Outdated Outfits Jennifer Garner Has Been Caught Wearing

Ever since her breakthrough in Hollywood in the late '90s, actor Jennifer Garner has become one of the most beloved faces of the industry. And while her acting talent is undeniable — from "Alias" to "Dallas Buyers Club," she has given us a variety of stunning performances — her style isn't really something she's known for.

Now, don't get us wrong; Jennifer Garner always looks put together and pretty, but we wouldn't really call her fashion choices groundbreaking and spectacular. In fact, quite a few of her looks — particularly from the 2010s — were so focused on popular trends of the period that they didn't really give her much space to showcase her personal style. And to make matters worse, most of those looks have aged poorly, resulting in very outdated and cringe-worthy fashion moments that will haunt the star forever (because the internet never forgets). Of course, we can't look past the fact that Garner is also no stranger to wearing outdated looks today, as she really doesn't seem to want to get rid of some clothing pieces that have been out of style for years. But hey, when you look as fabulous as she does, you can definitely afford to wear whatever you please, fashionable or not!

During the early 2010s Tumblr fashion era, galaxy leggings were the chicest way to say you were busy running errands. Rarely did we actually wear them to workouts; instead, they served as a fashion statement, showing the world we may have been busy and comfortable, but our style was still fun and quirky.

While galaxy leggings had all the fashion girlies in a chokehold in the early 2010s, by the second half of the decade, they simply weren't as fashionable anymore, and they slowly got replaced with classic yoga pants. However, Jennifer Garner continued wearing them — she was photographed running errands in a pair in November 2016. Of course, if you like something, you should never stop wearing it because it's outdated, but that doesn't change the fact that this Jennifer Garner look was about five years too late.

While plenty of trends from the 2000s have had their resurgence recently, one we haven't really noticed much of is A-line silk dresses. So when Jennifer Garner decided to show up to the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala in a pearlescent silk frock with a chunky waistband, we couldn't help but think that she time-traveled from the mid-2000s. In particular, Garner was giving us major Academy Awards energy — circa 2005

Silk and satin have had their moment since the 2000s, but their comeback was very different from Garner's version, which looks like it was taken straight from the Y2K period. To bring this trend into the 2020s, look for pieces like midi skirts, relaxed pantsuits, and crêped blouses. Nevertheless, even though the look is outdated, the "Valentine's Day" actor is definitely pulling it off. But then again, when you're as gorgeous as Garner, there really isn't much you can't pull off.

Okay, before the preppy girls go into panic mode, we totally acknowledge that preppy fashion never really goes out of style. It's a classic and timeless trend. However, it does have specific variations that tend to change throughout the decades, and the look that Jennifer Garner was seen wearing in November 2023 was definitely giving more 2010s Blair Waldorf preppy than what is considered stylish in the 2020s.

There are plenty of outdated preppy fashion trends that have more modern alternatives. Had the actor added a vest over the look for some edginess, and had she ditched the heels for heeled boots, this look would have been a lot more modern.

Black tights for red-carpet events evoke a certain kind of energy, and it's not cutting edge. Nude tights exist, so why go for black ones when you're walking a red carpet? If the tights rip, it will be way more noticeable, not to mention the dated, matronly vibe they channel. Unless you're a member of the royal family doing a walkabout after the death of a relative, this look really has no place on a modern red carpet. While we have rarely seen celebs go for this look in this millennium, Jennifer Garner did make that mistake at the Roundabout Theatre Company's 2015 Spring Gala. The black dress would have been perfect had she ditched the black tights.

But hey, that was in 2015 — the same mistake is still made by some celebs a decade later. Most recently, we saw Marla Maples missed the mark at the 2025 Grammys with a similarly outdated outfit. Let's just hope other celebs learn from these two!

The 2010s were all about business casual — a trend that somehow even made it into nightlife fashion. In fact, back then, you couldn't really tell if someone was dressing for the office or for a party, and while that was a fun vibe at the time, today's fashion rules are slightly different.

In fact, we rarely get to see business casual on the red carpet, so when Jennifer Garner wore a maroon blazer with a matching skirt to Hello Sunshine's Shine Away in October 2023, we were quite surprised. Of course, for the right occasions, business-casual dressing is supreme, and knowing how to nail it is crucial. Chino pants, sheath dresses, and oversized shirts all have their place, but it's no longer on the red carpet.

When it comes to heels, the 2010s were all about platforms — whether we're talking about classy red-carpet attire or edgy clubbing boots. So when Jennifer Garner showed up to the 2014 Academy Awards in a beautiful floor-length silver gown with fringe detailing, no one thought twice about her platform heels.

However, more than a decade later, her choice of shoes for the most prestigious event in Hollywood seems very out of place. The rest of Garner's look aged gracefully, and we can definitely imagine it at a red-carpet event today. Instead of the pumps, though, a stylist would likely recommend footwear without a platform — and definitely a pair with less of a high heel.

During the second half of the 2010s, the T-shirt dress was an easy way to put something on and get out of the house without having to piece together an actual outfit. The best part about it, of course, was that it provided all of the comfort of a T-shirt, while also giving you some of the perks of a dress.

In November 2017, Jennifer Garner was wearing a T-shirt dress while running errands in Los Angeles, and even though the look would have passed as trendy at the time, today it's not as stylish anymore. The star paired the clothing items with heeled booties and a large bag. However, considering that trends return in a circular fashion, we wouldn't be surprised if they had their comeback soon!

When it comes to Old Hollywood glamour, a red-carpet staple for women who were wearing shoulder-baring clothing was a dramatic shawl draped across them. In fact, it's hard to imagine Hollywood icons like Marilyn Monroe walking the red carpet of an industry event without this furry accessory gracing their arms. And while a shawl will forever remain a classic part of glamorous fashion, we rarely see celebs wearing them at industry events today.

