Outdated Trends Michelle Pfeiffer Was Caught Wearing

Michele Pfeiffer is elegant and always slightly enigmatic. From "Scarface" to "The Age of Innocence," she's famous for playing sexy, compelling women. Her personal style, from the red carpet to more casual moments, seems to capture that same sleek, powerful vibe. She knows how to rock a slinky slip dress and command a sharply padded shoulder. Of course, it helps that she's gorgeous. Even just leaning on her natural beauty, Pfeiffer is stunning going makeup-free.

In part because she's such an enduring icon, she's weathered plenty of fashion cycles and she's rocked most of them with aplomb — from the subtle fashions of the '90s to the power dressing of the '80s. Lately, her natural style seems well suited to the refined, luxurious details, and impeccable tailoring that are currently on trend. Still, as she's embraced the ebbs and flows of style, it's inevitable that some of those looks have aged better than others. There have been plenty of Pfeiffer outfits that totally missed the mark. But even plenty of her best looks remain perfect time capsules of their fashion era. Outdated, yes, but still totally glamorous.

At the 52nd Annual Golden Globes, Michelle Pfeiffer stepped out in a subtle black dress made from luxurious black velvet. Despite some strategic accessories, including black gloves and a pearl choker, the gown was elegantly simple with a square-cut neckline that felt extremely on-trend for early '90s minimalism. The pared-back design got its visual interest from lush materials and made a statement through simplicity — a super stylish choice at the time, but one that would look a bit incomplete on a modern red carpet. In today's era of fashionable maximalism, this refreshingly simple dress look would feel unfinished.

Sequins match with sequins on this two-piece red carpet look that Michelle Pfeiffer wore for the 50th Annual Emmy Awards in 1998. At the time, this maximalist and sparkling gown, with its draped, bohemian feel, would have been perfectly on trend. Boho was in, as were pastels and hyper-feminine details. But this ensemble, which features three separate, sparkling pieces if you count the silver handbag, would look a little too blinding on a modern red carpet. Plus, Pfeiffer's pastel eye shadow and shimmering lip color would appear outdated compared to modern makeup looks.

The feminine dress that Michelle Pfeiffer wore to celebrate earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a perfect reflection of its 2007 era. From the strapless sweetheart neckline — so popular during that time period — to the pencil skirt silhouette, this fitted, sheath shape was a trendy go-to during the late aughts. Modern fashion tends to gravitate toward either shorter or longer hems, which feel a little less like business attire than this in-between cocktail length.

For Elle's 18th Annual Women in Hollywood event, Michelle Pfeiffer cinched her Alexander McQueen dress with a coordinated triple-buckle belt. The massive belt looks to be a foot wide, so that it almost has a corset effect on the overall look. And while it gives great structure to the otherwise simple dress, the eye-catching accessory is a bit of a relic. By contrast, the statement belts that are among todays biggest accessory trends tend to be sleek, modern styles worn at the hips, rather than the attention-grabbing waist belts — a retro nod to the '80s — that were popular around 2010.

In 2012, Michelle Pfeiffer stepped out in a sparkling Barbara Bui flower print dress that served major indie sleaze vibes. From the eclectic accessories to the contrasting patterns of the mini dress itself, this look belongs at a warehouse party in Bushwick after a long workday at Buzzfeed. Though at the time, this outfit was probably considered the height of free-spirited cool, its outré charm feels outdated compared to the refined, flattering styles that are popular now.