As the old saying goes, 'sharing is caring' - although not always when it comes to clothes.

Rare are the mothers and daughters who haven't bickered over why their favourite item appears to have taken up residence, uninvited, in the other's wardrobe.

While most mums might have nothing more compelling to interest their offspring than a vintage T-shirt from the dawn of time (any item hailing from before 2005), if you are an A-lister, the stakes are somewhat higher. When your career has afforded you a wardrobe that would give Selfridges a run for its money, you can hardly blame your daughter for wanting to get her mitts on the spoils.

Carys Douglas celebrated her 21st birthday in an Emanuel Ungaro slip dress first worn by her mother, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, at the MTV Awards in 1999 

The Apple doesn't fall far from the tree! As Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter dons the same daring gown

There is something peculiarly poignant about mothers and daughters sharing long-treasured clothes - as Courteney Cox and Coco show

Which is probably why the latest Hollywood style trend isn't Bardot bangs or crochet, but wearing your mother's old dress.

Obviously 'old' in Hollywood terms means 'vintage, designer and in pristine condition', as opposed to 'bought in Etam in the Eighties and riddled with moths'. Think classic, fashionable pieces that have stood the test of time, and look just as good now as when they were first worn. Which is what happens when you can afford a state of the art, temperature-controlled storage system.

When it came to attending the Oscars herself in 2023, a then 15-year old Valentina Paloma Pinault did so in a red strapless Isaac Mizrahi gown originally worn by her mother

The latest celebrity scion to raid her mother's wardrobe is Carys Douglas, who celebrated her 21st birthday in an Emanuel Ungaro slip dress first worn by her mother, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, at the MTV Awards in 1999. In this season's hottest colour - pale pink - and embroidered with sequins, it was a judicious choice, and Carys looked lovely.

When your mother is Oscar red carpet regular Angelina Jolie, it could be considered daunting to borrow a dress that she indubitably wore to acclaim and fanfare the first time around. Happily, this didn't deter Zahara Jolie-Pitt from borrowing the dazzling gold sequin Elie Saab gown last seen on her mother at the 2014 Oscars.

Zahara Jolie-Pitt borrowed a dazzling gold sequin Elie Saab gown last seen on her mother at the 2014 Oscars 

'Old' in Hollywood terms means 'vintage, designer and in pristine condition' - as showcased by Grier in her mother Brook Shields' sparkling number

When it came to attending the Oscars herself in 2023, a then 15-year old Valentina Paloma Pinault did so in a red strapless Isaac Mizrahi gown originally worn by her mother, Salma Hayek, to a less prestigious event.

Apart from being a ringing endorsement for sustainability, there is something peculiarly poignant about mothers and daughters sharing long-treasured clothes. When my then 13-year-old appeared at the dinner table in a dress I hadn't worn - or seen - since my school leavers' prom, it felt like falling down a rabbit hole. The dress was rather monstrous - I'd designed it myself - but she made it look beautiful.

No doubt Hollywood's A-listers feel the same glow of pride when they see their own favourite dresses brought to life once more.