Even before Serena van der Woodsen’s boho-chic style became the fashion handbook for teenagers, Blake Lively’s fashion sensibilities have been ahead of her times. In the early and late 2000s when celebrities were high on Y2k and red carpet looks were either brave or bizarre, Blake did tread carefully by keeping it minimal even while following trends. Of course, she couldn’t completely escape the phase where denim jeans and beach tube dresses were acceptable black-tie attires, but she completely redeemed herself once she entered the upper east universe of Gossip Girl.
Ever since the show skyrocketed in popularity, and she had cemented her position as a fashion icon, Blake has been red carpet royalty as well as a street-style savant. Trust her to strategically style prints, mix couture with high-street, and pair blingy Judith Leibers with crisp pantsuits—all sans a fashion stylist. In honour of her 34th birthday, let’s rewind to some of Blake’s most stylish moments and trace her fashion journey.
1. The Kids’ Choice Awards In 2005
For one of her earliest red carpet appearances, Blake wore a sequined top and low-rise jeans with matching stilettos and a belt. While this wasn’t one of her finest moments, at least she didn’t layer her denim with a skater skirt IYKYK.
2. Teen Choice Awards 2005
The queen of beach waves, Blake narrowly escaped the era of crimps and perms. For the Teen Choice Awards in the same year, she opted for a basic yellow dress and a long chain necklace with a pair of open-toe shoes. Not too bad for a red carpet rookie.
3. On The Set Of Gossip Girl In 2007
Remember when Serena van der Woodsen reinvented Constance Billiard’s lad-like uniform? Everyone created their own version of the school uniform, but Serena went a step ahead and deconstructed the whole ensemble. Right from the shortened plaid skirt and the no-shirt-just-tie on a t-shirt to cropped jacket and bandanas instead of hairbands became a teenage-style statement.
4. On The Set Of Gossip Girl In 2008
When she wasn’t busy dethroning her best friend Blair Waldorf from The Met steps, she was gliding across the Upper East Side of New York, dressed in business blazers, plunging shirts, and sexy leather boots. Her everyday looks on the show were also far from basic, always amped up with a hint of glamour.
5. Met Gala 2008
Blake Lively walked her first Met Gala red carpet in a figure-hugging mermaid-style Ralph Lauren black gown with feather details and gloves. The theme was Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, and Blake came in as an edgy femme fatale.
6. Golden Globes 2009
Going risque for her first Golden Globes, Blake wore a steel grey embellished gown with a thigh-high slit and carried her signature just-out-of-bed hair. It earned her enough rave to be looked at as the emerging fashion style star.
7. Met Gala 2009
Blake went from understated to EXTRA, with just this one look. It was her second time around on the Met carpet and she experimented with this one-sleeved georgette teal gown with decolletage neckline by Versace and ‘singe-handedly’ won the gamble.
8. Gossip Girl Paris Edition
Nailing Parisian Chic the Serena van der Woodsen way, Blake’s Paris wardrobe in the show was minimal yet impactful. Seen here on a shopping spree, she was dressed in oversized palazzos, a grey tank top, and a broad belt to tie up the look, the emerald green stone necklace added a pop of colour to the otherwise muted outfit.
9. Times 100 Gala 2010
Deviating from her trademark blonde tresses, Blake debuted as a red-head for the Times 100 gala soiree. She looked like a real-life goddess an ombre green Zuhair Murad bodice encrusted couture gown with painstaking drape detail.
10. Met Gala 2011
The theme of the night was, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, in the memory of the late designer and Blake didn’t come to play. Just like Lee McQueen who believed in having fun with fashion, Blake embodied that in her custom-made, sari-style, floral embroidered Chanel attire with layered cowls and semi-sheer detail.
11. Cannes 2014
Blake practically ruled the Cannes red carpet that day in a halter wine shaded Gucci gown. It was a simple, solid coloured couture piece which she styled with minimal jewellery and toned-down shoes, allowing the dress to simmer in the limelight.
12. Angel Ball 2014
When you’re Blake Lively you don’t really alter your style for your bump, you just dress it up the classy way. For the Angel Ball in 2014, Blake announced her pregnancy with a visible bump in a butter yellow figure-clutching gown with silver trimming on the edges.
13. New York Fashion Week 2019
Imagine stripes, checks, and polka dots in one outfit all layered together, a possible fashion disaster? Not when Blake does it in her chaotic yet creative way. Captured by the paparazzi during 2019 NYFW, Blake effortlessly worked this complicated look.
14. Michael Kors 2020
In head-to-toe Michael Kors, Blake gave the androgynous dressing a very Annie Hall from the ’70s spin. She looked sharp in a pair of flared black trousers, white shirt, business vest and a polka-dotted scarf that gave the illusion of a tie.
15. Free Guy Premiere 2021
After her 3rd baby and a year-long lockdown, Blake looked ready for some serious fashion action. She walked the carpet in this sequin-filled, tripple cut-out gown by Prabal Gurung. The actor is a pro at balancing an opulent attire with minimum or no eye-catching styling.
