36 Outfits That Show Kim Kardashian's Dramatic Style Evolution
If there's anyone who manages to keep up with the many cycles of fashion, it's Kim Kardashian. The reality TV star has been in the limelight for two decades now, achieving multi-hyphenate status, with her hand in almost every industry. Apart from dominating the media with her family's infamous "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" show, which eventually gave way to Hulu's "The Kardashians", the 42-year-old has made quite the name for herself. She's appeared on many a magazine cover, modeled across several brand campaigns, and enjoyed success with various business ventures, from SKKN By Kim to Skims.
As the billionaire continues to craft her own lane, her attention-grabbing fashion sense stands in a league of its own. Over the years, Kardashian's worn show-stopping looks that still spark conversation. Matching oversize Louis Vuitton bags with Hilton helped to define Kardashian's early aesthetic, but she really began commanding attention at her first Met Gala in 2013, becoming a meme sensation. Heavily pregnant with her first child, she wore a floral, high-neck long-sleeved gown by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy that featured a thigh-high slit and built-in gloves. Later, in 2022, she delivered an unforgettable 2022 Met Gala appearance wearing Marilyn Monroe's famous "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" dress designed by Jean Louis, though the request to borrow the look was originally denied by Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.
Notably, she started embracing a more fashion-forward aesthetic taking her cue from now ex-husband Kanye West. He introduced her to fashion houses like Balmain and Givenchy, with Kardashian tapping the latter to create her famous wedding gown for the couple's Florence nuptials in 2014. Of course, she's also embraced activewear, regularly sporting West's trendsetting Yeezy line and Balenciaga pantaleggings.
Kardashian also developed an affinity for archival fashion long before it became a trend. For the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, she cemented her sex appeal in a sheer black vintage Jean Paul Gaultier minidress, styled with wet-effect hair. And in 2019, she stepped out in a Thierry Mugler gown with cutouts that boasted similar allure. As the queen of bodycon, she wore a Spring/Summer 2003 Alexander McQueen marine-effect gown to the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. She also casually posed in a Fall/Winter 1995 Jean Paul Gaultier bikini illusion dress.
Having worked with stylist Danielle Levi for many years, Kardashian continues to produce even more memorable style moments. Ahead, see her latest look and scroll down memory lane as you track Kardashian's dramatic style evolution.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Chrome Hearts Black Gown
Kim Kardashian stunned at the 2023 CFDA Awards wearing a halter black gown with an open back from Chrome Hearts.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Balenciaga Pink Gown
Kim Kardashian owned the red carpet at the LACMA Art+Film Gala wearing a Balenciaga ballgown in a vibrant, Barbiecore-pink hue, styled with black arm-length gloves.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Balenciaga Bikini Dress
Kim Kardashian's bikini-gown from Balenciaga features chest, ab, hip, and leg cutouts all held together by string.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Gucci Bikini on Instagram
Kim Kardashian dazzled in a photo shoot shared on Instagram, wearing Gucci logo-print pajamas and a matching tiny bikini top littered with embellished crystals in the shape of the brand's famous interlocking G's. Fittingly, she captioned the photo "It's all Gucci."
Kim Kardashian Wearing Louis Vuitton With Paris Hilton
As Paris Hilton's then-stylist, Kardashian spent her 2006 New Year's Eve shopping with her friend and client while wearing a silver metallic Louis Vuitton cutout one-piece suit with the brand's iconic Alma bag.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Schiaparelli at the Met Gala
For 2023's "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty"-themed Met Gala, Kardashian wore a nude dress with a white corset bodice adorned with pearls by Schiaparelli. She finished the look with a ruffled, crepe train and pieces from the family's go-to jeweler, Lorraine Schwartz.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Balenciaga in Paris
Kardashian attended Paris Haute Couture Week with first-born North, donning a slime-green ensemble that featured a fitted camouflage tee, neon pantaleggings, oversize sunglasses, and a rhinestone Le Cagole X shoulder bag from Balenciaga. Meanwhile, North sported her dad's vintage varsity Pastelle jacket.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Balenciaga Jumpsuit and Fur Coat
Kardashian stepped out in another head-to-toe Balenciaga ensemble, which included a gray multicolor fur coat and a black jumpsuit while on her way to dinner at Lattanzi Cucina Italiana in New York City in 2021.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Glittery Balmain Dress
While attending Kanye West's 2012 "Cruel Summer" premiere in Cannes, the entrepreneur wore a cleavage-baring gold minidress by Balmain, finished with black ankle boots.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Sleeveless Top and Jeans
At the 2006 "The Godfather" game launch party, Kardashian wore a striped lace sleeveless top with light-wash jeans and blush knee-high boots. She finished the look with a nude bag and classic hoop earrings.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Marilyn Monroe's Jean Louis Dress
For the 2022 Met Gala, the business mogul walked the iconic steps in a nude naked dress by Jean Louis that was famously worn by Marilyn Monroe when she sang "Happy Birthday Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy in 1962. The look stirred quite a lot of controversy, as Kardashian's request for the dress was originally denied by Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, the current owner. She also publicized her dramatic weight loss leading up to the event, likening it to an actor preparing for a movie role.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Pink Balenciaga Catsuit
For her first "Saturday Night Live" appearance, Kardashian rocked a Barbiecore-pink Balenciaga pantalegging catsuit with a dramatic feathered coat to match.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Mugler at "The Kardashians" Premiere
While attending Hulu's "The Kardashians" premiere in 2022, Kardashian rocked a custom body-hugging, metallic latex gown with a high slit designed by Thierry Mugler himself.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Maison Alexandrine Set
Once again, Kardashian channeled her inner-Cher, wearing a yellow embellished two-piece set by Maison Alexandrine that was almost identical to the outfit the singer wore at the 1973 Oscars. The look was her choice for the 2017 Casamigos Halloween party in LA.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Vintage Sheer Jean Paul Gaultier Dress
Kardashian graced the 2016 VMAs red carpet in a vintage sheer black minidress from Jean Paul Gaultier, along with black lace-up heeled sandals and gold jewelry from Yeezy.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Balenciaga at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
As a Balenciaga muse, Kardashian wore a bright-blue gown from the brand for the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Gucci by Tom Ford Suit
At the 2017 LACMA Art and Film Gala, Kardashian traded in her go-to bodycon dresses for a relaxed black suit by Tom Ford for Gucci, opting to wear the blazer jacket open, without anything underneath.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Sheer Roberto Cavalli Dress
Kardashian stunned in a sheer army-green Roberto Cavalli Couture dress with a waist-cinching leather belt for Vogue's 100 Gala dinner in London in 2016.
