Sofia Coppola's Stunning Style Transformation

When it comes to women paving the way for others in an industry as cuthrouat as filmmaking, Sofia Coppola is definitely one of the few names that first comes to mind. As the daughter of filmmakers Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia had her introduction to the industry early on, but her success in it is all due to her hard work and immense talent. Projects like "The Virgin Suicides" and "Lost in Translation" solidified her status as one of the greatest filmmakers of her generation, and while films have always been her first passion, we believe that fashion is a close runner-up.

Since her teen days, Sofia has had a keen eye for aesthetics, whether we're talking about that perfect camera angle or the most stunning combination of clothing. And today, it's all about the fashion choices she has made. From her exploration of '80s and '90s fashion to allowing herself to have fun with her look, here is just how much Sofia Coppola's style has changed over the years!

Sofia Coppola's interest in fashion evolved when she was young, thanks to her grandmother's influence. "My fashion sense started with my grandmother on my dad's side, Italia. She liked some glitz! And jewelry," she admitted to W Magazine in 2023. "So I like a sequin. Even as a little kid, I was interested in what people were wearing. My dad bought all this late-'70s Saint Laurent for my mom in Paris, and she eventually gave those clothes to me. That's my favorite period of Saint Laurent, and I find it endlessly inspirational."

As a teenager, Coppola's interest in fashion only evolved in the 1980s, when she interned at Chanel in Paris. Reflecting on the experience, the filmmaker revealed that it broadened her fashion horizon as the environment she found herself in had been completely different from her hometown. "I loved it," she gushed to The Telegraph in 2016. "I'm from a small country town and there weren't any like-minded people that were very sophisticated and my friends were, you know, pre-internet, so we weren't connected ... So to come to Paris in the 1980s was so exciting," she said. "I thought I'd be a fashion editor ... I didn't expect to work on films." At the time, Coppola was all about sophisticated '80s fashion, which meant lots of black clothing and classic silhouettes. In fact, the young teen was a huge fan of one of the most unexpected '80s styles that had a recent comeback — the enhanced shoulders.

The early 1990s were a very important period for Sofia Coppola's fashion career as she co-launched the fashion brand Milk Fed. "I always wanted to be a designer, but I didn't think I knew enough," she told W Magazine in 1994. "I realized I admire people who just jump into things and do it. So I started this with Linda Meltzer who has a line out of LA called Tease Tee's; she did the first shrunken T-shirts, which became known as 'baby Ts.' I designed the clothes and she's the grown-up; she put the rest of it together."

In the early '90s, Coppola ventured into some trends of the time, but her style mostly remained classic and simple. However, chokers and slip dresses worn together was a trend she adored, and Coppola certainly knew how to elevate a slip dress for any occasion. Now in her early 20s, the young filmmaker was open about the role that fashion plays in her life. And while she hadn't had her big directorial debut yet, she was already known for her impeccable fashion choices.

Even though Sofia Coppola's style leaned into simplicity and timeless pieces, the filmmaker was never afraid of a statement piece, from a baby-blue bag to a leather-look maxi skirt. In fact, in the second half of the 1990s, Coppola rocked fur coats and graphic dresses, proving that she can truly pull off anything. For the premiere of "The People vs. Larry Flynt" in 1996, Coppola decided to go for a more casual and modern look by pairing jeans and a boat-neck top with a classic '70s fur-trimmed jacket — a style that had a major revival in the '90s.

In 1999, Coppola's directorial debut, "The Virgin Suicides," premiered and it instantly put the director on Hollywood's map. Proving that she is so much more than just another nepo baby, Coppola showed that women have just as much power to create incredible projects — and she undeniably paved the way for many of today's talented female filmmakers.

As the 2000s kicked off, Coppola focused on her career as a director, and the 2003 romantic drama "Lost in Translation" solidified her status as one of Hollywood's most promising young filmmakers. This also influenced Coppola's aesthetic, as she explored new styles, often opting for dress pants instead of dresses for red-carpet events. Preppy blouses or classic Y2K tank tops were her go-to choices to finish off the look, as the filmmaker confidently explored all that early aughts fashion had to offer. Two decades later, her many 2000s fashion moments serve as the perfect example of how to finally nail business-casual dressing.