When Jennifer Garner attended the 2000 TV Guide Awards in a red midi gown and matching shawl, the actor looked stunning. However, the truth is that this look — no matter how late '90s/Y2K it might be — just wouldn't pass as fashionable today.

Jennifer Garner attended the 2019 InStyle Awards in a black pantsuit and white button-up combination — a look that is timeless and chic. While it's hard to argue that this particular outfit is outdated, as one can never really go wrong with a good pantsuit, the truth is that the tailored blazer has been replaced with an oversized version in the past decade.

While recent trends have brought back the hourglass blazer, even that one is still a tad oversized when it comes to the shoulders and length, only cinching in at the waist. So, unfortunately for Garner, while this may have seemed like a safe and fool-proof fashion choice, it also wasn't really fashionable — especially considering she was attending a fashion event.

Denim button-ups were a major part of the Tumblr fashion era in the early 2010s. Fashionistas everywhere paired them with preppy skirts and casual leggings alike, as the button-up proved to be a versatile piece that can even be worn as a jacket. When Jennifer Garner was spotted wearing one in February 2016, the trend was already on its way out. However, the look could have still passed as fashionable had she not combined it with sweatpants.

In the early 2020s, double denim was trending as a part of the Canadian tuxedo trend — a popular fashion style that involves dressing head-to-toe in denim. However, as Garner's look consisted of just one denim piece, it is definitely an outdated fashion choice today.

Some versions of slip dresses are always trending, but Jennifer Garner's 2017 interpretation of the trend is not what's popular today. In fact, while the pinstriped lace dress she was spotted wearing in New York City in May 2017 is giving a slip-dress vibe, technically, the look isn't really a slip dress as it's not made out of silk or satin. However, the lacy moments are definitely giving it a lingerie-like look, which is enough for us to call it a slip-dress wannabe.

Even though slip dresses are still common today, we rarely see them in this form or styled like this, in a minimal way that makes them literally look like sleepwear. Instead, elevating a slip dress in the 2020s is all about mixing and matching it with accessories for a unique and refined look.

When we look back at this February 2015 photo of Jennifer Garner in Los Angeles, it's definitely giving outdated fashion. While certain aspects of the look, such as skinny jeans, are undoubtedly on their rise to fame again (and our experts agree about it), other parts of this outfit simply wouldn't be styled like this anymore. 

If we had to style this look today, we would swap the tailored blazer for an oversized one that would give the look a more effortless feel and replace the loafers with comfy sneakers — potentially in a fun color to add some dimension to the look. Nevertheless, if we were writing this in 2015, we would totally approve of this look — especially as Garner certainly looked very happy in it, and at the end of the day, fashion is all about the confidence you exude while wearing it.

When we think back to 2013 and 2014, one fashion trend that comes to mind is definitely mesh. From mesh cutouts to mesh sleeves, the see-through material was a very popular choice for showcasing just how edgy and fun your style was. But as with all trends that become big, the mesh-everything fashion moment quickly passed. After a brief revival in 2024, this see-through fabric disappeared into the abyss once more.

In 2014, Jennifer Garner took mesh fashion to the Toronto International Film Festival, where she walked the red carpet in a black floor-length gown that would have remained classy and glamorous to this day, were it not for the mesh cutouts and sleeves. However, we have to applaud the star for experimenting outside of the traditional red-carpet fashion box — we just wish she had paired the dress with something a bit more casual than pointed black heels.

A trend that we saw a lot of in the late 2000s and early 2010s was ruched dresses. Because of the way the materials were manipulated while making them, the dresses were particularly known for hiding any unwanted underwear lines and creases — and if you were headed to a wedding, let's just say that you didn't have to worry about a bloated tummy showing (not that you really ever need to).

In October 2012, Jennifer Garner attended the premiere of the film "Argo" in Washington, D.C., and for the occasion, she decided to wear a blue maxi dress that was ruched down the front all the way to where the skirt began. The silhouette of the dress suited the actor beautifully, but as much as we like this look on her, ruched dresses just aren't as popular anymore — though they did come back in 2022 for a little while.

The '80s were definitely a bold and colorful decade when it came to fashion, and as much as we love some of its nostalgic elements, there's no denying that whenever trends from a past decade cycle back, they also change — which is why it's usually easy to tell if an outfit is originally from the early aughts or an inspired look recreated by Gen Z in the 2020s. And to be honest, that is exactly what we want from fashion — nobody wants to see the exact same thing twice. Instead, we change it and adapt it to the times, always giving old trends a modern twist.

However, when Jennifer Garner showed up to a 2011 screening of "Butter" in a black one-shoulder mini, it kind of looked like she was actually wearing a piece from the '80s (wrinkled and all). The only reason we knew she wasn't time-traveling was because she didn't have a side ponytail. To pull off the '80s off-the-shoulder in 2025, the piece should be cropped and fresh, not shapeless and satiny.

In September 2010, Jennifer Garner attended the Pink Party in Hollywood, and for the occasion, she dressed very on theme. Garner paired pink platform heels with a high-low top, a white sequined miniskirt, and a lot of pearl necklaces. The entire look is definitely a time capsule from the early 2010s, as high-low hemlines, layered pearl necklaces, and platform heels are all trends that are still waiting for their proper comeback. But who knows, maybe in a couple of years, we'll be looking at this outfit, trying to figure out just how to replicate it! For now, these pieces all remain in the vault.

Of course, Jennifer Garner isn't the only Hollywood Jennifer who rocked fashion that didn't age that well. And if you're looking for more celebrity fashion that will make you cringe, check out the most outdated outfits Jennifer Aniston has ever worn!