Dark horse: 49 photos that chart Katy Perry's style evolution from retro to red carpet risk-taker

Perry's sartorial choices make her one of the most exciting stars to step out on the red carpet

Katy Perry, in polka dots and stripes, at Fritzclub on September 17, 2008 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in a jersey midi and knitted jacket, arrives at a Patrick Demarchelier exhibition on September 29, 2008 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in a floral shift dress, attends a press conference for the MTV Europe Music Awards on November 5, 2008 in Liverpool, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Jean Charles de Castelbajac, arrives for the MTV Europe Music Awards at the Echo Arena on November 6, 2008 in Liverpool, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends the NRJ Music Awards at the Palais des Festivals on January 17, 2009 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in a Hello Kitty corset, arrives at the Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 18, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in a polka-dot two-piece, attends the Capital Radio Summertime Ball at the Emirates Stadium on June 7, 2009 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Louis Vuitton, at the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week on October 7, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Marchesa, arrives at the MTV Europe Music Awards at the O2 Arena on November 5, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Jeremy Scott, and Russell Brand attend the MTV Europe Awards at the La Caja Magica on November 7, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Armani, and Russell Brand arrive for the 53rd annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 13, 2011. EPA

Katy Perry, in Versus, poses at the launch of her new fragrance on April 30, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, arrives on the red carpet ahead of the Logie Awards at Crown Palladium on May 1, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Jeremy Scott, attends the MTV Europe Music Awards at the Odyssey Arena on November 6, 2011 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Elie Saab, arrives at the 54th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 2012. EPA

Katy Perry, in Viktor & Rolf, attends the Viktor & Rolf show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2012 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Paco Rabanne, arrives at the Echo Awards at Palais am Funkturm on March 22, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Versace, arrives at the 'Katy Perry: Part of Me' premiere on June 30, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Marchesa, attends the premiere of 'Katy Perry: Part of Me' at Empire Leicester Square on July 3, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Gucci, arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2013. EPA

Katy Perry, in Chanel, attends the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 1, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Zac Posen, attends the MTV EMAs at the Ziggo Dome on November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Versus, attends the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball at 02 Arena on December 7, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Osman, attends the NRJ Music Awards at Palais des Festivals on December 14, 2013 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Dole & Gabbana, arrives for the Grammy Salute to the Beatles concert in Los Angeles, California, on January 27, 2014. EPA

Katy Perry, in Vivienne Westwood, attends the Elle Style Awards on February 18, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in a peplum midi, poses at Telstra HQ on March 4, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Jaime Lee, arrives at the 28th annual Aria Awards on November 26, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Zuhair Murad, arrives at the 57th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 2015. EPA

Katy Perry, in Givenchy, attends the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 8, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Moschino, and Jeremy Scott arrive at the Met Gala at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on May 4, 2015. EPA

Katy Perry, in Moschino, attends the Moschino show during the 88 Pitti Uomo on June 18, 2015 in Florence, Italy. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Prada, arrives at the 73rd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on January 10, 2016. EPA

Katy Perry, in Jeremy Scott, arrives at the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on April 3, 2016. EPA

Katy Perry, in Prada, arrives at the Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on May 2, 2016. EPA

Katy Perry, in Marchesa, arrives at the Cinema Against Aids Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc on May 19, 2016 in Cap d'Antibes, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Cinq a Sept, arrives for the premiere of 'Office Christmas Party' at the Regency Village Theatre in Westwood, California, on December 7, 2016. EPA

Katy Perry, in Tom Ford, arrives at the 59th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 2017. EPA

Katy Perry, in Versace, attends the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena on February 22, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Maison Margiela, arrives at the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on May 1, 2017. EPA

Katy Perry, in Chanel, attends the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 4, 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Stephane Rolland, arrives at the 34th MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 27, 2017. EPA

Katy Perry, in Versace, arrives at the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on May 7, 2018. EPA

Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, in Tom Ford, attend the Gala for the Global Ocean on September 26, 2018 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Alexis Mabille, arrives for the amfAR gala at the Wallis Annenberg Centre for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California, on October 18, 2018. EPA

Katy Perry, in Balmain, arrives at the 61st annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2019. EPA

Katy Perry, in Moschino, at the Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, on May 6, 2019. EPA

Prince Charles and Katy Perry, in Stella McCartney, attend a reception for supporters of the British Asian Trust on February 4, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

Katy Perry, in Mara Hoffman, poses at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 7, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images

She rose to fame with hit tracks such as Roar and Firework, and Katy Perry is known to bring plenty of sparkle to the red carpet too.

The American singer, who welcomed her first child with fiance Orlando Bloom last month, has morphed from vintage-inspired ingenue to avant-garde trend-setter during her decade-long career.

After first breaking into the industry in 2008 with her album One of the Boys, which featured tracks including Hot n Cold, Perry – born Katheryn Hudson – has gone on to garner five American Music Awards, four Guinness World Records, a Brit Award and numerous Grammy nominations.

And, much like her chart-topper Roar, Perry's sartorial choices tend to scream rather than whisper, making her one of the most exciting stars to step out on the red carpet (and a perennial favourite at the annual Met Gala).

From flamboyant Jeremy Scott ensembles to smatterings of glamour by the likes of Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab, Perry is anything but predictable when stepping out at premieres, parties and awards ceremonies.

Here, we take a look at how the singer's style has evolved throughout her career.

Scroll through the gallery above to see more images of Katy Perry through the years.