The Stunning Style Transformation Of Emily Ratajkowski

From modeling to motherhood, Emily Ratajkowski has had a lot of life experiences and stand-out fashion moments. Along with all of the changes she's gone through, her style has also undergone its own evolution. While she stuck to simple color palettes or straightforward and sexy silhouettes when she first entered the limelight, Ratajkowski has become increasingly playful — and even experimental — with her looks over the years.

Ratajkowski isn't just fearless when it comes to her style, she's also fearless about sharing her opinions, especially when it comes to feminism and fashion. She's also been completely open about her attitude toward aging, and her ever-evolving style. "Obviously our culture focuses so much on youth and being young and beautiful as like woman's only value or femme presenting people's only value, and I definitely don't feel that way. I've lived a lot of lives. I'm 32," she told Elle this March. "I've lived a lot of lives already and I plan to live more, and I'm not gonna be shy about that. I'm not embarrassed of that."

Even though Emily Ratajkowski's career was just getting started in 2012, her fashion choices were already showing that she understood how to rock sultry and sophisticated looks. Around this time, she was also starting to branch out from modeling to acting with appearances on the show "iCarly" and a commercial for the Carl's Jr./Hardees franchise. In 2013, she appeared in Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" music video, which stirred some controversy, and which she would later write about in her collection of essays called "My Body."

While her career might have just begun to explode at this point, she kept a lot of her looks relatively simple. In fact, the majority of her red carpet styles from this period were all black. Despite opting for mostly monochromatic outfits, though, she knew how to bring the perfect amount of edge to a look.

At the Treats! Spring issue magazine launch she donned a long black dress with a deep V-neckline and long, lacy panels on the side. She kept her hair, makeup, and accessories simple, which truly put the focus on the black lace details, while at a "Kick-Ass 2" Comic-Con event, Ratajkowski was rocking another all-black look with eye-catching cutouts around the waist. In a red carpet interview with MaximoTV, she said of the night's look, "I'm kind of trying to channel like a cat woman vibe tonight."

In 2014, Emily Ratajkowski's career continued to heat up with photoshoots for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. In one, her bikini was literally painted on, and she appeared in another issue later that year, as well as in 2015.

Around this time her public looks were still defined by simplicity. However, she started to expand her style to include more colors like bold blues and greens. She also opted for more two-piece outfits and jumpsuits over LBDs, as well. One notable example is the bright green and metallic dress she wore to the MTV Movie Awards in 2015.

Aside from the occasional risk, many of her looks were fresh variations of classic looks. At a Haute Living party in Malibu, she wore a striking white minidress with a circle skirt and strappy neckline. Clearly understanding that red lipstick is always a good idea, she paired the dress with a super deep red lip and accessorized it with a nude clutch and heels. At a Schaffhausen Flagship Boutique opening, she opted for a top and pants that were polished and put together. Her glittery square-neck tank coordinated well with her black high-waisted pants and tan shoes to make a sophisticated ensemble full of balanced neutrals.

In 2016, there was more attention than ever on Emily Ratajkowski's style. Her trendy streetwear looks were turning heads, and paparazzi often snapped her in slouchy trousers and oversized blazers with sports bras. On the red carpet, her looks became more glamorous, while still retaining her pared-down vibe.

This was also the year, though, that one of her dresses caught some negative attention. A black dress with a seriously plunging neckline (which dipped to her belly button) worn to the Harper's Bazaar Icons Party was called "extremely vulgar" by some in the press. In a Harper's Bazaar interview from 2022, Ratajkowski looked back on the incident and said, "I was in my 20s and I just, like, hadn't registered that it was so sexy, because there is a panel in the middle, but it looks like there isn't."

The matter of how revealing or sexy her apparel was seemed to be a theme for Ratajkowski that year. In a conversation with Vogue at a DKNY Spring show for intimates she discussed her feelings on bras and how they can affect your look saying, "And then one day I realized that wearing a bra that shapes your breasts super-unnaturally can be more aggressive, whereas just not wearing a bra at all can be actually really nice. The natural shape of a natural breast is actually less overtly sexual than one that's in a push-up bra."

