The Stunning Style Transformation Of Halle Berry

Halle Berry has been in the spotlight since she was a teen, modeling and competing in beauty pageants, and she initially gained fame by starring in the 1991 film "Jungle Fever," soon becoming one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Of course, her fabulous sense of style didn't hurt her popularity, and Berry always stuns on the red carpet no matter what she wears. The "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" star gravitates toward pieces that are classy yet sexy, but she didn't always have the best style. When presented with an old picture of herself wearing a polka-dotted two-piece set with colorful flowers printed on the bodice by Access Hollywood, Berry shrieked, "This should just be burned."

Berry's wardrobe has definitely come a long way since, and she's gone from re-wearing her grandmother's clothes to stepping out in high fashion. As her star power has grown over the years, the actor has had no shortage of designers clamoring to dress her, and her style evolution includes many stunning 'fits that have rightfully become fan favorites.

Halle Berry has been acting since the late '80s, but her breakout role in "Jungle Fever" was what put her on the map. Fans regularly saw her on the red carpet, and during this era, she rocked a lot of the bold colors that fashionistas of the '90s favored. One of the celebrities who typically looks better with short hair, Berry kept her locks chopped and her style simple, yet always with her own feminine twist. In 1991, she wore a gauzy, red strapless dress that showed off her stunning figure, which she complemented with matching lipstick. The "Monsters Ball" actor kept her décolletage unadorned, instead wearing ruby-red earrings to complete her look.

Berry went bright again in a fuchsia dress with a sweetheart neckline for the 1993 People's Choice Awards. By then, she had also starred in the hit film "Boomerang" with Eddie Murphy and Robin Givens, and she was quickly becoming a staple at industry events. While Berry wasn't wearing high-end labels at the time, she was well on her way to becoming a style icon.

In the mid-'90s, Halle Berry's style evolved into her wearing softer pieces in pastels, including the gorgeous lavender Valentino frock she donned at her first-ever Academy Awards in 1996. The dress featured both velvet and satin woven together throughout with crystal embellishments on the shoulder. Draped over Berry's neck was a silky scarf that she wore backward and let trail behind her. Although she wasn't nominated for any awards that year, the "Losing Isaiah" star was totally dressed like a winner.

Berry shone again at the 1998 Academy Awards in a slip dress that was perfectly elevated for the occasion, which was the hottest trend at the time. Her silky Vera Wang frock had sheer lace detailing that showed off her curves, and she kept her accessories simple, simply wearing plain hoop earrings. Although Berry's look was understated, she revealed to E! News during Vanity Fair's famous annual after-party for the Oscars that it took her three hours to get ready. It's comforting to know that even someone as stunning as Berry needs ample prep time for a huge star-studded event.

The Y2K era was full of outrageous fashion, and Halle Berry wasn't afraid to amp up her style. Her clothes took on a more playful approach, such as the fringed bikini top and barely there skirt that she wore to the 2000 MTV Movie Awards. Berry's 'fit was daring enough by itself, but she also displayed the straps of her thong, as was popular at the time. This look was one of Berry's boldest yet, and unsurprisingly, fans still remember it to this day. While looking back on the moment with Vogue, Berry said, "A big shift has happened here. I've obviously gotten way more comfortable with my body." She added, "I remember putting this on and being like, 'Oh no. This is it.'" We have to say, it was definitely a good choice on Berry's part.

The following year, Berry chose another fun look for the 2001 MTV Movie Awards in a graphic Versace skirt that she wore low on her hips. Her top of choice this time was a black button-down shirt that was open at her chest and navel, proving that she could even make office wear look sexy. Berry completed the outfit with a red oversized belt that added to her laid-back Y2K style.

In 2002, Halle Berry was nominated for an Oscar for her role in "Monster's Ball," and she showed up on the red carpet looking like a star. The actor wowed in a burgundy Elie Saab gown with a sheer bodice featuring floral appliqués and a full skirt with a train. Berry made history when she won the best actress award that night, and her dress did as well, though years later, by becoming a part of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures collection. "Not only will this historic @eliesaabworld gown remain in the expert care of the museum's curators and conservators, but it will also be accessible to generations of people for whom the dress also holds meaning and forever be a reminder that all things are possible," Berry shared on Instagram in March 2023.

