Outdated Trends Nicole Kidman Has Been Caught Wearing

Nicole Kidman loves pushing boundaries when it comes to fashion, even if it puts her at greater risk of making a blunder. In 2022, the "Big Little Lies" actor graced the cover of Vanity Fair wearing a micro Miu Miu set and received some backlash for it. But Kidman didn't take it lying down. In May 2022, she spoke with director Baz Luhrmann in Vogue, acknowledging the risk. "Cause you know that part about me where I'm like, 'I'm just going to do what I want to do, ultimately!' And just have some fun," she began. "And just commit, like really commit when I show up, do it. But there's got to be some fun. And sometimes it's going to work, and sometimes it isn't. But I love the idea of being bold and not fitting into a box."

Kidman definitely does not fit into a box. The star has undergone several transformations throughout her life, rocking different looks over different periods. Her post-divorce style was a notable change from her clothing during her marriage to Tom Cruise. Even Kidman's hair has gone through several transformations, all different, all incredible. Her '90s aesthetic from 'Practical Magic' is back, too. With such a playful, engaged spirit when it comes to fashion, Kidman sometimes misses the mark with looks that feel stale. We don't mean that in any way as a jab. It's just comforting to know that we're all entitled to a few mistakes if even Kidman has been spotted wearing an outdated trend here and there.

Even Nicole Kidman can't pull off polka dots. For the premiere of 'Aquaman' in 2018, Kidman arrived at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in a halter gown that was tiered in black frills and bedazzled with golden sequins, giving the illusion of polka dots. Kidman paired the Armani Prive ruffled dress with black sandals. While she always looks polished on the red carpet, the dress felt busy with both the ruffles and the polka dot effect from top-to-bottom. Plus, polka dots are always risky and can end up looking dated. 

Remember when we were pairing statement necklaces with everything? Ugh. At the 2011 SAG Awards, Nicole Kidman wore a black, lace Nina Ricci gown. She paired the already bold neckline with a floral necklace by Fred Leighton. Kidman's hair was styled with choppy side bangs, and she finished off the look with peachy red lipstick. While the dress was beautiful on its own, the combined effect was distracting and busy. Plus, statement necklaces are such time capsule pieces of the early 2010s. The lace neckline did not need a statement necklace, and her geometric bangs all felt too eventful to let the outfit shine.  

Back in the 2010s, we were putting peacock feathers in everything, or creating looks that utilized the blue and emerald green jewel tones of their feathers. At the 2017 SAG Awards, Nicole Kidman walked the red carpet in an emerald green gown bedazzled entirely in sequins. On each shoulder of the Gucci gown was a parrot, and the skirt of the dress was tiered in billowing layers. While the dress used parrots instead of peacocks, the aesthetic of Kidman's dress followed that style exactly. 

The gown landed Kidman on the Daily Mail's worst-dressed for the event, with the outlet stating that she looked like a Mardi Gras float. To be fair, though, Vogue applauded the look, claiming that Kidman was "fearless" for wearing such a garment. However, being fearless isn't the same thing as being fashionable, and the dress was just too busy and chaotic. 

Neckline trends are forever changing, and variations of the Tarzan-shoulder, or cold-shoulder dress, are decidedly out. On November 8, 2011, Nicole Kidman wore a red, one-shoulder gown by Stella McCartney to the BMI Country Music Awards with Keith Urban in Nashville, Tennessee. While Kidman looks great in a form-fitting column gown, the dress and styling felt dated and unpolished. Kidman wore a loose, low ponytail that hung over one shoulder, which drew more attention to the already-dated neckline. The white trim around the top of the gown created too much texture against an animated print. It wasn't our favorite look on her, but that million-kilowatt smile goes a long way.

Choker necklaces had a big Renaissance in the 2010s but fizzled out quickly. On June 13, 2024, Nicole Kidman attended the premiere of her Netflix hit "A Family Affair" at The Egyptian Theatre Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. For the event, she wore a nude, Gucci gown that perfectly matched her skin tone and looked as though she was naked. She accessorized the dress with an amber-toned choker and wore her hair back in a ponytail. Of course, Kidman looks beautiful no matter what, but the gown washed her out, and choker necklaces are taking a back seat in the world of statement jewelry, so it was not her best moment.