Michelle Pfeiffer Spotted Wearing Vintage Fashion Trends

At the 52nd Annual Golden Globes, Michelle Pfeiffer stepped out in a subtle black dress made from luxurious black velvet. Despite some strategic accessories, including black gloves and a pearl choker, the gown was elegantly simple with a square-cut neckline that felt extremely on-trend for early ’90s minimalism. The pared-back design got its visual interest from lush materials and made a statement through simplicity — a super stylish choice at the time, but one that would look a bit incomplete on a modern red carpet. In today’s era of fashionable maximalism, this refreshingly simple dress look would feel unfinished.

Sequins match with sequins on this two-piece red carpet look that Michelle Pfeiffer wore for the 50th Annual Emmy Awards in 1998. At the time, this maximalist and sparkling gown, with its draped, bohemian feel, would have been perfectly on trend. Boho was in, as were pastels and hyper-feminine details. But this ensemble, which features three separate, sparkling pieces if you count the silver handbag, would look a little too blinding on a modern red carpet. Plus, Pfeiffer’s pastel eye shadow and shimmering lip color would appear outdated compared to modern makeup looks.

The feminine dress that Michelle Pfeiffer wore to celebrate earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a perfect reflection of its 2007 era. From the strapless sweetheart neckline — so popular during that time period — to the pencil skirt silhouette, this fitted, sheath shape was a trendy go-to during the late aughts. Modern fashion tends to gravitate toward either shorter or longer hems, which feel a little less like business attire than this in-between cocktail length.

For Elle’s 18th Annual Women in Hollywood event, Michelle Pfeiffer cinched her Alexander McQueen dress with a coordinated triple-buckle belt. The massive belt looks to be a foot wide, so that it almost has a corset effect on the overall look. And while it gives great structure to the otherwise simple dress, the eye-catching accessory is a bit of a relic. By contrast, the statement belts that are among todays biggest accessory trends tend to be sleek, modern styles worn at the hips, rather than the attention-grabbing waist belts — a retro nod to the ’80s — that were popular around 2010.

In 2012, Michelle Pfeiffer stepped out in a sparkling Barbara Bui flower print dress that served major indie sleaze vibes. From the eclectic accessories to the contrasting patterns of the mini dress itself, this look belongs at a warehouse party in Bushwick after a long workday at Buzzfeed. Though at the time, this outfit was probably considered the height of free-spirited cool, its outré charm feels outdated compared to the refined, flattering styles that are popular now.