Outdated Trends Dakota Johnson Was Caught Wearing

Dakota Johnson rarely gets an outfit wrong, but even she has been seen making a few fashion faux pas — though it's rare when this happens, because she's famously such a trend-setter. If you look to TikTok, Dakota Johnson core is its own aesthetic. Indeed, Johnson has a whole archive of enviable cool-girl outfits complemented by her equally fabulous cool-girl hair looks. But it's not always perfection. Sometimes, her choices leave us uninspired or wondering what she saw in a look. For this reason, Johnson certainly falls under the category of celebrities we wish would take more fashion risks. Her love of neutral tones does come across as tedious, and while basics can be great, too many of them come off as boring. 

It's not just minimalism that Johnson has suffered from. The "Materialist" star has also walked out in looks that hark back to decades earlier, from the '80s to the early aughts or the 2010s, in ways that are more unfortunate than nostalgic. From mumu dresses to elaborately beaded shoulder pads, Johnson has made some errors, so we shouldn't feel too bad when we do the same kinds of things. 

Dakota Johnson made a rare fumble in 2014 when she attended Stella McCartney's Green Carpet Collection in London, England. The newly minted star, thanks to her role in "Fifty Shades of Grey," debuted blonde hair. Judging from the fact that she quickly returned to her brunette color and never went back shows that even she was aware that the blonde tone didn't suit her. But beyond a bad dye job, Johnson's look was an unfortunate mix of frumpy and dated. She wore a white and grey polka dot dress that featured an abundance of fabric. The puffy, peasant-style sleeves added too much volume and harked back to the '90s. The diagonal hem of the skirt, complete with ruffles, added to the busy effect of this look. 

Dakota Johnson leaned into the '70s and went too far. Her flower power dress, which she wore in 2015 in Venice to the photocall of "A Bigger Splash," was a misstep for the actor. While the dress was by Rodarte, it still missed the mark for that chic red carpet charm that Johnson so typically exhibits. The large, orange flowers overpowered the look, and the high, stiff collar gave the dress a stuffy feel. It aged Johnson and lacked that fresh, flirty energy that makes her shine.

In 2016, Dakota Johnson attended the Met Gala, whose theme that year was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology." In a disappointing move, Johnson went for a Gucci gown that featured large, colorful stars. The upper portion of the dress boasted forest green lace, giving it a slight lingerie effect, while the skirt of the gown looked like something a kindergarten teacher would dream of. The vibe was very '70s, and the star concept seemed unrelated to the theme of the Met Gala that year. It was a miss on many levels. 

Dakota Johnson's pink gown at the 2017 LACMA Art + Film Gala was another outdated and uninspired look for the star. The dusty rose color was aging on her while the plunging neckline and baggy cut of the dress gave her a shapeless silhouette. But worst of all, the bedazzled shoulder pads were more reminiscent of a 1980s Michael Jackson music video than a fashion-focused red carpet fit. On top of that, the dark burgundy lip was incoherent with the rest of the look.

Dakota Johnson wore a questionable two-piece outfit to the premiere of "The Peanut Butter Falcon" in 2019. The black and gold mini skirt, with the coordinating and unusual bow-style top, felt reminiscent of night club outfits that were popular in the 2010s. The outfit lacked the glamour and old Hollywood sophistication that makes some of Johnson's other red carpet looks stand out. This outfit was pretty forgettable.

The elves want their housecoat back. Forget outdated. This velvet smoking jacket that Dakota Johnson wore to the Met Gala was out of another world. She donned the red robe over a sheer, black jumpsuit in 2022, when the Met Gala's theme was "In America: An Anthology of Fashion." It seems like Johnson has struggled staying on theme for Met Galas, and this theatrical look didn't read as on-theme either. Nor did it seem current or modern in any way. 

Dakota Johnson made an unusual wardrobe choice when she attended the premiere of "Daddio" at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. She wore a fish print mumu with brown heels. While Johnson always slays with hair and makeup, the mumu dress gave us 1950s vibes, and seemed out of place in her sleek, sophisticated wardrobe. It certainly looked comfortable, though, so we'll give the outfit that point.