Nicole Kidman's Stunning Style Transformation

No matter what you think of Nicole Kidman's style, it's impossible not to recognize how much of a fashion trailblazer she's been over the years. The multi-award winning actor has proven herself to be one of the most fashion-forward stars on any red carpet, repeatedly taking big risks. Kidman credited her mom with instilling her love of fashion, saying on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that it began at a young age. "She would dress me up like a little doll and would take us shopping. She would take us to the flea markets, and we would find beautiful little vintage things ... I have an enormous respect for [fashion design] as an art form," Kidman said. 

That early love of dressing up would manifest into a serious penchant for clothing that was anything but boring. "I've always been drawn to fashion, mainly classic lines with a twist; but edginess is something I don't shy away from," Kidman told The Hollywood Reporter of her style in 2023. But while Kidman's affinity for clothing may have started young, we can't say she burst onto the scene wearing the most exciting clothing.

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In 1992, the up-and-coming star appeared alongside her then-husband Tom Cruise at the premiere of "Far & Away" in all-black ensemble. Though the one-tone ensemble allowed Kidman's beautiful, naturally curly hair to have its moment, the understated, short-sleeved mini-dress with sheer, black tights felt uninspired for such a big premiere. It didn't take this star long to embrace dressing for the spotlight in a livelier way, though.

Around 1995, Nicole Kidman's career saw a major boost — and so did her fashion. The then-Mrs. Cruise landed one of her biggest movie roles to date playing Dr. Chase Meridian in "Batman Begins," alongside the likes of Val Kilmer, Tommy Lee Jones, and Jim Carrey. And her new style chapter represented her blockbuster status. 

At the Los Angeles premiere, Kidman looked every inch the movie star in a form-fitting, sparkly silver dress with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. Even Kidman's open-toe heels were covered in rhinestones. Kidman teamed the uber-shiny number with a red lip and super voluminous ringlets that screamed A-lister and gave a nod to Old Hollywood glamour, foreshadowing the huge star she was on the road to becoming.

We also saw her style shift in a major way at that year's Cannes Film Festival. The previously demure-dressing Kidman had jaws on the floor in a flamenco-esque red gown with a thigh-high slit and tiered ruffles. She piled her hair into an ornate up-do, which added to her bold new style aesthetic. Throughout the mid-90s, her garb screamed, "I've arrived."

Two years later, Nicole Kidman was making a serious name for herself as a fashionista. She walked the 1997 Oscars red carpet in a long, muted mustard gown with detailed embroidery. Her penchant for designer fashion was clearly ramping up, as the stunning garment was Dior couture. It made such a splash its designer John Galliano credited Kidman with changing the fashion industry. 

"Haute couture was introduced to Hollywood," Galliano said at a Vogue Forces of Fashion event. "It's a huge business — and Nicole kind of started all that by wearing JG for Dior." Kidman would later describe the dress to W as one of her favorite red carpet looks ever. Former "Fashion Police" executive producer Melissa Rivers also talked about the statement Kidman's dress made. "That was the first true couture dress on the red carpet, and you went, 'Wow,'" she told Vanity Fair. In fact, the dress was so popular it inspired at least one affordable dupe. Designer Alan B. Schwartz created a version for Macy's that retailed for $250.

Firmly embedded as one of the most fashionable stars to watch, Kidman began embracing riskier, louder designer pieces. At the Christian Dior Paris showroom opening, the Australian superstar channeled her inner "Bridgerton" in a romantic, light blue floral jacket with fringe sleeves, a sweetheart neckline top, and gray maxi skirt. The unique ensemble was a serious step up from her monochrome black number in 1992, making it very clear Kidman was no fashion wallflower.

As Nicole Kidman prepared to usher in the new millennium, her clothing looks became even more daring, with an increasingly modern twist. She went against the tradition of elegant gowns on the red carpet, instead wearing a deep purple crop-top and skirt co-ord set — one of the perfect wardrobe additions for breezy summer dressing — to the premiere of "Eyes Wide Shut." Her gold bicep jewelry, which featured two large stones, was a huge trend at the time and proved the superstar very much had her finger on the fashion pulse.

