Elle Fanning's Style Evolution, From Child Star To Haute Couture

The actor often wows in colorful prints, voluminous gowns and other eye-catching looks.

Elle Fanning first appeared on the red carpet as a toddler alongside her big sister Dakota.

Over her two-decade career in film and television, however, she has grown into a true style star, sporting both subtle and dramatic looks from a range of top designers. Whether she’s making a splash at the Met Gala or commanding the cameras as the youngest jury member in the history of Cannes Film Festival, Fanning often looks straight out of a fairy tale in colorful prints and voluminous gowns.

In honor of her birthday, we’ve rounded up photos of Fanning’s striking style, from budding child star to haute couture fashionista.

2002
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters (Elle to the left, Dakota to the right) at the 20th anniversary premiere of Steven Spielberg's "E.T." at the The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
2002
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters at "The Santa Clause 2" premiere at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California.
2003
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" premiere at Loew's Century City Cinemas in Century City.
2003
Gregg DeGuire via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters at the "Uptown Girls" premiere at Archlight Theatre in Hollywood.
2005
Bruce Glikas via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters attend "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" on Broadway at The Hilton Theater in New York.
2007
George Pimentel via Getty Images
Fanning at the Sundance Film Festival premiere of "The Nines" at Eccles Theatre in Park City, Utah.
2007
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
The Fannings at Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Pauley Pavilion in Westwood.
2008
Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
The Fannings at The Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services' 2008 Mentor Awards Dinner and Fashion Show at the Globe Theater in Universal City, California.
2009
Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
Fanning at THINKFilm's screening of "Phoebe in Wonderland" at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills.
2009
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Fanning at the premiere of Summit Entertainment's "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" in Westwood.
2010
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Somewhere" photo call during the 67th Venice Film Festival at the Palazzo del Casino in Venice, Italy.
2010
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Somewhere" premiere during the 67th Venice Film Festival at the Sala Grande Palazzo Del Cinema in Venice.
2010
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Fanning at the 17th Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Celebration at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
2010
Jason Merritt/TERM via Getty Images
Fanning at Focus Features' "Somewhere" premiere at ArcLight Hollywood.
2011
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Fanning at the 16th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
2011
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2011
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Fanning at the Women In Film's 2011 Crystal + Lucy Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
2011
Charles Eshelman via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters at the Rodarte Spring 2012 fashion show at Pace Gallery during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City.
2012
Jason Merritt/TERM via Getty Images
Fanning at the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards at The Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
2012
Ian Gavan via Getty Images
Fanning at the premiere of "Ginger & Rosa" during the 56th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon West End in London.
2012
Jason LaVeris via Getty Images
Fanning at the 2012 AFI Fest premiere of "Ginger & Rosa" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
2013
Han Myung-Gu via Getty Images
Fanning at a promotional event for the 2013 J.ESTINA SS presentation at Shilla Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.
2013
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Fanning at the 18th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.
2013
Tommaso Boddi via Getty Images
Fanning at the 28th Santa Barbara International Film Festival Virtuoso Award ceremony at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California.
2013
Larry Busacca via Getty Images
Fanning at the Costume Institute Gala for the "PUNK: Chaos to Couture" exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2013
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters attend the Louis Vuitton show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2014 at Le Carre du Louvre.
2014
Stefanie Keenan via Getty Images
Fanning at a Marie Claire event in West Hollywood.
2014
Albert L. Ortega via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Boxtrolls" panel during Comic-Con International in San Diego.
2014
Jonathan Leibson via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Boxtrolls" Los Angeles premiere at Universal Studios Hollywood.
2014
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Young Ones" New York premiere at Sunshine Cinema.
2014
David Livingston via Getty Images
Fanning at the premiere of Oscilloscope Laboratories' "Lowdown" at ArcLight Hollywood.
2015
John Sciulli via Getty Images
Fanning at the Women In Film Pre-Oscar Cocktail Party at Hyde Sunset Kitchen + Cocktails in Los Angeles.
2015
George Pimentel via Getty Images
Fanning at the "About Ray" premiere during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.
2015
Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
