Jessica Chastain's fashion evolution in 57 images: old Hollywood glamour to edgier style

Her favoured vintage-esque dresses are often offset by flowing auburn hair, typically styled into long, loose curls

Jessica Chastain, in jeans and a yellow hoodie, at an evening hosted by the Creative Coalition in Los Angeles on May 3, 2006. WireImage

Michael Urie and Jessica Chastain, in a black cocktail dress, attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 28, 2007. WireImage

Jessica Chastain, wearing a black dress, arrives at the HFPA Salute To Young Hollywood Party held at Nobu on December 17, 2008 in Los Angeles. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black floral dress, arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Somewhere' on December 7, 2010 in Hollywood, California. FilmMagic

Jessica Chastain, in a grey and black striped dress, attends the 'Coriolanus' photocall during the 61st Berlin International Film Festival on February 14, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a burgundy gown, attends the 'Coriolanus' premiere during the 61st Berlin International Film Festival at Berlinale Palace on February 14, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a red Calvin Klein halter-necked dress, at the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a yellow Zac Posen gown, with Sean Penn and Brad Pitt, attends 'The Tree Of Life' premiere during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black Gucci gown with gold detailling, attends the 2011 Gucci Award For Women In Cinema at Hotel Cipriani on September 2, 2011 in Venice, Italy. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a red dress, attends the 'Wild Salome' photocall during the 68th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 4, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a cream lace Elie Saab gown, attends the 'Wilde Salome' premiere during the Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 4, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a gold strapless dress, at the UK premiere of 'The Debt' at The Curzon Mayfair on September 21, 2011 in London. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a green Issa dress, attends the 'When The Night' premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival 2011 on December 6, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a baby pink Louis Vuitton dress, attends the 'Another Happy Day' premiere during Marrakech International Film Festival 2011 on December 7, 2011. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black long-sleeved dress with an orange collar, attends the Giorgio Armani Prive haute-couture spring/summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week on January 24, 2012. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a belted red dress, attends the Bafta Nominees Party at Asprey London on February 11, 2012. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a silver Oscar de la Renta gown, attends the Bafta after party in London on February 12, 2012. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a black lace peplum Alexander McQueen dress, arrives at the Elle Style Awards 2012 at The Savoy Hotel, London on February 13, 2012. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in an embellished black and gold Alexander McQueen gown, arrives for the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a white strapless Armani Prive gown, at the Haiti: Carnival in Cannes benefit in France on May 18, 2012. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a gold Gucci gown, attends the 'Lawless' premiere during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2012. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a monochrome polka dot dress and blazer, arrives at the Saint Laurent spring/summer 2013 show during Paris Fashion Week on October 1, 2012. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a blue one-shouldered Roland Mouret gown, attends the EE British Academy Film Awards at The Royal Opera House on February 10, 2013 in London. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a rose gold strapless Armani Prive gown, arrives on the red carpet for the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on February 24, 2013. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a black jumpsuit, attends the Viktor&Rolf autumn/winter 2013 show on March 2, 2013 in Paris. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a red dress, attends the Saint Laurent autumn/winter 2013 show on March 4, 2013 in Paris. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black and white design by Chanel, attends the fashion houses's autumn/winter 2013 show on March 5, 2013 in Paris. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a white Versace Collection gown, attends the 'Cleopatra' premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2013. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a purple jewelled Givenchy gown, attends the 'All is Lost' premiere during the 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2013. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black and white checked dress, attends a Fondazione Nicola Trussardi cocktail party on May 30, 2013 in Venice. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black Gucci dress with lace pannelling, arrives at the Chime For Change: The Sound of Change Live concert at Twickenham Stadium, London on June 1, 2013. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a yellow and green Dolce & Gabbana dress with a lemon print, attends a 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby' reception during the 67th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2014. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a blue one-shouldered Atelier Versace gown, attends the 'The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby' premiere at the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2014. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a lilac one-shouldered Elie Saab gown, attends the 'Foxcatcher' premiere during the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2014. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black strapless Givenchy gown, attends amfAR's 21st Cinema Against Aids Gala on May 22, 2014 in Cap d'Antibes, France. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a pink floral strapless Oscar de la Renta dress, arrives at the opening ceremony of 40th Deauville American Film Festival on September 5, 2014 in France. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a light yellow Erdem gown with a plunging neckline, attends a screening of 'Wilde Salome' at BFI Southbank on September 21, 2014 in London. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a crimson lace dress, attends a photocall for 'The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby' crew during the 62nd San Sebastian International Film Festival on September 23, 2014 in Spain. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a peach Saint Laurent gown with metallic detailing, attends the 'Interstellar' premiere on October 29, 2014 in London. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a blue satin Prada gown, attends the 2016 Met Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City. WireImage

