Olivia Wilde’s Style Evolution
Ten years in the wardrobe of Olivia Wilde has seen a dramatic change from her early awkward outfits to some of the most fashionable looks on the red carpet
GettyOlivia Wilde has had the fashion world transfixed with her flawless red carpet gowns for years but the Cowboys and Aliens star hasn’t always had a smooth run with style. We look back at how the actress’ wardrobe went from drab to fab in one decade.
Let’s flick back to 2003 in the paparazzi photo album and meet a blonde Ms Wilde at the beginning of her career.
A year before landing her role as Alex Kelly in The OC, the budding actress landed the lead role in TV series Skin. As her career success increases, her wardrobe follows suit and vastly improves: suffice to say that this midi skirt, heeled boat-shoe combo is not one she’ll be thrilled we found. Sorry, Olivia.
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PA PhotosOlivia Wilde, is this really you? The actress apologetically slipped onto the red carpet of the Wonderland premiere in 2003. Evidently, she hadn’t quite ignited her penchant for high octane evening wear. Is that a faux fur handbag we detect, teamed with a failing rendition of a 70s shirt? Perhaps, we should move on... And swiftly.
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PA PhotosIt’s so heart-warming to see the actress bring her pet to the Veronica Guerin premiere. Oh, no wait...
Flips flops, jeans and a jacket - perhaps borrowed from Tom Cruise’s Top Gun wardrobe - are pieces that certainly tap into 2003's nonchalant, laid-back LA style, but we’re looking forward to turning the page on this outfit.
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Rex FeaturesAs she landed her career-boosting role in The OC, Olivia Wilde began experimenting with girly layers and shimmering accessories - a look she has now truly mastered. Albeit, this early summer 2004 red carpet outfit cries out for a stylist but we admire her exploration of more feminine threads.
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Rex FeaturesThis is more like it! A casual cool grey coat, an oversized clutch and a Carrie Bradshaw-inspired corsage ups the ante on what has been a few precarious years in the wardrobe of Olivia Wilde.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosHaving won the Best Actress award at the US Comedy Arts Festival in 2006 and the Rising Star gong in 2008 at the Vail Film Festival, Olivia Wilde’s confidence lifted enormously and we can certainly see evidence of this in her red carpet style. Her turn on the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards sees the beginning of her winning streak in the style stakes.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosAt the Teen Choice Awards 2008, Hollywood is properly introduced to the actress' pristine beauty regime, brunette locks and flawless outfits. After a few awkward years of experimenting with golden accessories and satin fabrics, Olivia nails some tricky fashion combinations. A double ruffle waterfall neckline is an impressive win on anyone’s fashion CV.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosRocking a Reem Acra dress at the 60th Annual Emmy Awards in 2008, Olivia looks the epitome of confidence, beauty and classic Hollywood style. We’ve almost forgotten about that satin bomber jacket.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosFast-forward a year, and Olivia is perfecting her version of the Grecian goddess in a crisp white, floor-sweeping dress that she made complete with timeless gold cuffs.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA Photos2009 at the Golden Globe Awards, we saluted Olivia for pulling off this Reem Acra number (one of the star’s most trusted labels).
On paper, a lilac frou frou dress sounds like a fashion faux pas in the making, but the star managed to work it thanks to her developed poise and less-is-more accessories. Note, how her hair is getting darker and a soft dip-dye has appeared, to reference her early years as a blonde bombshell.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosIs this an eek or a chic moment? The final verdict was never truly reached in regards to Olivia’s PVC mini skirt and Jimmy Choo heels combination. The forced smile and tango tan legs make this fashion moment a fail rather than a triumph. We’re still questioning if she can negotiate the middle ground between laid-back LA chic and fully loaded glamour.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosIce blue satin is not a good look, even on a Hollywood mega babe like Olivia. We say eek, rather than chic!
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosNow starring in House, the actress is back with a stylish bang! It’s the 2009 Emmy Awards, the LA sun is shining and all other female celebs are wishing they had her Marchesa frock on. Peek-a-boo cut-out detailing and a distressed, tiered hemline adds edge to her pristine fashion frock.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosFurther experimenting with sassy shapes and a higher hemline, Ms Wilde takes a fashion vacation from long dresses and rocks a cocktail LBD at an environmental media event in 2009. At this point in her career, she’s cemented herself as one-to-watch on the red carpet.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosKeeping her fashion portfolio varied, Olivia rocks a Monique LHullier dress at the 2010 People’s Choice Awards and taps into the emerging Mad Men-inspired, full-skirted look. Of course we're jealous!
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PA PhotosYes, it is the same star! A skin-tight electric blue dress and caged ankle boots sees the actress straying into the naughty, rather than nice, territory of style.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosFeathers - check. Skin-tight dress? Check. Sky-high heels? Check. Olivia has this look locked down at a fashion party in LA. She’s clearly out to get noticed, and boy, we clocked her. This dress is yet another Marchesa number - we’re starting to think that the actress was the unofficial brand ambassador for this fashion house...
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosThe Golden Globes 2010: It’s the kind of occasion where an actress shows the entire industry, and the world, what her wardrobe is made of. This is not a night to be shy, hence Olivia Wilde pulled all the stops out and rocked a shimmering Gucci dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and dropped in Tiffany and Co. diamonds. To make this look even more hot, the star auctioned this number for charity.</a>
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA Photos2010 proved that Olivia Wilde is a girl’s girl really. That’s what her wardrobe’s ethereal, aesthetic sensibility tells us. What a wow look, but the best is yet to come.
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Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosHaving landed the lead role in Tron: Legacy, the American sci-fi blockbuster, the actress swapped soft fabrics for a tougher, metallic edge that referenced her fashion history. This Emilio Pucci dress is not easy to pull off, so we salute the star for getting it bang on. Having scored a series of fashion home-runs on the red carpet, we started to forget that her wardrobe was once so rocky.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosWe remember the moment she first swished down the Oscars 2011 red carpet in this stunning Marchesa dress - sharp intakes of breath happened on every fashion desk throughout the world of journalism. It’s still up for debate, but Olivia was one of the very best dressed at this year's Academy Awards ceremony.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
Rex FeaturesFinally, proof that Olivia can rock a more relaxed look! Although she’s wearing six-inch Christian Louboutin heels for a stroll in New York. OK, we retract that statement...
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosThe lace trend gets the lady-like treatment thanks to the star’s elegant high ponytail and perfect smoky eye makeup. We awarded her full marks for this safe but fabulous outfit.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosNow a fully fledged A-lister with a mega wardrobe to boot, she revs up her look in a figure-skimming red dress that kept all eyes on her at The Change-Up premiere in LA 2011.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
PA PhotosIt’s a shame to end on a sour note, but this D&G look was not her finest fashion hour. However, we admired the star’s try-anything approach to the latest trends. She’s had her ups and downs, but this is one Hollywood fashionista to fear, if you’re one of her emerging contemporaries competing for the LA style crown.
Kate Middleton’s Style Evolution
Top 100 Dresses Under £100: from ASOS to Primark
