See Emma Watson’s Super Stylish Red Carpet Fashion Evolution

Emma Watson is one stylist star — and she’s been casting a spell on fashion lovers everywhere since her breakthrough role in Harry Potter when she was just 11 years old.

The British actress’ fashion sense has matured right along with her career and made her a bonafide red carpet style star in the process. With a penchant for high-fashion looks by celeb-fave designers, it didn’t take long for the brunette beauty to become a best-dressed list fixture.

Rather than stick to glam gowns and frilly dresses, Watson has made a habit of rocking pants on red carpets around the globe. At the 2014 Golden Globes, for instance, she turned heads in hybrid Dior number that featured a backless red gown over a pair of cropped back trousers.

An advocate for sustainable fashion, Watson has made a habit of posting details about the environmental impact of her outfits on social media. In 2017, she created her Instagram account (@the_press_tour) to chronicle all of her fab fashion choices.

Take a look back at some of Watson’s best red carpet looks below:

The actress braved the rain at the London premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, still looking as put-together as ever with an umbrella in hand. The rising star went vintage for the occasion, wearing a sleeved wrap-waist dress from the 1970s which she told Vogue she found in a shop near her home.

Glittering in gold! The then-19-year-old star made a statement at the Burberry Prorsum Spring/Summer 2010 show at Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground during London Fashion Week. She wore the brand’s own look, an embellished short-sleeved minidress with a half-zip front. Watson showed off her slim figure with a cinched black belt.

White hot! The Brit looked smoldering at the Costume Institute Gala Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. She wore a custom-made one-shoulder Burberry gown, showing a little leg with a high-reaching front slit. 

Rocking her newly cropped hair, the actress played up her feminine side on the red carpet at the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in London. The then 20-year-old star showed off a black bra in the lace dress, which featured a short fringe bottom. Watson accessorized the Rafael Lopez for Atelier Mayer tie-back dress with Charlotte Olympia heels.

Emma Watson celebrated her final run as Hermione at the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in London. 21 years old at the time, Watson wore a stunning Oscar de la Renta dress for the occasion. The light gray finale dress featured sheer straps, a lace bodice, and a full, voluminous skirt, giving the look a feeling of whimsy. 

Exercising her style range, the British beauty went bold for a pre-BAFTA party hosted by Lancome in London. Post-Harry Potter, Watson showed her affinity for lace in a bright red Valentino dress, which featured a bubbled bow bottom. She matched her makeup with a red lip and topped off the look with a pair of black strappy heels.

The style star showed off her fashion sensibility at the premiere for her acclaimed indie, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. She kicked the trend of a dress over pants up a notch, wearing a Christian Dior runway look. The strapless black cropped gown accentuated her small waist while the black skinny pants and pointed-toe heels kept the look sophisticated. 

The former child star amped up her sex appeal at the punk rock-themed Costume Institute Gala at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Emma wore a body-baring black cutout gown from Prabal Gurung, showing off her midriff, legs, and upper body. 23 at the time, Watson pulled her hair back to show off a statement earring, which upped the rocker edge of the look. 

Days after she turned heads in punk chic, Watson was pure class at the Cannes Film Festival screening of her movie, The Bling Ring. She looked like a classic Hollywood star in Chanel Couture. The actress’ floor-length gown featured a black sequined bodice which complemented a white tailored bottom. 

Emma turned heads (and her own back!) at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards, taking a style risk in Beverly Hills. She did a little business in the front, party in the back, with a Christian Dior number that appeared to be a classic red gown but showed off a pair of black cropped pants with its open back. 

Sexy and sophisticated! The English entertainer wore Vera Wang on the red carpet for the 86th Annual Academy Awards, shining in a metallic shade. The crew neck sleeveless dress was two-toned with a sheer silver top and a flowing high-waisted black bottom. She accessorized her look with a handful of silver rings, dark nails, and an Anya Hindmarch clutch. 

Watson kicked off the promotion for her flick Noah on a high note, rocking a Wes Gordon gown in Berlin. While the cinched-waist navy dress appeared simple from the front, Watson revealed a tied racerback with a floor-skimming bow. She kept it high fashion with a bold red lip and slicked-back hair. 

The Noah actress went dramatic for the New York premiere of her film, hitting the red carpet in an elegant Oscar de la Renta gown. The classy black satin number featured a boat neck and mid-length sleeves and showed off Watson’s sexy side with a deep V-cut back, tied with a bow. She edged up the classic look with a sparkling ear cuff. 

Emma Watson returned to white for the UK premiere of Noah, looking perfectly chic in a simple gown. The slim-fitting Ralph Lauren Collection dress showed off the actress’ gams with a thigh slit and her shoulders with a high halter neck. Watson accessorized the look with gold Jennifer Fisher cuff bracelets and white Jimmy Choo pumps.

The actress took a stand for ladies (and feminist gents!) everywhere when she launched her HeForShe campaign at the United Nations in NYC. For her rousing speech, Watson chose to go ladylike-chic in a silver Christian Dior dress coat, cinched at the waist with a metallic belt and adorned with a small HeForShe pin.

Accepting her British Style Icon Award, Watson took the plunge at the 2014 British Fashion Awards in London. The Perks of Being a Wallflower actress celebrated her win in a wide-legged Misha Nonoo jumpsuit with a deep V-neckline, topped with a black tuxedo-style blazer.

She wears the pants! The actress sported a Dior jumpsuit with lace-up Rupert Sanderson pumps and a Rauwolf clutch at the Time 100 Gala in NYC. 

The brunette beauty looked oh-so-pretty in a bow-adorned Christopher Kane midi and Paul Andrew pumps at the Regression premiere in Madrid. 

She chose an expertly constructed off-the-shoulder Calvin Klein pantsuit with a dramatic train for the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology”-themed Met Gala.  

A Disney princess IRL, the Beauty and the Beast star looked like a modern-day Belle in a pale blue Emilia Wickstead column gown at the film’s London premiere.

Proving that Belle is, indeed, a badass, the British beauty rocked a black Oscar de la Renta jumpsuit at the Hollywood premiere of Beauty and the Beast. 

She sparkled in a sequined Kitx mini and Susi Studio sandals at the MTV Movie and TV Awards in L.A. 

Showing Us all how to rock chic separates on the red carpet, Watson wore a white Osman crop top with black trousers by the brand with her Susi Studio loafers and Ronald Van Der Kemp top-handle bag at the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party. 

Who needs jewelry when you can rock a chain-adorned Ralph Lauren gown and Roger Vivier pumps as the actress did at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party? 

Having fun with feathers! The actress stunned in a Balenciaga gown and thigh-high velvet boots for the Little Women premiere.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, the British activist kept away from big events for more than a year, but she returned in October 2021 to present at the Earthshot Prize Awards in London. Watson wore a white, backless, tulle top that included a dramatic train with black trousers underneath for the event’s red carpet (which was actually green). Guests were required to wear environmentally conscious outfits for the ceremony.

Watson added a touch of eclectic flair to her classic little black dress with striped boots from Jimmy Choo and Mugler. She wore the thigh high shoes to a Charles Finch and Chanel dinner in London.

The star rocked a chic middle part in her hair and clipped her bangs off to the side for the BAFTAs red carpet. She wore a gown with a sleek black halter top and long tulle train with a high-low silhouette for the London event.

Watson perfected the LBD while attending the Prada Spring/Summer 2024 Womenswear Fashion Show during Milan Fashion Week. The actress donned a chic minidress with halter neckline and accessorized with a Prada handbag and classic black heel. Watson topped off the feminine look with a black bow in her hair.