From modeling to motherhood, Emily Ratajkowski has changed a lot since dancing into the limelight. Here's how her style has evolved over time.
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00:00From modeling to motherhood, Emily Ratajkowski has changed a lot since dancing into the limelight.
00:06Here's how her style has evolved over time.
00:09Even though Emily Ratajkowski's career was just getting started in 2012, her fashion
00:13choices were already showing that she understood how to rock sultry and sophisticated looks.
00:18Around this time, she was also starting to branch out from modeling to acting. In 2013,
00:23she appeared in Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines music video, which stirred some controversy
00:27and which she would later write about in her collection of essays called My Body.
00:30For a long time, I sort of said to the world, like, this is empowerment, but that wasn't
00:35the whole experience on the video.
00:37While her career might have just begun to explode at this point, she kept a lot of her
00:41looks relatively simple. At the Treats magazine's spring issue launch, she donned a long black
00:46dress with a deep V neckline and long lacy panels on the side. She kept her hair, makeup,
00:51and accessories simple, which truly puts the focus on the black lace details, while at
00:56a Kick-Ass 2 Comic-Con event, Ratajkowski was rocking another all-black look with eye-catching
01:01cutouts around the waist. In a red carpet interview with Maximo TV, she said of the
01:05night's look,
01:06In 2014, Ratajkowski's career continued to heat up with photoshoots for Sports Illustrated's
01:15swimsuit edition. Around this time, her public looks were still defined by simplicity. However,
01:20she started to expand her style to include more colors like bold blues and greens. She
01:25also opted for more two-piece outfits and jumpsuits over LBDs as well.
01:30One notable example is the bright green and metallic dress she wore to the MTV Movie Awards
01:34in 2015. Aside from the occasional risk, many of her looks were fresh variations of classic
01:40looks. At an Haute Living Party in Malibu, she wore a striking white mini dress with
01:44a circle skirt and strappy neckline. Clearly understanding that red lipstick is always
01:48a good idea, she paired the dress with a super deep red lip and accessorized it with a nude
01:53clutch and heels.
01:54At a Schaffhausen flagship boutique opening, she opted for a top and pants that were polished
01:59and put together. Her glittery square necktank coordinated well with her black high-waisted
02:03pants and tan shoes to make a sophisticated ensemble full of balanced neutrals.
02:10In 2016, there was more attention than ever on Ratajkowski's style. Her trendy streetwear
02:14looks were turning heads, and paparazzi often snapped her in slouchy trousers and oversized
02:19blazers with sports bras. On the red carpet, her looks became more glamorous, while still
02:24retaining her pared-down vibe.
02:26This was also the year, though, that one of her dresses caught some negative attention.
02:30A black dress with a seriously plunging neckline, worn to the Harper's Bazaar Icons Party, was
02:35called extremely vulgar by some in the press. In a Harper's Bazaar interview from 2022,
02:40Ratajkowski looked back on the incident.
02:42But I was in my 20s, and I just, like, hadn't registered that it was so sexy, because there
02:47is a panel in the middle, but it looks like there isn't."
02:50The matter of how revealing or sexy her apparel was seemed to be a theme for Ratajkowski that
02:55year. In a conversation with Vogue at a DKNY spring show for intimates, she discussed her
03:00feelings on bras and how they can affect your look, saying,
03:03"...One day I realized that wearing a bra that shapes your breasts super unnaturally
03:07can be more aggressive, whereas just not wearing a bra at all can be actually really nice.
03:12The natural shape of a natural breast is actually less overtly sexual than one that's in a push-up
03:16bra."
03:17In 2017, Ratajkowski wasn't just spending her time modeling or showing off her own great
03:22style. She was taking things to the next level by founding her own fashion line, a swimwear
03:27line called Innamorata, which featured bold swimsuits in colorful prints.
03:31What does it mean, Innamorata?
03:34It means siren.
03:37This was truly a year where Ratajkowski was getting more adventurous with colors and patterns.
03:41At a Lakers game, she looked completely polished and adorable in a yellow plaid jumpsuit, which
03:45she accessorized with a coordinating yellow purse and white high heels.
03:50In a conversation with Glamour that year, she also opened up about some of her more
03:53casual clothing choices, specifically mom jeans, saying,
03:56"...I actually feel the best in mom jeans. I'm wearing mom jeans to this event. I love
04:00them because you can eat a lot. They're always flattering."
04:04In 2018, some of Ratajkowski's looks were taking on a dramatic and super feminine vibe,
04:09some of which could be a great guide for transitioning the coquette aesthetic to winter.
04:13At the Vanity Fair Oscars party, she wore a long burgundy gown with a cape and a deeply
04:18scooped neckline.
04:19What truly made the look special, though, was the way that she accessorized and did
04:23her hair. Her hair hung down in a voluminous low pony with a burgundy ribbon tied around
04:28the bottom. A matching clutch, chandelier earrings, and a large ring truly brought some
04:32Victorian-era style romance to the look. She even spoke with Marie Claire about the
04:36dress, saying,
04:37"...it has a lace corset in it, and we made a matching clutch. It's insane. I'm excited."
04:43At the Revolve Awards that year, Ratajkowski was rocking burgundy once again, but this
04:47time with a more androgynous vibe. The look consisted of a double-breasted jacket that
04:51tied around the waist and some skinny burgundy pants. She parted her straight hair down the
04:56center and kept accessories simple with some rings and black sandals.
05:00And in 2018, Ratajkowski wasn't just getting attention for how she dressed, but also for
05:04her views on feminism. After receiving an International Woman of the Year award at an
05:08Australian GQ event, Ratajkowski said that feminism is about defying stereotypes.
