Blake Lively's Style Transformation, From Traveling Pants To It Ends With Us

It's hard to deny that Blake Lively is one of the most stylish celebrities in history — and a versatile one at that. Throughout her time in the spotlight, the actor has gone from a bohemian California girl to a sophisticated and chic cosmopolitan mom living in New York. According to the star, that love of style is all thanks to her mother. "Everything I know about fashion is from my mama," she told InStyle in 2019. She also gushed over her mom's passion for fashion to Vogue three years later. "My mom is so cooky and amazing with fashion. She'll find a dress and wear it as a top and cut off the skirt," Lively shared. With that level of creativity in here genes, it might explain why this superstar doesn't have a stylist.

In many ways, that choice has been to her benefit. In fact, the actor has said the only time she experienced true fashion regret was when she let others decide her outfit for her. "It was... something somebody had made for me and it didn't turn out right. I never got to meet the designer and there was a lot lost in translation," Lively admitted to British Vogue in 2021, though she wouldn't name names. "I just felt bad because it didn't look right on me, but I wore it anyway as I didn't want to hurt people's feelings." Lively's looks are always so stunning are put together, we have no idea which outfit she's talking about. But we do know her style transformation has been incredible to watch.

Blake Lively walked her very first red carpet in 2005, and her casual, California style was on full show. The then-teenager attended the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in ripped low-rise jeans (which made a comeback in 2023), a low-slung pink belt, and pointed, slingback kitten heels. On top, she wore a baby blue t-shirt with a sparkly pink, sheer crop top attachment. Lively later told Vogue the top was from none other than Forever21, a store she was a big fan of at the time. "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 to InStyle in 2019.  

Despite being so new to the celeb world, Lively wasn't afraid to make a statement. When attending the premiere for her first major feature, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," in 2005, she showed up in a bright orange, cowl neck satin dress. The accessories Lively wore with the evening were on-trend for the era, including a long statement necklace and stacked bangles on both wrists. Not only was this so Y2K, but multiple bracelets would become quite the staple for this star. Even back then, Lively knew how to balance an outfit. Despite wearing such a loud, bright color, she kept her shoes simple with gold strappy heels — a classic that never goes out of style.

Blake Lively was still finding her signature style in 2008, which resulted in some contrasting looks. That February, she attended the Reebok "Freestyle World Tour" event in one of her most casual red carpet outfits ever; black skinny jeans with an oversized charcoal cardigan and a black top. Though she dressed things up with pointed toe heels, the outfit seemed a bit unusual for the star, particularly because she was also carving out a boho chic niche. In July, that bohemian style was on display for the premiere of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2." In stark contrast to her Reebok ensemble, her poppy orange, flowy dress was much more in keeping with her bright, beachy style. And she kept the accessories simple. On her right arm she wore a gold, metallic cuff, and on her left, she sported an oversized cocktail ring. The look was in keeping with her laid back, California roots, as she added multiple tiny hair braids.

At the time, Lively was arguably most famous for "Gossip Girl," and learning about fashion via an informal stylist role for her high-fashion character, Serena van der Woodsen. "[Lively] would go home and research for hours on Style.com," the show's costume designer, Eric Daman, told The New York Times. "[She] likes to come in and we play around and we try things on and do more of a stylist fitting."

Not to say Blake Lively's pre-2009 style wasn't classy and elegant, but we really saw a shift that year. Now a fully-fledged TV star, Lively started to move away from the bohemian vibe in favor of figure-hugging, embellished numbers. She showed more confidence on the red carpet too, wowing the world in a strapless, bedazzled Nina Ricci gown, at the Golden Globes in January. The star showed her figure in a curve-hugging cobalt blue dress with a thigh-high slit. But this dress wasn't a complete departure from the style she'd developed. Keeping true to her signature accessory look, she stacked several silver bangles on both wrists and wore her hair in loose beach waves.

