Michelle Trachtenberg's Complete Transformation Is Truly Stunning

The ever-stylish Michelle Trachtenberg has accomplished a lot as an actor. From the spunky and determined Harriet in "Harriet the Spy" to the villainous Georgina Sparks in "Gossip Girl," she's covered a lot of ground. Not only that, but she's done it in style, which can be clearly seen throughout Trachtenberg's stunning style transformation. Even in her early years on red carpets, she displayed a knack for cute and polished outfits with a trendy edge. Throughout her time in the spotlight, her style has undergone some subtle shifts, but in many ways, she's carved out a unique personal style for herself that really stands out.

That said, acting and fashion aren't the only things that matter for Trachtenberg — she's also long been an advocate of looking out for other's mental health, and for standing up to bullying, too. Not only has she shared her personal experiences with it on her Instagram, but she even starred in a 2013 commercial called "StompOutBullying: with Michelle Trachtenberg." Whether you know her from her "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" days or are more familiar with her recent work, like hosting "Meet, Marry, Murder," it's safe to say that Trachtenberg's total transformation isn't just gorgeous — it's inspiring.

By 1996, 10-year-old Michelle Trachtenberg had already been acting for a while, but this was when she got one of her most iconic roles as Harriet in "Harriet the Spy." Not only did adorable Trachtenberg look the part, but in an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she shared that she really related to the character in many ways, saying, "I read those books (that the movie is based on) when I was still in the fourth grade, which was long before I was asked to be in this movie, and one of the things I loved about Harriet was her spying. I have always liked to spy on people, and I even saw somebody across the street in their underwear once."

And in 2021, Trachtenberg found herself reflecting on the iconic role: "I turned 10 years old on the first day of principal photography of 'Harriet the Spy.' Rosie [O'Donnell] was my biggest supporter," she told ET. "There was a lot required of me. I'm extremely grateful for the experience."

On the red carpet, Trachtenberg proved to be a little fashionista. At the premiere of "Harriet the Spy," she wore a simple but charming outfit comprised of a black jacket, a white shirt, bold print pants, and two white barrettes on either side of her center part. At the Kids' Choice Awards in 1998, she was only becoming more stylish in her red turtle neck, black jacket, yellow plaid skirt, and locket.

In the year 2000, Michelle Trachtenberg landed another great gig — this time as Buffy's little sister Dawn on the hit series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The popularity of the show put Trachtenberg in the spotlight now more than ever, which meant she was walking more red carpets and really showing off her style.

At a 2001 screening of the musical episode for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Trachtenberg wore a gorgeous red velvet dress with an intriguingly colorful pink floral print, which she paired with some simple and strappy black sandals. At the 2002 premiere of the movie "Austin Powers in Goldmember," she was seen in another super trendy outfit — blue flare jeans with a cinched blue top, a hot pink bag, and hot pink earrings that all had a retro vibe and really popped.

Even though Trachtenberg's style was blossoming, this period of her life wasn't all glamorous.  When allegations regarding "Buffy" creator Joss Wheadon's behavior became public, Trachtenberg shared Sarah Michelle Gellar's post to her Instagram in February 2021. Her caption expanded upon her own unpleasant experiences with the director: "Thank you @sarahmgellar for saying this. I am brave enough now as a 35 year old woman....To repost this. Because. This must. Be known. As a teenager. With his not appropriate behavior....very. Not. Appropriate. So now. People know. What Joss. Did.The last. Comment I will make on this. Was. There was a rule. Saying. He's not allowed in a room alone with Michelle again."

After "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" ended, Michelle Trachtenberg kept herself busy. She appeared in the movies "Eurotrip" and "Mysterious Skin," along with four episodes of the TV show "Six Feet Under." The more movies she filmed, the more red-carpet appearances she made — and the more the world got to see her blossoming style.

At the premiere of "Eurotrip," she wore a gorgeous, bright-yellow minidress with a layered swishy skirt. Not only did the canary yellow really pop on Trachtenberg, but her accessories, makeup, and hair also worked together to create an amazing look. With her hair back in an elegant updo and bright red lipstick, this style definitely had a retro feel. Gold jewelry and accessories made this simple look even more striking and glamorous, and proved she knew how to choose the gold jewelry color that worked best for her wardrobe.

