Suri Cruise's Style Has Totally Transformed Over The Years

All eyes have been on Suri Cruise since she was born. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' daughter was a fashionista before she could walk, and was even featured alongside her famous parents in a photo shoot for Vanity Fair — a feat many grown celebs can only dream of — at just 6 months old. 

Suri Cruise has always been so fashionable that, at age 6, British clothing boutique Twisted Twee crowned her the most stylish celebrity child. "She was head and tiny shoulders above all over the other celeb children in our poll," Twisted Twee owner Suzi Warren confirmed (via Toronto Sun), with the survey including the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughter Blue Ivy, and David and Victoria Beckham's daughter Harper Beckham.

Cruise has made a slow fade from the spotlight since then, but her natural trendy style is still very much on show — even when she isn't. From girly babydoll dresses to grown-up slouchy denim, we're looking back at how she's transformed and found herself through fashion.

As a toddler, Suri Cruise was surprisingly sophisticated. While being carried around New York City by her mom in October 2007, it was clear the youngster had been introduced to trends from an early age. Cruise was dressed in gray jeans, an elegant white jacket, white socks, and trendy metallic icy gray Mary Jane shoes (shiny shoes were a popular choice at the time, even for adults).

Despite their immense wealth, Cruise's famous parents still taught their daughter about the importance of being economical. Later that month, she wore the metallic footwear for another outing in the Big Apple. That time, the shoes were paired with a gray pinafore dress, a sensible-but-practical long white sleeve top, and matching tights.

Suri Cruise was strutting around New York City as soon as she could walk — and she did it in some adorable babydoll dress. In August 2008, the little girl was wearing an age-appropriate black-and-white polka dot number with nude Mary Jane shoes. Three months later, Cruise looked sassy in a loose-fitting dark velvet dress that allowed her to move and have fun. The garment was flowy and practical, particularly as it was paired with black leggings and those same trendy silver Mary Janes that gave her the freedom to run around the city streets as she pleased.

Cruise was all over the tabloids in 2008, with her various outfits filling gossip columns the world over. Us Weekly's then-entertainment director Dina Sansing attempted to explain the immense attention the little girl attracted, telling Forbes that year, "It's much more fun to look at cute pictures of Suri than think about how much your 401(k) has decreased." And, well, she wasn't wrong.

Suri Cruise's wardrobe was full of color in 2009. During October in the Big Apple, she wore a green patterned dress with frills over light, white tights. The youngster was having fun and finding her independence, so her parents opted for durable red-and-white shoes that allowed her the freedom to be a kid. Later that month, Cruise got into the autumn spirit with a long-sleeved red dress with a rosette at her waist. The look was accessorized with pink floral print tights and vibrant flats embellished at the toe.

We love how youthful and vibrant Cruise's outfits were at this time. It would have been easy to dress one of the world's most photographed youngsters in stuffy, preppy numbers, or even impractical designer gear, just for show. But her parents balanced practical and chic with feminine flair. Much of that may have been down to Katie Holmes, who admitted to Vanity Fair in 2006 she knew she was expecting a girl even before it was confirmed. "I was craving pink the whole nine months," she explained. And that pull toward feminine colors appeared to spill into her little girl's wardrobe.

In 2011, Suri Cruise's looks were more accessory focused. The month before her fifth birthday, she attended a performance of "Wicked" in New York City in a bright pink headband with a large, 3D flower. The cutie clearly had more say in her outfits, as her footwear evolved from practical flats to bold, ruffled purple satin kitten heels (that we have no doubt she picked out herself). The vivid slingbacks brought extra color to her nude pink coat and red dress, which featured a black heart print. Cruise was clearly fond of her sweet hair accessory, as she sported it twice in the same day. She wore it with the same coat, but with a baby pink dress and matching UGG-style boots. UGG shoes were trendy at the time, and the light color put an authentic, youthful spin on them.

Katie Holmes told InStyle in 2011 that her daughter was a natural-born stylist. "I do not dress her. She dresses herself!" Holmes said (via Marie Claire). "Obviously, I buy her clothes, but she is the one who puts her outfits together. In fact, she helps me. If she likes something of mine, I know it's good." Suri Cruise? Effortless fashionista.

Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise dressed more alike than ever in 2012, embracing matching outfits to demonstrate their close bond. In July, Holmes wore a blue and orange striped dress while Suri complimented the look (without being too on the nose) in a bright orange loose-fitting number with light pink flip flops. But that was nothing compared to their other coordinated ensembles seen later that month. 