The star also rocked an edgier number (for the time) at another "Eyes Wide Shut" premiere. Kidman slicked her locks down into a sleek, low ponytail, which suited her long, deep burgundy dress that featured a structured, cut-out plate over her chest, and let it have its moment. She added an unexpected pearl necklace, which proved she was becoming increasingly bold in her clothing and accessory choices.

As 2001 rolled around, we saw a seismic shift in Nicole Kidman's style that seemingly mirrored her changing life. The A-lister had split with Tom Cruise the year prior, and spicy ensembles began dominating her wardrobe as part of Kidman's post-divorce glow up. At the premiere of "The Others," she stunned in a sheer black, halter neck gown with ruffles over her torso and hips. She also tried a new style with her hair and makeup, opting for a dramatic, smokey eye we hadn't seen much of before. Her locks were pulled into a super voluminous updo.

At the Hollywood Film Festival Gala that same year, the actor showed a more grown-up side to her wardrobe once again. Kidman wore a black crop-top under a long blazer with square shoulder pads. She had her toned middle on show, and paired the garments with black, wide-leg pants. But the outfit wasn't completely monochrome, because the "Big Little Lies" star added a gold necklace and a striking waist belt with a dangling charm. Her grown-up aesthetic may have been influenced by her heartbreak, as she told Vanity Fair, "I was a child, really, when I got married. And I needed to grow up."

Growing up clearly worked, too. In 2003, Kidman was named Vogue Girl of the Moment and bestowed the Fashion Icon Award by the Council of Fashion Designers America. "Nicole Kidman's style, both on and off the screen, has had an undeniable impact on fashion," then-CFDA executive director Peter Arnold said in a statement (via People). "She has elegantly established her personal style and own iconic presence worldwide."

Despite embracing more modern ensembles for a while,  Nicole Kidman adopted an Old Hollywood-inspired glamor aesthetic in the mid-2000s, and looked like a classic movie star in a '50s-inspired look for the 2004 Venice Film Festival. Though clothing that so closely matches your skin tone can be a risk, it paid off for this superstar. Kidman wore a nude, short-sleeved top tucked into a textured pencil skirt with a deep red waistband. She paired the classy number with nude, kitten heel, peep-toe shoes, and a vintage hairstyle that saw her locks in shoulder-skimming ringlets with a bow.

But, sadly, not every outfit she wore in 2004 was a winner. For the Golden Globes, she slipped into a white and gold backless number with a sheer panel over her chest and large gold sequins on either side, leading down her torso and thighs. The over-the-top sparkles also stretched down over the skirt, which draped over her legs. Unfortunately, the garment's drop waist wasn't flattering and the warm gold headband didn't work. Kidman agreed the number wasn't her best, telling W, "I remember wearing a headdress once to the Golden Globes. I didn't know what I was doing. Got to have a few train wrecks!"

Nicole Kidman's passion for interesting silhouettes appeared to reignite in 2011. The star had found love again with fellow Australian and country musician Keith Urban, and the couple adopted two children together (including daughter Sunday Rose, who has totally transformed). Kidman's Oscars dress was a big risk, as it featured extra material over her hips for a unique silhouette that could have been tough to pull off. Not for Kidman's toned frame, though. She also showed us her fun nature via her shoes, which were bright orange and peeked through the gap in her ornate, white silk gown. She hadn't strayed from her love of designer pieces either, as the beaded gown was Dior.

The actor wore another interesting number to that year's Grammy Awards. Her muted, green and black strapless dress had frills around the chest and tiers of frills from her knees down, decorated with intricate, small, red flowers. With her red hair down in waves, Kidman gave us stylish autumnal vibes as she walked the red carpet in the Jean Paul Gaultier number. The romantic and sophisticated outfit, in more muted shades, may have been representative of the changes in her life, as Kidman told Harper's Bazaar that year, "I'm much more of a homebody now. My roots are deeper."

Nicole Kidman made a move to more futuristic, embellished garments in 2014 as she tried an avant-garde, sparkly aesthetic. At the Cannes Film Festival, she ensured all eyes were on her in her loud blue strapless dress. The stunning, attention-grabbing Armani Privé number featured a sweetheart neckline, cinched waist, and mixed crystals in ornate designs all over her body, flattering her stunning figure.