While attending VH1's Big in 2003 Awards Show, Trachtenberg was looking ultra-trendy in a completely different way. In a black corset paired with low-rise flare jeans, black shoes, and a black clutch, she looked both casual and sultry. She accessorized with a layered necklace with a large fleur-de-lis pendant, which stood out and added some extra edge to her outfit.

In 2005, Michelle Trachtenberg's career only grew. This year, she starred in the movie "Ice Princess" which didn't just test her acting abilities, but her physical stamina, too. Speaking to Blackfilm, she said, "I trained extremely hard for the movie. When we weren't shooting, I was working, training five hours a day, five days a week, and I had ballet every other day." She also, relatably, admitted that she had no intentions of sticking with a strenuous workout routine when she was done filming. "I don't exercise at all, and I know that sounds really evil, but I just don't like physical activity. So training for this movie was just quite an experience," she said. "It's like — this is the best shape I'll ever be in for my entire life because after today I'm going back to Nutella and crackers and cheese."

Even though Trachtenberg might have been focused on filming, she was still able to turn out some truly polished looks. At the premiere of "Ice Princess," she wore a brown, boho dress covered in beautiful, gold embroidery and multicolored beads. With this look, she wore some soft curls, a deviation from her usual soft wave or straight-hair looks. Also that year at a Miss Davenporte Trunk Show, she wore an outfit that was polished and eclectic in a low-key way. A black tank, dark jeans, and tall, brown boots created a nice balance with her white floral print cardigan.

Michelle Trachtenberg continued to be a rising star throughout the early 2000s. She had plenty of appearances on popular TV shows like "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "House." She also appeared in the movies "Beautiful Ohio," "Black Christmas," and even a Fall Out Boy music video.

Ever the fashion enthusiast, Trachtenberg wasn't just making appearances on red carpets for movie premieres — she was also attending plenty of fashion shows, and displaying some great style during various fashion weeks. Around this time, Trachtenberg's style became more defined with more black and muted colors.

At a Prada event in Los Angeles in 2006, Trachtenberg wore a chic but simple teal minidress paired with black pumps, which gave the look a moody edge. At a Calvin Klein after party in 2007, she rocked another look that was both elegant and slightly edgy. There, she wore a deep-red dress with a subtle square pattern and a plunging neckline, along with a black clutch and dark nail polish.

By 2008, Michelle Trachtenberg was stealing scenes in another of her iconic roles, that of Georgina Sparks in "Gossip Girl." In a talk with Seventeen, she opened up about what it was like to play a villain, saying, "It's actually kind of easy because the words that they write are so fantastic. It's kind of easy to be evil when you're saying evil things. It's definitely a lot more fun than playing the good girl. I love the reaction you get. I never understood why some actors don't want to play villains or evil characters."

Trachtenberg wasn't just any villain, though — she was an incredibly stylish one, and beyond that, she was just as stylish in real life, too. In 2008, she showed her glamorous side at one of the biggest fashion events, the Met Gala. There, she wore a dress with a black top and a long gold skirt, which she accessorized with a gold clutch and a black rope belt.

At Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2010, Trachtenberg was also looking super glam in a black coat, navy blue dress, and large, dark sunglasses. A hot pink crossbody purse added an interesting pop of color, and took the whole look up a notch while adding an ahead-of-the-trend Barbiecore vibe.

In 2011, Michelle Trachtenberg talked about taking her love of fashion to a whole new level. In a conversation with Elle, she shared some of her plans for a collaboration with her friend and favorite designer Rebecca Taylor. "She and I are actually going to be doing a collaboration in the future. Probably a capsule collection. Not the near future because these things take time, but that's really exciting," she said. "I mean, she's the epitome of girly glam; she's sophisticated and romantic. It's pretty much the only thing you want to wear on a date."

That year, Trachtenberg attended her bestie's fashion show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. There, she sat in front wearing a look that was both understated and audacious all at once. Trachtenberg wore her long hair down and donned a simple gray sweater. What really stole the show, though, was her over-the-top but adorable jewelry. She wore a long black and gold necklace with multiple chains and a large brooch, which she paired with an oversized cocktail ring and dark nail polish. This look is total proof that big, bold cocktail rings are the expensive-feeling touch your hand deserves.

From 2012 to 2014, Michelle Trachtenberg was taking on true crime. From an appearance on "Criminal Minds" to filming the made-for-TV movie "Killing Kennedy," and also appearing on "NCIS: Los Angeles," Trachtenberg seemed to have found her niche — at least for the time being. 

