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red carpet looks
September 26, 2013

See 16 Years of Scarlett Johansson’s Red-Carpet Looks

By Margaret Lyons

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Photo: AFP/Getty

Scarlett Johansson starred in The Horse Whisperer in 1998, and since then she’s been a fixture on the red carpet, with blockbusters (The Avengers), indies (Lost in Translation), a pile of Woody Allen movies, a BAFTA, four Golden Globe nominations, and a Tony to her name. Over the years, Johansson has worn some staggeringly beautiful dresses and rocked some stunningly unflattering hair colors. Journey with us through her red-carpet looks.

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1 / 60 Photos
Aaah! Baby ScarJo! She's 12 here. Aaah! Baby ScarJo! She's 12 here.

Aaah! Baby ScarJo! She's 12 here.

Photo: Jim Smeal
Everyone in 1998 was required to have that oxblood lipstick and those chunky black boots. Everyone in 1998 was required to have that oxblood lipstick and those chunky black boots.

Everyone in 1998 was required to have that oxblood lipstick and those chunky black boots.

Photo: Ron Galella
A Phoebe Buffay–inspired junior prom kind of look. A Phoebe Buffay–inspired junior prom kind of look.

A Phoebe Buffay–inspired junior prom kind of look.

Photo: Tom Wargacki
No one had stylists in 1999, especially not 14-year-olds. Times change! No one had stylists in 1999, especially not 14-year-olds. Times change!

No one had stylists in 1999, especially not 14-year-olds. Times change!

Photo: Ron Galella
The weird thing about Scarlett Johannson is that she's always seemed to be about the same age. Even when she was actually a teenager. The weird thing about Scarlett Johannson is that she's always seemed to be about the same age. Even when she was actually a teenager.

The weird thing about Scarlett Johannson is that she's always seemed to be about the same age. Even when she was actually a teenager.

Photo: Rob Becc...

The weird thing about Scarlett Johannson is that she's always seemed to be about the same age. Even when she was actually a teenager.

Photo: Rob Beccaris
Something sheer and ill-fitting, with pointy shoes: Part I. Something sheer and ill-fitting, with pointy shoes: Part I.

Something sheer and ill-fitting, with pointy shoes: Part I.

Photo: Jean-Paul Aussenard
Part II. Part II.

Part II.

Photo: Gregg DeGuire
Now with square-toed shoes ... Now with square-toed shoes ...

Now with square-toed shoes ...

Photo: J. Vespa
And with open-toed shoes ... And with open-toed shoes ...

And with open-toed shoes ...

Photo: Evan Agostini
Until we come full circle back to the pointies. Until we come full circle back to the pointies.

Until we come full circle back to the pointies.

Photo: SGranitz
Love the dark auburn hair; loathe the witchy ankle boots. Love the dark auburn hair; loathe the witchy ankle boots.

Love the dark auburn hair; loathe the witchy ankle boots.

Photo: Amy Graves/2002 WireImage.com
Oh, remember when she had a fashion mullet? Oh, remember when she had a fashion mullet?

Oh, remember when she had a fashion mullet?

Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/Jeffrey Mayer 2003
At the time, the mullet was hideous, but now it seems almost quiant. Those boots, though, were and remain horrendous. At the time, the mullet was hideous, but now it seems almost quiant. Those boots, though, were and remain horrendous.

At the time, the mullet was hideous, but now it seems almost quiant. Those boots, though, were and remain horrendous.

Photo: Steve Granitz
Same black sandals from five slides ago. Same black sandals from five slides ago.

Same black sandals from five slides ago.

Photo: Robert Mora/2003 Getty Images
Something's off here, but the idea of the outfit is very cute and youthful. Something's off here, but the idea of the outfit is very cute and youthful.

Something's off here, but the idea of the outfit is very cute and youthful.

Photo: J. Vespa
Johansson has had many, many different hair colors. Johansson has had many, many different hair colors.

Johansson has had many, many different hair colors.

Photo: J. Vespa
And apparently many pairs of weird black boots. And apparently many pairs of weird black boots.

And apparently many pairs of weird black boots.

Photo: George Pimentel
That's certainly one way to draw attention to one's breasts. That's certainly one way to draw attention to one's breasts.

That's certainly one way to draw attention to one's breasts.

Photo: James Devaney
And here is a second way. And here is a second way.

And here is a second way.

Photo: Jim Spellman
It doesn't matter that this photo is ten years old. That outfit does not make sense in any era. It doesn't matter that this photo is ten years old. That outfit does not make sense in any era.

