Why People Pay a Fortune for Celebrity Second-Hand Clothing

A Bet on Enduring Fame
The value of these items is directly tied to the enduring fame of the celebrity. A buyer who spends a fortune on a dress worn by a current pop star is betting that this celebrity will achieve long-term icon status. It's a speculative gamble on fame itself. The more legendary the celebrity becomes, the more valuable the item will be. This makes the purchase a kind of cultural speculation, a high-stakes game of predicting who will be remembered in the annals of history.