In a candid conversation with The Independent in 2003, the star admitted that even though she is a public persona, she's actually an introvert. "I am kinda shy," she said. "I don't get louder or extroverted. But for work I'm determined, you have to be. I would never be that shameless about pursuing a guy or something, or anything else!" Coppola added. She revealed that as far as her career goes, making the switch from fashion to filmmaking came naturally. "I tried a bunch of things — I didn't want to wake up one day when I was in my 50s and think, 'What if I'd done that?'"

During the mid-2000s, Sofia Coppola returned to a simpler aesthetic, and when she attended red-carpet events, the "Marie Antoinette" director often opted for classic and simple knee-length black dresses. Finding your perfect LBD, no matter what your style is, is crucial for any fashionista, and Coppola certainly has a couple of stunning pieces in her closet.

"You're considered superficial and silly if you're interested in fashion," the filmmaker told Vogue in 2006. "But I think you can be substantial and still be interested in frivolity," she explained. And we couldn't agree more. Coppola's approach to fashion and her deliberate choices over the years — whether it's clothing she wears or fashion aesthetics she picks for her projects — have helped her become a filmmaker whom many look up to for fashion inspiration.

While Sofia Coppola has become known for her simple yet stunning looks, towards the end of the 2000s, the Academy Award winner leaned into more colorful pieces, occasionally even going for fun patterned dresses. However, while the pieces Coppola would go for were pretty, they didn't showcase her authentic style, which is most likely why her colorful phase didn't last too long.

In 2009, Coppola designed a bag for the luxury fashion brand Louis Vuitton. The filmmaker is close friends with designer Marc Jacobs, who was the brand's creative director at the time. "And because of Marc, I met the bag department and they have a tradition of doing custom-made bags, so I did one and we turned it into a line," she explained to The Telegraph in 2016. "I guess it was in that time where bags were all about charms and hardware and just big, and so I designed something simple that my friends and I would like."

Sofia Coppola's exploration of vibrant colors and funky patterns was brief, and by 2011, the filmmaker was ready to explore a new fashion obsession — navy dresses. Of course, even though they were simple and sophisticated, that in no way meant that her choices were boring. "My friend who designs shoes at Louis Vuitton, he's always laughing at me. 'Do you want it in navy blue, Sofia?' and I'm like, 'Um, yes, I do.' My memoir will be called: 'Does This Come in Navy?'" Coppola joked during her interview with The Telegraph.

In 2011, she attended the premiere of her film "Somewhere," and for the red carpet, she opted to go with a fuzzy navy A-line dress that cut at her knees and had a boat neckline. The look was simple enough that you wouldn't think much of it from afar, but up close, the unique fabric added that special element to her appearance. Needless to say, many wouldn't give the odd dress a chance. Coppola not only managed to pull it off, but she also made it look chic and stylish! At the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2012, she maintained her chic aesthetic with an elegant halter-neck black jumpsuit, gravitating away from her beloved blue.

As the mid-2010s were approaching, Sofia Coppola embraced her status as a fashionista even more, and going to the Met Gala became a regular annual occurrence for her. In 2013, she attended the Met Gala, also known as the fashion event of the year, alongside designer Marc Jacobs, who designed her pajama-like 'fit. In fact, Jacobs played a major role in Coppola's fashion evolution, as the two collaborated on numerous occasions over the years. "Marc feels like family to me," the filmmaker told Harper's Bazaar in 2014. "He's like a cousin. When we see each other, we start off where we left off. I'm still constantly learning from him."

In 2014, Coppola attended the Met Gala in another Marc Jacobs creation — this time, the star went with a beautiful sequin maxi dress. While the outfit was simple and black, the statement accessories and bold makeup elevated the look and made it perfect for the star-studded gala.

The mid-2010s brought another wave of Sofia Coppola's exploration of patterns. However, her looks were still simple and elegant. One of our favorites is by far the brown-and-gold long-sleeved gown she wore to the opening ceremony of the 2015 Marrakech International Film Festival. The look was chic with a hint of a vintage vibe, and Coppola looked gorgeous.