Fanning attends the premiere of "Trumbo" at AMPAS Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
2016
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2016
Andreas Rentz via Getty Images
Fanning at amfAR's 23rd Cinema Against AIDS Gala at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, France.
2016
Alex B. Huckle via Getty Images
Fanning at "The Neon Demon" photo call during the Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.
2016
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Fanning at the UK Premiere of "The Neon Demon" at Picturehouse Central in London.
2016
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Fanning at the Gucci Cruise 2017 fashion show at the Cloisters of Westminster Abbey in London.
2017
Vivien Killilea via Getty Images
Fanning at a lunch celebrating films powered by women during Sundance Film Festival in Park City.
2017
Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Sidney Hall" Sundance premiere at Eccles Center Theatre in Park City.
2017
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art of the In-Between" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2017
Jacopo M. Raule via Getty Images
Fanning at the Fondazione Prada Private Dinner during the Cannes Film Festival at Restaurant Fred L'Ecailler in Cannes.
2017
Toni Anne Barson via Getty Images
Fanning at the screening of "The Beguiled" during the Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals.
2017
Dominique Charriau via Getty Images
Fanning at the Miu Miu Cruise Collection show as part of Haute Couture Paris Fashion Week.
2017
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters attend a Miu Miu show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018.
2018
George Pimentel via Getty Images
Fanning at a screening of "The Alienist" during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City.
2018
George Pimentel via Getty Images
Fanning at the "I Think We're Alone Now" premiere during the Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theatre in Park City.
2018
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Isle of Dogs" premiere during the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palace in Berlin, Germany.
2018
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Fanning at the Miu Miu Women's Tales #15 Screening at The Curzon Mayfair in London.
2018
Donato Sardella via Getty Images
The Fanning sisters attend The Hollywood Reporter and Jimmy Choo Power Stylists Dinner in Los Angeles.
2018
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Fanning at the "Galveston" premiere during the 44th Deauville American Film Festival in Deauville, France.
2018
Robin Marchant via Getty Images
Fanning at a special screening of "I Think We're Alone Now" at the Dolby 88 Theater in New York City.
2019
Dominique Charriau via Getty Images
Fanning at the Miu Miu show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2019/2020.
2019
Kevin Winter via Getty Images
Fanning at a special screening of "Teen Spirit" ArcLight Hollywood.
2019
Bryan Bedder via Getty Images
Fanning at the Hulu '19 Brunch at Scarpetta in New York City.
2019
Jared Siskin via Getty Images
Fanning at the Prada Resort 2020 fashion show in New York City.
2019
Neilson Barnard via Getty Images
Fanning at the 2019 Met Gala "Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion" in New York City.
2019
George Pimentel via Getty Images
Fanning at the jury photo call during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Matt Winkelmeyer via Getty Images
Fanning at the opening ceremony and screening of "The Dead Don't Die" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Foc Kan via Getty Images
Fanning at the screening of "Les Miserables" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Fanning at the Chopard Love Night in Cannes.
2019
Jacopo Raule via Getty Images
Fanning at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Arnold Jerocki via Getty Images
Fanning at Hotel Martinez during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Fanning at the Official Trophee Chopard Dinner photo call as part of the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival.
2019
Toni Anne Barson via Getty Images
Fanning at a screening of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Arnold Jerocki via Getty Images
Fanning at Hotel Martinez during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images
Fanning at the closing ceremony screening of "The Specials" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival.
2019
Allen Berezovsky via Getty Images
Fanning at the 2019 ESPY Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
2019
Stefania D'Alessandro via Getty Images
Fanning at the Giffoni Film Festival in Giffoni Valle Piana, Italy.
2019
Alberto E. Rodriguez via Getty Images
Fanning at the Walt Disney Studios presentation at Disney’s D23 EXPO in Anaheim, California.
2019
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Fanning at the GQ Men of the Year Awards 2019 at Tate Modern in London.
2019
Frazer Harrison via Getty Images
Fanning at the world premiere of “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles.
2019
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Fanning at the European Premiere of "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" at the Odeon IMAX Waterloo in London.
2019
Mike Marsland via Getty Images
Fanning at a photo call for "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London.
2020
Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images
Fanning at a special screening of Netflix's "All the Bright Places" at ArcLight Hollywood.
2020
Andreas Rentz via Getty Images
Fanning at "The Roads Not Taken" photo call during the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Berlin.
2020
Gisela Schober via Getty Images
Fanning at the premiere of "The Roads Not Taken" during the 70th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Berlinale Palace.

Before You Go

LOADINGERROR LOADING
Close

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE