Top 20 Celebrities Who Reinvented Their Red Carpet Style

#20: Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence wasn’t always considered a style icon, and she’s had a few red carpet missteps along the way. However, as her career progressed, she fell into a rhythm with solid-colored Dior gowns, and her image was also influenced by whatever franchise she was starring in. Then, in 2017, her “Mother!” premiere looks showed off a brand new side of the actress, and this pivot set the stage for her subsequent reinvention with stylist Jamie Mizrahi. With a fresh new fashion-forward feel, the more playful attire perfectly captures the performer’s personality.

#19: Taraji P. Henson

There’s no question that Taraji P. Henson has been delivering show-stopping red carpets ever since she was an up-and-coming actress. From her early 2000’s it-girl style to her more flowy and feminine phase, her image has evolved with the times while continuing to express her fun persona. Though many female celebrities settle into more reserved outfits with maturity, the longtime star has actually stepped up her glamorous styling in recent years. Now she doesn’t shy away from risk-taking pieces, and with tailored suiting and bold silhouettes, she’s found a new level of finesse with her latest looks.

#18: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen

After years of matching outfits, the Olsen twins first started branching out with flowy boho dresses. Then, in 2006, they started their fashion brand The Row, and their image evolved from eclectic vintage wear into more pared-back attire. However, they truly found their stride when they embraced all-black and monochromatic styling and never looked back. The duo has worn everything from gothic gowns to more streamlined oversized garments, and they quickly became Met Gala standouts. Together, Mary-Kate and Ashley have simultaneously reinvented their personal looks and built their brand into a respected luxury label.

#17: Anne Hathaway

Ever since she was a young actress, Anne Hathaway has always had a very fun and feminine style. She’s worn endless standout looks over the course of her career, and even when she experimented with bolder garments, she’s consistently maintained a very elegant and striking image. Then, in the last few years, the star and her new stylist Erin Walsh started making headlines with her daring red carpet attire. In what’s now been dubbed her “fashion renaissance,” Hathaway has made waves by being unafraid to play with patterns, colors, and silhouettes.

#16: Addison Rae

From dancing on TikTok to performing at the Grammys, Addison Rae has completely rebranded her image since her initial social media fame. The singer and actress started out wearing more simple and trendy slip dresses, and while she had some standout moments in 2021 thanks to stylist Law Roach, the best was yet to come. After leveling up her glamour, she found her niche as her music career flourished with quirky pop girl styling. Channeling vintage inspiration and opting for daring feminine looks, the rising star has gone from most-followed to best-dressed.

#15: Dua Lipa

After modeling as a teenager, Dua Lipa could always sell a look, but she’s come a long way from her first red carpets. The singer started out with matching sets and power suits, often in a monochromatic black or bright shade of pink. Then, leading up to the release of her 2020 album, she incorporated more disco influence with trendy glitz and glamour. However, when celebrity events later returned, she reemerged with edgy and striking gowns. Since giving her playful style a more mature upgrade, the star has gone on to become a standout in the fashion world.

#14: Victoria Beckham

As a member of The Spice Girls, Victoria Beckham started out with her style built into her stage name. However, the singer proved she was more than just her Posh Spice image with her experimental fashion and iconic couples looks throughout the years. Then, in 2008, the trendsetter started her own clothing brand and honed in on a more refined aesthetic that she still wears to this day. With clean lines and black and white tailored suiting, she’s made her mark on the red carpet both as a star and designer.

#13: Taylor Swift

Originally branded as a country star, many of Taylor Swift’s early looks were much softer and more western-inspired. Although romantic dresses and loose updos have always been a throughline in her red carpet styling, the singer soon shifted into a more pop star image. Wearing outfits that matched the themes of her album releases, she experimented with bright colors, shorter silhouettes, and an occasional edgy twist. More recently, she’s combined those eras with her lifelong love for vintage glamour, and her current fashion is a testament to the range of her music career.

#12: Adele

Unlike many stars who become famous as teenagers, Adele came into the industry with a unique style. The singer defied 2010’s trends and opted for vintage hair and makeup paired with conservative black gowns. Over the years, some of these dresses were flattering and elegant, but others felt repetitive. Then, in 2016, the star emerged with a red layered look and a sequined Valentino piece that completely reimagined her classic image. While she’ll still return to her iconic all-black ensembles, her styling now suits her signature glamour in a much more elevated fashion.

#11: Kim Kardashian

When she first started walking red carpets, Kim Kardashian didn’t have much of a streamlined style beyond her go-to bodycon dresses. Then, as her fame grew, she elevated her look with more sultry attire and plunging necklines. This led into her more recognizable image with form-fitting silhouettes, risqué sheer layers, and nude illusions. However, after years of structured neutrals, she started branching out, first with more futuristic fashion and later with archival vintage pieces. Although the reality TV star still mainly wears corseted gowns, her current styling features a much more unique edge.

