Caitríona Balfe’s Runway Roots Still Shape Her Red Carpet Style
For Caitríona Balfe, the road to the red carpet started not in Hollywood, but on the runway. Long before she was collecting award nominations and commanding premieres for roles in The Amateur and Outlander, the Irish star was a fixture of the fashion world, walking for houses like Chanel, Givenchy, and Louis Vuitton during the height of the early-2000s supermodel era.
Modeling imbued Balfe with an innate sense of fashion, and now, years after trading the catwalk for the screen, that sensibility continues to shape her presence in front of the cameras. Still dressed in the very labels she once modeled for—from Prada to Balmain and Giorgio Armani, and nearly every brand in between—the star treats the red carpet like her runway with elegant lines, clean silhouettes, and the occasional touch of drama. Even as Outlander is coming to end, Balfe’s red carpet journey likely isn’t over.
Here, see how Balfe transformed from a runway mainstay to a red carpet regular.
2026: Outlander Premiere
Balfe turned to one of her most trusted labels, Louis Vuitton, for the final season premiere of Outlander.
2025: The Fashion Awards
She styled her lace Louis Vuitton slip with leather opera gloves at the 2025 Fashion Awards in London.
2025: The Amateur Premiere
This striking yellow Louis Vuitton gown at a 2025 premiere was a nice switch-up in Balfe’s stream of usually jewel-toned red carpet looks.
2025: Critics’ Choice Awards
The actor wore one of her more experimental looks, courtesy of Prada, to the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards in Los Angeles.
2023: Tribeca Film Festival
Balfe added a pop of red to her sheer Tribeca Film Festival look, seen in both her beauty and accessory choices.
2024: Comic Con
While Balfe favors dramatic red carpet gowns, she proved she can pull off formal separates with similar ease at Comic Con in 2024.
2022: Academy Awards
Balfe riffed on the peplum resurgence at the 2022 Oscars in a ruffled Louis Vuitton confection.
2022: BAFTA Awards
This sleek Armani Privé dress spoke through its streamlined structure, seen in its power shoulders and plunging neckline.
2022: SAG Awards
Balfe was a vision in Valentino’s hallmark shade of red at the 2022 SAG Awards. For the perfect finish, she paired the striking design with a coordinating burgundy lip.
2021: British Independent Film Awards
This Alexander McQueen look is a masterclass in color and texture mixing.
2020: Academy Awards
Balfe attended the 2020 Oscars in an elegant twist on sheer, wearing a Valentino couture mermaid dress highlighted by a sheer overlay affixed to the bodice.
2019: The Fashion Awards
As if Balfe’s dazzling Armani Privé look at the 2019 Fashion Awards couldn’t get better, it came with pockets.
2018: British Academy Television Awards
Balfe debuted a stark, chopped bob with fringe at the 2018 British Academy Television Awards. She paired the beauty transformation with a moody Delpozo gown.
2017: BAFTA Awards
In Valentino, she was an explosion of pleats—and colors—at the BAFTAs in 2017.
2016: Met Gala
For her first, and, so far, only Met Gala in 2016, the actor and model stayed classic in a plum velvet Roland Mouret gown, Kurt Geiger heels, and Kwiat jewelry.
2016: Golden Globe Awards
Balfe brought the drama to the 2016 Golden Globes in this custom gothic-inspired gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
2015: People’s Choice Awards
At the PCA in 2015, Balfe wore a flirty one-shoulder LBD with ribbon sandals.
2015: SAG Actor Awards
Balfe really shined at the SAG Awards, where she accessorized her creamsicle-colored Solace dress with red lips and coordinating Gianvito Rossi shoes and a Rodo clutch.
2015: Outlander Premiere
A plum Roland Mouret dress and Halston Heritage clutch were just the ticket for the mid-season premiere of Outlander in New York.
2014: Outlander Premiere
Balfe punctuated her tea-length ivory dress with sharp black heels at the first Outlander premiere in 2014.
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