You can’t Google True Grit’s Hailee Steinfeld without finding a hundred bloggers — including we two tar-hearted crones — who are sincerely captivated by how darling she is. Even though the 14-year-old Hailee has only been in the spotlight since September, the young Oscar nominee has trod miles of red carpet, always sporting the same cheerful expression and a preternatural stylishness that has eluded a lot of her more seasoned Hollywood colleagues. We can’t wait to see what the sophisticated Steinfeld wears at Sunday’s Academy Awards — but because we have to, we’re whetting our appetites with this slideshow of her wardrobe to date. It’s proof that when you have true personal style, even your missteps are going to be interesting. And that a smile is your best accessory.
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This charming polka-dotted dress feels ideal both for her age and for an event at which Hailee is just a guest — yes, she looks cute, but she’s clearly not trying to steal the spotlight from any of Secretariat’s stars. So she’s pretty and polite.
It feels right that Hailee’s sporting a classic LBD and a sleek blowout at an event hosted by Teen Vogue. This is also the second time in two events that she’s worn booties, which seem like an elegant way for a young girl to wear heels without looking like she’s clomping around in her mother’s shoes.
This was a definite misadventure in heftier heels, wrongly paired with a Calvin Klein that’s just a tad too long for Hailee. The sleek gray dress would look fabulous on a woman of actual voting age, say, giving an important work presentation — or testifying in her own defense at a murder trial — but it’s just too dour for someone who’s still technically in the Disney Channel’s target demo.
This Phillip Lim is gorgeous no matter how old you are. It’s the fashion version of a slam dunk, except without all the attendant sweat and ball-handling. We also dig the stars on Hailee’s black clutch. Is it inappropriate for two strangers in their thirties to raid the closet of a teenager? Yeah. Never mind.
It’s fun to see Hailee in pants for a change — but maybe not these particular pants, which are slouchy enough to make us wonder if they’re secretly sweats. Add the blazer into the equation and the whole thing veers a little too close to looking like what one of her sleepier peers might have rustled together to wear to Career Day.
We’re surprised Stella McCartney churned out something that works on a teenager, but in fact, we actually can’t quite imagine this on anyone but a teenager. On, say, Kirsten Dunst, we might be wondering where the funeral luau is, but the flowery, lacy bodice is charming on Hailee. It helps that she’s adorable.
If we may channel our own inner 14-year-old for a moment: This is so cute — and the leather jacket rescues it from being cutesy. Bonus points for this being her third use of those particular boots. It’s nice to see that even famous people have a favorite pair of shoes they default to when they want to feel good (or tall).
This crinkly, silvery Mossimo runs the risk of looking like Hailee just pulled it off last night’s leftover pork tenderloin, but lively shoes and the ribbon belt — and her huge smile — are selling it. Seriously, she’s nailing the age-appropriate fashion; where are her age-appropriate zits? Our long-dormant teen selves feel that this is seriously unfair.
We’re digging this aubergine color on Hailee, and while the cut of the Moschino is modest, the knot detailing at the waist prevents this look from being staid. The bold pop of blue patent leather on her feet is a brave choice, too; a lot of people are timid about mixing hues like that, but we’re starting to think nothing fazes this girl.
The National Board of Review gala always feels like a serious, intellectual, and maybe a little stuffy event, so it was wise of Hailee to opt for a dress that didn’t feel overly frivolous (yet, unlike her Calvin Klein, was properly tailored to fit her). The decorated collar on this Jenny Packham adds just the right touch of bling to draw attention without being attention-whorey — an important distinction when you are her age.
Love the Marchesa, but we’d love it more if someone had styled Hailee a tad differently: A soft updo would’ve set off the single shoulder, and those Jimmy Choos clog this up by looking like somebody made them out of grocery bags. We’re all for a green lifestyle, but that’s a nasty place for a paper cut.
What else should a girl wear to a tea party but polka dots, ruffles, and a pair of Mary Janes? It was a smart move to keep Hailee’s classy dots and ruffles to a neutral shade; if this look were more colorful, she might look more like a little girl playing tea party, and the last thing you want at a professional event is Nicole Kidman asking you where you left your teddy bear.
The spotlight of an awards night red carpet can be daunting to some people, but as we’ve seen so far, Steinfeld is nothing if not self-assured when it comes to her style. And here, in this white Prabal Gurung, Hailee looks so relaxed that she might as well be at a yoga retreat. We’re also happy to see a hair change, with the slick ponytail. If we had that face, we’d be showing it off too.
This Prada was an absolutely genius choice, and a confident one, playing up her age without looking like she’s playing Pretty Pretty Princess. It takes guts to wear something so eye-catching, but frankly, we have been so bored of sparkly nude stuff and red satin yada-yada that this bright, striped column is exactly the palate cleanser we craved.
Badass accessories liven up the innocent white Alberta Ferretti frock. Man, in about fifteen years, Maddox Jolie-Pitt had better lay down some major woo on this girl. The Brangelina brand will be in need of new romantic scandal by that point, right?
If the mullet is “business in the front, party in the back,” then this little frock — with its tuxedo bib rear-view — is like “party in the front, cater-waiter in the back.” Regardless, there’s something charmingly wink-y about incorporating a nod to formalwear into your wardrobe for an Oscars event. Note to all Oscar-nominated dudes: That sentiment does not apply to tuxedo T-shirts worn in lieu of actual tuxes.
Hailee loves her booties, that’s for sure. And she deploys them well: They’re a good choice for this fun, casual day dress. Also, if we were the protein in a Hot Josh Brolin/The Dude sandwich, we would be wearing that exact same facial expression. Assuming we weren’t already blitzed on White Russians. Good thing Hailee’s not of age — and is also obviously already way more professional than we are.
We appreciate the vintage feel this (slightly dowdy and droopy) Miu Miu is aiming for, but it’s tough to wear waterfowl and not be compared — unfavorably — to Bjork’s infamous yet hilariously awesome swan outfit. If there is one thing a girl does not want to be, it’s lukewarm Bjork. But that’s okay: Every red-carpet star has a misstep now and then, and it’s honestly amazing Hailee’s took this long. Hey, she is human!
Smartly, Hailee kept the rest of her look minimal, letting sleeves of this Valentino speak for themselves. And what they are saying is, “I’m really relieved it’s you that’s wearing me and not Miley Cyrus. It’s so much better for my brand.”
The more we look at this, the less we know what we make of it. On the one hand, the beading on this Miu Miu is beautiful, but we’re not entirely sure we’re ready for a play on translucency involving someone who is not even old enough to get her learner’s permit. Plus, the skirt length is a tad dowdy, and is that a built-in napkin? On the other hand: You have to admit, the kid is selling it.
This was probably a nice breather for Hailee, between the BAFTAs and Sunday’s Oscars ceremony. She’s back to booties, this time with a See by Chloé frock and a cute side braid, all of which seem smartly chosen to remind everyone that even with her recent omnipresence, this is not a seasoned old-timer — this is a girl with her entire life and career in front of her. We can’t wait to see where she takes it. All we know is, we’re praying she steers that vehicle down Fanning Boulevard rather than Lohan Alley.