Michelle Williams's style evolution in 53 pictures: shy TV teen to Louis Vuitton darling

The 'Dawson's Creek' star has come a long way from the signature demure pieces of her early career

Michelle Williams, in a black striped top, poses for a headshot for her announcement as a 'Dawson's Creek' cast member in 1997. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, in a black strapless dress, arrives at the 'Halloween H2O' premiere in Hollywood, California on 27 July, 1998. Getty Images

Michelle Williams sports a pink spaghetti strapped dress, at the 51st Annual Emmy Awards in Hollywood on September 12, 1999. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, in a black sequinned top and trousers, arrives at the 'If These Walls Could Talk 2' photocall on March 1, 2000. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, In a white cowl neck dress, at the premiere 'If These Walls Could Talk 2' on March 1, 2000. Twin Images

Michelle Williams, in a sheer black top and grey trousers, attends Women in Film's 7th Annual Lucy Awards for Innovation in Television, along with Sharon Stone and Anne Heche, on September 8. 2000. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, in a black top and black lace skirt, arrives for the London 'Me Without You' premiere on November 20, 2001. Getty Images

Michelle Williams wears a black shirt and skirt to the 'Land of Plenty' photocall at the 61st Venice Film Festival on September 9, 2004 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

In a metallic turquoise dress and brown tights at the 'Land of Plenty' premiere at the 61st Venice Film Festival on September 9, 2004 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, clad in a blue jersey 1920s-style dress, and Heath Ledger attend the red carpet premiere of 'Brokeback Mountain' in Sydney, Australia on January 13, 2006. Getty Images

In a black dress with a jacket, and accompanied by Heath Ledger at The London Party at the Spencer House, London on February 18, 2006. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, in an off-the-shoulder black dress, and Heath Ledger arrive at the British Academy Film Awards in London, England on February 19, 2006. Getty Images

In one of her most famous red carpet looks to date, Michelle Williams wears mustard yellow Vera Wang to the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 5, 2006. EPA

In a nude lace dress for the 'Adoration' premiere during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2008. Getty Images

Michelle Williams in a purple tiered gown, alongside Catherine Keener and Samantha Morton at the 'Synecdoche, New York' premiere during the 61st International Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2008. Getty Images

In a black and white mini with a bow tie at the 'Shutter Island' photocall during the 60th Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Sticking to black and white, in Chanel at the 'Shutter Island' premiere during the 60th Berlin International Film Festival on February 13, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Clad in a blue floral mini dress, Michelle Williams attends the 'Blue Valentin' photocall during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2010. Getty Images

In a pink satin gown, Michelle Williams attends the 'Blue Valentine' premiere after-party during the 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2010. Getty Images

In a black sequinned mini dress at amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS 2010 benefit gala on May 20, 2010 in Antibes, France. Getty Images

Michelle Williams wears a nude beaded Jason Wu to the 'Meek's Cutoff' premiere during the 67th Venice Film Festival on September 5, 2010 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

In a brown and white 1960s-style dress at the 67th Venice Film Festival on September 6, 2010. Getty Images

In a red lace midi dress for the "Blue Valentine" premiere during the 54th BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2010. Getty Images

Michelle Williams wears navy Jason Wu at the Golden Globe Awards on January 16, 2012. Reuters

In cream and black H&M at the British Academy Film Awards 2012 on February 12, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

In pink Dior at the 'My Week with Marilyn' Paris premiere on February 15, 2012. Getty Images

In a black and white mini dress at the 'My Week With Marilyn' photocall in Berlin, Germany on February 17, 2012. EPA

Michelle Williams, in a coral Louis Vuitton dress, arrives for the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA

Michelle Williams, in pink Alexander McQueen, attends the 'My Week with Marilyn' Japan premiere in Tokyo on March 13, 2021. Getty Images

In a blue sweetheart neckline Burberry dress at the UK premiere of 'Oz: The Great and Powerful' in London, England on February 28, 2013. Getty Images

At the Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2015 Paris Fashion Week show on March 11, 2015, Michelle Williams wears a denim dress by the brand, one of her first in a long line of looks from the fashion house. Getty Images

