Aubrey Plaza Outfits That Totally Missed The Mark

Aubrey Plaza is known for a lot of things. For starters, Plaza has mastered the art of sarcasm, delivering a biting wit that's often unmatched, as we saw in her character April Ludgate on "Parks and Recreation" and during red carpet interviews. Secondly, because as someone who doesn't really abide by rules, especially ones that are fashion-related, she's also had some outfits that have totally missed the mark.

With her first baby on the way, news that she nonchalantly dropped in April 2026 on the "Smartless" podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, Plaza is about to entire a new chapter of life. Which begs the question: will Plaza join the ranks of celebrities with iconic maternity fashion? Although earlier in her career, Plaza didn't make a big deal about what she'd wear to events, that has changed thanks to her stylist Jessica Paster. "[She] encouraged me to take risks and not care what people think," Plaza told Variety in August 2018. Something that has definitely become evident in recent years.

Considering the fact that Plaza definitely has a unique approach when it comes to fashion, it will be interesting to see what she and her stylist come up with in the coming months. As much as she's had some gorgeous standout looks, like when she rocked Thom Browne at the 2021 CFDA Awards, Plaza has also had her fair share of outfits that have landed her on the occasional worst-dressed list. After all, if Beyoncé has had outfits that have totally missed the mark, then no one is safe from such a fate.

In December 2024, Aubrey Plaza attended The Gothams in New York City wearing a full-length embellished beige knit dress. Although the dress was, reportedly, Fendi Haute Couture, Plaza's fans were quick to drag her for it not only being out of place for the event, but as one Instagram commenter described it, "The dress looks like something that is going to be on the clearance rack at TJMaxx after Christmas." Others questioned if it was from Shein, while another commenter called it "a dirty bra dress color." Honestly, none of these comments are wrong, and we know Plaza can do better.

One of the best things about Aubrey Plaza is that she isn't afraid to have fun with fashion. However, taking such risks can sometimes backfire, as it did in September 2024 when she attended the New York City premiere of "Megalopolis." Despite being one of the stars of the Francis Ford Coppola film that left him majorly strapped for cash, Plaza wore this strange black lace dress with a matching blazer and a black velvet — and veiled! — newsboy cap. We're all for monochromatic looks for our laziest days, but when it's your own film premiere, effort should be part of the equation. 

As much as underboob-baring outfits were a big 2023 trend, it doesn't mean that they always work. While Aubrey Plaza gets points for wearing this Michael Kors cutout gold gown to the 29th Annual SAG Awards in February 2023, it caused quite a stir. Not only did Plaza look uncomfortable in the ill-fitted dress, but apparently there was a wardrobe malfunction that Plaza's costar of "The White Lotus," Jon Gries, had to point out to her. The buzz around the dress resulted in Plaza's stylist, Jessica Paster, defending the choice, saying the dress fit exactly as it was supposed to fit.

Although Aubrey Plaza has been to the Met Gala twice, it was her second attendance in 2023 for "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty" that missed the mark. Wearing a custom white cutout gown by Stella McCartney and black shiny opera gloves, Plaza definitely had the appropriate color scheme for the celebration of Lagerfeld that was nothing less than shameful, but that was it. With the cutouts adorned by faux hardware chains and the jewelry over the gloves, there's a tackiness to the overall look that strayed from the theme, looking awkward and perhaps a little too BDSM.

When Aubrey Plaza attended the 75^th Primetime Emmy Awards in January 2024 in this butter yellow gown by Loewe, it was another moment that had fans wondering what she was thinking. Yes, butter yellow is an on-trend color we should be giving a try, having been the case since 2023, but the design of the dress and the pin across the bust is serving major Post-It vibes — so much so that it didn't take long for Plaza to be turned into a "SATC" meme. It also looks like designer Jonathan Anderson literally put a pin in this dress to remind himself to finish it later.

It goes without saying that this is a lovely navy and orange-trimmed dress from the Preen Pre-Fall 2014 collection. However, in 2014, Aubrey Plaza was a rising star with not just films under her belt, but she'd been on "Parks and Recreation" for five years at the time. So one would think that, considering her career status and the fact that she's at the 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards, she would have opted for something a bit more exciting and far less conservative-looking. Tea-length full-skirt dresses are great for tea with grandma, not for an awards ceremony celebrating independent films.

As we've learned from Kaitlan Collins, who's proven she's the queen of the pantsuit, there's an art to wearing pantsuits. You can't pull any pantsuit off the rack and automatically expect it to fit, but that's what it looks like Aubrey Plaza did. While the bubblegum pink is a fun choice, when Plaza attended "An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn" Dinner in Park City in January 2018, the pantsuit looked like it needed some tailoring, as it was too boxy for Plaza's frame. Also, the boots and clutch would have looked better if they contained some pink, pulling everything together seamlessly.

Similar to a bold buzzcut being a beauty reset, the same goes for giving platinum blond a try at least once in your life — they're forms of liberation. Although Aubrey Plaza hasn't shaved her locks, she was platinum in 2023 when she attended the Critics' Choice Awards. While Plaza looked fantastic as a blond, she didn't seem to realize that it affects what colors you can and can't wear, as evidenced here with this yellow detail at the top of the gown. Between the blond hair and that particular shade at the neckline, Plaza looks washed out. Any other color would have been better.

In November 2024, Aubrey Plaza attended An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers benefitting God's Love We Deliver, and she showcased exactly how to ace the sheer clothing trend. However, considering the charity involved — God's Love We Deliver has been keeping New Yorkers fed since 1985 — the sheer feels a little inappropriate. Yes, this dress is sexy and interesting and the choker is serving up Y2K energy, but there's just something off-putting about the idea of anyone rocking sheer anything where there's a religious element. The truly pious were probably clutching their pearls over this one.