It doesn't matter that this photo is ten years old. That outfit does not make sense in any era.

Photo: Kevin Winter/2003 Getty Images
Pretty dress, but that hat-shaped hair is kind of weird. Pretty dress, but that hat-shaped hair is kind of weird.

Pretty dress, but that hat-shaped hair is kind of weird.

Photo: Dave Benett/2003 Getty Images
Scarlett Johannson does not have a particular style. She's not always vintage-y, or vixen-y, or high fashion or beachy or anything else consistent. Scarlett Johannson does not have a particular style. She's not always vintage-y, or vixen-y, or high fashion or beachy or anything else consistent.

Scarlett Johannson does not have a particular style. She's not always vintage-y, or vixen-y, or high fashion or beachy or anything else consistent.

P...

Scarlett Johannson does not have a particular style. She's not always vintage-y, or vixen-y, or high fashion or beachy or anything else consistent.

Photo: Carlo Allegri/2004 Getty Images
Gorgeous. And the ashier blonde is much better than the yellow blonde from before. Gorgeous. And the ashier blonde is much better than the yellow blonde from before.

Gorgeous. And the ashier blonde is much better than the yellow blonde from before.

Photo: SGranitz
Less gorgeous. The hair is weird, and the dress feels unfinished. Less gorgeous. The hair is weird, and the dress feels unfinished.

Less gorgeous. The hair is weird, and the dress feels unfinished.

Photo: Mike Marsland
On her way to the Ice Capades. On her way to the Ice Capades.

On her way to the Ice Capades.

Photo: Jon Furniss
Pretty dress, but unfortunately it does not fit right. Pretty dress, but unfortunately it does not fit right.

Pretty dress, but unfortunately it does not fit right.

Photo: Vince Bucci/2004 Getty Images
And another swing and a miss with an oddly shaped, satiny, bright-colored dress. And another swing and a miss with an oddly shaped, satiny, bright-colored dress.

And another swing and a miss with an oddly shaped, satiny, bright-colored dress.

Photo: Peter Kramer/2004 Getty Images
Again, ash blonde is the way to go. Again, ash blonde is the way to go.

Again, ash blonde is the way to go.

Photo: Gregg DeGuire
Maybe there was a time that this top was cool. But was there a time it ever fit correctly? Maybe there was a time that this top was cool. But was there a time it ever fit correctly?

Maybe there was a time that this top was cool. But was there a time it ever fit correctly?

Photo: Frank Micelotta/2004 Getty Images
Very plain, very pretty, but maybe a little mature for a 19-year-old. See what we mean about her always seeming the same age? (And that age being around 25?) Very plain, very pretty, but maybe a little mature for a 19-year-old. See what we mean about her always seeming the same age? (And that age being around 25?)

Very plain, very pretty, but maybe a little mature for a 19-year-old. See what we mean about her always seeming the same age? (And that age being arou...

Very plain, very pretty, but maybe a little mature for a 19-year-old. See what we mean about her always seeming the same age? (And that age being around 25?)

Photo: Lawrence Lucier
Again, gorgeous, but a little staid for a teenager. Again, gorgeous, but a little staid for a teenager.

Again, gorgeous, but a little staid for a teenager.

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2004 Getty Images
We take it back! Go with the staid look! We take it back! Go with the staid look!

We take it back! Go with the staid look!

Photo: J. Vespa
So beautiful. So beautiful.

So beautiful.

Photo: Kevin Winter/2005 Getty Images
Imagine how great this would look if it fit better. Imagine how great this would look if it fit better.

Imagine how great this would look if it fit better.

Photo: Jon Kopaloff
This is nice and all, but what in the holy hell is that bright aqua nightmare in the background? This is nice and all, but what in the holy hell is that bright aqua nightmare in the background?

This is nice and all, but what in the holy hell is that bright aqua nightmare in the background?

Photo: Carlo Allegri/2005 Getty Images
Good. Good.

Good.

Photo: Evan Agostini/2005 Getty Images
Better. Better.

Better.

Photo: Evan Agostini/2005 Getty Images
Best. And ... breast. Best. And ... breast.

Best. And ... breast.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/2005 Getty Images
Do you know a lot of 21-year-olds who wear below-the-knee sheath dresses? Do you know a lot of 21-year-olds who wear below-the-knee sheath dresses?

Do you know a lot of 21-year-olds who wear below-the-knee sheath dresses?

Photo: Dave Hogan/2005 Getty Images
Ding ding ding ding ding. Perfection. Ding ding ding ding ding. Perfection.