By May, Lively had worked hard to develop her niche style. For her second Met Gala, she leaned into the glamorous, tailored aesthetic in a plunging blue Versace gown, which featured embellishments across her torso; a peek at her soon-to-be signature glitzy style. At the time, Lively was cementing her relationship with big fashion houses — and it showed. "I love fashion. It's such an expression of self," she'd go on to tell Marie Claire in 2012. "Maybe it sounds [conceited], but I'm lucky to be on such a fashion-centric show ["Gossip Girl"]. There's no designer I don't have access to."

By the time 2012 rolled around, Blake Lively was ready to cement herself as a movie star. For the L.A. premiere of her film "Savages," she channeled old Hollywood glamour in a nude and black strapless Zuhair Murad mermaid dress. She went extra glam for this red carpet, as she joked to PopSugar (via Business Insider), "It's thrilling to be here dressed up because this movie I had to be tortured and covered in dirt the entire time." This dress — which we think is one of her best ever — was a stunning pre-curser to the romantic, glam, designer looks that would become her signature. 2012 also saw Lively take on embellished looks in a big way. That September, she attended a Gucci event in a deep red mini dress totally covered in sequins. She expertly matched her strappy heels to her gown, and pulled her blonde locks into a ponytail to let the dress have its moment. 

Big name designers were really paying attention to her wardrobe around this time, too. In June 2012, Fred Giannini, Gucci's then-creative director, told WWD, "She is a girl of extraordinary beauty and she's a girl who loves fashion. She has great taste in clothes." Michael Kors was also impressed. "Blake's the triple S: sporty, sexy, sophisticated. You can say she's a California blonde, but she is very sophisticated and that's a rare combo," he told The New York Times.

As Blake Lively continued to grow up before our eyes, she embraced sophisticated, yet risque styles in 2014. In September, she attended a Gucci fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in a mustard leather-look knee-length dress with a waist belt. The halter-neck number was a different silhouette for the star — and so was the shade. We saw a more cosmopolitan edge to her wardrobe, which may have been down to Lively spending so much time in New York City filming "Gossip Girl." The show wrapped in 2012, but her post-show looks prove she learned a lot from fashion-forward The CW series. "The impact of the fashion on that show was greater than anything else. Greater than the storytelling and greater than the characters. It definitely changed my life," Lively admitted to Vogue.

That same year, Lively sported another of her most memorable looks for the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival. She wore an iridescent Chanel dress , which played with her proportions. It had a deep V over the chest and gave the illusion of a crop top and skirt, but with skin-tight fabric around her waist which made her middle look impossibly tiny. Though it was still in keeping with her feminine aesthetic, it proved she wasn't afraid to play with different silhouettes.

We saw a more grown-up, edgy style shift from Blake Lively in 2018. To promote her movie "A Simple Favor," she wore multiple pantsuits. Amongst them? A dark blue and black ensemble (complete with a scarf!) for the Paris premiere, a light pink number (complete with a waistcoat!) for the London premiere, and a bedazzled all-white outfit for the MTV Video Music Awards. By this point, the star was a mom of two, and her suave, sensible (yet still girlie and fashion-forward) pieces reflected that. These looks proved she was willing to evolve, deviating from the expected in her own way. The pantsuits also showed how Lively can nail a trend on the red carpet while staying true to her style.

She had unique inspiration for her menswear love... "A Simple Favor"'s director Paul Feig! He told Entertainment Weekly that year, "I was wearing one of my three-piece suits like I always do, and [Lively's] like, 'I want to dress like you.' And I was like 'Okay, that's funny,' and she was like, 'No, no. I really do.'" Lively wasn't afraid to defend her wardrobe evolution, either. An Instagram fashion critic sarcastically commented she'd worn "1,356" sets of blazers and pants. But this star wasn't having any of it. The actor clapped back in the comments section, writing, "Would you note a man wearing lots of suits during a promo tour? So why can't a woman? Just sayinnnn. No double standards ladies."