The two gave us a Barbie summer years before the movie, going girlie glam in bubblegum pink outfits. Holmes stayed true to her casual and comfy street style in a collared button down, blue jeans, tan boots, and a woven bag. Cruise wore a feminine, thin-strapped floral print dress in a very similar shade with red flats.

Cruise really was Holmes' mini-me, not only because of her matching ensembles, but also her similar dark locks and delicate features. And Cruise clearly had no issue matching her mom, as Holmes admitted to InStyle that her daughter wouldn't wear anything she didn't want to. "Recently, Suri and I were taking a walk and a fight got started because it was cold outside and she didn't want to wear her coat," she revealed.

After so many years of feminine, bright colors, Suri Cruise sported darker shades in 2013 as she fully embraced student life. That October, the 7-year-old was seen out in a dark gray dress, frilly white socks, and black flats. But her fun wardrobe wasn't totally gone. The top of the short-sleeve dress featured shiny embellishments, and she added a whimsical light pink headband to inject more of her personality into the subdued outfit.

That same month, Cruise was photographed on a scooter in a sensible white button-down shirt and a two-tone gray skirt, with white tights and black shoes. The outfit appeared to be a school look, but Cruise still brought the fun with a warm and chic puffy pink jacket plus red bows over her pigtails.

Suri Cruise was living the "Gossip Girl" fashion dream before she was even a teenager. Proving school life hadn't taken the fun out of her style, the adorable youngster channelled a young Blair Waldorf while hailing a cab with her mom in April 2017. She wore a smart pink A-line coat over a purple and blue floral dress, with black leggings, pink socks, and dark purple shoes. Her hair accessories were still strong too, as Cruise wore a large light pink bow.

We saw Cruise's super young style age up around this time. The following month, she showed off her high-society side again in one her most grown-up looks. At a production at the American Ballet Theater attended by her and her mom, Cruise wore a calf-length, long-sleeve gown with a large red rose print on light teal. She added gold flats, which were age appropriate but still formal enough for the event.

As Suri Cruise grew up, she fully embraced basics and trends, toning down the uber-feminine looks of her childhood. In September 2020, the 14-year-old replaced frills and bright shades with dark jeans, white sneakers, a white top, and a cropped cardigan that fastened around her waist. Cruise was clearly aware of what was hot, as loose denim was fast becoming the go-to over outdated skinny jeans. 

But don't think Cruise ditched color completely. In February 2021, she was photographed on the New York streets in a deep pink top, light blue puffer coat, super trendy bell-bottom jeans, and brown boots that proved she was still having fun with fashion.

We think Cruise may have been influenced by her mom in her teen years, as Katie Holmes' style embraces comfort. "You should wear what you feel comfortable with, and be confident in yourself, and know that what you like is enough, and you look great, and own it," Holmes told Elle in 2019. Cruise's later ensembles certainly suggest Holmes' fashion philosophy trickled down to her daughter.

Despite being one of the most photographed children in the world, Suri Cruise sightings became much rarer in 2023. When she was seen out in March, it was obvious she'd used her time away from the spotlight to get to know herself and develop her style. While in New York with Katie Holmes, she wore a shiny coat, dark pants, and heavy-duty boots. 

The outfit was one of her most striking and confirmed she'd grown out of pink dresses and floral headbands. She cemented that while out for Katie Holmes' birthday in December. The teenage beauty attempted to avoid paparazzi, but NYCPap videoed her bundled up in a long gray coat, chunky brown scarf, and what appeared to be long black boots.

There may be an explanation for why Cruise was no longer featured in the media as much. In 2023, Holmes told Glamour, "What has been really important for me with my daughter, because she was so visible at a young age, is I really like to protect her."

By the time Suri Cruise turned 18, she appeared more in tune with trends than ever before. Cruise embraced 2024's double-denim obsession in May with an oversized dark wash jacket with a sandy collar and matching loose-fitting jeans. Clearly all about style and comfort, just like her mom, she added brown clogs, a massive shoe trend in 2024. 

Cruise was bang on trend again three months later when Backgrid filmed her moving into college in Pittsburgh with her mom by her side. The mother-daughter duo strolled on campus in another matching look. Cruise wore denim capris (which made a huge comeback in 2023) with a casual white long-sleeved top. Holmes put her own spin on the classic look in loose jeans with a cream shirt and a grey sweatshirt tied around her hips. It's little surprise the two were dressed so similarly though. Holmes told The Times in 2024 that Suri had developed her own style, but still raided her closet. "Sometimes the basics definitely disappear. But that's fine," she shared.

Cruise was clearly ready for a change and, like so many young adults, was dedicated to carving out a new identity. That also went beyond her clothing. In June 2024, she ditched her surname for her graduation programme, instead choosing to be referred to as Suri Noelle.