Nicole Kidman's style evolution: her best casual and red carpet looks

From Hollywood ingenue in the 90s to red carpet ready, Oscar-winning glamazon, see the brilliant (and at times wonderfully throwback) style rise and rise of Nicole Kidman

nicole kidman style
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Let's not forget THAT Dior dress which took 1,000 hours to create

Not many celebrities are consistently great at both street style and red carpet style, but Nicole Kidman is definitely one of them. In fact, the mere fact that some of her outfits from the 90s are still on point today makes her a style icon, because isn't it all about timeless fashion?

But that's not to say Nicole has been afraid to take sartorial risks, and she's wowed with many bold choices, especially at the Oscars.

In the late 90s and early noughties, the actress played with shimmering textures and bold colours. There was the green satin Dior dress she wore in 1997, followed by the sexy gold dress by the same designer in 2000, which was actually dipped in gold. The perfect homage to the golden statuette, non? For the later part of the noughties, she went more demure with powder pink Chanel dresses and ladylike LBDs, but my all-time favourite has to be the red bow Balenciaga dress at the 20017 Academy Awards.

More recently, Nicole ruled the red carpet at pretty much every ceremony going. Her Cannes wardrobe of 2013 was just the best. That strapless Dior ballgown with touches of neon and fuschia heels deserves its own award. At the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, she wore a delicate embroidered dress which took 1,000 hours to make. Then at the Emmy Awards, where she picked up a gong for her incredible role in Big Little Lies, she wore a majestic red Calvin Klein number.

Scroll down to see her full style evolution.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Rocking an off-the-shoulder dress and curls.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

A white shift dress and shrug made for a glamorous look.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

We love this prom style slip dress, accessorised with white gloves.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

A bit of a Little House on the Prairie vibe on a date with then-husband Tom Cruise.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman - Nicole Kidman Style Highs and Lows - Nicole Kidman Keith Urban - Golden Globes - Oscars - Celebrity - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

The empire line waist on this dress really suited Nicole's tall frame.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman - Nicole Kidman Style Highs and Lows - Nicole Kidman Keith Urban - Golden Globes - Oscars - Celebrity - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Lovely in lilac.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Back in the 90s, Nicole loved matching all her accessories to her dress, including this sparkling number.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Nicole has been known to glam up an otherwise plain dress with a statement necklace.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman - Nicole Kidman Style Highs and Lows - Nicole Kidman Keith Urban - Golden Globes - Oscars - Celebrity - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

In a shimmering midi dress, a style she wore a lot in the 2000s.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman - Nicole Kidman Style Highs and Lows - Nicole Kidman Keith Urban - Golden Globes - Oscars - Celebrity - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Nicole even managed to make the crop top and low rise trouser trend look chic, embellishing her midriff with a belly chain.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman - Nicole Kidman Style Highs and Lows - Nicole Kidman Keith Urban - Golden Globes - Oscars - Celebrity - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

The gold Dior dress she wore to the 2000 Oscars was actually dipped in gold.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Nicole Kidman is loyal to her favourite brands, and those include Chanel. Here she wears a powder blue dip hem gown to the Golden Globes.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Nicole chose a classic black Jean-Paul Gaultier dress to pick up her Oscar for Best Actress at the 2003 Academy Awards for her role in The Hours.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Daring a masculine suit.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

In a Chanel tweed suit at Cannes.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

In a sequin 1920s-inspired dress at the 2004 Golden Globes.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Another Chanel number for the 2004 Oscars.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Wearing a layered gold necklace over a demure white dress.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

The famous red Balenciaga dress of the 2007 Academy Awards.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman Style Highs & Lows - pics, pictures, style, red carpet, fashion, Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

The perfect maternity style.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman - Nicole Kidman Style Highs and Lows - Nicole Kidman Keith Urban - Golden Globes - Oscars - Celebrity - Marie Claire
(Image credit: Rex Features)

Another classic LBD for the Oscars.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Perhaps one of her best looks, the Dior dress at the 2013 Cannes festival.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Perhaps one of her best looks, the Dior dress at the 2013 Cannes festival.

Nicole Kidman At The Oscars, 2015

Nicole Kidman At The Oscars, 2015

The Oscars, 2015
(Image credit: David Fisher/REX)

Nicole Kidman went bold and opted for this Louis Vuitton sparkling number, teamed with a  clashing waist belt. Loving the new 'do, too.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman teams her Versace dress with Brian Atwood shoes and Harry Winston jewellery at the InStyle Awards in LA.
(Image credit: Rex)

Nicole Kidman teams her Versace dress with Brian Atwood shoes and Harry Winston jewellery at the InStyle Awards in LA.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman

Nicole wore a SS17 Silver wave sequin gown by Alexander McQueen.
(Image credit: Rex)

Nicole wore a SS17 Silver wave sequin gown by Alexander McQueen.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman

Wearing Gucci with Stuart Weitzman heels.
(Image credit: Rex)

Wearing Gucci with Stuart Weitzman heels.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman

Nicole, nominated for her supporting role in Lion at the BAFTAs 2017, took to the red carpet in a plunging Armani Prive black gown.

Nicole, nominated for her supporting role in Lion at the BAFTAs 2017, took to the red carpet in a plunging Armani Prive black gown.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Wearing Rodarte sequins.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Wearing Rodarte sequins.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

This stunning Dior dress took over 1,000 hours to make.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

This stunning Dior dress took over 1,000 hours to make.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Looking like a ballerina in custom Calvin Klein at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Looking like a ballerina in custom Calvin Klein at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

In a romantic floral Carolina Herrera dress for the Beguiled premiere.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

In a romantic floral Carolina Herrera dress for the Beguiled premiere.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

Wearing Michael Kors.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

Wearing Michael Kors.

Nicole Kidman style

Nicole Kidman style

The custom Calvin Klein gown she wore to receive her Emmy in 2017 for her role in Big Little Lies.
(Image credit: Shutterstock/Rex)

The custom Calvin Klein gown she wore to receive her Emmy in 2017 for her role in Big Little Lies.

The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.