From there, Berry continued to stun with her awards-show looks. In 2005, she opted for a Grecian-style Versace dress with layered ruffles while attending the Golden Globes. The light-beige gown was simple yet elegant, with Berry donning a bejeweled brooch on the shoulder. The "Bulworth" star was a presenter that night rather than a nominee, but we're sure all eyes were on her as she took the stage.

When Halle Berry became pregnant for the first time in 2007, she didn't stop working or showing up as stylish as always. Instead of her usual form-fitting 'fits, Berry wore looser styles that draped over her midsection, such as the cobalt-blue dress with a plunging neckline that she wore to the "Things We Lost in the Fire" premiere. At the time, she was a few months pregnant and said at a press event, "I think I feel like I'm such a slave to fashion. It's a hard concept for me to fathom that I'm going to have to wear maternity clothes" (via People). She said of her looser clothing, "Everything is up here and shift-y, so I think I can work it out in normal clothes with normal designers in their collections until the eighth or ninth month, then I might have to break down and do maternity."

As the actor's baby bump got bigger over the months, Berry still managed to look chic in non-maternity clothing by sticking with flowy dresses. Early in January 2008, she chose a short black layered Temperley London frock for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. "This is the first red carpet that I've really walked down where I didn't have to think about holding in my stomach – because I can't," she quipped at the event, per People.

After welcoming her daughter Nahla with her then-partner Gabriel Aubry, Halle Berry's fashion included both form-fitting and looser styles. In 2012, she flaunted her figure in a bright-pink Roberto Cavalli dress for the Silver Rose Gala and Auction. Proving to be the ever-changing chameleon when it comes to her looks, Berry went back to her short-cropped hair with an edgy pixie cut. As always, she kept her accessories simple with just a pair of diamond stud earrings.

Berry chose to go the colorful route again in a breezy periwinkle-blue dress in November 2015 while being honored at the Black Women of Bond Tribute. The "Die Another Day" star had grown out her hair by then and rocked a wavy lob with bond highlights woven throughout. The almost-50-year-old looked radiant against the pop of color of her dress, and it's safe to say that she looks good in any shade.

Halle Berry continued to be a mainstay at industry events in 2016, and she showed off her boss-lady side in a black power suit for a Tiffany & Co. event. She even managed to make office wear look sexy with a low-cut, sheer striped shirt that showed off a bit of her black bra. Berry gravitated toward a lot of sheer pieces over the next few years, and she also favored the color black. In 2017, she amazed onlookers at the Oscars with a custom-made Atelier Versace gown in a blush-pink shade that featured a sheer, black overlay. "I have always marched to the beat of my own drum, and I think this red-carpet look encapsulates that. The dress is glamorous with a sense of romance that made me feel feminine and fresh. With this look, I celebrate my natural hair by allowing it to be wild and free," she said at the time (via Vogue).

By the spring of 2020, everything had shut down due to COVID-19, and Berry spent much of this time working out at home. Naturally, her 'fits of choice were activewear, which included a lot of yoga pants and breezy shirts, such as in a post she shared of herself meditating that June. In August, she traded in her workout clothing for a belted orange bikini that was reminiscent of the one her character Jinx wore in "Die Another Day." She showed off the throwback look on Instagram, quipping in the cpation, "Never been a shady beach."

More than 50 years old now, Halle Berry continues to impress with her eye-catching fashions, never afraid to show off her fantastic figure. In 2021, she looked like a real-life superhero in a sequined, zippered jumpsuit with a low-slung belt for the People's Choice Awards. Berry wore her long, caramel-colored hair in a high bun with side-swept bangs that framed her face. She kept her makeup simple with a nude palette, keeping the focus on her fierce 'fit.

Just because Berry has reached a certain age doesn't mean she's going to start covering up her body. In August 2024, she stunned at the premiere of "The Union" in a sheer, lacy black La Perla dress that looked more suited for the bedroom than the red carpet — and she's offering zero apologies for it. "I thought with the theme of this movie being lovers reuniting, it was time to bring this out. This is also where I'm at today," she told The Hollywood Reporter. In other words, age is nothing but a number, and Berry is proving that she's forever youthful with her ever-changing style.