Padma Lakshmi doesn’t like to let anything go to waste, including awards show gowns.

The 48-year-old “Top Chef” host stunned the crowd on the red carpet with her matching red dress, though some were quick to notice it wasn’t the first time she’d worn it.

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Padma Lakshmi attends the 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. – Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Padma Lakshmi attends the 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. – Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

“I’m excited to wear this beautiful J. Mendel dress again,” Lakshmi told People. “I think in this day and age we should stop sending the message to young women and girls that we all have these endless closets of clothes we never wear more than once, especially on a red carpet.”

Lakshmi had previous shown off the dress on the red carpet at the 2017 Vogue India Women of the Year Awards in Mumbai last October.

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Padma Lakshmi poses for a photo during the 10th edition of the ‘Vogue Women of the Year Awards’ event in Mumbai on September 24, 2017. – Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images
Padma Lakshmi poses for a photo during the 10th edition of the ‘Vogue Women of the Year Awards’ event in Mumbai on September 24, 2017. – Photo: STR/AFP/Getty Images

“The hours that it takes, the artisans’ labor and the gorgeous fabrics all deserve to be worn again and treasured,” Lakshmi said of her decision to recycle the dress. “It seems wasteful not to enjoy these dresses.”

There was one small difference with the red gown this time around: Lakshmi pinned a blue ribbon to it in support of the American Civil Liberties Union.