The Stunning Style Transformation Of Blake Lively
As an actor who rose to fame in her formative years, Blake Lively has not only graced the screen with her talent but has also become a fascinating style icon. From her early years in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" to her later, even more high-profile roles in television and film, Lively's journey in the public eye has been accompanied by a noticeable style evolution.
Lively's style transformation isn't just a reflection of fashion trends; the star is well known for having an eye for timeless looks, and she loves combining different styles of pieces to create a unique ensemble. "I'll wear a fancy designer coat or handbag but with a Forever 21 shirt," she told Time Magazine in 2015. "I love to preserve things that are old and give them new life. 'Is this Chanel?' 'No, Forever 21, on sale for $3!' But you pair it with something you had to save up for... or something you shouldn't have bought, and you tear up the receipt so your husband won't see it."
Each phase of Lively's career is marked by distinct roles and projects, and each of them has brought forth a new facet of her fashion identity. So, let's explore all the stylish chapters that have shaped Blake Lively into the fashion icon she is today.
2005-2006: Blake Lively's teen style is the epitome of Y2K
Blake Lively's style evolution in the spotlight began in 2005 with her role in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." At the time, Lively's style was a youthful version of your go-to Y2K classics, including low-waisted belts over jeans, cropped tops, and classic minidresses.
In a 2019 conversation with InStyle, Lively shared an interesting detail about her fashion journey. "I wore Forever 21 much longer than I admitted. I just started saying it was vintage because I was so shamed for it," she admitted. "For me, fashion is a form of self-expression. It also really takes me out of my comfort zone. One of the reasons I'm an actor is that I'm naturally very shy, so it's liberating to dress up and pretend to be someone else." This is relatable to many people who grew up around this time, which only makes watching her growth all the more endearing. Ultimately, this early phase in Blake Lively's style evolution set the stage for her future transformations, foreshadowing that the actor was always bound to be a fashionista.
2007: Blake Lively steps into her Serena van der Woodsen era
The teen cult classic "Gossip Girl" premiered on The CW in 2007, and with the show, Blake Lively's fashion era officially began. By portraying the ultra-chic Serena van der Woodsen, Lively learned a thing or two about fashion, and with her character's journey, Lively's style noticeably evolved. The show's costume designer, Eric Daman, revealed to HuffPost that Lively's and her character's styles ended up merging at one point. "I feel like Serena's style definitely drifted into Blake's real life, and as Blake became the fashion icon that she is, [it] also kind of floated into Serena's life. They co-inspired each other," he revealed.
When asked what the inspiration behind Serena van der Woodsen's style was, Daman admitted that model Kate Moss played a major role. "It was that amazing, nonchalant fashion look that feels like you're totally not put-together; you put on whatever's next to the bed, and you look amazing," he said, adding that it perfectly added that je ne sais quoi factor to Lively's character. Those who have seen "Gossip Girl" can certainly attest to how significant of a role fashion played in the show, and there's no doubt that starring in the project influenced Lively's style and knowledge of fashion.
2008-2009: The actor becomes a true global fashionista
You know you've become a tried-and-true fashionista the moment you receive your first invite to fashion's biggest night: the Met Gala, "the Super Bowl of social fashion events," as fashion journalist and stylist André Leon Talley famously calls it (via Who What Wear).
Blake attended her first Met Gala in 2008, and since then, she's graced the event with her beauty and style nine more times. Looking back on the late 2000s, Lively admitted just how crucial of a role fashion played on "Gossip Girl." "The impact of the fashion on that show was greater than anything else," the actor told Grazia Magazine. "Greater than the storytelling and greater than the characters. It definitely changed my life," Lively admitted, confirming what we all noticed: that her fashion choices mimicked Serena van der Woodsens and vice versa. Lively wore a Ralph Lauren mermaid dress for her first Met Gala — a look that her character would have certainly approved of.
2010-2011: Blake Lively embraces edgier fashion and explores styles outside of the box
As her fame grew, Blake Lively's style experienced a noticeable shift: The actor embraced unique cuts and edgier looks — fashion that resembled Serena van der Woodsen's style more and more. By the time the 2010s rolled around, Lively had established herself as a ficture in the fashion industry.
However, the star admitted that as much as she loves fashion, she knows that the fame and influence can go away in the blink of an eye. "Couture fashion week, getting to meet Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano and Christian Louboutin is so exciting," the actor admitted to Interview magazine in 2010, adding that while her job allowed her to explore the realm of high fashion, it's "your family, your friends, your loved ones" that matter above everything else at the end of the day.
