40 Years, 7,000 Outfits! Does Vanna White Get to Keep Her Dresses from Wheel of Fortune?
Vanna's only worn one dress twice in 40 years of letter-turning.
For over 45 years, Wheel of Fortune has become a game show fixture in households, with players and fans alike physically and mentally spinning their wheels to fill in words. One name that has become synonymous with the show is co-host Vanna White, who has been lighting up letters since 1982 decked out in stunning dresses.
Here's everything we know about Vanna White's dresses on Wheel of Fortune.
Does Vanna White get to keep her dresses from Wheel of Fortune?
Unfortunately, there is no perk from Vanna's job where she gets to hang onto the dresses she wears while turning over letters. "They have to go back to the designer," she told Fox News back in 2016. "But I certainly enjoy wearing them."
Has Vanna White ever worn the same dress twice on Wheel of Fortune?
Surprisingly, only once! According to Time Magazine, Vanna has never worn the same outfit in multiple episodes. That means she and the Wheel of Fortune wardrobe team have made an effort to put her in a different dress for every single installment. Unfortunately, her streak ended in September 2020, when for the first time in her Wheel career, she had to wear a previous dress.
How many dresses has Vanna White worn on Wheel of Fortune?
Over 7,000 episodes of Wheel of Fortune have aired during Vanna's tenure on the show. And considering she almost never re-uses dresses, that means she has worn over 7,000 different gowns during her time on the show!
"Never. Repeat, I never wear the same dress twice," White told KSDK St. Louis before her streak ended in 2020.
Related: See Vanna White's Very First Appearance on Wheel of Fortune
How does Vanna White choose her Wheel of Fortune dresses?
According to Vanna, she has a fitting for new dresses every few weeks. Wheel of Fortune is sent 50 to 60 loaner dresses from various designers. From there, she and costumer Kathi Nishimoto pick out their favorites—usually about 12 or so—which she'll go on to ultimately wear on the show. “The biggest challenge was to just get her to [be vocal about dresses she doesn’t like]," stylist Nishimoto told People. "Because she is so nice, she doesn’t want to say no to anybody."
What kind of dresses has Vanna White worn?
Vanna is naturally known for her elegant gowns on Wheel of Fortune. But over the years, her style has transitioned. "I've gone through all the big styles, [including] the big shoulder pads," she's said. "You name it, I've done it." That includes moving from the floor-length gowns to shorter cocktail dresses. On occasion, she may even be rocking slacks!
What are Vanna White's favorite dresses to wear on Wheel of Fortune?
"My favorite dresses happen to be the comfortable ones," she told Fox News. "A lot of them are so skin tight and don't budge. I feel like I'm wearing a corset and I'm walking for 30 minutes in 5-inch heels. It looks great, but it can be uncomfortable. I still do it, it's part of my job. But if I had the choice, I would prefer stretchy gowns. And I honestly love the cocktail length."
Where does Vanna White get her shoes?
Although her dresses belong to the designers, the sky-high heels she wears are mostly her own. She keeps the dizzying array in her dressing room neatly organized by color. In 2018, she explained to Today which heels are easiest on her feet.
“The ones that have platforms in the front. Guess makes good ones. They’re high heels, but they have a 2-inch platform in the front, so it’s almost like you’re walking on 3-inch heels and not 5-inch heels. I probably have more Guess shoes than any other,” she said.
Related: Watch Player Solve 27-Letter Puzzle With Only One Letter Showing
What's Vanna White's favorite Wheel of Fortune dress?
Vanna told People that her favorite dress in recent memory was a look from former Katy Perry stylist Johnn Wujek. "[It] reminded me of a Barbie dress that my Barbie had when I was 10 years old," she said. “He dressed me for a whole week and every one of those gowns was spectacular."
Is there any dress Vanna White won't wear on Wheel of Fortune?
Despite how many dresses she's worn, there's only one type of gown that Vanna cannot wear on the show: Strapless. "She moves around so much and they slip," says Nishimoto, "and on camera you can’t keep tugging at the top of your dress."
Where can I see Vanna White's dresses on Wheel of Fortune?
If you're looking to browse through all of Vanna's looks, you're in luck! Vanna's page on WheelofFortune.com shows off photos of Vanna's dress from each Wheel of Fortune episode that airs. The show has also created a Pinterest board compiling the pics. Fans can even vote for their favorite Vanna look for the upcoming week.
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