Red carpet rewind: Stars before stylists

Reese Witherspoon

By Elizabeth Snead, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

We're so accustomed to stars looking fabulous these days that it's hard to remember when celebs actually used to dress themselves. It wasn't so long ago that actors picked out their own duds (shudder) for big premieres and parties from their closets!

Yes, there really was a day before Armani, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Lanvin routinely outfitted Hollywood's hottest actors. Back then, stars often chose and wore their own clothes, not couture and ready-to-wear borrowed from international designers.

Once upon a time, there weren't even helpful publicists and high-priced stylists like Rachel Zoe, Jessica Paster and Jen Rade to make sure established stars and/or fresh faces didn't ruin their images (or careers!) with bad personal fashion choices.

Check out these disastrous self-dressing errors committed by some of today's flawlessly fashionable faces such as Keira Knightley, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, George Clooney, Demi Moore, Teri Hatcher, Halle Berry, Jessica Alba and yes, even Angelina Jolie.