Joanna Gaines: A Remarkable Journey of Change

Even though Joanna Gaines had been working on projects with her husband Chip Gaines since they married in 2003, 2013 was the year that their work started to pay off in a big way. After a friend sent some photos she’d taken of their revamped and decorated home to HGTV, things really started moving for them. This was the year their super-popular show “Fixer Upper” aired its first episode on HGTV.

Joanna wasn’t just busy filming her quickly growing show, though. She was also taking some time to reflect on her work and how her views on it had changed over time. In a 2015 Instagram post, she discussed home design, writing, “At one point I noticed my kids weren’t thriving in the home [because] the space was too perfect for them to play in. That was the defining moment for me with design. From that point forward, I was inspired to create a space where my family could thrive and let the imperfection be the beauty [because] no one really wants perfect at the end of the day. It’s not fun or comfortable.”

Joanna was also debuting her subtle but adorable style. At a “Fixer Upper” event in December 2015, she rocked a polished outfit with different shades of black and gray. She paired a dark-gray skirt with a black plaid jacket and a light-gray sweater underneath, pulling the look together with black tights and shoes. By adding some bracelets and hoops to the outfit, Joanna brought an element of fun to the dark-toned style.

Joanna Gaines was going strong renovating and redecorating on “Fixer Upper” and sharing her processes on Instagram in 2016. In one post, she showed off a transformation of a torn-up space into a doggy spa, and in another, she shared exterior photos of a home that she’d renovated on the show. However, this time wasn’t just about showing off before and afters; this year, the Gaineses were visited by controversy. In 2016, they faced criticism for being affiliated with an anti-LGBTQIA+ pastor. Reflecting back on the drama in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gaines said, “Sometimes I’m like, ‘Can I just make a statement?’ The accusations that get thrown at you, like you’re a racist or you don’t like people in the LGBTQ community, that’s the stuff that really eats my lunch — because it’s so far from who we really are. That’s the stuff that keeps me up.”

Despite dealing with uncomfortable accusations, Gaines continued to show off more polished looks. At an event to discuss their book “The Magnolia Story” in 2016, she posed with her husband and rocked a dark-green pleated maxi skirt. She paired it with a cream top and a pair of nude heels. As usual, she kept her makeup simple and subtle and wore her hair in her signature soft waves with a center part.

Despite “Fixer Upper” being as popular as ever, Joanna Gaines and Chip Gaines made the decision to leave the show and network in 2017. Joanna made the announcement on her Magnolia blog, and In the post, she opened up about the direction they were taking. “This has been an amazing adventure!” she wrote. “We have poured our blood, sweat and tears into this show. We would be foolish to think we can go and go and fire on all cylinders and never stop to pause.”

She added that there were no ulterior motives and that it truly was about taking a little time off: “Our family is healthy, and our marriage has honestly never been stronger. This has nothing to do with a fraudulent skincare line or anything else you’ll inevitably read.” She continued, “This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment. Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired, and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”

During this time, it was evident from Joanna’s Instagram that she was making time to relax with her husband. From cute couples pics of them wearing jeans to photos of their trip to Italy, they seemed to be making time for memories. They also spent time at the Texas Motor Speedway, where Joanna rocked a simple plaid shirt and a pair of distressed jeans. She was showing off her style again while discussing the final season of “Fixer Upper” at Build Studio, simultaneously confirming her understanding of the psychology of black clothing in a sleeveless black shift dress.

2018 was a year full of reflection for Joanna Gaines. In an interview with Darling, she opened up about her perspective on getting older and the wisdom she’s gained over the years, saying, “It seems like for so many years, as a young girl, as a teenager, and as a woman in her 20s, I feel like I never blossomed because I didn’t understand the value of who I was, truly. I knew I came from a good family, I knew these certain things, but because I didn’t believe in myself — and I didn’t know my worth completely — I doubted it. But now I look back and think, if I could go back and relive those years with that knowledge, what could I have accomplished, you know?”

