The 46-year-old said that when she first moved to Los Angeles she had many expensive outfits but no source of income so it was pointless having such a full wardrobe, reported Contactmusic.
"At some point, here in LA, I went completely broke, and I remember looking at my designer clothes, they were so expensive - I was very much into Chanel at the time - but I knew I couldn't pay the rent with them," she said.
"I would go to auditions in Chanel, too, but they didn't get me parts or pay the rent. I remember realising how useless the designer clothes were. I needed a job - it was hard," she added.
While Hayek knows expensive clothes are not essential, she still loves wearing them and along with designer shoes but says high heels aren't for everyone.
"If you are a girl who cannot walk in heels, it doesn't matter how beautiful you are - if you look like a chicken that's been spiked in the feet, it's not sexy," Hayek said.