Gabrielle Union may have started her Hollywood career with a girl-next-door fashion sense at the end of Nighties and in the early years, when she appeared on sitcoms like Moesha and Sister, sister before taking her starring turn in cheerleading comedy Bring it on, but since then she’s become a chameleon in her own right, ready to try new colors, shapes, materials and textures at every red carpet event. Although Union has historically taken a liking to white and black column dresses, she can also wear a hot pink rhinestone mini dress (like the one she wore at the 2005 BET Awards) or a sultry beaded black dress with a matching cape. by Zuhair Murad at the 2017 Emmy Awards. In honor of Union’s birthday, we take a look back at her most impactful and repulsive looks, many of which were unveiled with her husband Dwyane Wade by her side.
2021: Opening gala of the Academy’s Cinema Museum
The Fashion Couple of the Year made their presence known in Los Angeles on September 25. Wearing an Alexandre Vauthier cape dress and plunging bodysuit, Union demonstrated her ability to create a beauty and accessories look that truly accentuates the outfit she chose to wear.
2020: Vanity Fair Oscar party
Union is ethereal in Giambattista Valli Couture, matching her husband Dwyane Wade, who wore a lace blazer for the evening.
For the Ralph & Russo Haute Couture Spring 2020 show, Dwyane Wade wore a pink velvet suit with matching shirt and belt, and Union donned a beaded headband, a fluffy white jacket with rhinestone embroidery, mandarin collar and sleeves. Bell. Pure royalty.
Voluminous orange evening outfits (by Christopher John Rogers, no less) have never looked better.
2019: The best of LA Photocall in Madrid
Gabrielle Union needs to wear more headbands, period.
2019: Arrival at Rockefeller Center
The actress’ color story on this pink, gold, and feathered dress is eye-catching and fabulous.
2019: The premiere of The best of LA
Assertive shoulders are an understatement in this Cong Tri dress.
2018: Netflix screening Layer forever
Union’s Elie Saab dress would fit perfectly into the fall 2021 knitwear trend. Note the Judith Leiber clutch, adorned with a pompom and the image of a crescent moon.
Union wore a yellow highlighter Prabal Gurung dress with a dramatic train and matching sandals to the Met’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala.
2018: Vanity Fair Oscar Party
In a Prada column dress, Union doesn’t just look like a shimmering Oscar statuette, she is a shimmering Oscar statuette.
2017: Hello america
A powerful ponytail takes this pant and turtleneck look to new heights.
Union’s love for an LBD is enhanced with this sparkling Zuhair Murad dress.
2017: Balmain Spring 2018 Show
The Union-Wades are a staple of Paris Fashion Week; here they are suitably bling-out for the Balmain menswear show in 2017.
2017: Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Super sexy in Jean Paul Gaultier Couture.
2016: Toronto Film Festival
Here we see Union’s daring fashion side: While attending the Toronto Film Festival, she wore a Sophie Theallet dress with a matching cape and a super smoky eye.
As they prepared for the 2016 AmfAR Gala, Union and Wade were pictured in their hotel. For the event, the actress wore a long Prada on the floor.
2016: The Vanity Fair Oscar party
Union paired her stunning Georgine dress with David Yurman jewelry and a shaggy femme fatale lob at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2016.
2015: Samsung S6 launch party
Showing off her abs, Union wears perfectly fitted pants and a long sleeve cropped top.
Gabrielle Union never shies away from a little sparkle: here she’s wearing a shimmering Halston Heritage dress.
2015: InStyle and Warner Bros. post-party. Golden Globe Awards
The actress knows her angles, with a deep V dress with a high slit.
At the Charles James: Beyond Fashion Costume Institute gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Union appealed to its most daring fashion side in this black and silver feathered Prada ensemble.
2013: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Gala
Let’s not forget that Gabrielle Union is still America’s sweetheart, as shown in this classic strapless dress.
2012: The pre-Grammy gala
Union has always viewed her beauty, her accessories and her outfit as a whole and holistic entity. The proportions of her fishtail braid combined with the cutouts of her white dress and structural pouch play on each other.
2012: BET Honors with Michelle Obama
2011: Essence Black Women in Hollywood Lunch
In this 1950s tea dress silhouette and peek-a-boo pump, Union looks like the classic lady.
Union’s pompadour gives this long, shimmering dress even more length.
Despite Union’s propensity to wear black and white, she also looks stunning in hues of gemstones as evidenced by this magenta dress and necklace with a green pendant.
Union’s soft pink mini dress is accented with fun sequins and a mini bag.
The actress was in her evening bag early in her career, sporting this bodycon silver dress with a matching sparkly rhinestone handbag.
2001: Billboard Music Awards
For a visit to Las Vegas for the Billboard Music Awards, Union wore a look that mixed work and play.
We love the shimmer of Union’s halterneck dress and her shoulder-length hair that is flat-ironed.
2000: Bring it on First
Union fully embraced the early styles at the premiere of her first big concert – and the movie she’s still known for to this day –Bring it on.