This year, Gaines also had a big event to gush about. In an Instagram post, she announced the birth of her fifth child. In the post, she wrote, “Our baby boy, Crew Gaines, is here and we couldn’t be more in love. He made an unexpected (and speedy) entrance into the world two and a half weeks early — which is fitting given he was a sweet surprise from day one. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. We are so grateful.”

She was also snapped that November in New York City wearing a trendy outfit in her go-to color palette: black and gray. Along with some cropped, gray pinstripe pants, Gaines also wore a large black poncho-style cardigan. She wore her hair down with small pieces pulled back around her face and paired the look with some black flats in an interesting and trendy silhouette, proving she knew exactly which ballet flat looks you should leave in the past, and which were still hot.

By 2019, Joanna Gaines was moving forward with big business plans. That year, she announced her newest venture on her blog. In a post, Gaines didn’t just announce the opening of her new coffee shop but also opened up about what makes coffee special to her, writing, “One of my favorite things to do on a quiet weekend is grab a cup of coffee to-go with my girls and shop around all the local boutiques. There’s just something about holding that cup of coffee that slows me down and makes the moments feel richer.”

However, this year wasn’t all business. Gaines was making elegant appearances on red carpets, too. At the Time 100 Gala, she wore a simple but super-elegant navy-blue strapless gown with a low dipping neckline. She paired it with a cognac-colored clutch and wore her wavy hair off to one side.

For many, 2020 was a year that was all about laying low and spending a lot of time around the house. That said, things like pandemic restrictions weren’t stopping Joanna Gaines from moving forward with new projects. This year, she and her husband were considering what their next move would be, particularly when it came to launching a new show. “We don’t want to just step in and do ‘Fixer Upper’ 2.0,” Gaines said during an interview with E! News (via Apartment Therapy). “We’re really in the process of what’s that next thing that we want to be part of.” She continued, “We’re focused on the original programming. What are the stories? Who are the people that we’re wanting to tell the stories? We’re really in that world right now.”

She was also sharing updates about her other projects, too. In an Instagram post, Gaines could be seen with her daughter wearing jeans and a rust-colored sweatshirt, along with a high pony (and it’s clear she doesn’t need any volumizing tricks to pump up her ponytail). In the post, she spoke about her children helping with projects, writing, “When I asked the kids if any of them wanted to read the book for the audio version, Emmie Kay was the first to raise her hand. (You can find the animated version in my stories today.) Thank you so much for all the love and support with the book launch this week! ‘The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be’ is now available wherever books are sold and at the link in profile.”

By 2021, big changes were happening for Joanna Gaines. This year, she and her husband were relaunching their hit show “Fixer Upper.” This time, though, it was on their own network, Magnolia. In an Instagram post, Gaines shared her excitement, writing, “Not sure I’m going to be able to sleep tonight because @magnolianetwork will finally be launching tomorrow!”

Along with launching a network, Gaines was looking as put-together as ever. All-black outfits continued to be a style staple for her, and she proved that an all-black look is anything but boring. At a “Today Show” radio event, Gaines posed on the red carpet with her husband in a black shirt with padded shoulders, which she paired with black jeans. She kept the whole look chic by pairing it with heels, proving that jeans and heels never go out of style.

That summer, Gaines was seen out and about in New York City wearing another polished outfit, this time with navy as the star. She rocked a simple navy dress with a notched neckline, pairing it with a black purse and black ankle-strap heels. To pull it all together, she wore simple jewelry and pulled her hair back in a sophisticated ponytail.

Joanna Gaines wasn’t just sharing thoughts on her blog anymore; in 2022, she was sharing the details of her life in a much bigger way through her memoir. While promoting “The Stories We Tell: Every Piece of Your Story Matters,” Gaines opened up to Today. “When you’re open to share your story, hopefully, that inspires other people to feel open, to be vulnerable. I think that’s where healing is, that’s where connection is, that’s where community is,” she said. “When you want to hide, that’s where isolation is, that’s where loneliness is.”

