Michelle Williams' Style Evolution
From playing a teen temptress in Dawson's Creek to portraying iconic seductress Marilyn Monroe on the Hollywood big screen, Michelle Williams' career has come a long way, baby. Take a look at how her changing style has kept pace:
Getty ImagesFollowing a few early roles on US television, Michelle Williams burst onto UK screens as sexy new girl Jen Lindley in Dawson’s Creek in 1998 – the nemesis to Katie Holmes’ ‘girl next door’ character, Joey Potter. Cue ‘slip-off-the-shoulder’ spaghetti straps, hitched-up hems and bad-girl heels a-plenty. (Teen seductresses in 1998 were quite the different breed to today’s...)
Getty ImagesIn real life, too, Michelle’s early style erred towards the vampish. That same year she hit the red carpet for the premiere of her film Halloween H20 in a slinky LBD, fluffy mule sandals, Marilyn Monroe curls, and that late 90s style staple: a choker. Anyone else think she looks much older than her 18 years here? Thought so.
Getty Images...Which is why this still of her in 1999 movie Dick (she’s the one on the left) comes as a bit of a shock. The crop top, the flares – talk about suffering for your art. Yikes.
PS Recognise the girl in the hotpants and halter top? That’s right – it’s Kirsten Dunst!
Getty ImagesOff-screen and at that year’s Emmys, Michelle was back in control – and decidedly back on the fashion wagon – in this event-appropriate, super-sexy pink dress, which she teamed with cute beaded accessories and a rosy glow.
Getty ImagesFlexing her trend muscles, Michelle again hit the mark – in Y2K trend terms, obviously – in this black asymmetric top paired with tailored trousers and a side-swept fringe as she hit the red carpet with Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres for the premiere of their HBO film If These Walls Could Talk 2.
Rex FeaturesMichelle took an underwhelming foray into grown-up tailoring for the GLAAD Awards 2000. Bring sexy back, say we.
Getty Images...But she didn’t. Instead, Michelle segued into sultry, demure, and polished. Hurrah! She unveiled this chic plum shift dress and heels look at the Dawson’s Creek 100th episode celebrations, when she was 22.
Rex FeaturesTypical teen rebelliousness had not fully been banished yet, though. Almost a full 10 years before Kristen Stewart made it her trademark, Michelle teamed her dress with Converse as she arrived for the premiere of yet another of her films, 2002’s Me Without You.
Rex FeaturesFast forward two years, and Michelle was rocking a chestnut dye-job that seemed to have sent her style radar a bit awry. We so wish she’d peeled off that dowdy coat and bead necklace – we suspect that slip beneath is definitely worthy of some exposure.
Getty ImagesAttending film premieres is now the equivalent of another day at the office for Michelle – literally. The actress turned up to the Hole In One premiere a few months later in a work wardrobe-worthy blouse, blazer and pencil skirt. Thank goodness for that kooky beanie, which gives her whole look an edge.
Rex FeaturesAt the Land Of Plenty premiere at the Venice Film Festival that September, Michelle was back to blonde and rocking a gorgeous emerald-hued brocade dress. We’re not 100 per cent on the tights, but hey, if it was cold – respect.
PA PhotosMichelle met Heath Ledger on the set of Brokeback Mountain in 2004 and fell pregnant with their daughter, Matilda Rose, in early 2005. While maternity dressing can be a minefield for many women, Michelle sailed through her pregnancy in immaculate style; this two-tone lace cocktail dress, which she wore to the premiere of The Brothers Grimm, being a perfect case in point.
PA PhotosEight months pregnant at the Brokeback premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Michelle was still keeping the fashion flag flying in a low-slung sash to accentuate her bump.
Rex Features...And, even a couple of weeks prior to giving birth, there was no stopping her. She covered up in a smart smock paired with cropped trousers and kitten heels to attend The Motion Picture Club's Annual Luncheon.