Perhaps the most memorable style moment from this period is Lively's brief switch to copper hair, and we must admit that the star undoubtedly chose the right shade of red. However, while fans embraced the change, Lively admitted that the new hair color was needed for the movie "Hick" rather than being a personal switchup (via CBS News). "I thought [my character] needed red hair. It helps when you're playing a role, when I don't feel like myself. And I don't really feel like myself with red hair," Lively revealed. Either way, this step in her evolution was gorgeous.
2012-2013: The end of Blake Lively's Gossip Girl fashion
The final season of "Gossip Girl" aired in 2013, and with that, Blake Lively had to say goodbye to Serena van der Woodsen. InStyle asked Lively whether she learned a lot about fashion from the show, to which the actor responded, "Being on the show, I learned so much from the incredible costume designer Eric Daman. I also figured out what I was comfortable with," Lively said, remembering that she wore an "uncomfortable" look for one of her first events — something she said she wouldn't do nowadays. "I wore a dress that I was so insecure in, but I was told that I couldn't back out because it was made custom and it would hurt my relationship with the designer. It didn't fit right, though, and everybody knew it was a mess," Lively told InStyle.
Lively was in her mid-20s when "Gossip Girl" ended, and between her departure from playing van der Woodsen and her personal growth (the one that inevitably comes with entering your late 20s), the actor was slowly seen embracing a more mature and classic look. Perhaps Lively also subconsciously wanted to kick off a new era of her life, one in which her fashion choices differed more from those of her iconic character.
2014-2015: Blake Lively's first maternity fashion experience includes plenty of Louboutins
In 2014, Blake Lively gave birth to her and fellow actor Ryan Reynold's first child, and needless to say, the looks she rocked during her pregnancy were top-notch. However, the star admitted that she rarely chose maternity-specific fashion; instead, she opted for regular clothes, just in a looser fit. "I thought, 'So much of me has changed — I can't change the way I dress too!'" Lively revealed to Entertainment Weekly (via Yahoo! Entertainment). "I actually didn't even buy any maternity clothes at all — I just wore stretchier things and didn't button my pants and wore sweaters that were long enough, so you couldn't tell." Nevertheless, with her first pregnancy, Lively immediately proved just how stylish and fabulous a soon-to-be mom could look.
The actor also admitted just how important nice shoes were for her during pregnancy. "When I put on Louboutins while super pregnant, it makes me feel more empowered in that moment," Lively told Elle in 2015. "It gives me that extra oomph." Once Lively became a mom, she revealed that her style slightly changed and became simpler, but she still made sure to remain true to herself. Still, Lively got rid of some of her "sillier things, like denim and lace rompers with flowers embroidered on them," as she didn't want to wear those as a mom (via InStyle). Instead, she opted for a more classic approach to fashion.
2016 -2017: The star loves fashion but knows her priorities
Blake Lively turned 30 in 2017, and as anyone who's passed that milestone knows, your 30s tend to come with a better sense of self, more confidence, and a clearer understanding of what you want. That, of course, also shows up in your fashion choices, as one tends to start shopping for a more elevated style in this period. Here, the star continued to dazzle, whether on the red carpet or during casual outings, and no matter what Lively wore, she always looked empowered and confident in it. However, while fashion has always played a role in her career, the star is very self-aware and knows that there are more important things out there than pieces of clothing.
When Lively attended the Variety's Power of Women event in 2017, she was honored for working with the Child Rescue Coalition. On the red carpet, a reporter asked her about her fashion, and Lively quickly put them in their place. "Really? At this event, you're asking me about my outfit?" the star said (via Vogue). "Seriously. Would you ask a man that? I'm here so we become more aware, and that we change, and that we build women up. So, you can ask me another question." Well said!
2018: Blake Lively continues dressing herself and has plenty of fun with it
While most stars tend to have stylists who meticulously pick and choose every item they wear, Blake Lively has always been open about styling herself. In fact, in a 2018 interview with Glamour, the star revealed why she has decided throughout her career to not work with a stylist. "Probably because I have control issues and a big ego—that's probably the honest answer," the star joked. "I love design, and I love fashion, and it's a way to be creative. In my job, I get to be creative, but it's over a period of time, and so many other people are involved, whereas this is a beginning, middle, and end, and I get to be creative, and there's an end date in the near future."