Gaines wasn’t just putting her feelings out there, though; she was also showing off a subtle style development. On the red carpet with her husband at 2022’s Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront, Gaines rocked a silky cream button-up top and trousers. She kept her jewelry minimal and wore her hair in her signature flowing waves. It was at the Creative Arts Emmys that year that she truly stepped outside of her comfort zone, though, by donning a bold red dress. This was a big departure from her typical all-black or muted-colored outfits. The fitted gown featured a folded strap at the neckline, adding visual interest. She wore her hair cascading to one side and some diamond stud earrings.

In 2023, Joanna Gaines was taking a moment to reflect on her marriage and where she was at in life. In a talk with People, Joanna and her husband discussed the changes they’d gone through. “I would say, as we’re getting older, I’m shifting and I’m more like Chip, and Chip is more like me,” Joanna stated. Chip added, “Jo and I are in this beautiful moment. We’re evolving into each other. It’s the second part of our marriage.”

Joanna also opened up about the emotions around sending a child off to college, saying, “It’s this tension of joy and pain, all in one breath. Even now when I’m setting the table, I have to consciously go, ‘Oh, there’s only six here.'” She went on to discuss what it’s like to have children at different ages. “The greatest gift of having a kid go off to college and having a 5-year-old is that perspective,” she noted. “It’s not here forever. We don’t want to waste these moments.” Later in the interview, she made it clear that she values change even if it’s difficult: “We’ve had so much change in our lives, and the proof is there: Change is hard, but it’s always beautiful.”

Along with flowing with the changes of life, Joanna attended some big events, like the White House South Korea State Dinner, and looked impeccable. There, she rocked a style stand-by: a black strapless frock. Clearly, she didn’t need any beauty tips to look her best in a strapless gown. She accessorized with a black clutch and wore her hair flowing over her left shoulder.

In 2024, Joanna Gaines was reflecting some more, this time on her career path and on the act of reflection itself. In a blog post, she truly dug deep when it came to the difficulties of taking time to assess your life, writing, “The part that can be harder is the pausing. Turning my gaze inward. Looking curiously at the chaos of my own busy life to try to create some order or fine-tune a few too-familiar ways of living that may no longer serve me. Because, while self-reflection is healthy and good and necessary, it can be uncomfortable. It can be quiet. It can go slow. It can make you second-guess, well, everything.”

The theme of career reflection was echoed again in an Instagram post where Gaines could be seen wearing a breezy pink-and-black floral dress and posing with her husband outside of the CBS Broadcast Center. “In college, I interned at CBS in New York with a dream of becoming a broadcast journalist,” she wrote. “And here I am, 25 years later, walking through the very same doors but carrying out a dream entirely different than what I could have ever planned or imagined. I guess the point is if you’re not where you want to be right now, it could be exactly where you need to be for what’s next. Keep opening doors. Keep moving forward, dreamers.”

In 2025, Joanna Gaines was really showing off her fashion range. Not only was she showcasing polished and feminine looks on her Instagram, but she was also sharing laid-back, around-the-house styles, too. In a post about attending the Celebrity Gala and Golf Classic, she wore a white strapless dress with a textured floral print. While it wasn’t exactly an oversized floral print, the size she chose was definitely an it-girl take on the dated ditsy trend. She added the caption, “We had a wonderful weekend at the 14th Annual @timtebowfoundation Celebrity Gala and Golf Classic!”

In another Instagram post from earlier in the year, she shared a more relaxed look. In the post, she rocked an all-blue sweats look, along with some patterned socks. With her hair down and her nails painted red, the look was both laid-back and full of color. Along with the picture, she added a caption expressing her appreciation for comfy clothes: “Slides, socks, and sweats. My kinda Sunday.”