Michelle Williams had a lot of people talking after showing off a shorter, almost futuristic platinum blonde ‘do back in October at the BFI London Film Festival. The actress is actually playing Marilyn Monroe in the film My Week with Marilyn, so that may explain the extreme hair color. But Michelle’s sense of style has always been a little offbeat. After all, she opted to mix leopard print shoes with a retro Erdem red lace number at the festival.
She’s certainly come a fashionably long way from her Dawson’s Creek days. Michelle broke through on the teenage drama in the late 90s. Her career since the hit show has taken a decidedly indie turn with roles in films like Imaginary Heroes and The United States of Leland. She also became known for dating Heath Ledger, her Brokeback Mountain co-star. The couple had a daughter, Matilda, who seems to be picking up her mom’s playfully bohemian fashion sense.
When it comes to the red carpet, Michelle projects a sort of funky elegance. She stood out from the upscale crowd at the 2006 Academy Awards in a vivid marigold silk chiffon Vera Wang gown. Michelle’s crop cut was present this past summer at the Cannes International Film Festival, where she went through several wardrobe changes.
She got down to promotional business for Blue Valentine, sporting a Fall 2010 Suno dress paired with cork wedges courtesy of Stella McCartney. At the Venice Film Festival in September, Michelle selected a muted Jason Wu embroidered silk chiffon gown from the designer’s Resort 2011 collection.
There really isn’t an all-enveloping way to describe Michelle’s style. She manages to transition from youthful and playful to daring sophisticate with minimal effort. Sure, she occasionally has some missteps. But that’s the risk you take when you don’t play by the rules.