In 2017, Emily Ratajkowski wasn't just spending her time modeling or showing off her own great style — she was taking things to the next level by founding her own fashion line, a swimwear line called Inamorata which featured things like cover-ups, dresses, and bold bikinis in colorful prints. Along with selling swimwear, Ratajkowski was rocking it, too. While in France for the Cannes Film Festival, paparazzi took some pictures of her in a bright turquoise bikini with large hip cut-outs. Along with being in on the fluorescent bikini trend, she also accessorized it perfectly with some gold jewelry and round sunglasses.

This was truly a year where Ratajkowski was getting more adventurous with colors and patterns, and straying away from simple blacks, reds, nudes, and whites. At a Lakers game, she looked completely polished and adorable in a yellow plaid jumpsuit, which she accessorized with a coordinating yellow purse and white high heels.

In a conversation with Glamour that year, she also opened up about some of her more casual clothing choices, specifically mom jeans. "I actually feel the best in mom jeans. I'm wearing mom jeans [to this event]," she said. "I love them because you can eat a lot. They're always flattering."

In 2018, some of Emily Ratajkowski's looks were taking on a dramatic and super feminine vibe, some of which could be a great guide for transitioning the coquette aesthetic to winter. At the Vanity Fair Oscars Party, she wore a long burgundy Zac Posen gown with a cape and a deeply scooped neckline. What truly made the look special, though, was the way that she accessorized and did her hair. Instead of going for sultry waves or a sleek updo, her hair hung down in a voluminous low pony with a burgundy ribbon tied around the bottom. A matching clutch, chandelier earrings, and a large ring truly brought some Victorian-era style romance to the look. She even spoke with Marie Claire about the dress, saying, "It has a lace corset in it. And we made a matching clutch. It's insane. I'm excited."

At the Revolve Awards that year, Ratajkowski was rocking burgundy once again, but this time with a more androgynous vibe. The look was comprised of a double-breasted jacket that tied around the waist and some skinny burgundy pants. She parted her straight hair down the center and kept accessories simple with some rings and black sandals.

"My personal style is a little retro," Emily Ratajkowski told NastyGal in 2019. I'm very much into Princess Diana right now — so a little '80s, some menswear mixed in with a little bike short, or something really feminine."

Her love of retro looks was definitely apparent through the way that she played with oversized clothing and '80s silhouettes, like the gray menswear she was seen wearing in Los Angeles, or the blazer and turtle neck combos she wore while walking her dog. She played with volume on the red carpet, too. At that year's Vanity Fair Oscars party, she wore a glamorous nude dress with a layered skirt, which featured a full short layer that flared out around her hips and a longer one at her feet. A simple updo and minimal diamond jewelry created a polished look that put attention on the dress.

And in 2019, Ratajkowski wasn't just getting attention for how she dressed, but also for her views on feminism. After receiving an International Woman of the Year Award at an Australian GQ event, Ratajkowski opened up to Vogue Australia journalist, Zara Wong. "But I don't really care if me wearing a crop top is somehow playing into some patriarchy, because it makes me feel good about myself, and I shouldn't be limited on that," she said. "Making rules as to what a feminist should look like or wear is insane to me."

While the start of the pandemic might have halted things like photoshoots and award ceremonies, Emily Ratajkowski was still hard at work with her swimwear line, and even spoke to GQ about what had inspired her to launch it. "Every time I would post something for a brand — I'd be wearing a shirt or whatever, or a bathing suit — people would ask me, 'Where can I get that?'" she said. "At a certain point, it would have been crazy for me to just continue to promote other people's brands and not start my own."

She was also giving us a peek at a totally new kind of style for her — maternity style. Much of Ratajkowski's maternity looks were snapped by paparazzi as she was out and about in New York. In these pictures, it's clear that her growing baby bump has not stopped her from being stylish, and that she's having as much fun as ever with both polished and casual ensembles.

