Kimberly Williams-Paisley’s Remarkable Transformation

Kimberly Williams-Paisley (born Kimberly Williams) grew up in New York with her parents and two younger siblings (whom she sometimes pays tribute to on Facebook). She was raised in a suburban, coastal town called Rye, not very far from the exciting hustle and bustle of New York City. Williams-Paisley had big dreams of performing from an early age, writing for ABC News that acting was “a dream I’d had since I was five.” As a guest on the “For the Love” podcast with Jen Hatmaker, the actor remembered, “My parents were writers. They were not performers, necessarily, but they supported my dream. And when I was like 12 or 13, they let me start going into New York and auditioning.” She booked several commercials as a teenager and even directed the Rye High School musical in 1989.

When it was time for college, Williams-Paisley went to Northwestern University to study drama. But her school plans were put on hold when she was cast in her first movie role. She starred in the 1991 hit film “Father of the Bride” and her life changed as she became an overnight success. Williams-Paisley was still exploring her style at this time but she did put the brown curly hair of Annie Banks on the map. The actor, who tended to favor a natural makeup look, wrote for ABC News that she “was ‘plucked’ out of obscurity, chosen from an exhaustive nationwide search and thrown into the spotlight overnight at the age of nineteen.”

While Kimberly Williams-Paisley became well known for her iconic curly brown hair, cute face, and winning smile, sadly her first decade of fame was full of unfortunate outfits. The styles were mismatched and did not hold up, to say the least. Perhaps it was because Williams-Paisley was so new and fresh that she lacked confidence. It looked as though she was trying to pick classic outfits with slight nods to Old Hollywood, but missed the mark. She was often seen wearing slimming black outfits but with poor, unflattering lines. Some had tired-looking fabrics and were embellished with boring shoes, a mini purse, or the occasional … detached sleeves? The young starlet could’ve used some help putting together the perfect monochromatic outfit.

The ’90s were also Williams-Paisley’s time to experiment with her hair. In “Father of the Bride,” she’d had her super-curly hair in a short, sweet ‘do. Her fun curls reflected her character’s youthful, carefree spirit. By the time the sequel came out in 1995, Williams-Paisley had straightened her tresses for a more mature hairstyle, and her sleek hair made her look like a woman rather than a girl. In the late ’90s, she cut her hair into a pixie, and even dyed her tresses platinum blond: a favorite of the Y2K era. But she quickly went back to her natural brunette color and has kept it ever since.

When the new millennium started, Kimberly Williams-Paisley went back to sporting brown locks of hair. Her long, flowing tresses were always on point and camera-ready. In 2001, she began one of the longest roles of her acting career, starring in the sitcom “According to Jim.” Her outfits started to vary, but were in tune with the most popular styles of the day. In true Y2K fashion, Williams-Paisley frequently opted for the layered dress-over-jeans trend. She played with this look and would mix it up by going from tunic to dress, V-neck to cami, and soft solid color to bold pattern. A casual knitted poncho was another early-2000s favorite that Williams-Paisley would often be found rocking.  

Even when her outfits were questionable, Williams-Paisley was savvy enough to pick tones that always looked glowing on her clear skin. Pastels and neutrals were perfectly balanced with her dark hair and piercing eyes. Her mom-friendly outfits didn’t feel boring — instead, they were trendy while also being easily attainable. She nailed the no-makeup makeup look like a pro, which allowed her natural beauty to shine through. Overall, the soft textures Williams-Paisley wore looked comfortable and feminine without looking juvenile.

By the 2010s, Kimberly Williams-Paisley was a red-carpet pro who wore her outfits with expertise. Additionally, her recurring role in the series “Nashville” made her a favorite among country-music fans. Williams-Paisley got the chance to show off her glamorous side when her husband Brad Paisley became a frequent host of the CMA Awards. But when the host’s wife joined him on the red carpet, all eyes were on her. She walked the CMA red carpet in stunning gowns that hugged her figure perfectly. The luxurious dresses commanded attention with their long trains, perfect lines, and flattering colors. Williams-Paisley would often pair the wowing gowns with a sparkling statement necklace to complete each elegant ensemble.

Williams-Paisley also played around with subtle changes to her hair on the CMA red carpet. Sometimes she would deepen the dark brown, other times she would lighten her mane with tasteful blond highlights. In 2015, she went playful in a short, sparkly rhinestone dress that looked reminiscent of the sand on the beach. The gown featured elements of blue throughout to resemble the ocean, and Williams-Paisley colored the tips of her hair blue to match! It was nice to see the star take fashion risks and mix up her looks with youthful, exuberant touches. It wasn’t long before she started regularly appearing in Hallmark movies and became a regular face on the network.  

Nowadays, Kimberly Williams-Paisley prefers her home in Tennessee to the shining lights of Hollywood. She happily told Southern Living, “That’s such a luxury, that my life is busy with stuff that I’ve chosen to do. It’s amazing.” She continues to act in film and television, especially in movies on the Hallmark Channel. But when she’s not working, she’s enjoying time at home with her family. Williams-Paisley and her country singer husband are also heavily involved in philanthropy. Together, they founded a free grocery in Nashville called “The Store,” a non-profit to help combat food insecurity.

Her laidback lifestyle is reflected in her fashion sense, which includes elements of simplicity, but is far from drab. Describing her personal style to Southern Living, she said, “Comfortable and colorful. It’s become a little more whimsical since I had my two boys.” While Williams-Paisley is not as involved in Hollywood as she once was, she still appears on the occasional red carpet and attends charity events. She is often seen in pretty, light-toned dresses that are feminine and functional with minimal makeup. At times, she’ll pick floral patterns or louder prints to dress up her ensemble. And when she wants to channel the country-western aesthetic for Southern charm, sometimes she’ll add a denim jacket and cute boots to her get-up. No matter the decade, the natural beauty of Kimberly Williams-Paisley is ever present.