The Stunning Style Transformation Of Kaia Gerber

Kaia Gerber is undeniably one of the best-known and most-successful models in the fashion industry today. As the daughter of the iconic '90s supermodel Cindy Crawford, her path toward the world of fashion and beauty was predestined. However, while many may have doubted her talent, thinking that she was just a nepo baby in the industry, Gerber has proven over the years that she's hardworking and talented. In fact, Gerber has also pursued a career in acting, showcasing that she's interested in different ways of being in front of the camera. Of course, she serves behind the scenes, too, with her street style being part of the reason why so many people adore her.

As a model, Gerber's style has played a major role in her career, and today, we're taking a look at her style transformation over the years. From being a teen who was always trying to look super put-together to becoming a fashion-industry staple who isn't afraid of comfortable clothing, here's Gerber's journey to discovering the fashion that resonates with her.

Kaia Gerber's place in the spotlight was secured since the day she was born, but it wasn't until her teen years that the daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber actually began working as a model. And to no one's surprise, her success skyrocketed.

In 2016, 15-year-old Kaia graced the cover of Vogue Paris with her supermodel mother. "What is life?!! I honestly can't breathe right now," Kaia captioned an Instagram post at the time, gushing about the cover. A year later, Kaia walked her first New York Fashion Week runway show. "I was 16 when I walked my first runway, at Raf Simons's spring 2018 show for Calvin Klein," she told Vogue in 2019. "Walking shows is such a strange thing because we all walk every day — but when you're suddenly wearing designer clothes and there are more eyes on you than usual, you can lose that natural ability."

Reflecting on her street style at the beginning of her career, Kaia admitted that she was trying too hard. "I think the biggest mistake I made was trying to dress up a lot when I was off duty," she told Vogue in 2021. "When I first started modeling, I was wearing heels all the time and full looks. That lasted one season." For industry appearances during this period, Kaia ensured she looked stunning, mostly gravitating toward minidresses that perfectly showed off her endless legs — something her mom is also known for.

By the end of the 2010s, Kaia Gerber was a well-known name in the fashion industry, and while her career continued to evolve, the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the world to a standstill in 2020, slowed down Gerber's plans. However, the star made sure to enjoy her free time while staying safe. Gerber even gave her hair a subtle makeover.

"I don't know if I'd recommend this, but I just used hydrogen peroxide, a random DIY thing I saw online somewhere," the model revealed to Refinery29 in 2020. "I literally put the straight peroxide on my hair and then dried it with a blowdryer — just to hit it with heat — and it definitely lightened my color a shade or two, just a subtle change." If you, like Gerber, love a little DIY hair project, make sure you lighten your hair without breakage by reading our guide on how to safely give yourself highlights at home.

Gerber, who was dating fellow actor and "Euphoria" star Jacob Elordi at the time, toned down her street style during the pandemic, often running errands in comfy athleisure wear, typically in neutral colors.

Once the world slowly began going back to normal, Kaia Gerber's career as a model and actor continued at full speed. In 2021, Gerber appeared in the Ryan Murphy shows "American Horror Stories" and "American Horror Story: Double Feature," setting the stage for her future in Hollywood. Simultaneously, she graced more magazine covers, most notably the front page of Vogue's 2021 June/July issue.

Speaking to Vogue in 2021, Gerber also revealed that she learned a lot about fashion from her mother, Cindy Crawford. "The best style advice my mom has given me is less is more," Gerber explained. "My mom always referenced very classic looks, so I get that from her." While the model admitted that she still loves casual pieces — "I am not about to wear anything uncomfortable again in my life," Gerber told the outlet — she added that she usually asks her friends about the dress code before heading out the door: "I like to get the vibe from my friends because you don't want to show up in sweatpants when everyone else is having a fun, dressed-up night, so you always kind of feel it out."

When attending fashion events during this period, Gerber was often accompanied by Crawford, and the two models always looked stunning while walking the red carpets. In particular, their stunning dresses at the 2021 InStyle Awards had our jaws on the floor. Gerber went with a white, bedazzled Alexander McQueen gown that perfectly suited the star's minimal makeup and slightly messy hairstyle.

By 2022, Kaia Gerber had become a very successful model, and she was ready to make an even bigger name for herself in Hollywood with the premiere of her feature-film debut, "Babylon." During this time, Gerber also stressed the importance of community. "I think the most fashionable thing is being responsible," she told People in 2021, though it lends itself to her mounting success the following year. "It's definitely a group effort, and I think that it's kind of making people realize how everyone is in it together, and everyone's decisions affect the world so much more globally than we ever believe to be true. I think that people are learning a lot about teamwork in all of this."

Speaking to Harper's Bazaar, Gerber admitted that she, like the rest of us, has some favorite go-to fashion pieces that she tends to wear all the time. "I really love that you only need that one jean — it's your jean. Or that one jacket," the model revealed. "I have this Celine leather blazer that, if you've seen a picture of me in the last year, I'm probably wearing it. That's how I like to wear my clothes. If I find something I like, I'm going to wear it all the time." By 2022, it was clear that Gerber's style was simple and classic and that she rarely gravitates toward bold patterns or bright colors. Instead, her choices veer toward the timeless, rarely reflecting short trends.  

In 2023, Kaia Gerber opened up to Elle about her fashion inspiration. "Mostly, I look to the cool French girls to know what to wear and what works," the model revealed, citing Jane Birkin and Françoise Hardy as specific style muses. "My mantra is if it's comfortable and you feel good in it, then wear it. I think dressing for yourself is truly the only important thing about anything you wear," she added. In the same interview, Gerber also admitted that her mother, Cindy Crawford, played a major role in developing her style. "I've always snuck into her closet and stolen her clothes," Gerber admitted. "She has a less is more attitude to hair and makeup which I inherited from her; I would say that neither of us is maximalist at all." After all, Gerber is on our list of celebrity kids who inherited their famous parents' style for a reason.

Moreover, her favorite piece at the time was a green Celine bag. "I carry [it] literally every day and have dragged through the mud, and it's still in great condition," the model revealed to W Magazine. "It's like my safety blanket. I think investing in clothes is smart, but I can't justify buying trendy, expensive clothes."

While the model appeared at numerous events throughout this year, our favorite 2023 Gerber look was undoubtedly the silver Celine gown she wore while accompanying her boyfriend, Austin Butler, to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Gerber's street style also caught our attention, as the model effortlessly paired hoodies with trenchcoats, showing that fashion can be stunning even when it's simple and accessible. 

Today, Kaia Gerber is known for acting just as much as she is for modeling thanks to roles in films like "Bottoms" and "Palm Royale." Of course, just because she's working in Hollywood doesn't mean she's given up modeling, and, in fact, her career in the fashion industry is as promising as ever. In March 2024, Gerber was one of the 40 "Vogue icons" who graced the cover of British Vogue for the magazine's "LEGENDARY!" issue. She wore a short, white, and frilly dress that helped her pop on the page. Her mother, Cindy Crawford, was also on the cover.

For the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival premiere of the movie "Shell," Gerber opted for a special look. Together with stylist Molly Dickson, she paid homage to a gorgeous dress that Crawford wore to the 1993 Academy Awards. "Kaia had sent me a mood board for TIFF and this was one of her references," Dickson told Vogue at the time. "I thought it would be amazing to pay tribute to Cindy's iconic moment." Gerber ended up walking the red carpet in a Hervé Leger dress that was a very close copy of the original. Needless to say, both Gerber and Crawford looked stunning in the look.

Now, if you loved Gerber's style changes over the years, make sure to also check out the stunning style transformation of Lily Collins.