Kate Hudson's style & why she's always been our ultimate fashion crush
Once upon a time she was only Almost Famous, now, she's a fully fledged star. We chart Kate Hudson’s changing style...
PABorn into Hollywood royalty, Kate Hudson – whose mum is, of course, megastar Goldie Hawn – has an incredible red carpet pedigree. In this early picture, at the premiere of Insider in 1999, she may not appear super-fashionable but she is, in fact, wearing those Friends-era style staples we all loved at the time: the cute cardigan, the silver maxi skirt.
PAUpping the glamour stakes significantly just a year later, Kate wowed with 20s-inspired wavy hair, plenty of glitz and a daring neckline.
PAEmbroidered jeans – remember those? Kate proves herself a true child of the Noughties in these boot-cut babies, plus minimal hair and make-up, for an appearance on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast. Remember that?
PAYou’d think that the huge flower growing out of her ear would dominate Kate’s outfit here, worn to the SAG Awards in 2001, but in actual fact it’s the frosted pink lip that we can’t take our eyes off. Beautiful, simple dress choice – and a bonus point for braving flat sandals on the red carpet. These will later become one of this boho babe’s style signatures.
PAKate divides opinion in a high-necked, lurex, fishtail gown and a pile up of curls on her head.
PA...And what a difference a year makes. Our first glimpse of golden girl Kate’s trademark blonde waves comes at the 2002 Golden Globes, where she’s positively glowing in Atelier Versace.
PAStill keeping it simple, Kate wears a blue ruffle-front slip dress with pointed strappy gold heels to the premiere of The Four Feathers.
PAPositively glowing in printed Valentino at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards. And she knows it. “I'm a hippie at heart,” Kate has said. “I wear the clothes, and they're the best. And the music is incredible, too.”
PAFast forward to the MTV Movie Awards in May 2003 and a now red (and blue) carpet-savvy Kate can’t even be thrown off her fashion track by a baby bump.
PA...And as her bump grows, so does Kate’s style confidence. Here, she swaps her trademark curls for an ironed-flat ‘do and gloriously bright printed dress for the LA premiere of Le Divorce.
PAHaving given birth to baby Ryder Robinson in January 2004, Kate has a slight style wobble, opting for trussed-up office wear for a shopping trip in LA. Don’t get us wrong, she looks amazing – but it’s just not quite ‘Kate’.
PASuits you! New mum Kate tries her hand at androgyny at the 21st Annual Night of Stars in New York in 2004. While we’re not enamoured with the cut of that suit, we are loving her glossy curls and California glow.
PAPhew. Kate’s back to her best in her go-to red carpet label, Atelier Versace, for presenting duties at the 2005 Golden Globes.
PALaid-back cool on the streets of New York in an all-American jeans and T look, complemented by a turquoise statement cuff, for a stroll with Ryder.
PAKate doesn’t gravitate naturally towards black, and here’s why. She wore this cut-out black tunic ensemble with a ponytail and hoop earrings for a photo call for The Skeleton in July 2005 – and failed to light up the lens as brightly as usual.
PAFeeling all white on the night, Kate was back to her relaxed-glam best by the time the 2006 MTV Movie Awards rolled around.
PAChannelling Studio 54 to sparkly perfection in DVF at the LA premiere of You, Me & Dupree.
PANow this is what we’re talking about. Even in a raggedy white T-shirt, patchwork skirt and flip flops – here in New York in 2006 – Kate looks the picture of hippie cool. This is our girl in her fashion element.
PALike the rest of us, Kate loves a statement vest for a spot of shopping – albeit at the iconic Marc Jacobs store in New York’s Soho. She doesn’t often wear a lot of accessories, but we’re loving the long necklaces and gold-rimmed aviators.
PAShort ‘n’ sweet for a 2006 appearance on the David Letterman Show in New York.
PAAt the Australian premiere of You, Me & Dupree, Kate wore a pretty printed red asymmetric gown – but we can’t help thinking her severe, pulled-back hairstyle killed it somewhat.
PAIf we had legs like Kate’s, we would literally never even look at another opaque stocking. Quite why she’s wearing these is a mystery; they completely unbalance her look.
Ah! Kate stays mum in a Fairisle sweater and long boots out and about in California with an oh-so cute Ryder in January 2008.
PAThis Balmain gown is one of our favourite ever dresses on Kate. The free-spirited eagle detail across the bust fits her laid-back sartorial aesthetic to perfection – even though, in truth, the design costs five figures (and the Cartier diamond studs, a neat $100,000 on top).
PADoes our girl remind you of anyone here? We’ll give you a clue: “I have zero problems when people say, ‘God, you look like your mother,’” she’s said. “I go, ‘Well, great! Thanks!’" Kate, you’re welcome.
PAIt was signature sparkle in gold Dior that Kate fell for in time for the 2008 Baftas. She confessed to reporters that she’d chosen the dress because she could dance in it, and just when we thought we couldn’t love her anymore... It happened.
PAContinuing the John Galliano love-in in the designer’s own-name label for the London premiere of Fool’s Gold.
PACrochet? Check. Linen? Check. Hint of gold? Check. This is Kate at her off-duty best, pictured on the street in Manhattan en route to then-new boyfriend Lance Armstrong’s place.