05:14It's about being in a string bikini on the beach and also at a protest.
05:21In 2019, Ratajkowski told Nasty Gal,
05:23"...my personal style is a little retro. I'm very much into Princess Diana right now, so
05:28a little 80s, some menswear mixed in with a little bike short or something really feminine."
05:33Her love of retro looks was definitely apparent through the way that she played with oversized
05:37clothing and 80s silhouettes, like the gray menswear she was seen wearing in Los Angeles
05:42or the blazer and turtleneck combos she wore while walking her dog. She played with volume
05:47on the red carpet, too. At that year's Vanity Fair Oscars party, she wore a glamorous nude
05:51dress with a layered skirt, which featured a full short layer that flared out around
05:55her hips and a longer one at her feet. A simple updo and minimal diamond jewelry created
06:00a polished look that put attention on the dress.
06:04While the start of the pandemic might have halted things like photoshoots and awards
06:07ceremonies, Ratajkowski was still hard at work with her swimwear line and even spoke
06:11to GQ about what had inspired her to launch it, saying,
06:14"...every time I would post something for a brand, I'd be wearing a shirt or whatever
06:18or a bathing suit. People would ask me, where can I get that? At a certain point, it would
06:22have been crazy for me to just continue to promote other people's brands and not start
06:26She was also giving us a peek at a totally new kind of style for her — maternity style.
06:31Much of Ratajkowski's maternity looks were snapped by paparazzi as she was out and about
06:35in New York. In these pictures, it's clear that her growing baby bump had not stopped
06:39her from being stylish and that she was having as much fun as ever.
06:42In one shot, she can be seen in a slinky black dress with cutouts on the side. The dress
06:47was paired with a black purse, some black sunglasses, and a pair of tall slouchy red
06:52In another look, Ratajkowski rocked the baggy jean trend, styling it with a light t-shirt
06:56and cardigan that left her growing bump exposed.
07:00By 2021, Ratajkowski was both a new mom and a published author. In a talk with Esquire,
07:06she opened up about all of the recent changes in her life and what they meant for her, saying,
07:10"...I think I have a new understanding of the role that a woman can play in the world.
07:14I gave birth to my son, but I also published this book."
07:17Becoming someone who's not only responsible for another human's life all the time, but
07:21also telling my story and making something, both of those things have given me a new appreciation
07:26for the life cycle of a woman that goes beyond what our culture offers.
07:29It's amazing. I love it. I've never been so productive in my life."
07:34It seemed that Ratajkowski was also expressing similar sentiments through the ultra-feminine
07:39and powerful outfits that she wore to promote her book that year. Unlike some of the more
07:43pared-down but still sexy looks she went for in the past, she was now rocking bold colors
07:47and prints, along with playful accessories. For example, visiting London to promote her
07:52book, she wore a floor-length zebra-print coat and miniskirt, which she paired with
07:56a black top, tall red boots, and a fuzzy black bucket hat. Meanwhile, at a book signing in
08:01New York, she wore a hot pink power blazer along with black tights and riding boots that
08:06were both sophisticated and fun.
08:09By 2022, Ratajkowski was entering another new era, her single-girl era. Not only that,
08:14she also launched a podcast called High Low with Amrata, where she interviewed celebrities
08:19and shared her own takes. While she had already been introducing more and more color into
08:23her wardrobe over the years, this was the year that she really took playing with multi-color
08:27looks to the max. At the Met Gala, she wore a dress with an intricately beaded bodice
08:31made up of blue, green, and red beads that were strung together with gold chains. The
08:36High Low skirt was a mix of red, green, white, and blue fabrics, as well as gold netting
08:41and fringe. A side-parted updo fit right in with the exciting, eclectic look.
08:46Ratajkowski was also having fun with bright and bold patterns in her streetwear looks,
08:50too. While heading to a book signing in New York, she wore a yellow blouse with a super
08:54fun fruit print, which she paired with polished black pants and a slim black belt. Her wispy
08:59updo and soft bangs all came together to make a look that was both polished and playful.
09:04In 2023, Ratajkowski was still finding ways to play with and explore her style. At the
09:09VMAs that year, she rocked a bold Y2K-inspired look with a lot of intriguing elements. Along
09:15with a crisscrossing green halter top, it also featured a flowy handkerchief skirt with
09:19a brown, white, and orange print. A small watch, simple gold sandals, and a small dark
09:24bag all subtly elevated the look.
09:26At the Vanity Fair Oscars party, she got in on another trend by wearing a floor-length
09:31silver sheer dress with some large stitch detailing around the shoulders. Completing
09:35the stunning look, she wore her hair back in a sleek, center-parted updo and some small
09:39knocker-shaped earrings. She told Elle,
09:41"...I change things up when there's a shift in how I'm feeling about myself. And then
09:45when I come back to myself, I'm over that experience. I like to feel like myself again."
09:51Ratajkowski has continued to take charge of red carpets this year. At the Vanity Fair
09:54Oscars party, she seemed to be taking her style in a new and even more artistic direction.
09:59Her long white gown with an ultra-low back created an optical illusion, appearing as
10:04if the bodice were floating away from her body. Not only was this intriguing to look
10:08at, but it also had an unmistakable sexy edge. She told PopSugar,
10:12"...beauty and fashion are tools to make me feel good about myself. I just try to really
10:17take a second and be like, OK, what do I want to feel like today? Am I comfortable? Am I
10:21kicking ass and wearing heels? What's the vibe?"