Kim Kardashian in Vintage McQueen at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
For the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Kardashian wore a cream Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2003 dress that featured a corset and ruffles. The marine-inspired gown was the same dress that Angie Barrett wore to the Beaux Arts Ball and Cannes Film Festival in the early aughts.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Red Balmain Two-Piece Set
While attending the 2015 Roc Nation Brunch, the SKKN by Kim founder wore a red silk Balmain crop top and maxi skirt set with gold jewelry.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Latex Balmain Suit
During Paris Fashion Week in 2020, Kardashian attended Kanye West's Sunday Service wearing a latex caramel suit, complete with gloves and snake-print sandals.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Leather Dior by Kim Jones Set
Kardashian attended Kim Jones's Dior Men's Fall 2020 runway show wearing a head-to-toe snakeskin look that featured a pair of green python-print pants, a white printed coat, yellow boots, and a blue Dior Saddle bag.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Cutout Mugler Gown
For the 2019 Hollywood Beauty Awards, the Mugler muse wore another one of the iconic designer's pieces, a bust-baring black dress with a thigh-high slit, halter neckline, large cutouts at the torso, and wrist cuffs.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Versace at the Met Gala
Custom-made by Donatella Versace, the multihyphenate wore a gold sequin floor-length dress for 2018's "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination"-themed Met Gala.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Balenciaga at the Met Gala
For the 2021 Met Gala, Kardashian wore a Balenciaga catsuit gown that covered her entire body and helped her stay incognito.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Vivienne Westwood at Diddy's Birthday
While celebrating Diddy's 50th Birthday, Kardashian posed alongside Kanye West in a champagne corseted off-the-shoulder gown by Vivienne Westwood.
Kim Kardashian in a Floral Givenchy Gown at the Met Gala
For her Met Gala debut, Kardashian brought a plus one (first-born North), wearing a floral Givenchy gown by Riccardo Tisci, complete with a slit and gloves.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Lace Givenchy Jumpsuit
While attending the 2015 LACMA Art and Film Gala, Kardashian put her baby bump on display in a sheer black lace jumpsuit and robe by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Latex Mugler Dress
The media personality paid homage to singer Cher, wearing a blue latex minidress with a silver and blue beaded wig and knee-high boots for the 2019 Met Gala afterparty.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Blue Yeezy Dress
While attending the Louis Vuitton Menswear show in 2018, Kardashian wore a blue cargo Yeezy dress layered over black biker shorts and styled with PVC heels. She finished the look with a pair of dark Alpina shield sunglasses.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Balenciaga Trench and Boots
For Balenciaga's Spring 2017 runway show, Kardashian sat front row in a neutral trench coat styled off-the-shoulder with a pair of thigh-high black-and-white checked boots.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Yeezy Spandex Outfit
In 2015, Kardashian supported her then-husband's first Yeezy Fashion Week show wearing a mesh neutral-toned catsuit layered underneath a gray sports bra and camouflage moto jacket. She finished the look with black ankle boots.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Vintage Cheetah Alaïa Set
While in Paris in 2019, Kardashian sported a vintage leopard jumpsuit and coat combo from Azzedine Alaïa's Fall/Winter 1990 collection.
Kim Kardashian Wearing Mugler at the Met Gala
For the 2019 Met Gala, Kardashian took on the Camp theme in a crystal-adorned, neutral bodycon dress by Mugler, along with clear heels.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Leather Look in Miami
For an outing at Gekko restaurant with Tristan Thompson, Kardashian wore a leather, backless crop top with low-rise pants.
Kim Kardashian Wearing a Black Bikini on Instagram
Kim Kardashian struggled to get a solo picture in a bikini picture on Instagram, where she showed off a tiny black classic string two-piece while others swam around her.