In 2018, Blake Lively stunned at the "Heavenly Bodies"-themed Met Gala, and she reflected on the look for Vogue in 2022. "I get very involved in the design of the dress — I don't know if it's because I'm a Virgo or if I need a life," Lively revealed to the outlet about her preparations for her Met Gala looks, adding that her favorite was the Versace look she wore in 2018.
Blake Lively also starred in the crime comedy "A Simple Favor" in 2018, with her character having a love for dramatic pantsuits and tuxedos. Here, Lively incorporated some of that traditionally more masculine style into her own daily looks. In fact, the film's director, Paul Feig, revealed to Refinery29 that it was Lively's idea to put the character into suits after seeing him rock a three-piece suit to work every day.
2019: Blake Lively opens up about her maternity fashion struggles
While everyone stayed stunned by Blake Lively's beautiful maternity fashion choices, after her third pregnancy, the star opened up about the struggles she faced when trying to find pieces that she liked. "No one had samples that fit me after giving birth," Lively said. "And so many clothes from stores didn't fit either," she wrote on social media at the time (via People). "So. Many. It doesn't send a great message to women when their bodies don't fit into what brands have to offer. It's alienating and confusing." Lively added that while her pregnancy was a beautiful miracle, she couldn't help but focus on how low her confidence was because she couldn't find much to wear.
Knowing that even A-listers like Lively struggle with their style during pregnancy certainly sheds more light on where the fashion industry could use some improvement. And the fact that the actor opened up about her experience made her more relatable, proving that even the most fashionable of them all still have some of the same problems as everyday people.
2020-2021: The Hollywood star does DIY fashion and beauty
As the world essentially stopped turning thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns throughout 2020, celebrities ended up stuck at home just like the rest of us. Of course, the big difference here was that they had mansions while some of us were stuck in studios, apartments, and houses of various sizes. But hey, nevertheless, all of us were at home, rocking comfy clothes and stressing over how things were going to unfold.
During this period, Blake Lively shared glimpses of her private life on social media, allowing her followers to see how she was spending her time. In lockdown, the star also shared that her husband, Ryan Reynolds, takes care of her hair — something she showcased via an Instagram photo of Reynolds touching up her roots. While Lively rocked cozier looks at the time, it's clear that she still took care of herself and her appearance, and living life with outgrown roots just wasn't going to happen. In fact, while many of us rocked sweats 24/7, Lively would still dress herself up, even if that meant pairing a sporty look with edgy, heeled booties.
2022: Blake Lively has plenty of fun with her looks
Once COVID-19 lockdowns lifted, Blake Lively — just like many of us — appeared to be thrilled to go back to her everyday life. For the star, that meant plenty of public outings, acting projects, and red-carpet events.
Lively went back to her usual glamorous style, and her most memorable look from the early 2020s is surely the stunning Versace gown she rocked to the 2022 Met Gala. "Instead of looking at Gilded Age fashion, I wanted to look at architecture," Lively revealed to Vogue. "New York has been a critical part of who I am... so I thought I would love to arrive in a copper dress and have it patina as I ascend the red carpet. Instead of me performing, I wanted the dress to perform."
Considering that she rose to international fame by playing New York City's most stunning blond fashionista (one that actually spent plenty of time sitting on the Met steps), this Met Gala appearance certainly provided a full-circle moment for the star.
2023-Present: Blake Lively's style reflects motherhood and feminism
While Blake Lively always looked incredibly stylish, there's no denying that her style evolved over the years, moving from girly and experimental to more refined and classy. "I think it's changed more as I've gotten older. There are lots of cute little baby-doll dresses in my closet from my early '20s that I know I'm not going to wear them again because I'm not in 'Whatever Happened to Baby Jane,'" Lively told InStyle in 2019, adding that she hopes her style is "becoming more elegant over time." As evidenced by her 2023 looks, she's certainly achieved that goal. For Michael Kors' New York Fashion Week show in September 2023, the star opted to channel a '70s star by rocking a gorgeous gold jumpsuit that once again proved Lively is a fashion force.
Ultimately, the mother of four has undergone a beautiful style transformation, growing from a fashionable Y2K teenager into a glamorous style icon. While Lively has always had a great sense of what she likes and doesn't, she is visibly secure in her fashion choices today — and the confidence with which she wears clothes makes them stand out even more. We're all even envious of Lively's favorite perfume, so it's pretty clear that she's entered fashion and beauty history.