Michelle Williams attends the Louis Vuitton Series 3 VIP Launch in a black dress by the brand, on September 20, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images

Michelle Williams attends the Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2017 Paris Fashion Week show in a blue dress by the brand, on October 6, 2016. Getty Images

Michelle Williams wears a snakeskin print dress to the 'Manchester By The Sea' premiere during the 60th BFI London Film Festival on October 8, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, in white lace Louis Vuitton at the 2017 Golden Globes in Los Angeles on January 8, 2017. Getty Images

Making a statement with a metallic Louis Vuitton for the 23rd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on January 29, 2017. EPA

In an asymmetrical black and peach Louis Vuitton dress at the 89th Oscar Nominees Luncheon on February 6, 2017. EPA

Clad in sequinned Louis Vuitton for the 70th annual British Academy Film Awards in London on February 12, 2017. EPA

Michelle Williams, in Louis Vuitton, and Busy Philipps arrive at the 89th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood on February 26, 2017. EPA

Michelle Williams attends the Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2017 Paris Fashion Week show, wearing a leather creation by the house, on March 7, 2017. Getty Images

In a patterned floral mini at the 'Wonderstruck' photocall during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017. Getty Images

Michelle Williams, in a blue Louis Vuitton column gown, attends the 'Wonderstruck' screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017. EPA

Michelle Williams at the opening of the Louis Vuitton boutique, wearing an outfit by the brand, in Paris, France on October 2, 2017. Getty Images

Michelle Williams attends the Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2018 Paris Fashion Week show, in an outfit by the brand, on October 3, 2017. Getty Images

Clad in a red creation by Louis Vuitton for the 'All the Money in the World' premiere in Beverly Hills on December 18, 2017. EPA

In monogrammed Louis Vuitton at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts tea party in Los Angeles on January 6, 2018. EPA

Michelle Williams, in black Louis Vuitton, and Tarana Burke at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California on January 7, 2018. EPA

Michelle Williams at the Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2018 Paris Fashion Week show, in an outfit by the house, on March 6, 2018. Getty Images

In a metallic creation by one of her favourite brands Louis Vuitton again, at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA

In silver Louis Vuitton for the premiere of 'Venom' in Los Angeles on October 1, 2018. EPA

In a sequinned Louis Vuitton creation at the 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 22, 2019. EPA

In orange Louis Vuitton gown for the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on January 5, 2020. EPA

Michelle Williams, in a sleek black Louis Vuitton gown, and Thomas Kail arrive for the 26th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on January 19, 2020. EPA

Michelle Williams has grown up in the public eye and there is no doubt that over the years her red carpet style has flourished.

The American actress got her Hollywood break in the TV series Dawson's Creek in 1998, aged 17. Black and grey two-pieces were demure go-to choices for the actress for many of her late 1990s and early 2000s photocalls and red carpets.

However, it wasn't long before the Blue Valentine star found her fashion feet. Turning to the likes of Chanel, Jason Wu, Kenzo and Burberry in the mid-2000s, Williams opted for mini dresses and floor-skimming gowns in equal measure for appearances at global premieres and film festivals.

The 2006 Academy Awards were, without a doubt, a style turning point for the mother-of-one. Arguably her most-loved look to date, she arrived in a saffron Vera Wang gown, a dress that is included in best ever Oscars gown round-ups annually.

Michelle Williams wears Vera Wang at the 78th Annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. Getty Images

As her sartorial choices have evolved, so too has her hair, going from shoulder-length and mousy in the early 2000s, to a pixie-cropped peroxide do and brilliant blonde bob.

In recent years, Williams, 41, has become a loyal devotee of Louis Vuitton.

Rarely seen wearing creations by any other maisons since 2012, she has featured in several advertisement campaigns in her capacity as a brand ambassador and is a stalwart on the LV front row at fashion week.

Long gone is her penchant for a monochrome look, the Williams of late opts for splashes of colour, directional mini dresses, leather looks and metallic gowns for her red carpet appearances.