PA PhotosBy the time the New York premiere for Brokeback Mountain rolled around two months later, Michelle was the very epitome of a yummy mummy in a structured Oscar de la Renta dress that perfectly showcased her changing figure.
Rex FeaturesEmbracing flapper chic for the film's Australian premiere.
PA PhotosWith both herself and Heath nominated for Golden Globe Awards for Brokeback Mountain, Michelle pulled out all the stops to hit the red carpet in this fairytale purple dress by Givenchy for the ceremony in January 2006.
PA PhotosMichelle kept up the fashion momentum at that year’s SAG Awards, channelling Veronica Lake in a belted, white, vintage-inspired dress – the perfect contrast to her man’s all-black look.
Rex FeaturesMonochrome was also the order of the day as the couple attended the Oscars Nominees luncheon in Hollywood.
PA Photos...Then it was over to the dark side in a tiered, cutaway shoulder gown at the BAFTAs.
PA PhotosBut this is the one; ‘the’ Michelle Williams look that cemented her spot on best dressed lists forever more. The occasion was the 2006 Oscars, and Michelle’s deft pairing of this bold, mustard yellow Vera Wang dress with a strong red lip meant that she stole the style show – no mean feat at the industry’s most glamorous event. Swoon.
PA PhotosPlaying with proportions in a boho-style slip dress and cropped cardigan at a Donna Karan party in New York later that year.
Rex FeaturesShowing off her styling nous, Michelle incorporated these black opaque tights perfectly into her look with this delicate lace babydoll dress and black trim as she attended that year’s Whitney Gala Celebrating Picasso and American Art.
WireImageMichelle wore Derek Lam to show her support for the American fashion industry at the 2006 CFDA/VOGUE Fashion Fund Awards.
PA PhotosBy February 2007, Michelle had cut off all her hair – and hit upon her style mojo. She was 60s fantastic in this heavily-embellished Chloé dress at the 2007 Film Independent Spirit Awards, leading commentators to cite Mia Farrow and Jean Seberg as obvious influences.
Rex FeaturesMichelle’s street style during this period wasn’t too shabby, either. This bib-front vest, shorts and flat pumps ensemble from that summer was one of our favourite spots.
PA PhotosSubdued in an LBD look at a screening of I'm Not There at the New York Film Festival in October 2007. Heath Ledger’s father had confirmed to the press the previous month that he and Michelle had separated.
PA PhotosIn one of her first public appearances after Heath’s sudden death in January 2008, Michelle was picture perfect in Chanel lace and her go-to 20s styling at the Cannes Film Festival that May.
PA PhotosMichelle tends to favour soft shades and romantic lines – so this graphic, striped mini dress (Chloé again), which she wore to the 2009 Film Independent Spirit Awards, was a bit of a departure. Not in a bad way, we hasten to add.
Rex FeaturesWrapped up against the New York cold, Michelle wore this classic peacoat and tartan scarf combo to head out for coffee with new beau Spike Jonze in March 2009.
Rex FeaturesLike mother, like daughter: Michelle and Matilda wear ditsy-print sundresses and sandals for a summer stroll...
PA Photos...Then, come October, they both hit the denim. How cute?
PA PhotosHaving grown out her crop during her few months of downtime, Michelle was back with a bang that October in this tuxedo-style mini dress to promote Shutter Island in Berlin.
PA PhotosOnto the premiere – and into Chanel.
Rex FeaturesAside: who manages to look this good in a blizzard? We couldn’t resist including this picture of Michelle fending off the NY snow later that very week. We’ve just added a hooded parka to the very top of our winter wishlist.
PA PhotosMichelle hit a fashion homerun when she bagged this asymmetric Lanvin cocktail dress – one of spring/summer 2010’s trophy pieces – for Shutter Island’s New York premiere. She expertly balanced the neckline with a single cuff and added T-bar heels.
PA PhotosStacked: platform heels and a mini dress by new label Suno at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2010.