While she might have been committing crimes in her TV roles, there's one kind of crime she definitely wasn't committing in real life — those of the fashion variety.  While filming "Gossip Girl" scenes on location in New York, paparazzi snapped pictures of Trachtenberg in all-black outfits that looked similar to styles she'd also wear off-screen. At the premiere of "Killing Kennedy," she looked ultra-polished in a long, dark-green dress with a diamond-shaped cutout neckline, minimal silver jewelry, and her hair draped to one side.

One thing that Trachtenberg did confess, though, was that she wanted to change some of her fashion-related habits. While speaking with OK!, she opened up about her New Year's resolution, saying, "I would like to be tidier. I am very organized, but I am sort of a fashion-hoarder. I would like to go home and actually hang up my clothes. It's a big step." According to Trachtenberg, it seemed she could have benefitted from learning 15 ways to declutter and organize her closet.

Over the years, Michelle Trachtenberg has rocked some amazing Halloween looks, proving that she's absolutely the queen of the holiday with her many Halloween makeup looks. At a 2015 Casamigos Tequila Halloween party, she showed up as a Snow Queen in a lavender and silver dress, along with lavender lipstick, silver face paint, and a glitzy crown.

At a 2016 Just Jared Halloween Party, Trachtenberg rocked a similarly dramatic look in a different color palette. This time, she showed up as the Secret Garden in a black lacy dress and a headpiece filled with red and black roses. A dark-green wig, eye makeup, and lipstick all created an interesting contrast, as did the green vines painted down her neck.

Even though Trachtenberg was rocking some gorgeous and fun Halloween party looks, she also had more serious matters on her mind. In a 2017 Instagram post of herself and her friend Zelda Williams, Trachtenberg discussed mental health with the caption, "#fbf to last week's event to raise#awareness for#Mental#Health, with my wifey@zeldawilliams. Take some time to ask your friends and family#HowAreYouReally?#Listen,#care,#support and please#neverjudge someone else's emotional struggle. Everyone has their hurdles to overcome! Happy Friday." 

In the late 2010s, Michelle Trachtenberg's focus was mostly on voice work for various TV series like "Robot Chicken" and "Human Kind Of." On her Instagram, she was giving a full view of her life, from selfies in sunglasses to hanging out with friends. She also posted about glamorous breakfasts at Tiffany's in New York and shared pics of her beloved pet cats.

Along with all of that, she also served some truly striking looks on the red carpet. At a Cocktails for a Cause event in 2018, she wore an eye-catching leopard print coat, along with some black pants and a navy-blue shirt. A long necklace with large gems added a lot of interest to the style, as did a simple but striking square black purse.

At an Art of Elysium event in 2019, she wore a long black velvet gown with silver appliqués around the neck, arm, and shoulders. Both of these looks highlight Trachtenberg's ability to bring a lot of glamour to her looks while still keeping them simple and balanced.

During the early 2020s, Michelle Trachtenberg was taking glitz to the max. At a 2020 Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party, she donned a long-sleeved champaign colored sequin dress with dramatic shoulder pads and a train. At the 15 Years of Siriano party in 2023, she posed with designer Christian Siriano in a simple black dress with a large, gem-encrusted lion pendant and glittery clutch, proving that she really understood that sequins were trending and could be rocked as glam looks — or everyday styles. 

Things weren't just all about glitz and glamour for her though. In an Instagram post from 2020, Trachtenberg got vulnerable and opened up about the bullying she'd experienced while in school. She also urged others not to let bullying get them down. "There is no need to harp on the past. But I still have scars from being thrown downstairs and slammed into lockers head first," she wrote. "I write this to every child, teen, person, out there who is bullied. You are something. Do not put your value in someone else. Not letting them win, is your win."

By 2024, Michelle Trachtenberg was putting her style on full display on her Instagram. From bold sunglasses to edgy band tees, she had a lot of looks to share. Tweed, sneakers, and elegant purses all had a place on her grid, as did graphic hoodies and baseball caps. Even while she was having fun with her looks on Insta, some were taking note of her appearance for other reasons.

In a post from early 2024, Trachtenberg pushed back at those who had commented on her appearance by captioning a post, "I've received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters." The next day, she continued on in another post: "Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have you hate? [sic] Get a calendar."

It's totally clear that whether she's encouraging others to stand up to bullies, or she's standing up for herself, Trachtenberg isn't afraid to speak her mind or talk about what matters to her the most, which is a totally beautiful attitude to have.