#10: Miley Cyrus

Since breaking out of her curated Disney Channel image, Miley Cyrus has never confined herself to a singular style, genre, or aesthetic. As her music and influences have evolved over the years, the star hasn’t hesitated to change up her red carpet attire to match. She’s experimented with everything from soft glamour to colorful and campy styling, and she’s never shied away from risk-taking garments. Over the last few years, the star has settled into chic, often all-black outfits with an edge, but even now, her looks are never boring or predictable.

#9: Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter had been in the entertainment world for a long time before she became a chart-topping pop star, and her styling has come a long way since her Disney days. Earlier in her career, the performer wore a lot of power suits and bold colors, but she later pivoted into more fun and feminine looks that matched her Polly Pocket-like onstage costumes. However, she truly hit her style stride when she transitioned into vintage glamour. From Old Hollywood elegance to mod 60’s and 70’s disco, her referential red carpet looks have now become her signature.

#8: Kristen Stewart

As a young actress, Kristen Stewart would stand out at events with her grungy hair and makeup, edgy mini dresses, and even the occasional t-shirt and jeans combo. However, her formalwear didn’t always capture her cool-girl vibe, until she eventually began experimenting with bolder attire around the later “Twilight” premieres. After a few years of honing her style along with coming out publicly, Stewart then found a new lane with suiting. Now the star has reinvented her younger self’s edge by combining sheer elements, striking silhouettes, and masculine tailoring for daring red carpet looks.

#7: Sam Smith

When Sam Smith first gained popularity in the music scene, their signature look was much more simple and reserved. Over the years, the singer started incorporating different colors, vibes, and textures, but they always stuck to some form of suiting. Then, after coming out as nonbinary and releasing the song “Unholy” with Kim Petras, they switched it up with eye-catching group looks, avant-garde ensembles, and gender-fluid styling. The confident performer is unafraid to take big swings, and they’ve continued to combine both masculine and feminine elements for standout red carpet moments.

#6: Timothée Chalamet

Over the years, Timothée Chalamet has redefined the stereotypical movie star look, but he started out with turtlenecks, classic slim suiting, and more of an art school vibe. However, he later pivoted into experimenting with a wide range of styling, from more feminine silhouettes to cool elevated streetwear. With a dress sense that’s a much better representation of his personality, he’s become a true style wildcard. Recently, his matching looks with partner Kylie Jenner, who’s also had a red carpet reinvention of her own, have made the pair an exciting new fashion power couple on the scene.

#5: Lady Gaga

From the beginning, Lady Gaga’s style was anything but typical, and her experimental looks quickly earned her a reputation for pushing fashion boundaries. She created a campy pop persona in the early 2010’s with standout moments like the meat dress, and even began putting on all-out performances on red carpets. As her career evolved, the singer and actress transitioned into more elegant styling with old Hollywood glamour and bold structured gowns. However, it wasn’t a hard pivot, as the star still incorporates gothic, whimsical, and avant-garde elements into her looks, making sure her one-of-a-kind perspective still shines through.

#4: Harry Styles

From his boyband days to his success as a soloist, Harry’s style has come a long way since the 2010’s. As a member of One Direction, he was well-known for his signature look, especially in the group’s later years, but once he began branching out with his own music career, his fashion sense followed. Slowly but surely, his red carpet appearances began incorporating more vintage inspiration with bold prints and 70’s silhouettes. Now, he’s fully broken out of monotonous male suiting with his unique combination of bold colors and fabrics, feminine touches, and retro styling.

#3: Pamela Anderson

After gaining recognition as a Playboy model, Pamela Anderson became synonymous with her signature bombshell look. With plunging tops, big hair, and bold makeup, she was well known for her sultry and daring glamour. Even as her taste began to evolve with her age, the actress still held on to elements of her famous styling. However, in the last few years, she returned to the spotlight with a completely new look. Now, her elegant gowns give her an air of vintage glamour and her makeup-free rebrand highlights her natural beauty for her brand new era of life.

#2: Zendaya

Like other former Disney stars, Zendaya started out wearing quirky outfits to match the teenage characters she played. However, that all started to change when up-and-coming stylist Law Roach first dressed the actress for the “Never Say Never” premiere in 2011. The duo then went from underdogs to fashion icons with memorable Met Gala moments, unique streetwear, and bold tailored looks that set the star apart as she transitioned into a more serious acting career. She’s also raised the method-dressing standard with some of her biggest movie franchises, creating her own lane as a refined risk taker with an eye for excellence.

#1: Rihanna

Rihanna has always had an effortless, cool-girl style. However, her iterations of the popular 2000’s mini dress often lacked the interest of her more memorable day-to-day and performance outfits. Then, in the 2010s, she hit her stride, finding a groove of confident elegance and incorporating her popular street style. Over the last decade, the artist has become an unrivaled red carpet trendsetter. Not only is she known for her maternity fashion and showstopping Met Gala appearances, but she has also leveled up her styling alongside partner A$AP Rocky for some iconic couples looks.

Which of these celebrities had your favorite fashion transformation? Let us know in the comments below.