George Clooney’s Style Evolution, From ’80s Newcomer to Hollywood Icon

The Oscar winner's fashion sense has certainly changed since his first red carpet appearances.

When you think of George Clooney, the image of a silver fox wearing a tuxedo on a red carpet may come to mind.

But just like his romantic life, the “Midnight Sky” actor’s sense of style has gone through some changes over the years. Looking back at his early photo-ops, you’ll see leather jackets, long hair and a whole lot of denim.

In honor of his birthday, we’ve rounded up 51 photos that show Clooney’s style evolution, from ’80s newcomer to Hollywood icon.

1986
Ron Galella via Getty Images
George Clooney at an Amnesty International 25th anniversary event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
1988
Barry King via Getty Images
Kelly Preston and Clooney at the ABC TV Affiliates Fall Launch at the Century Plaza Hotel.
1989
Jim Smeal via Getty Images
Clooney at a celebrity basketball game at Pepperdine University.
1989
Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images
Clooney at an event promoting his film "Red Surf."
1993
Ron Galella, Ltd. via Getty Images
Clooney and Tracey Needham at the Latino Classical Repertory's first annual Benefit Gala at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.
1994
Jim Smeal via Getty Images
Clooney at the first annual Eddie Van Halen Charity Golf Tournament Party.
1994
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Anthony Edwards and Clooney at the NBC Sponsors Convention at Lincoln Center in New York City.
1994
Frank Trapper via Getty Images
Clooney and Kimberly Russell at the Hollywood Women's Press Club's 54th annual Golden Apple Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
1995
Jean-Paul Aussenard via Getty Images
Clooney and Celine Balitran in 1995.
1995
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Clooney at the opening of Planet Hollywood Beverly Hills.
1995
Jim Smeal via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Tommy Boy" Los Angeles premiere.
1997
Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images
Clooney and Balitran at the "Batman & Robin" premiere.
1998
KMazur via Getty Images
Clooney at the third annual GQ Men of The Year Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
1998
Ron Galella via Getty Images
Jennifer Lopez and Clooney at the New York premiere of "Out of Sight."
1999
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Three Kings" premiere at Mann Village Theatre in Los Angeles.
2000
U.K. Press via Getty Images
Clooney at the premiere of "The Perfect Storm" in Birmingham, England.
2003
Pascal Le Segretain via Getty Images
Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones during a photo session at the 60th Venice Film Festival.
2003
Lalo Yasky via Getty Images
Clooney at a photo call for "Solaris" in Madrid.
2004
Carlo Allegri via Getty Images
Clooney and Hank Azaria at an event for the short film "Nobody's Perfect" in Los Angeles.
2004
Vince Bucci via Getty Images
Clooney and Lisa Snowdon at the Warner Bros. premiere of "Ocean's Twelve" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
2005
Venturelli via Getty Images
Clooney at a photo call for "Good Night, and Good Luck" at the Venice Film Festival.
2005
Andrew H. Walker via Getty Images
Clooney at the premiere of "Syriana" at the Loews Lincoln Center theatre in New York City.
2006
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Clooney at the 78th annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
2006
Steve Granitz via Getty Images
Clooney at the Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
2007
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Ocean's Thirteen" Los Angeles premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
2007
Jason Merritt via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Ocean's Thirteen" handprint and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
2008
Jeff Kravitz via Getty Images
Clooney at the 13th annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
2008
Camilla Morandi - Corbis via Getty Images
Clooney at the photo call for "Burn After Reading" during the 65th Venice Film Festival.
2009
Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Up In The Air" photo call during the fourth Rome International Film Festival at the Auditorium Parco della Musica.
2009
Jon Furniss via Getty Images
Clooney at the opening gala premiere afterparty of "Fantastic Mr. Fox" during The Times BFI London Film Festival held at the Saatchi Gallery.
2010
Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images
Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis at the Giorgio Armani Spring/Summer fashion show during Milan Fashion Week Womenswear.
2011
Daniele Venturelli via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Ides of March" photo call during the 68th Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casinò.
2011
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Ides of March" photo call during the 55th BFI London Film Festival at the Odeon West End in London.
2012
Dave M. Benett via Getty Images
Clooney at the Orange British Academy Film Awards at the Royal Opera House in London.
2012
Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images
Clooney at the 2011 AFI Awards Luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills.
2013
Michael Loccisano via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Gravity" premiere at AMC Lincoln Square theater in New York City.
2013
Jason LaVeris via Getty Images
Clooney at the BAFTA Los Angeles Britannia Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
2014
Dave M. Benett via Getty Images
Clooney at the U.K. premiere of "The Monuments Men" at Odeon Leicester Square in London.
2014
Ernesto Ruscio via Getty Images
Then-newlyweds George and Amal Clooney at Hotel Cipriani in Venice.
2015
Dimitrios Kambouris via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the "China: Through the Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2015
Atsushi Tomura via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the Tokyo premiere of "Tomorrowland" at Roppongi Hills.
2015
David M. Benett via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the launch of Casamigos Tequila in Ibiza and Spain at Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel.
2016
George Pimentel via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Money Monster" photo call at the annual 69th Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals.
2016
Clemens Bilan via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the "Money Monster" premiere during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival at the Palais des Festivals.
2017
Gabe Ginsberg via Getty Images
Clooney at Paramount Pictures' presentation during CinemaCon at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
2017
Venturelli via Getty Images
Clooney at the "Suburbicon" photo call during the 74th Venice Film Festival.
2018
Kevin Mazur/MG18 via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
2018
WPA Pool via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in England.
2019
Neil Mockford via Getty Images
The Clooneys at the People's Postcode Lottery Charity Gala at McEwan Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland.
2019
David M. Benett via Getty Images
Clooney at the London premiere of "Catch-22" at Vue Westfield.
2020
Randy Holmes via Getty Images
Clooney on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in December 2020.

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