"... I want to look put-together even if I'm running around. I like something that's not specific to a season that you can have for years and years," she admitted to The Telegraph. "There are a few things I wear all the time — Acne jeans, the staples that you just know you like and don't have to think about too much. And then it's fun to dress up for special occasions." Now in her mid-40s, Coppola undeniably had a signature style; however, she was still willing to experiment and switch things up, showing that aging doesn't have to equal boring fashion.

In 2017, Sofia Coppola stunned at the Met Gala in yet another gorgeous Marc Jacobs creation. The filmmaker walked the beige carpet in a floor-length gold gown that was undeniably a showstopper. In fact, Coppola's love for sparkly fashion moments was evident during this period — one of her best ensembles being the matching metallic pants and jacket she wore to a Chanel show in New York City in 2018. While Coppola's aesthetic remained classic and sophisticated, the star became noticeably more adventurous when it came to materials and colors.

Coppola herself admitted that her relationship with fashion is complicated, and that she often holds herself back from wearing pieces she likes. "(Fashion) was something outside my family business so it was my separate thing, but there was always the thing of, like, 'Oh, I have to be a serious independent filmmaker so I have to hide my interest in fashion,'" she told Dazed in 2017. "I was taking pictures with Steven (Meisel) recently and the stylist was holding up really glamorous clothes and I was still (hesitant), like there's something about me being a director — and he was like, 'You don't have to worry, you can do whatever you want.' It's nice to be at that point," she admitted.

As the 2020s kicked off, Sofia Coppola's style became more daring, and the filmmaker explored all the fun that mixing and matching patterns and textures can offer. Of course, she explored the trend in her own way, ensuring her looks still had that signature Coppola vibe by being elegant and chic. "I've always liked simple classic things, and didn't want to dress like everyone else," the "Lost in Translation" director told the brand UNIQLO in 2022.

Coppola also opened up about the difference between dressing for work and dressing up for fun events. "A pretty dress, or dressing up for a party lifts my spirits," she admitted. "I love to have a uniform for work so I can feel comfortable and not have to think about what I'm wearing and focus on my work, but I enjoy dressing up for a special occasion or with friends who appreciate it." When asked what her everyday wardrobe essentials were, the star replied, "Jeans, T-shirt, men's navy cashmere sweater, a great dress, ballet flats and sneakers." If you ask us, those definitely sound like fantastic pieces that can help you build the perfect capsule wardrobe.

While fashion was something Sofia Coppola was always drawn to privately, it also played a major role in her film projects. "I do think about fashion history when I work on my films; it's a big part of creating a character and world," the filmmaker admitted to Porter while discussing her 2023 project "Priscilla." "Costume design helps me define who the characters are — how they dress tells you something about them. When I work with a costume designer, I have an idea of the character and some ideas of what they might wear, and then the designer proposes what they think in that spirit. Fashion is also a marker of the time, so every little detail is important — as much in costume as in the sets."

In 2023 and 2024, Coppola was once again drawn to black pieces, often rocking black maxi dresses to industry events. However, the star has effortlessly shown that just because it's a black dress that doesn't mean it has to be boring. Delicate feather detailing or a multitude of different materials can elevate a black dress and make it intricate and fun — and Coppola is a master of picking those out.

In 2025, Sofia Coppola is known as not only an award-winning filmmaker but also a fashion icon. Her approach to style has evolved over the years, but her outfits always remained authentic to her. And one thing Coppola continuously allows herself to do is explore. In 2025, the star was all about pastel colors, often going for baby blues and pinks — colors we'd rarely see her rock in previous years.

"I like classic timeless, understated pieces for every day, without being too boring," she explained to Barrie, a brand she collaborated with in 2023. "I also like wearing men's clothing ... I appreciate things that are beautifully made and great quality." The filmmaker also admitted that certain cities hold a special place in her heart when it comes to fashion. "I'm always inspired in Paris and Tokyo — I love to see how people dress there and there's so much style and interest in fashion," she said. "I also love Milan, how women dress up there."

Now, while we can't wait to see what Sofia Coppola's next fashion chapter holds, we are also absolutely in awe of the stunning style transformation of Keira Knightley!