Diane Kruger’s Best Red Carpet Moments Prove Why She’s Every Designer’s Ultimate Muse
There’s a reason why Diane Kruger is considered one of the most stylish women in Hollywood: the actress never has a misstep when it comes to pulling out the most fantastic, show-stopping gowns on the red carpet. The German actress entered the scene back in 2004 with her role as Helen of Troy in Troy, and has since been a fashionable staple both on and off the red carpet. With close relationships with designers such as Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, and Karl Lagerfeld, Kruger is never without a perfectly chic gown for any occasion. Over the years, Kruger has become the Queen of Cannes, gracing the South of France with countless couture gowns, as well as a staple in the front row each fashion season. Here, in honor of her birthday, a look back at some of Kruger’s best red carpet moments.
Kruger decided to edge things up a bit by wearing a David Koma fall 2023 look complete with leather, thigh-high boots, black gloves, and a flower-adorned choker.
While on the fall 2023 runway, this structured Jason Wu blazer was styled over a nude mini dress, Kruger added her own touch by layering it atop a lace number.
Kruger’s Givenchy Fall 2022 turtleneck dress had the added pleasure of an unexpeted open back.
The actress attended the closing ceremony of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on the arm of her fiancé, Norman Reedus, wearing a sleek custom Ami dress with a large bow detail in the back an attached train.
Kruger opted for drama when attending the premiere of The Innocent at Cannes, wearing a bright red Oscar de la Renta gown with an open back and voluminous skirt.
The actress did not shy away from standing out at the 2021 Met Gala, pairing her neon green Prabal Gurung dress with equally bright pink heels and eye makeup.
Kruger wore a custom Armani Privé gown with a keyhole cutout to the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.
Kruger shined in a sequin-covered Elie Saab spring 2019 haute couture dress at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
The actress went simple for the CFDA Awards, wearing a Jason Wu Collection fall 2019 slip dress with a ruffled bodice detail.
Kruger returned to her Chanel roots for the Cesar Awards and wore a pre-fall 2019 dress featuring gold scallop details and a sheer black skirt.
The actress loves to play with texture, which is likely why she was drawn to this Givenchy spring 2019 haute couture dress with its layered skirt, sheer sleeve details, and embellished collar.
While Kruger usually opts for glamour, she embraced her sexier side for the Welcome to Marwen premiere and wore a metallic lace Ralph & Russo fall 2018 couture dress with an asymmetric hem.
Armani Privé always feels at home on the Cannes red carpet, so this pale blue gown was likely an obvious choice for the actress.
Once again, Kruger tapped Prabal Gurung to dress her for the Met Gala, and the actress arrived in a teal blue mini dress with a dramatic opera coat and train.
The chainmail detail on the Vera Wang Collection spring 2018 dress added some edge to the otherwise romantic look.
Kruger managed to make a statement while still adhering to the year’s self-imposed black dress code in this gorgeous caped Prada dress.
The actress looked like a walking work of art in this strapless Monse fall 2017 dress.
This Jason Wu Fall 2017 dress was originally completely sheer on the bottom, but Kruger had a panel of lace added in order to wear it on the Cannes red carpet.
Kruger looked like a modern day Cinderella in a gray, tiered Christian Dior couture dress, made modern with the addition of a black choker.
The actress opted for a gold-beaded Prada dress with a draped detail in the back for the 2017 Met Gala.
Kruger showed off her legs in a liquid metal Alexandre Vauthier spring 2017 couture mini dress at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
Once again wearing Jason Wu, Kruger attended the premiere of her film, The Infiltrator.
Kruger pulled this sheer, maroon Reem Acra dress right off the fall 2016 runway.
While this white Prada dress seemed fairly simple from the front, it was the embellished cape on the back that really allowed for a “wow” moment.
Kruger supported one of her favorite designers, Prabal Gurung, by wearing his black and red strapless dress to the CFDA Awards in 2015.
The actress wore a completely embellished, caped halter neck Prada gown to the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.
