Zooey Deschanel's Style Evolution

Whether you've been following her since the early days (aka Failure To Launch and Elf) or you've only just fallen in love with her on New Girl, Zooey Deschanel is everyone's latest girl crush. The quirky 32-year-old actress is certainly a firm favourite on the best dressed lists at the moment, but it hasn't always been that way - as the loveable Zooey took her first tentative steps into the Hollywood world, her fashion choices were...a little risky to say the least!

She hasn't always got it right, but with a playful personality and wicked sense of humour, we doubt that Zooey cares what the critics think of her these days. Over the years, the stunning model/actress/singer has honed her girly, retro-inspired wardrobe into a thing of beauty - styling custom made designer pieces and vintage accessories with quirky, personal touches. We take a look at some of Zooey's most successful, and slightly scary moments, in her evolution.

Because I couldn't bring myself to start with pictures of Zooey with her blonde locks (believe me, it's too painful) we're kick starting this style journey in 2006. Although I have to give her kudos for her quirky sense of style, there was definitely room for improvement - the makeup was a little too 90's at times, and the accessories left a lot to be desired. Zooey turned to Brit designer Julien MacDonald for a lemon dress that reminded her of Grace Kelly for the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy premiere in London, but let herself down by teaming it with a hideous pair of ill fitting sandals. Thankfully, she made up for this look with a playful Isaac Mizrahi dress featuring puffed sleeves and an oversized bow for the Teen Choice Awards.

We can't talk about Zooey's style without mentioning her obsession with wearing black tights. Now, I don't mind that she wears tights 90% of the time (if I did, I'd be a hypocrite) but there are certain outfits that cry out for bare legs. You gotta draw the line sometimes Zo! Thankfully, neither of these colourful dresses worn for the Independent Spirit Awards and Vanity Fair Oscar party look out of place with a pair of tights. Which outfit do you prefer? Personally, I think the flirty floral number on the left is a little too mumsy for Zooey - the embellished mini dress on the right is a big step in the right direction.

What a difference a year or two makes! Zooey ramped up the sex appeal in 2007 as she attended a party for her Wizard of Oz inspired show, Tin Man. Sporting a red Zac Posen minidress with a plunging neckline, the actress managed to pull off sexy yet quirky in one fell swoop, although she still couldn't let go of the tights. Whilst the accessories were hit and miss, over all her look became a lot more polished, and as we move into 2008, Zooey finally plucked up the courage to wear an above the knee dress WITHOUT tights! Snapped outside The Late Show, Zooey embraced a little old school glamour in a stunning tiered strapless dress by Monique Lhuillier.

This first look is one of my all time favourite Zooey outfits. For a BAFTA party in LA, Zooey opted for a gorgeous Oscar de la Renta dress covered in detailed beading, and looked breath taking in the process. Everything about this look works, from the cut of the dress, the soft curls in her hair, and even the shimmering gold accessories. Getting more and more stylish by the second, Zooey wore two of her favourite designers for the Billboard Awards (Moschino and Miu Miu) and rocked her trademark tights with a 60's up do and coral lips.

As we move into 2011/2012, Zooey's style evolution has reached dizzying heights. Following the success of Indie movie 500 Days of Summer and her hit show New Girl, Zooey has become a firm favourite on the red carpet. For the 2012 Golden Globes, Zooey opted for a custom Prada dress that had a distinct 60's quality, and wore her hair in a new, straight style. She also accessorised the look with an adorable tuxedo manicure! I love that Zooey still incorporates quirky touches to her outfits and hasn't become a cookie cutter starlet - her hipster roots and love of vintage are still a big part of her wardrobe. For the White House Correspondents Dinner, Zooey embraced full on glamour in a stunning Oscar de la Renta number, which she paired with a gold belt and side-swept curls. Beautiful.

Comments