Blake Lively's Most Inappropriate Outfits Ever

The following includes references to domestic violence.

Over the years, Blake Lively's outfits have occasionally missed the mark because she has been unafraid to push the envelope. Unlike nearly every other A-lister, Lively doesn't work with a stylist and selects her own red-carpet looks. The "Gossip Girl" alum was once asked about her choice to forego sartorial assistance, playfully telling Women's Wear Daily in March 2018, "Probably because I have control issues and a big ego — that's probably the honest answer." But there are times her wardrobe would greatly benefit from the actor getting that ego in check, as a little sartorial editing from an outsider might save her from stepping out in inappropriate ensembles.  

It's not as if Lively does it all solo, but no one person holds the title of stylist on her payroll. "I have an assistant who helps in calling in the looks. But a lot of it is I have relationships with the designers," she added. The following year, the "Savages" star spoke about why she enjoys the challenge of choosing her own outfits, even under the brightest lights. "For me, fashion is a form of self-expression. It also really takes me out of my comfort zone," Lively told InStyle in April 2019.

Lively has certainly expressed herself through fashion choices on multiple occasions, and she has method dressing down to an art form. For example, to support hubby Ryan Reynolds, she sported a sexy Deadpool-themed bodysuit at the "Deadpool & Wolverine" premiere in July 2024. But even when using her wardrobe to promote her projects, she occasionally makes poor choices. 

Before Blake Lively's legal battle with her "It Ends with Us" costar Justin Baldoni dominated the headlines, she went on a press tour in the summer of 2024 to promote the film. Lively's character was a florist with the very on-the-nose name Lily Bloom, and this detail seemed to inform almost every outfit she wore; she covered herself with bouquets of roses and poppies and daisies. While some of her looks were certainly fun to look at, they also could have used a little pruning. Because "It Ends with Us" deals with a dark theme — domestic violence — some of Lively's 'fits felt a bit too playful and flirty for her to be wearing while discussing such serious subject matter.

An example of one of Lively's method dressing missteps can be seen above. She's posing outside "CBS Mornings" studios in a flower-spattered Dauphinette set, which offsets the colorful painted blooms with the hard edge of black leather. Lively opted to forgo a bra or shirt and left her jacket open to advertise this daring decision. Dialing up the sex appeal in this manner would have been perfectly fine if she were promoting a racy rom-com like the Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell starrer "Anyone but You," but it had the wrong vibe for "It Ends with Us."

Days later, Lively would face a major backlash when she implored fans to check out the film by telling them, "Grab your friends, wear your florals," in an Instagram video. "It's about domestic violence, not about "flowers,'" read one commenter's response. "Brought my florals, but didn't remember to bring concealer to hide the bruises :( good job Blake!" another critic snarked. So, yeah, she probably should have toned down her outfits a bit.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

Following the New York premiere of "It Ends with Us" in August 2024, Lively switched into a Barbie-fied pink look that had heads turning. She wore a frilly pink Versace minidress that was cinched at the waist and had a short skirt. The bralette top highlighted the actor's curves, as it had thin shoulder straps and showed plenty of skin. Overall, the garment looked more like lingerie than a dress, and it was another odd choice for the nature of the movie she was promoting. 

That same month, Lively spoke about her "It Ends With Us" character, Lily Bloom, and how fashion informed her development of that character. "She can be fashion and fabulous, but she could also be very grounded in utility," Lively told Etalk in August 2024. "Wardrobe is always the way that I enter a character," Lively added. And her outfit here is screaming that she wishes she were portraying a different character — one with a matching dream house and a boyfriend who makes the perfect Matchbox 20-playing accessory. After witnessing the way Lively was promoting the movie, one Instagrammer wrote, "She clearly wanted to play Barbie so bad." Many other critics agreed with this assessment. "I'm sorry you didn't get cast for Barbie and you didn't have your eras tour either but this is a movie about DV," read another comment.

Still, even though her dress looked a little cheap with its shine that looked way too much like one of SHEIN's flimsy synthetic blends, Lively had come a long way from her early days of attending Hollywood events, where she used to lie about where she purchased her clothes.

Some of Blake Lively's looks stand out because they showcase how far she's come with her fashion sensibilities. Early in her career, the actor wore off-the-rack clothes to Hollywood events. "I'm wearing a $13 dress from Forever 21," she told Glamour UK when looking back at her outfit from the 2005 Teen Choice Awards. According to Lively, she was told not to reveal that the dress was retail. "After that I just told people it was vintage," she added. 

By 2024, Lively no longer had to lie about her outfits' origins — but this didn't mean they always looked expensive. For the Super Bowl that year, she rocked a totally affordable red Adidas tracksuit and a cropped white tank top. This sporty ensemble would have been entirely appropriate for the occasion, if it weren't for the way she accessorized it.

Lively and Taylor Swift's friendship was still in full force at the time, and perhaps Lively was feeling a little pressure to up her fashion game while in the presence of the NFL's new darling. She loaded up her arms and neck with Tiffany & Co. jewelry worth almost half a million dollars, which made her look like she was decked out in trophies plucked from the persons of some of the poor souls who couldn't pay Tony Soprano what they owed him. It was more mob enforcer than mob wife, and Lively herself admitted that her boatloads of bling was a bit overkill. "I don't think I was supposed to wear all that jewelry together," she told People.

When Blake Lively appeared on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" without her wedding ring, she risked derailing her and Ryan Reynolds' efforts to make their marriage seem unbothered by their legal drama. However, it's not uncommon for Lively to ditch the ring for the sake of fashion; she sometimes swaps it with pieces that better complement her outfits. What is odd is that her white Christopher John Rogers gown would have been the perfect ensemble to wear the ginormous sparkler with, as it looked like a wedding dress.

The romantic confection had an A-line skirt with layers of multi-length ruffles that were a bit much for such a casual interview. When Lively sat down, the flouncy gown engulfed her and her chair. She immediately let Seth Meyers know that she was well aware she looked like a bride, thank you very much, and she started making jokes about her voluminous skirt before he could. "It's so big, though. I'm like, 'Where do I put it all?'" she said. "I have all my children under here." In response, Meyers quipped, "We'll bring a super-sized chair for your next large dress." But by now, you'd think Lively would know better than to dress like a debutante for a late-night show appearance.