Lively opened up about how much her fashion had changed during her 2019 InStyle interview. "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," she admitted. The star explained that she's made a conscious effort to wear more elegant styles. But elegant doesn't mean boring. Lively made that clear at the premiere of "Pokémon Detective Pikachu" that May. She posed in a bright yellow sequin midi-dress from Retrofête with spaghetti straps. And even though she'd moved on from her younger style, she hadn't left her accessory love behind. She stacked bracelets on her left wrist and wore a collection of large rings on her fingers. Plus some eye-catching gold drop earrings. Of course, darlings!

But fun fashion doesn't always mean brights. Lively also showed her more grown-up side for a Christian Dior show during Paris Fashion week. Her unique dress looked like two gowns in one, as it included a nude tulle dress with a plunging floral number over the top. It also featured a metallic cage skirt, which Lively rocked with studded nude Christian Louboutin heels. Still fun, but in a more demure way. "For me, fashion is a form of self-expression. It also really takes me out of my comfort zone," Lively admitted to InStyle that year.

By 2020, Blake Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, had welcomed their third child into the world. And like many new mothers, the star didn't have the easiest time creating looks after giving birth. That January, she appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in a black Net-A-Porter dress, which she paired with a sheer Lanvin shirt and animal-print Christian Louboutin heels. The outfit was on the dark side for the star, who doesn't sport all-black very often. Lively explained why in an Instagram Story. "No one had samples that fit me after giving birth. And so many clothes from stores didn't fit either," she wrote (via People). "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."

That same month, she opted for all-black again on the red carpet for a screening of "The Rhythm Section." She wore a glamorous in the off-the-shoulder Dolce and Gabbana number. And we adore the way she still found a way to have fun with fashion, even without a lot of color. She mixed textures to keep the monochromatic look interesting, adding leather look bicep-length gloves and long boots in a similar material. Unsurprisingly, Lively still looked incredible. Even with the extra pressure of dressing her new shape and still without a stylist on hand.

After bolstering her fashion look book with sexier and slightly more grown up looks, Blake Lively returned to her more colorful, uber-feminine roots in 2022. She wore a gorgeous pastel Versace gown for the premiere of "The Adam Project" that February — and it was all for her kids. "I just wanted to look like My Little Pony. I just wanted my kids to, like, think I'm fabulous," she admitted to Vogue. The look marked a departure from her bolder, more figure-hugging looks, but it was still trendy, as pastels were in. Lively also explained the dress was a modern take on her early looks. "With the wooden jewels, I just wanted to feel slightly more bohemian," she explained.

Another way Lively incorporated her passions into her style at this time? Via her showstopping Atelier Versace turquoise and rose gold gown, which is one of Lively's most stunning Met Gala looks ever. Lively explained to Vogue the outfit was a heartfelt nod to the Big Apple, containing references to the likes of The Statue of Liberty and Grand Central Station. "It's the place I choose to live, it's the love of my life, other than my family. I really wanted to celebrate the city that's given me so much," she said. These looks prove Lively was really thinking about her fashion and choosing sentimental pieces more than ever before.

Blake Lively has played around with prints before, but seemed to take things to the next level in 2024. In February, she stepped out for a Michael Kors fashion show in a coordinated but bolshy number. She wore a simple top under with a matching giraffe print mini-skirt and coat, plus sheer tights and patent knee-high boots. All in brown. She kept things super coordinated with her shoulder bag and wore large hoop earrings. This look showed how Lively likes to take a trend but put her own twist on it. Leopard print was hot at the time, but this star made what was popular her own by changing up the animal.

That wasn't the only out-there print she tried in 2024. While gearing up for the release of "It Ends With Us," she went full floral. Lively wore a Chanel navy two-piece, which she wore without a top to the Chanel Tribeca Film Festival artists dinner. "Pajama party, but make it [Chanel]," she joked on Instagram. The ensemble was in keeping with the bold floral trend that was hot at the time. It also demonstrated just how far this star has come. Not only was it young, fun, and feminine, but it was also classy, demure and sophisticated at the same time. Just like Blake Lively.