Breakups can often be challenging, particularly in cases where there has been infidelity. These women in our list have all experienced this situation, leading to divorce. Yet, each emerged from these difficult times, undergoing personal transformations that seemed to be reflected in their style. Rather than letting the experience negatively affect them, they used it as an opportunity for self-expression and self-discovery. Here are five notable post-breakup style transformations from women who navigated these complex times.
5. Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock went through a public divorce back in 2010 when numerous women came forward and spoke up about their affairs with her then-husband, Jesse James. At the time, the actress had won her first Academy Award for the film ‘The Blind Side’ and adopted a child named Louis. However, these events were overshadowed by James’ infidelity.
After the divorce, Bullock decided to focus on herself and Louis. She adopted another child, Laila, in 2015 and started dating the photographer Bryan Randall. Since then, Bullock has continued her successful career as an actress. In the picture above, she’s wearing a black sequined dress two months after the divorce at MTV Awards, looking more beautiful and lively than ever.
4. Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, who were known as Hollywood’s ‘golden couple,’ got married in 2000. However, five years after their marriage, the pair got divorced. Soon after the news, Pitt started having an affair with Angelina Jolie, leading to rumors that he’d been cheating on Aniston with the actress.
While Aniston denied the claims that she’d been cheated on by Pitt, she addressed her not being able to give him a child as the real reason. These were challenging times for the actress, but still, she focused on healing and taking care of herself. Just weeks after the divorce, Aniston was spotted wearing a low-cut black dress, potentially expressing her desirability.
3. Emily Ratajkowski
In late 2022, Emily Ratajkowski filed for divorce from her husband of four years, Sebastian Bear-McClard, after being photographed not wearing a wedding ring. Allegations of infidelity on Sebastian’s part were mentioned as a reason for the divorce. Following the split, Ratajkowski was involved in multiple appearances during the New York Fashion Week, showing she was still glowing up.
Emily showcased a variety of fashion-forward outfits during the NYFW, including a vintage Gucci shirt, a Tory Burch sheer top, a Miu Miu mesh dress, a thigh-skimming shirt dress, and a vintage John Galliano newspaper dress. She also uses social media frequently to show highlights from her post-divorce era, claiming the only man she needs on her bed is her dog, Bobo.
2. Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian was first married to songwriter Damon Thomas from 2000 to 2004. She later married professional basketball player Kris Humphries in a televised wedding in 2011, but the marriage quickly fell apart. Kardashian then married Kanye West, with whom she has two children. However, the couple got divorced in 2022, and it was reported that Ye cheated on Kim long before the divorce.
After their breakup, Kim was spotted enjoying her first night out as a single woman, wearing a skintight green dress and neon green high heels. She was at Beverly Hills hotspot Matsuhisa, having dinner with her sister Kourtney, La La Anthony, and former assistant, Stephanie Shepherd. Her choice of the color green can be interpreted as a symbol of rebirth and a fresh start.
1. Princess Diana
The ‘revenge dress’ worn by Princess Diana was a sensual, black dress designed by Christina Stambolian. She wore this dress to the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens in 1994, right after learning about Prince Charles’ affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles. It’s rumored that intention behind wearing this dress was to make Prince Charles regret losing her.
Originally, Princess Diana was supposed to wear a different dress that evening, but due to the leak of her planned look to the press, she decided to wear the Stambolian dress instead. The dress was gifted to Diana three years prior to the event, but she initially deemed it ‘too daring.‘ It is speculated that the choice to wear the black gown was a deliberate act to show the world that she was doing well despite the news of Charles’ infidelity.