Scarlett Johansson Outfits That Totally Didn't Work

Scarlett Johansson may be one of the most beautiful women on the planet, but that doesn't mean that her looks are always perfect. The actor has been in the spotlight for decades now, gaining traction in the '90s for small roles before establishing herself as regular fixture of red carpet events. The "Black Widow" star arrived at the 2025 Oscars wearing a blue velvet gown with blue velvet gloves that made her look as graceful and beautiful as we expect of her. While Johansson stunned that night, there were several stars who made it on the worst-dressed for the Oscars, proving that it's not always easy to nail a red carpet outfit. 

When things are working with Johansson's looks, it's a perfect combination of poise, elegance, and sex appeal. She frequently draws inspiration from Old Hollywood glamour, and wears bold colors. However when these looks fail – be it from poor tailoring, strange fabric choices, or unsightly colors — the final effect can be a bit of a disappointment. Johansson isn't alone in making some sartorial mistakes as she journeys through an illustrious career. Taylor Swift has missed the mark a few times with her looks, as has fashion icon Victoria Beckham. What all of these women have in common, Johansson included, is that they love taking fashion risks, and sometimes this pays off in a big way. In other moments, it fails, but we laud them for trying all the same. 

While promoting "Asteroid City" at Cannes in May 2023, Scarlett Johansson stepped out in a striped Prada dress that boasted bright orange and pink horizontal lines, broken up by thick black stripes. She paired the dress with chunky, platform heeled sandals. It was an interesting choice for Johansson, as the dress actually came from Prada's 2011 collection and was a red carpet favorite back in 2013, worn by stars in a longer format, with a ruffled hem that trailed the ground. Johansson's altered dress was certainly more playful, and the shorter length suited a festive summer day. However, the dress felt dated. Bold horizontal stripes hit a peak of popularity in the early 2010s, and the fact that Johansson wore this over a decade later was surprising. The pattern, along with the heavy shoes, felt out of style for someone who's so good at nailing contemporary trends.

Scarlett Johansson pulled out the polkadots for the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California. For the occasion, she walked the red carpet in a black and white midi-dress from the Balmain Pre-Fall 2020 collection. The sequin dress featured black polkadots set against a white backdrop, while the bust floated off of her chest in larger, diamond detailing in a reverse color tone. It was this hovering top piece that made the outfit distracting and too unusual. We're used to seeing her in more romantic gowns, and this 3-D getup didn't do her justice. However, her hair, makeup, and shoes were gorgeous, so the rest of the fit worked beautifully on Johansson.

In 2007, Scarlett Johansson attended Louis Vuitton's Party of LOVE in New York City wearing a daring choice by the fashion house. Her knee-length outfit featured a bronze bodice top followed by a voluminous skirt in a gradation of purple to dark teal. The metallic top, paired with a metallic skirt in different dyes, felt overpowering on Johansson, who was also rocking a new hair color in bright blonde. Marc Jacobs was designing for Louis Vuitton in 2007, and Johansson was a frequent face on the brand's ads that season, and much of Jacobs' design choices for that time were inspired by her 2003 film "Girl with a Pearl Earring." Considering that Johansson was the muse for this, one would imagine her outfit would have been more dazzling and flattering at this event. 

In March 2007, Scarlett Johansson attended the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week in what has proven to be one of the least flattering looks ever worn by the star. She arrived in black tights with gold heels, carrying a braided, cream and gold bag. In a completely different tonal range, Johansson wore a grey-beige mini-skirt and blouse outlined in black detailing. The shoes and bag were tonally warm, while the skirt and top were cool. Adding to the melding of golds and beiges, Johansson wore her yellow blonde hair in a pulled-back bouffant with excessive volume on the top of her head and no volume on the sides of her head. The visual balance of the outfit was off. There were too many risks with too little payoff when it came to this outfit. 

Scarlett Johansson normally slays at the Oscars. She understands the assignment — to serve glamor and perfection — and delivers beyond our wildest dreams. However, at the 2017 Oscars, this didn't happen. She wore a floral gown by Alaïa and cinched the romantic folds in a black, studded belt, a completely jarring choice for such a feminine dress. In some shots showing the sides of the dress, the gown is transparent and her beige slip shows through, so there was also a wardrobe malfunction component added to this worst-dressed look. Her edgy, shorter hair, with dark roots and frosted tips, also didn't work with the overall effect of the dress, as it added a punk element to what should have been a glamorous ensemble.