, and Versace moments from earlier this year.) “When we did a fitting, I pulled everything from early 2000s archives to the latest runways, but she gravitated most to the vintage collections of Jean Paul Gaultier, Gucci by Tom Ford, and Thierry Mugler,” says Michelle on styling Kardashian. “What we loved most about these gowns, and those of the past, is that they don’t compete with the trends of today, but are the actual original concepts and designs that paved the way for modern fashion. It’s thrilling to find these looks in perfect condition.” To track down the items, Michelle tapped an insider’s group of archive dealers. “I sourced the [Tom Ford-Gucci] 2003 runway gown from Janet Mandell, who has been buying museum archives for the last 10 years,” says Michelle. “Just as we have brand showrooms for current designers, I have a network of archival vintage collectors.”
While wearing archive pieces has become something of a trend this year—the choice is sustainable, and plus, who doesn’t like showing off their super collectable discoveries?—it seems that Kardashian has more sentimental reasons for opting for these designers. “She remembers all these designers from an early age as they are what her mommy would wear,” adds Michelle. Nothing like getting into the festive familial spirit this holiday season—and if it’s very fashionable, too, then all the better.
