5 Sarah Hyland Outfits That Just Didn't Work

Even the most stylish of Hollywood figures aren't immune to the occasional fashion flop. While Sarah Hyland has had some stand-out red carpet looks over the years, the beloved sitcom star has also experienced several sartorial missteps, with some of her outfits simply missing the mark. As she started in show business as a child, Hyland has had a stunning transformation throughout her career and her sense of fashion has similarly evolved. 

Still, while some of us may look at our old outfits and cringe, the NYC native expressed a more forgiving style stance. "I don't think you ever make fashion mistakes because if you like it at that time, then it wasn't a mistake," she told People in 2012. "I don't think people's opinions should matter too much." We agree that fashion should ultimately be about individuals wearing what they feel most like themselves in. Even so, we do have some fashion dos and don'ts, equipped with styling techniques that will complete any outfit, that can be helpful when crafting your own looks.

At the 2011 Critics Choice Awards, Sarah Hyland took the business casual trend to a new level with a blazer from Whitney Eve that featured a geometric, tribal-inspired print. The actor layered the jacket over a sheer lace top and Boulee mini skirt, accessorizing with black Steve Madden heels and a key-shaped necklace. She wore her long hair in loose curls while opting for a thick eyeliner.

This look was very of-its-time, with boho-inspired festival wear and prints having a major moment in the 2010s. Lace tops and dresses were stocked by every retailer. In this way, the print stands-out as being quite outdated, but even more concerning was the combination of the geometric pattern and lace texture. While there are some unexpected texture mash-ups that can really elevate your style,  the dueling aesthetics in this ensemble create more of a clash than a successful subversion.

Sarah Hyland wore another confusing look for the LA premiere of "Glee: The 3D Concert Movie" back in 2011, as she opted for a short white dress from Nuj Novakhett. The piece featured a pink belt at the midsection, triangular cutouts on each side of the torso, and black strips of fabric, reminiscent of a two-lane road, adorning the neckline. While the garment already isn't our favorite, the styling of the ensemble leaves us even more confused. For the event, Hyland pulled her hair into a loose side-braid bound with a red hair tie and accessorized with dangly earrings and silver platform heels from Giuseppe Zanotti.

Unfortunately, these separate outfit elements don't come together to form a cohesive look. We love chunky platform heels, but the style and color of this pair feels like it would be better suited with a more glitzy, night-on-the-town 'fit. The side-braid also feels very casual in comparison to the dress, making the overall ensemble feel confusing and disjointed. When in doubt, it's always helpful to consider occasion and color when styling and accessorizing an outfit. 

Back in 2013, Sarah Hyland wore a high-low Marchesa gown to the MTV Music Video Awards, marking another fashion misstep from the celeb. The red dress featured gold accents that lined the strapless bust, formed a diamond in the center of the bodice, and adorned either side of the skirt. The "Vampire Academy" star styled the look with a gold clutch, dangly earrings, and a pair of strappy black heels. In terms of beauty, she opted for a dark smokey eye and a tousled hairstyle.

This Hyland outfit ultimately feels more superhero than chic, with the red color paired with the gold accents being reminiscent of a Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel costume. While the MTV Music Awards have always been an opportunity to flaunt some fun fashion, the flouncy high-low skirt looks cumbersome and weighty on the Hollywood figure. The black heels add a disjointed element, with the rest of the accessories being a coordinating gold color. Overall, we love when celebrities take a risk with their fashion, but this look from Hyland missed the mark.

While we're big fans of a pink and white color palette on Hyland, the A.L.C. crop top and midi skirt she wore to a "Modern Family" event in 2015 missed the mark for us. For one, the rectangular shaped neckline and straps of her shirt combined with the calf-length skirt created some awkward proportions. A more fitted silhouette at this length or a longer hemline would have improved the outfit's balance while adding a more definitive shape.

Though we like the idea of a rectangular cropped top, this one seemed boxy in execution, while the straps looked like they pulled uncomfortably into the underarm area. Thankfully, Hyland's mint-colored, pointed-toe heels and Jimmy Choo clutch brought some lightness to the ensemble. But overall, the outfit left a lot to be desired. It's far from the worst red carpet look we've seen, but it reminds us to consider how the proportions of separate pieces pair together when building our own outfits.

In 2024, Sarah Hyland wore an oversized silk blazer-dress for the Giorgio Armani Prisma Glass Launch Party, which celebrated the brand's lip gloss line. The "Modern Family" actor opted for a complete Armani look, styling the peach garment with a black, rhinestone clutch and pointed-toed shoes from the designer brand. She wore loose waves in her side-parted bob, opting for a shimmery peach-toned eyeshadow and a glossy lip. Though we can't deny that Hyland looks really cute here, this ensemble ultimately misses the mark for not fitting the occasion.

The silky shirt, equipped with three oversized pockets, leans more luxury sleepwear than launch-party elegance, with the branded accessories failing to convince us that the piece couldn't double as pajamas. The peach garment would've made for a great bridal party gift or girl's night in 'fit, but it definitely feels out of place at this high-brow event. Ultimately, this style slip-up goes to show that an outfit's context can really make or break it as a look.