Dakota Fanning’s Style Evolution from Young Starlet to Fashion Darling
Since emerging as a child actress over a decade ago, Dakota Fanning has quickly amassed an impressive resume, acting in movies such as Uptown Girls and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Next, she’ll star as “Marge Sherwood,” a role once played on the silver screen by Gwyneth Paltrow, in the Netflix series Ripley. Just as impactful as her IMDB page, Fanning’s style has come a long way since her acting debut. In the last 15 years, the young actress has become a fashion darling, stunning the crowd on the red carpet and in the front row at fashion week. While she loves to stun in fashion’s latest, from Rodarte to Miu Miu, Fanning has always stayed true to her youthful, romantic signature style. In honor of her birthday, here is a look back at Fanning’s style evolution, both on and off the red carpet.
As a kid, Fanning famously starred in an iconic Marc Jacobs campaign. She reunited with the designer for his Spring 2024 show, which marked his 40th year in business.
Fanning joined Chanel in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of the book Sofia Coppola Archive: 1999-2023. Naturally she took classic Chanel tweed and punked it up just a little with some leather shorts.
Fanning attended a poolside dinner thrown by The Hollywood Reporter and opted for a subtropical-appropriate orange mini-dress with a surrealist floral touch from Loewe.
Attending the premiere of the Showtime limited series The First Lady, Fanning wet with a silk Rodarte dress.
Here, Fanning went with a dreamy beaded Valentino gown in a muted green.
The actress went full-on princess at the Golden Globes. She wore a violet Christian Dior Haute Couture gown that featured an empire waist and some regal puff sleeves.
In town for the premiere of Quintin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (she played the notorious Squeaky Fromme in the film), Fanning wore some classic Armani Privé which featured a yellow bow wrapped around a buttery gown.
Perhaps she was doing some shopping while attending Armani’s Privé show in early 2019.
She wore Armani Privé once again to the 2019 Golden Globes. This time in gunmetal gray offset by a delicate necklace.
Dakota’s 2018 Met Gala look may not have paid too much attention to that year’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” theme, but you can never go wrong in classic Miu Miu.
For Prada’s 2019 resort show in New York City, Fanning went with the brand’s bold prints.
Are you feeling green with envy? Fanning attended the 2018 Emmy Awards in Christian Dior Haute Couture.
Fanning keeps its sweet and girly in tiered pink frills while stopping by The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
At the Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program, Fanning paired a tweed mini-dress with chunky Chanel pearl buttoned, gold heeled boots showing off both her affection for edgy flair and lady like style.
Seeing stars. Fanning stood out on the red carpet at the 4th Annual Save the Children Illumination event wearing an Elie Saab sheer star-embellished dress with a belt from the designer’s spring collection.
Later that year, the actress showed off her playful side as she continued to promote her latest film, American Pastoral. The multi-colored , ruffled dress by Alexander McQueen was a different look for Fanning, but stayed true to her love of a high fashion mini-dress. .
Dakota Fanning channeled classic Hollywood Glamour wearing a form-fitting black gown by Dolce and Gabbana with Tiffany jewelry, at the screening of American Pastoral at the Modern Museum of Art.
Dakota Fanning surprised us with a pop of color at the premiere of American Pastoral wearing an orange cut-out dress by David Koma and Tamara Mellon silver sandals.
Fanning landed on W’s Best Dressed list when she attended Valentino’s Spring 2017 show in Paris wearing a black lace midi dress from the designer’s previous season with black high waited knickers and bra by Eres.
The fashion darling wore an embellished mini-dress to the Valentino Fall runway show at Paris Fashion Week.
Sitting front row at Dior’s Cruise 2016 runway show, Fanning wore a playful, elegant strapless dress from the designer’s collection.
Later that year, the actress wore a slinky little black dress with black peep toe pumps to a BCBG Young Hollywood event.
Fanning opted for another strapless dress, by Max Mara, to the Whitney Museum of American Art opening dinner.
Fanning attended the 2nd Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala wearing a strapless navy dress by Zac Posen paired with nude sandals by Christian Louboutin.
Lady in red. Fanning matched her lipstick to her fringed Valentino dress at the world premiere of Effie Gray.
Fanning looked chic and elegant in a little black dress at the Christian Dior Spring 2015 runway collection show.
Fanning changed up the pace in a pale pink at the 2013 Americans for the Arts event wearing a goddess-esque gown by Vionnet.
Fanning continued her streak of dark glamour wearing a long, sheer gown to the Louis Vuitton Spring 2014 runway show.
Fanning kicked her look up a notch at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Night Moves wearing a sparkly black and turquoise mesh two-piece look from the Atelier Versace Fall 2013 collection.
Fanning showed off her dark side with brunette hair on the red carpet at a screening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 wearing a gown straight off of Valentino’s Spring 2013 runway.
Fanning was a metallic goddess on the red carpet for the London premiere of All is Good wearing a stunning, embellished gown by Stella McCartney and a Lanvin clutch.
Fanning looked all grown up sitting front row at Marc Jacobs Spring 2012 runway collection show, wearing a youthful and playful daisy print mini dress.
Wearing Valentino, Fanning was the definition of an ethereal beauty on the red carpet at the ‘Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty’ Met Gala .
The young actress changed up the pace at the 19th Annual BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia, wearing a major floor-length, drop waist gown. Fanning looked glamorous and understated, setting the tone for more chic looks in years to come.
Fanning wows in another lace mini dress, and pumps by Christian Louboutin, at the Los Angeles premiere of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Fanning stepped out with the fashion crowd at the 2010 CFDA Fashion Awards in a flirty white lace dress.
Skipping any awkward phases altogether, Fanning emerged as a stylish teen at the premiere of The Twilight Saga: New Moon wearing a black, lace mini dress and sky-high heels.
At the Broadcast Film Critics Association’s 12th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards, Fanning had a moment in gold lace, finishing the look with a pair of Mary Janes.
Dakota Fanning looked sophisticated as she stepped away from girly dresses at the premiere of Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story with a black and white skirt and shirt.
Fanning was all dressed up and tied with a bow at the 2003 Annual Emmy Awards. The look was finished with a pair of black Mary Janes that spoke to the star’s youthful energy.
Dakota Fanning was pretty in pastel wearing an adorable tea length dress to the premiere of her first major film Uptown Girls.
Dakota Fanning has been making waves on the red carpet since the early 2000’s. Here she is at the premiere of The Santa Clause 2, wearing floral embroidered denim and a sweet white top with a peter pan collar.
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