Ding ding ding ding ding. Perfection.

Photo: AFP/2006 AFP
It's a little nightgown-ish, and a little childish, but it's also approaching a nineties alt-glam thing, too. It's a little nightgown-ish, and a little childish, but it's also approaching a nineties alt-glam thing, too.

It's a little nightgown-ish, and a little childish, but it's also approaching a nineties alt-glam thing, too.

Photo: George Pimentel
That's not how breasts are supposed to fit into dresses. That's not how breasts are supposed to fit into dresses.

That's not how breasts are supposed to fit into dresses.

Photo: Fred Duval
Please note how often Johansson poses in this exact position. Please note how often Johansson poses in this exact position.

Please note how often Johansson poses in this exact position.

Photo: Michael Loccisano
Are the fishnets helping or hurting? Are the fishnets helping or hurting?

Are the fishnets helping or hurting?

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2008 Getty Images
Another successful red dress. Another successful red dress.

Another successful red dress.

Photo: Kevin Winter/2008 Getty Images
And then she was a brunette again. And then she was a brunette again.

And then she was a brunette again.

Photo: Frederick M. Brown/2009 Getty Images
And then a strawberry blonde. And then a strawberry blonde.

And then a strawberry blonde.

Photo: Michael Buckner/2009 Getty Images
Always wear red dresses, ScarJo. Always wear red dresses, ScarJo.

Always wear red dresses, ScarJo.

Photo: Junko Kimura/2009 Getty Images
While she does not have a specific style or aesthetic, we can at least say she likes sculptural details. While she does not have a specific style or aesthetic, we can at least say she likes sculptural details.

While she does not have a specific style or aesthetic, we can at least say she likes sculptural details.

Photo: Frazer Harrison/2010 Getty Images
Photo: Jason Merritt/2010 Getty Images
Another good dress/bad hair combo. Another good dress/bad hair combo.

Another good dress/bad hair combo.

Photo: Bryan Bedder/2010 Getty Images
And another. And another.

And another.

Photo: Jason Merritt/2011 Getty Images
Pretty color, but it's not enough to distract us from the weird smushing that's happening in the chest. Pretty color, but it's not enough to distract us from the weird smushing that's happening in the chest.

Pretty color, but it's not enough to distract us from the weird smushing that's happening in the chest.

Photo: Kevork Djansezian/2011 Getty Images
Ruffles!!! Well ... ruffle. Ruffles!!! Well ... ruffle.

Ruffles!!! Well ... ruffle.

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/2011 Jeff Kravitz
Why so much volume in the hair? Why so much volume in the hair?

Why so much volume in the hair?

Photo: Kevin Winter/2012 Getty Images
Ooh, the rarely seen mixed print. Pretty cute! Ooh, the rarely seen mixed print. Pretty cute!

Ooh, the rarely seen mixed print. Pretty cute!

Photo: Jon Kopaloff/2012 Jon Kopaloff
From the waist up, it's lovely. From the waist down, it's confusing. From the waist up, it's lovely. From the waist down, it's confusing.

From the waist up, it's lovely. From the waist down, it's confusing.

Photo: Kevin Mazur/2012 Kevin Mazur
Again, sculptural if not exactly thrilling. Again, sculptural if not exactly thrilling.

Again, sculptural if not exactly thrilling.

Photo: Rob Kim/2012 Rob Kim
Whereas this is unimpeachably adorable. But if you saw this outfit without knowing who was wearing it, wouldn't you guess Rachel Bilson? Or Hailee Steinfeld? ScarJo would be pretty far down the list of guesses. Whereas this is unimpeachably adorable. But if you saw this outfit without knowing who was wearing it, wouldn't you guess Rachel Bilson? Or Hailee Steinfeld? ScarJo would be pretty far down the list of guesses.

Whereas this is unimpeachably adorable. But if you saw this outfit without knowing who was wearing it, wouldn't you guess Rachel Bilson? Or Hailee Ste...

Whereas this is unimpeachably adorable. But if you saw this outfit without knowing who was wearing it, wouldn't you guess Rachel Bilson? Or Hailee Steinfeld? ScarJo would be pretty far down the list of guesses.

Photo: Stefania D’Alessandro/2013 Stefania D’Alessandro
Oh, fine, Scarlett Johansson. You look lovely in a variety of garments. Oh, fine, Scarlett Johansson. You look lovely in a variety of garments.

Oh, fine, Scarlett Johansson. You look lovely in a variety of garments.

Photo: Taylor Hill/2013 Taylor Hill
1 / 60

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