Salma Hayek and Jessica Chastain, in a green Christian Dior shirt dress, attend the Women in Motion Awards Dinner at the 70th Cannes Film Festival at Place de la Castre on May 21, 2017. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a red and white Zuhair Murad dress, attends the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival closing ceremony at Palais des Festivals on May 28, 2017. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a red Alexander McQueen gown, arrives for the 9th Annual Governor's Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood on November 11, 2017. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a black one-shouldered Armani Prive gown, at the Golden Globes in Hollywood on January 8, 2018. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a floaty yellow Ralph Lauren sheer-strapped dress, attends the Ralph Lauren show during New York Fashion Week on September 7, 2018. AFP

Jessica Chastain, in a green off-shoulder Zuhair Murad gown, arrives at the 'It Chapter Two' premiere on August 26, 2019 in Westwood, California. AFP

Jessica Chastain, wearing a black laser-cut Elie Saab gown, attends the 'It Chapter Two' premiere in London on September 2, 2019. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a white Zuhair Murad dress with metallic detailing, attends the 69th San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on September 23, 2021. AP

Jessica Chastain, in a black backless Miu Miu gown, attends the 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' premiere during 69th San Sebastian Film Festival on September 24, 2021. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black halterneck Stella McCartney dress, attends a screening of 'Scenes from a Marriage' at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on October 10, 2021. AP Photo

Jessica Chastain, in a blue skirt and blazer by Gucci with a bandeau top, attends a photocall for 'The Eyes Of Tammie Fay' during the 16th Rome Film Fest 2021 on October 14, 2021. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a blue and red Gucci dress, attends the 'The Eyes Of Tammy Faye' premiere during the 16th Rome Film Fest 2021 on October 14, 2021. Getty Images

Jessica Chastain, in a silver silk jacquard Dior suit, attends the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on February 27, 2022. EPA

Jessica Chastain, in a black Gucci dress with a plunging neckline, arrives at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon on March 7, 2022, in Los Angeles. AP

Rita Moreno and Jessica Chastain, wearing a black column Miu Miu dress, appear backstage at the 33rd Annual Producers Guild Awards on March 19, 2022 in Los Angeles. AP Images

Jessica Chastain, in a black sequinned Ralph Lauren jumpsuit, attends the brand's autumn 2022 fashion show at the Museum of Modern Art, New York City on March 22, 2022. AFP

Jessica Chastain, in lilac and gold Gucci, attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. AFP

Charting Jessica Chastain’s style over the past decade and a half is a challenge simply because it is entirely timeless.

The California-born actress, 44, has been a red carpet regular since the start of her career in the mid-2000s. This year is no different, as the award season stalwart has a string of wins and nominations under her belt for her turn in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Chastain has historically favoured old Hollywood glamour for her red carpet appearances, with full skirts, flowing trains and strapless bodices among her go-to cuts, in luxurious silk, lace and brocade fabrics. The vintage-esque dresses are offset by the Scenes from a Marriage star’s flowing auburn hair, often styled into long, loose curls. She also has a penchant for colour-blocked hues, with vibrant red, yellow and blue in her wardrobe.

At the 94th Academy Awards, the actress won her first Oscar. On the night, she wore a two-tone sequinned Gucci dress, which graduated from a rose gold shade to a full lilac skirt. The ruffled hemline of the dress pays tribute to the 1970s, the era in which The Eyes of Tammy Faye was set.

When it comes to her favourite fashion houses, she has been known to wear pieces by Lebanese designers, including Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad, and often turns to the likes of Gucci, Dior, Miu Miu and Stella McCartney. Givenchy, Alexander McQueen and Prada are also among her pick of the costumiers.

In recent years, Chastain’s style has veered into edgier territory. While she is still no stranger to a golden-era-worthy gown, she has also been known to wear statement suits over bandeau crop tops, backless dresses, plunging necklines and metallic pantsuits.

A version of this story was first published on March 15, 2022