PAThe waves are tighter and the dress is a little more S&M than usual – the look of love, perhaps?
PAOk, ok – these tights, we can get down with. Kate gets it spot on in a textured Burberry shift dress and fierce heels as she swings by the re-opening of the label’s Beverly Hills store in October 2008.
PAFarah Fawcett flicks! We like. Not so sure about those clumpy black shoes with the uber-bright dress, though.
PAKate ensures all eyes are on her in Oscar de la Renta at the premiere of Bride Wars in January 2009. In a word: wow.
PAFree and easy in Gucci for the People’s Choice Awards 2009.
PA...Cut to something completely different. While Kate looks sensational in this Oriental-inspired LBD for a Bride Wars photocall, our expert eye can tell she isn’t her usual, glowy self in such a strict silhouette.
PABut it’s all change again at the 100-year birthday celebrations for Cartier in April 2009. Kate looks every inch the self-confident superstar in this cutaway black gown, set alight by her glossy hair and sunkissed skin.
PAHurrah! Kate rocks yet another awesome gold sequinned column gown, this time at the Model As Muse-themed Met Ball in 2009. This one’s by her good friend Stella McCartney.
PAKate drops the glamour quotient a few notches for a lady-like afternoon at the polo.
PAThe critics were divided when it came to dissecting this origami-style Atelier Versace ballgown look, worn by Kate to the London premiere of Nine in December 2009. We say: what’s not to love? (Not to mention “atta girl” for braving those sub-zero temperatures in a strapless dress.) Bravos all round.
...And the criticism clearly doesn’t sway Kate, who replicates the look (and recycles the shoes!) just two months later at the Golden Globes.
PAIs there no keeping Kate away? Before long she’s braving the British winter in bare-legged style yet again – this time, for Burberry’s catwalk show in February 2010.
PAProving that nailing off-duty chic is all in the details, Kate cuts a super-stylish figure on the street in New York the following April – even though her unwashed hair is pulled back and she’s only wearing jeans. Watch and learn, people. Watch and learn.
PAAnother Met Ball, another darling gown shot through with sparkle. And haven’t we seen those shoes somewhere before...?
PAMamma mia! Now in a relationship with Muse rocker Matt Bellamy and newly pregnant with baby number two, Kate shows off her burgeoning bump in a drop-waisted white dress and enormous Louboutin heels as she arrives for an appearance on the Letterman Show.
The golden gown and locks may be the same, but there’s something a whole lot different about Kate at the 2011 Met Ball...
PA...Not that this pregnancy is going to throw off her fashion mojo, either. Here’s Kate stealing the red carpet show at the premiere of her film Something Borrowed in May 2011, thanks to a canary yellow Versace gown – and we just can’t wait to see what our girl does next.
PA PhotosWowza! Kate's post-baby body is incredible - and she showed it off in style at the British Fashion Awards supporting her friend Stella McCartney.
Rex FeaturesProving she can work tailoring as well as a red carpet frock, K-Hud channels this season's monochrome trend in an Alexander McQueen tux.
PAThis gorgeous cut-out Prabal Gurung gown was a fashion-forward choice for the amfAR Gala.
Rex FeaturesAnother great Stella McCartney look on Kate at a party in London - the pop of orange is the perfect antidote to our grey weather.
Rex FeaturesThis long-sleeved velvet number is an elegant choice for Kate - the thigh-high split adds a little edge.
Getty ImagesAt the 2014 Oscars, Kate Hudson's spectacular caped Versace gown was top of our fashion lust list.
GettyWe cannot get enough of Kate Hudson’s sophisticated red carpet style and this two-tone, beaded Zuhair Murad gown at the Vanity Fair Oscars party is nothing short of perfection.
GettyIsn’t this pink silk chiffon Gucci gown to die for? We love how the You, Me and Dupree actress paired the look with sun-kissed tresses and a fuchsia pink lip.
GettyKate brought a big ray of sunshine to the Michael Kors show during New York Fashion Week in February 2015 with this yellow Michael Kors cropped knit and high-waisted skirt. The Almost Famous star complemented the look with a nude clutch and heels and a pop of pillar box red lippie. Inspired.
GettyWe love a girl who takes a risk on the red carpet which is why we’re awarding full marks to Kate for this look. She traded-in her usual laid-back, sartorial aesthetic for a custom-made hand-embroidered Michael Kors gown and chic headdress. Gorgeous.
GettyKate’s heavily embellished jumpsuit with a cinched-in waistline made for a head-turning outfit at the Icons of Style Dinner Hosted by Michael Kors and Vanity Fair in May 2015.
GettyAll eyes were on Kate’s plunging white Versace frock at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards. The How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days actress let the dress, with sequinned cut-out detail and an open back, speak for itself, leaving her accessories and make-up minimal.
Getty ImagesIf anything's getting us in the mood for spring today, it's Kate Hudson incredible wide legged yellow trousers. Hello sunshine indeed.
Getty ImagesWoah, Kate! To the 5th Annual Baby2Baby Gala, Kate Hudson looked incredible wearing a stunning J. Mendel gown. We love her metallic accessories.
