For those of us who came of age in the late 90s glued to our TV sets watching Dawson’s Creek, Michelle Williams will always be Jen Lindley, the new girl who came into town and drove an initial wedge between besties/would-be soulmates Dawson Leery and Joey Potter. While we’re still secretly praying for a cast reunion (despite the fate of certain characters), Michelle has evolved past her small screen days and blossomed into a full-blown movie star.
The gifted actress has been nominated for three Oscars so far — and we have a feeling another nomination is about to be bestowed upon her for her riveting performance in Manchester by the Sea. After all, she’s already received nods from the Golden Globes and the SAG Awards for her turn as Randi Chandler, the ex-wife of Lee Chandler, a certified loner who works as a handyman in Boston, but is forced to return home to care for his 16-year-old nephew after the death of his brother and confront a past tragedy.
Although we have to wait a bit longer to see what Michelle will wear during award season (we’re guessing the Louis Vuitton devotee will probably rock quite a few of the fashion house’s pieces…), we can relish in reflecting on her grand red carpet history dating back to her Dawson’s Creek days. You can clearly see the indie darling’s style evolve over the years from minimalist ensembles to more lavish high-end designer fare. And, of course, we can’t forget her transformative pixie haircut. You don’t need a time machine to relive Michelle’s fashion metamorphosis, just scroll through the slideshow to appreciate how far the star has come.
Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #1
Back in 1998, Michelle Williams kept things monochromatic in a strapless LBD, an almost minuscule choker and furry sandals for the premiere of Halloween H20: 20 Years Later.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #2
She turned up the wattage the following year for the Emmy Awards in a creamy bedazzled slip dress. A retro embellished bag and metallic sandals polished things off.
Image: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #3
In the buildup to the new millennium, one-shoulder tops were all the rage. Michelle fit right in at the March 2000 screening of If These Walls Could Talk 2 by employing a sparkly black one to top off her black pants and complementary sandals.
Image: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #4
When it came time to celebrate 100 episodes of Dawson's Creek in February 2002, Michelle meant business in this office-appropriate patterned cap-sleeve dress punctuated by basic black pumps.
Image: Lawrence Lucier/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #5
Before she made her now infamous pixie transformation, Michelle was known to sport dark locks on occasion. Ever the nonconformist, she showed off her brunette hair at the 2004 Miramax Awards Pre-Oscar Party in a chill black jacket layered over a brown top and jeans.
Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #6
Michelle played a bit of peekaboo in this ivory dress featuring strategic black accents at the December 2005 New York premiere of Brokeback Mountain.
Image: Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #7
There was a discernible fashion shift the following year. This delicately ruffled canary yellow Vera Wang at the 2006 Oscars was such a home run that it’s widely considered to have a storied place in the hall of the best Oscar looks of all time.
Image: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #8
With the arrival of Michelle’s now infamous short ‘do came a sartorial change of direction for the actress as she began to seek out more 60s-style silhouettes. She was giving us some real Edie Sedgwick vibes in this embellished Chloe dress at the 2007 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Image: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #9
Who says short hair limits your styling options? With her platinum-dyed locks perfectly coiffed, Michelle drew even more attention to her red hot Erdem Margot lace dress and wild Charlotte Olympia heels at the 54th BFI London Film Festival premiere of Blue Valentine back in October 2010.
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #10
It was all about the glitz at the 2011 Oscars in a heavily beaded Chanel Spring 2011 Haute Couture short-sleeve gown modified from the runway.
Image: Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #11
She was an absolute vision in velvet at the 2012 Golden Globes decked out in a custom Jason Wu midnight blue gown topped off by an eye-catching Fred Leighton for Forevermark diamond garland headband.
Image: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #12
Michelle took even more of a fashion risk at the Oscars later that year by hitting the red carpet in a “burnt orange” Louis Vuitton strapless gown boasting a peplum-accented skirt. That contrasting pink Bottega Veneta clutch served as the ultimate finishing touch.
Image: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #13
Now this is how you do extended side slits. Michelle turned heads at the Hollywood unveiling of Oz The Great and Powerful in February 2013 by wearing a white embellished Prada short-sleeve dress that featured a little side ventilation, revealing a pair of black underwear.
Image: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #14
Marking the opening night for Cabaret on Broadway in April 2014, the actress got a little edgy in a Louis Vuitton Fall 2014 mixed media creation hailing from Nicolas Ghesquière’s first collection for the fashion house. You can bookmark this look as when her predilection for the French brand officially morphed into obsession.
Image: Walter McBride/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #15
So, it wasn’t exactly shocking to see her outfitted in a Louis Vuitton Fall 2014 embellished sheath at the Charles James: Beyond Fashion-themed Met Gala the next month. Black accessories kept the focus squarely on the statement piece.
Image: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #16
As one of the brand’s standout ambassadors, she naturally attended the Louis Vuitton Series 2—Past, Present and Future exhibition in February 2015 in a crisp white dress boasting a bold embroidered bodice.
Image: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #17
Michelle snagged a coveted front row seat for Louis Vuitton’s Cruise 2016 presentation in Palm Springs, California that spring. She stood out from the fashionable crowd in a Fall 2015 printed dress with a scalloped hem and black paneling, capped off by patent booties.
Image: Donato Sardella/Getty Images for Louis Vuitton
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #18
It was a shiny red sheath with a patterned bodice and exposed zipper for Michelle at the annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in May of this year. Slightly wavier locks and black ankle-strap sandals completed the retro look.
Image: Desiree Navarro/WireImage/Getty Images
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #19
Showing a surprising amount of skin by embracing the all-pervasive sheer trend, Michelle stepped out in a shimmering black Louis Vuitton Spring 2017 gown for this year’s Governors Awards.
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Witness Michelle Williams' Career-Spanning Style Evolution #20
Michelle sure made an impression at the Beverly Hills premiere of Manchester by the Sea last month in this dynamic white Louis Vuitton Spring 2017 long-sleeve gown featuring a subtle side cut-out balanced out by a black ribbon accent, which tied in rather seamlessly with her black accessories.
Image: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