Rex FeaturesThis powder-pink Chanel Couture gown – set off perfectly against that newly-lightened, newly-trimmed blonde crop – is right up there in our Michelle Williams Fashion Hall Of Fashion Fame. Although it divided critics, it earned the Blue Valentine premiere many an extra column inch the following day.
PA PhotosWhen party time rolled around, though, there was only one thing for it: sequins! To attend the famous amfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala later in the week, Michelle looked to Sonia Rykiel for this disco-tastic look.
PA PhotosShe earned yet another red carpet fashion stripe in this daring bow-necked gown by Jason Wu at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Meek’s Cutoff. Just wow.<
PA PhotosLeopard and lace? That’s ace! Michelle rocked this standout Erdem skater dress, plus platinum quiff and leonine kitten heels, at the London Film Festival premiere of Blue Valentine in October 2010.
Rex FeaturesFor its New York premiere, however, she opted for this distinctly more ritzy cocktail dress with bow-belt by Azzaro.
PA PhotosOne thing that Michelle could never be accused of is falling into a style rut. She pushed the boundaries yet again in this backless, daisy print Valentino gown at the 2011 Golden Globes. Talk about a fearless fashion spirit...
PA Photos...But, taking the resulting ‘fashion fail’ cries on board, she scaled it back noticeably for the Oscars, opting for a sophisticated Chanel column dress studded with crystal.
Rex FeaturesYou can’t keep a stylish gal down. Michelle wasn’t to be warned off high fashion motifs forever, and came back better than ever – with a little help from Miu Miu’s birds – at the 2011 Met Ball. Love. Her.
Rex FeaturesHot in the city! Just hanging in printed summer dress, flat pumps and shades in July 2011.
PA PhotosCome October 2011, it was onto the role of a lifetime: playing screen legend Marilyn Monroe. At an early screening of My Week With Marilyn, Michelle showed off an even shorter crop – and, ahem, some serious cleavage. Her mint-green gown is by Christian Dior.
PA PhotosHitting the campaign trail in LA, Michelle posed for a portrait in a cute – not to mention on-trend – Peter Pan-collar blouse, chic black trousers and ankle-strap flats.
PA PhotosIn Nina Ricci at the 2011 Hollywood Film Awards Gala.
Rex FeaturesFor another pre-release screening of My Week With Marilyn, at AFI Fest 2011, Michelle shone yet again in a gold bell-shaped cocktail dress by Oscar de la Renta.
We can’t help but think that style icon Ms Monroe herself would’ve approved.
Getty ImagesWearing a slinky flock gown by Jason Wu for the Golden Globes 2012.
Getty ImagesShe went with a Louis Vuitton coral peplum style for the 2012 Oscars.
PA PhotosWell, why not? She opted for a princess-style pink gown by Christian Dior Couture for the premiere of My Week With Marilyn.
Rex Features
Rex FeaturesAt the Oz The Great and the Powerful UK premiere in London wearing a Burberry peacock feather dress, black accessories and side-swept blond locks.
Rex FeaturesWearing a demure yet youthful Prada dress for the Oz The Great and the Powerful LA premiere in 2013.
Rex FeaturesFor the Tiffany & Co Blue Book ball, she went for an understated navy Katie Ermilio dress.
Rex FeaturesThis could well be the perfect LBD - a bow-decorated Louis Vuitton number worn to the Whitney Museum of American Art gala in 2013.
PA PhotosWhile everyone else at the 2014 Met Ball wore floor-length, fussy gowns, Williams kept it short and sweet in Louis Vuitton.
Getty ImagesAt Louis Vuitton's A/A 2015 show in Paris wearing a zip-through indigo denim dress pared with patent boots. Simple, yet chic.
Rex FeaturesWilliams has red-carpet dressing down to a fine art, managing always to look youthful and fashion forward but also occasion appropriate. For the 2015 Paris premiere of Suite Francaise, she teamed her embellished A-line mini dress with patent boots with pink block heels.