In one shot, she can be seen rocking a slinky black dress with cutouts on the side. The dress was paired with a black purse, some black sunglasses, and a pair of tall, slouchy red boots that truly took the outfit to the next level. In another look, Ratajkowski can be seen styling the baggy jean trend with a light T-shirt and cardigan that leave her growing bump exposed.

By 2021, Emily Ratajkowski was both a new mom and a published author. In a talk with Esquire, she opened up about all of the recent changes in her life and what they meant for her. "I think I have a new understanding of the role that a woman can play in the world. I gave birth to my son, but I also published this book," she said. "Becoming someone who's not only responsible for another human's life all the time, but also telling my story and making something ... both of those things have given me a new appreciation for the life cycle of a woman that goes beyond what our culture offers."

It seemed that Ratajkowski was also expressing similar sentiments through the ultra-feminine and powerful outfits that she wore to promote her book that year. Unlike some of the more pared-down but still-sexy looks she went for in the past, she was now rocking bold colors and prints along with playful accessories. For example, visiting London to promote her book, she wore a floor-length zebra print coat and miniskirt which she paired with a black top, tall red boots, and a fuzzy black bucket hat. Meanwhile, at a book signing in New York, she wore a hot pink power blazer along with black tights and riding boots that were both sophisticated and fun.

By 2022, Emily Ratajkowski was entering another new era, her single-girl era. Not only that, but she also launched a podcast called "High Low With EmRata," where she interviewed celebrities and shared her own takes. While she had already been introducing more and more color into her wardrobe over the years, this was the year that she really took playing with multi-color looks to the max.

At the Met Gala, she wore a dress with an intricately beaded bodice made up of blue, green, and red beads that were strung together with gold chains. The high-low skirt was a mix of red, green, white, and blue fabrics, as well as gold netting and fringe. A mussed, side-parted updo fit right in with the exciting, eclectic look.

Ratajkowski wasn't just playing with lots of different colors on the red carpet, though. She was also having fun with bright and bold patterns in her streetwear looks, too. While heading to a book signing in New York, she wore a yellow blouse with a super fun fruit print, which she paired with polished black pants and a slim black belt. Her wispy updo and soft bangs all came together to make a look that was both polished and playful.

In 2023, Emily Ratajkowski was still finding ways to play with and explore her style. At the VMAs that year, she rocked a bold Y2K-inspired look with a lot of intriguing elements. Along with a criss-crossing green halter top, it also featured a flowy handkerchief skirt with a brown, white, and orange print. A small watch, simple gold sandals, and a small dark bag all subtly elevated the look.

At the Vanity Fair Oscars party, she got in on another trend by wearing a floor-length silver sheer dress with some large stitch detailing around the shoulders. Completing the stunning look, she wore her hair back in a sleek, center-parted updo and some small knocker-shaped earrings.

"I change things up when there's a shift in how I'm feeling about myself," she revealed to Elle that year when discussing her beauty routines. "And then when I come back to myself I'm over that experience, I like to feel like myself again."

Emily Ratajkowski has continued to take charge of red carpets this year in the sheer trend that's getting an ethereal upgrade. Her Met Gala look was a perfect example of this. The sheer gown with a train featured a large floral-shaped pattern and an open back. Ratajkowski had her hair tied back in a spiky, Y2K-era bun with some framing tendrils around her face, and she accessorized with simple diamond jewelry.

At the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party, she seemed to be taking her style in a new and even more artistic direction. Her long white gown with an ultra-low back created an optical illusion, appearing as if the bodice were floating away from her body. Not only was this intriguing to look at, but it also had an unmistakable sexy edge. Keeping the focus on the striking dress, she seemingly went without any accessories at all.

"[Beauty and fashion] are tools to make me feel good about myself," she told PopSugar in a candid interview about her style evolution. "I just try to really take a second and be like, OK, what do I want to feel like today? Am I comfortable? Am I kicking ass and wearing heels? What's the vibe?"