Shailene Woodley Red Carpet Looks That Didn't Deserve The Hate

Shailene Woodley is no stranger to taking a risk on the red carpet. Woodley has been in the spotlight for decades, having gotten her start in the entertainment industry as a child. As such, the "Big Little Lies" actor has attended her fair share of star-studded events (and rocked some questionable outfits). While Woodley's infamously viral Emmys look landed her on our list of the worst-dressed celebs at the 2026 Emmys, it was far from the first time the "Divergent" star found herself grouped among the weakest red-carpet ensembles. 

However, there are some looks from Woodley that simply didn't deserve the hate they got. It takes a lot of effort to prepare a celeb for the red carpet, and Woodley's stylist has always tried her best to set Woodley apart from her peers — for better or for worse. Nevertheless, Woodley too often gets extra pushback from critics due to her history of unorthodox outfits. Over the years, Woodley's red-carpet ensembles have been picked apart for their short hemlines, unique design choices, and either being too over-the-top or too low-key for the event in question. We found some of Woodley's most hated red-carpet looks from over the years that aren't nearly as bad as previously believed. 

Shailene Woodley may have landed on StarCrush's worst-dressed of the week list in 2013 for her outfit at the premiere of "The Spectacular Now," but we respectfully disagree. Woodley channeled the '90s red carpet trend that everyone forgot about: ultra minimalism. Two decades prior to Woodley's all-black premiere ensemble, countless A-listers were rolling up to red carpets in incredibly casual clothing. Woodley's chic sleeveless turtleneck, midi skirt, and sleek ponytail evokes the same energy, but perfectly elevated for a low-key premiere.

After strutting down the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in 2025, Shailene Woodley found herself on Daily Mail's worst-dressed list. While the outlet derided Woodley for her black cocktail dress' short hemline, we think it was flattering on her. Woodley's look highlighted her toned legs, which showed that she and her team understand how to dress her figure. However, Woodley struggled to walk in her sling-back stilettos, so we'd have suggested a pair with better ankle support. 

Shailene Woodley was perhaps a bit ahead of her time at the 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Though Woodley's blue, red, and white gown landed her on some of the worst-dressed lists from the time, we think that the dress' slightly over-the-top glitz would fare well on a modern red carpet. The entire look screams 2020s-does-early-2000s with the sleek silhouette and bold floral pattern. If Woodley had added some small accessories or put a little more energy into her hair, this look may have even avoided the worst-dressed list altogether.

Shailene Woodley made her way onto worst-dressed lists for her 2018 Met Gala outfit. While The Sun was notably confused about how Woodley's look connected to the year's theme, "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," we think it's clear that Woodley was referencing famous historical figure Joan of Arc — whom Zendaya also channeled for her iconic Met Gala ensemble that year. Woodley's interpretation may not be as beloved, but her uniquely futuristic play on the patron saint was dynamic.

In her early 20s, Shailene Woodley took many risks on the red carpet — some far more subversive than others. For the 2012 Academy Awards red carpet, Woodley wore a very conservative white dress with beaded detailing, a high neckline, and long sleeves. Her full-length white gown landed her on Fashion Magazine's list of the worst-dressed celebs of 2012. However, her incredibly modest gown wasn't as old-fashioned as outlets of the time would have made you believe. Woodley's timeless look has aged well over the years. 

Shailene Woodley's metallic gown for the premiere of "Big Little Lies" was another case of the star being early to a trend. Woodley's dress was discussed by the blog Tom + Lorenzo at the time, which stated that her look was too much for a television premiere and awkward-fitting at her bust. While her metallic gown wasn't critics' favorite in 2017, armor-inspired metallics were all over the runway six years later. Today, we can acknowledge that Woodley did, in fact, look fabulous at the event.