5 Kelly Ripa Outfits That Totally Fell Flat

Although Kelly Ripa is known for looking polished and put-together, she has worn some less-than-flattering looks in her past — and she knows it. "When I look back at pictures of myself from five years ago, I think I look like a fool," she admitted on "Live With Kelly and Mark" in 2015. As the tv host pointed out though, outfits we deem fashion mistakes today can often simply be the result of changing trends. "It's just a sign of the times and how much you change over the years, fashion-wise," she shared.

But, as is natural with someone who's been in the spotlight for decades, there are some looks Ripa has worn that totally missed the mark in any fashion era. We're taking a walk down memory lane to see the ensembles this former "All My Children" actor wore that had us shaking our heads.

No, this isn't a photo taken on Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos's wedding day. Back in 1993, Ripa wore an embellished, long white gown to the 9th Annual Soap Opera Digest Awards. An award show isn't the place to wear something so obviously bridal (the attention should be on all the nominees and winners!), and Ripa got the occasion and styling totally wrong for the event.

Her semi-sheer, white pantyhose did her no favors, as they knocked out any warmth in her skin tone. Coupled with the high-neck and long sleeves, Ripa was covered from head-to-toe, with the look coming off incredible stuffy. The satin white pumps were also too matchy-matchy (and not in a cute, monochromatic kind of way). The beauty could have really benefited from opting for simple, strappy heel.

Ripa would probably agree that this wasn't her best look, as she's made it clear the '90s weren't her favorite years fashion-wise. "Let me tell you something about the '90s fashion. It was terrible in the '90s," she admitted during a June 2023 episode of "Live With Kelly and Mark" (via Decider). Not all fashion from the decade is bad (we love the '90s grunge aesthetic comeback!) but dated wedding dresses on the red carpet should definitely be left in yesteryear.

Kelly Ripa committed a major fashion faux pas in 2003 at the 3rd Annual Pantene Pro-Voice Concert. For the occasion, she wore an all-black outfit, made up of a semi-sheer sleeveless top and baggy black pants, but only tucked in the front of her top. Petite Ripa stands at 5 foot, 4 inches, and the oversized top and awkward tuck threw off her proportions to make her appear much wider in the middle. We'll forgive the charm-filled chain on her belt though, seeing as that was so of the time.

The biggest downfall of the ensemble came via Ripa's choice of undergarments, though. A white, strapless bra was clearly visible under the plunging black top; an embarrassing fashion mishap that could have easily been avoided. Sure, sheer clothing went on to become a massive trend two decades later, but pairing it with a basic white bra just doesn't work in any decade.

Kelly Ripa attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York in 2004 in cargo pants and boots that didn't compliment one another. We appreciate that Ripa took a fashion risk and injected some color into her outfit in the bottoms. After all, they were trending at the time, and cargo pants even made a comeback in 2023. But, tucking the baggy bottoms into her shiny satin, pointed toe calf-high boots gave her legs an odd, puffy silhouette. Plus, the two garments were clearly made for different occasions. The pants were more appropriate for a casual day with her kids, while the boots were more fitting for a night on the town. She added a sheer, baggy black long-sleeved top, which would have flattered her figure more if it fit closer to her body to balance out the loose-fitting pants.

Then there's the odd bag choice. Ripa attempted to introduce some color contrast to her ensemble via a top-handle accessory made of bright green and pink velvet. Unfortunately, because the pink stripe was a different shade to the one on her pants, it made the accessory look out of place. A plain black clutch or even a black sequin bag, which was a big trend back then, would have worked better.

Nude dresses can be tough to pull off with a lighter complexion, and Kelly Ripa found that out the hard way at the 10th Annual Trevor New York Summer Gala. The "Hope & Faith" actor walked the red carpet for the 2010 event in a shiny satin pink undertone nude dress with a large, matte lapel. Ripa's slight tan rescued the ensemble a little, but her blonde locks and matching neutral heels were too cool to properly bring out her warmer undertones. The dress had also become creased at her hips (a fashion mishap Kate Middleton knows all too well!), which unfortunately looked sloppy.

If we'd styled Ripa, we'd have recommended she swap her black clutch for a brighter shade or a metallic piece to add a pop of color. She could also have worn bold, gold jewelry to break up the bland, neutral shade and add some warmth.

Kelly Ripa gave corporate chic a go in 2012 while attending a screening of "Bully". Unfortunately, her outfit seemed more like she was heading to an office or library than a red carpet event. She wore a gray structured blazer, dark gray button down, black past the knee skirt, semi-sheer black pantyhose, and pointed toe satin heels.

It makes sense why the star wanted to wear something more covered and demure, as the movie deals with the difficulties of bullying. But Ripa's usual feminine, colorful, wardrobe went totally out the window for the drab, dark corporate look. Not only did the ensemble feel inauthentic, it gave off a vibe that was so serious and buttoned up that it aged the beauty. To make the getup chicer but still appropriate for the event, we'd have encouraged Ripa to remove her pantyhose and blazer for a less stiff and formal vibe.