She also wowed at that year's Shanghai International Film Festival, in another heavily embellished number that flaunted her obvious hard work at the gym. That time, the beauty wore Dolce & Gabbana, though she ensured she was comfortable by styling it differently than the runway model. Kidman took off the wide, gold waist belt the model wore and lined the dress over her chest and from the waist down in a nude fabric. She also removed another string of embellishments that was originally around the collar, teaching us the importance of good tailoring and creativity when styling outfits to ensure they feel authentic.

By 2017, Nicole Kidman's style file had evolved to involve seriously out there, avant-garde fashion. Her green sequin Gucci dress for the SAG Awards was one of her boldest to date, as it featured two large beaded parrots on her shoulders and a seriously plunging neckline. The spicy dress – an outdated trend Kidman was caught wearing – was seriously divisive, with plenty sharing their opinions. "Nicole Kidman looks like a damn Mardi Gras float in that dress. Less is more people," one X user wrote. Another clearly disagreed though, writing, "Stunning and lovely!!" Kidman said the dress got shocked reactions from her kids. "My eight-year-old [Sunday Rose] said, 'You're wearing that?' My six-year-old [Faith Margaret] was like, 'What's on your shoulder?!'" she told Net-A-Porter.

But Kidman didn't let mixed opinions stop her from taking another fashion risk. And why should she? At the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Awards, she brought whimsy to the red carpet in a dress that was out there in a totally different way. Her black Dior gown featured a multi-tiered skirt and light purple cartoon of a woman with wings over her chest.

Confirming how much thought she puts into her outfits, Kidman told attendees while on stage (via Vanity Fair), "I'm wearing wings tonight, and I tell you, to all of those young girls and boys, even if your wings get clipped, you can build them back and you can fly." The star turned 50 that year, which may have explained her decision to get even more fearless in her wardrobe choices and wear pieces with hidden meaning. "Everything becomes more meaningful as you get older," she told Vogue.

After some heavy experimenting toward the end of the 2010s, Nicole Kidman's style pendulum swung back to less divisive, more sophisticated styles and silhouettes in 2020. For the Golden Globe Awards, the Australian stunner had jaws on the floor in a well-tailored, vampy, strapless red dress. The gorgeous gown made her look like the superstar she is, with a thigh-high slit that revealed her toned leg and a long, statement-making train. The "Babygirl" star paired it with red bow heels, a beaded gold bag, and yellow gold jewelry, while wearing flattering red lipstick.

She wore a gown that was a little less vibrant in color at the Critics' Choice Awards, instead bringing the drama via the dress' exaggerated ballgown shape. The black, strapless gown highlighted her waist and made her look like a dark princess. She wore her signature light red locks down in waves and forewent statement jewelry to allow the dress to be the center of attention.

It seems like Nicole Kidman has tried almost everything during her decades in the spotlight, yet she still managed to find a new way to impress and surprise us in 2025 (the same year Kidman debuted a bold hair transformation). At the Critics' Choice Awards, she took on menswear when she walked the red carpet in an oversized suit with a blue pinstripe shirt tucked into wide-legged bottoms. She accessorized with a polka dot tie and simple, black, pointed-toe heels.

Kidman suggested she'd ditched gowns (at least for now) as she put another twist on menswear-inspired fashion at the "Nine Perfect Strangers" Season 2 premiere. This time, her suit was more tailored and had a feminine twist, as the dark material featured small sparkles and she added a white flower to the left side of her chest. The look was one of Kidman's spiciest outfits of all time, as she went braless and kept the ensemble fashion-forward by wearing leather-look, black gloves.

We haven't seen Kidman in many suits over the years. She may have chosen 2025 to wear them on multiple red carpets because she was becoming increasingly comfortable in her own skin. Speaking to W, the actor explained, "My natural way of dressing would be far more pants, tie, suit, and a jacket." Kidman also told Elle in 2024 that her opinion on award shows had changed, and she'd become more of a homebody who couldn't wait to take off her designer gowns. "It feels a little unreal at times. I want to get out, take my dress off, and put my jammies on. It's kind of like the opposite of Cinderella," she said. Kidman's style transformation though? That's nothing short of a Cinderella story.