While Kruger is usually a gown girl, she oped to wear a Chanel spring 2011 couture look featuring embroidered pants to the Met Gala in 2015.
Clearly, Kruger was on a pants kick in 2015 because she wore a bright red Donna Karan Atelier jumpsuit to the Vanity Fair Oscar party that year.
Kruger loves a Watteau back, which is likely what drew her to this blue and white floral Naeem Khan pre-fall 2015 dress.
Kruger sparkled in a simple Emilia Wickstead spring 2015 dress at the Golden Globes.
Kruger opted for a colorful, patchwork-style Mary Katrantzou fall 2014 mini dress for the season two premiere of her show.
Hugo Boss dressed Kruger in this icy blue gown for the 2014 Met Gala.
Kruger wore a black lace Valentino spring 2014 cape dress to the Oscar after party in 2014.
Kruger embraced her minimalist side and wore a white Elie Saab long-sleeve dress with sheer panels to the premiere of The Better Angels at the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival.
Dyed pink hair added a punk element to her Chanel spring 2013 couture dress.
Kruger loves to play with silhouette, and this black and white Giambattisa Valli spring 2013 couture mini dress is a perfect example of that.
Another example of Kruger embracing unique silhouette: this checked Christian Dior couture gown.
Kruger wore a gorgeous, metallic Vivienne Westwood dress to the premiere of Amour at Cannes.
The actress went for a more bohemian look for the 2012 Met Gala, wearing a purple Prada dress with an ostrich feather hem and a statement necklace.
Kruger loves a bright red look, and she brought out the color once again for the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party with the help of Calvin Klein.
The actress wore a sleek and simple Calvin Klein dress while attending the Cannes Film Festival with her then-boyfriend Joshua Jackson.
Kruger wore a Jason Wu fall 2011 dress for yet another appearance at the Met Gala.
The year before, she went for a simpler look, wearing a white long sleeve Calvin Klein dress to the event.
Kruger wore a unique Chanel dress to the Oscars in 2010.
She then changed into a red silk Calvin Klein resort 2010 dress for the after party.
The actress went for a vintage look in Jason Wu at the 2010 SAG Awards.
Kruger embraced a girlier look for the 2010 Golden Globes, wearing a pink Christian Lacroix dress to the award show.
The actress supported her friend, Jason Wu, by wearing a belted red mini dress by the designer to the 2009 CFDA Awards.
The actress showed off her bare back in a white and silver floral dress at the Cannes premiere of her film, Inglourious Basterds.
Kruger wore a white floral Chanel mini dress to the Met Gala in 2009.
The year, before she wore a mini dress as well, this time a silver one from Alberta Ferretti.
The actress embraced her bohemian side and wore an off-the-shoulder, burnt orange J. Mendel dress to the premiere of the second National Treasure movie.
Of course Kruger wore Chanel when she brought Karl Lagerfeld as her date to the Cannes Film Festival in 2007. “He was so giddy—like a little kid,” she recalled.
Kruger wore a blue, tiered dress to the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2007.
The actress wore an asymmetric Dior resort 2007 dress to the SAG Awards.
While Kruger could have worn this white, textured dress to walk down the aisle, she actually donned it for the Cannes Film Festival in 2006.
She wore a similar, Elie Saab dress to the Oscars months earlier.
The actress wore a burgundy, velvet Lanvin fall 2005 dress to the Globes in 2006.
Kruger is not afraid to take style risks—take this unique Marchesa dress she wore to the Globes in 2005.
The actress wore a blue and black lingerie-inspired dress to the National Treasure premiere in 2004.
When Kruger found out her movie, Troy, was performing at Cannes, she asked Chanel if she could borrow a dress. Instead, Lagerfeld designed one specifically for her big moment. “It was a confection,” the actress said of the mint, feather-covered piece. “It was truly, at the time, the dress of my dreams. I was so green and young and Karl made me feel like a princess.”
Kruger wore a gold Balenciaga slip dress to her first of many Met Gala appearances.
The actress wore a ruffled, tiered off-white dress to the Cannes Film Festival with her then-husband, Guillaume Canet.
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