Sydney Sweeney's Style Transformation Over The Years

Sydney Sweeney is one of the most in-demand actors in the U.S. and as her star has developed, so has her style. Sweeney's carved out a sexy, girly niche, which has made her the apple of many a fashion expert's eye. Her trick to keeping her looks stylish and contemporary? Never getting complacent. 

"[My style is] always going to change. That's what's so amazing, especially about being a woman, is being able to embrace all the different sides of ourselves, because we are so multifaceted and there's so much going on," Sweeney explained to People in August 2024. "I can never imagine being one thing for the rest of my life."

Part of that fashion journey involves wearing outfits that reflect how she feels. "Fashion is a really fun way of embracing different sides of yourself," Sweeney explained. "Some days, I might feel very girly, some days, I might feel edgy. Others, I might feel like I want to be more laid-back," she added. We've really seen that evolution over the years, as Sweeney (with her ear to the ground for the latest trends, of course) has gone from cutesy and young to mature and elegant.

It was 2011 when we first saw a brunette Sydney Sweeney on the red carpet. The then 13-year-old stepped out for the 32nd Annual Young Artist Awards in a black strappy dress with a black-and-white layered tulle skirt and bold black heels. Though Sweeney's fashion has developed quite a bit since then (and we're guessing she probably wouldn't recreate this look), she was totally stylish for the time. The froufrou skirt was cute and youthful, perfect for a young teen, and her gladiator sandals (the divisive footwear that made a comeback for summer 2023) were totally on trend.

She also may have unknowingly been sending us a message about how her style would develop here. While the dress' silhouette was cutesy and girly, the dark fabric coupled with her bold peace sign jewelry foreshadowed her penchant for putting her own spin on traditionally feminine outfits.

Three years after her red carpet debut, we started to see Sydney Sweeney's signature style come together. She attended a "Cassidy Way" screening in a silky navy jumpsuit. While it was more casual than the event ensembles she'd rock as a fully-fledged star, it was a nod towards the sexy, plunging pieces she'd go on to wow us with in years to come.

Sweeney highlighted her waist with a thin, black waist belt (a quick and easy trick to upgrade any casual outfit), proving she was learning how to dress for her body type. And while she just missed the trending accessories mark with her thin belt – 2014 was more about chunky waist belts – she totally nailed her necklaces. Layered neck jewelry was super popular at the time, and Sweeney's mix-and-match pieces proved she wasn't afraid to go the extra mile to elevate her clothes. She added peep toe black heels, which were also very trendy at the time.

By the time 2017 rolled around, we saw Sydney Sweeney's inner fashionista start to come out. The actor was gaining attention, having appeared in the likes of "In the Vault" and "Pretty Little Liars." With her star on the rise, Sweeney's red carpet appearance for the premiere of Netflix's "Bright" proved she was ready to take fashion risks and get noticed. Her daring dress had edgy black mesh panels over the shoulders, but it was still flirty with its layered skirt and floral appliques. Sweeney elevated the look with bold platform blue suede boots, showing she wasn't shying away from daring pieces. 

It was around this time that Sweeney started working with her stylist Molly Dickson, and the clothing expert got quite the surprise when she tried to pigeonhole Sweeney's fashion. "I remember one of my first fittings with Sydney five years ago, she was choosing very different styles for each event," Dickson told The Hollywood Reporter in 2023. "I said, 'You have to pick a lane,' and she said, 'I play different roles for my job. I don't want to pick a lane,' and that stuck with me."

By the time Sydney Sweeney hit up the Met Gala in 2023, she had captured the world's attention in "Euphoria" and "The White Lotus," and was ready to level up to match her A-List status by transitioning away from super youthful looks. "I think she before was going a little bit younger and girly, and I feel like this was a this was more mature than she's done before," stylist Molly Dickson said of Sweeney's Met Gala ensemble while speaking to Vogue that year. 

Sweeney's nude, tightly fitted Miu Miu gown showcased her body and featured large, glamorous embellishments. The mermaid silhouette, train, and square neck made it sophisticated and elegant, though it still leaned into a traditionally girly vibe to fit not only Sweeney's aesthetic, but also that of "Anyone But You," the rom-com she was promoting. Sweeney didn't abandon her playful side completely, though, as the dress featured an unexpected black bow at the knees.

Dickson shared in 2023 that Sweeney had gotten more involved in her wardrobe choices. "She's becoming more knowledgeable of how important tailoring is and what works for her body. Her knowledge of fashion has progressed tremendously," she said.

By 2024, Sydney Sweeney was a bona fide superstar and one of the most in-demand actors out there, and her outfits reflected that. With the fashion eyes of the world firmly on her, Sweeney attended Armani Beauty's Venice Film Festival dinner in a dress that screamed Old Hollywood glamour, with a modern twist.

The "Euphoria" star anchored her sexy aesthetic with nude-illusion black lace, but also showed her penchant for being fashion-forward with the unique, large peplum that protruded from either side of her waist. The outfit was a masterclass in balancing bare skin and traditional evening gown coverage. To keep things sexy yet classy, Sweeney covered her legs with a red carpet-skimming pleated skirt.

Sweeney was dressed in Armani, of course, and had opened up the year prior about how she'd learned to choose designers open to alterations. "I'm always so appreciative to both Miu Miu and Armani because they will remake dresses for my boobs," she told Glamour UK. "When a brand is letting me reconstruct the top or rebuild it or alter something, that's when it looks better. That's when you see I look more confident and happy on the carpet." Sweeney had been named the face of an Armani Beauty perfume a few months before the event, and it's easy to see why. The dress was elegant but daring, sexy but classy, and modern yet classic, just like Sweeney and her style over the years.