Sydney Sweeney looks unrecognizable in an unearthed photo before blonde bombshell fame

Sydney Sweeney is synonymous with her daring sartorial agenda, with her aesthetic often switching between old Hollywood glamor and sultry sheer dresses. With the help of her stylist, Molly Dickson, Sydney curated her distinct approach to style, serving up a series of memorable red carpet moments. 

However, when the actress first stepped onto the scene, her look was worlds apart from her ultra-glam signature today. HELLO! are taking a look back at one of Sydney's most memorable looks before her bombshell fame. 

The star first stepped into the spotlight in 2018 for her roles in Everything Sucks!, The Handmaid's Tale, and Sharp Objects. However, her fame grew following her breakout role in the HBO drama series Euphoria in 2019.

In April 2018, Sydney graced the premiere of Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale Season 2 at TCL Chinese Theatre. For the occasion, she wore a multi-tiered Carolina Herrera spring 2018 gown. The dress featured a white corseted bodice with black straps and a layered tutu skirt in hues of baby pink and bright yellow. Crafted from tulu, the skirt added a bold twist to the dress.

Sydney's hair was noticeably darker back in 2018, with her roots dyed a mousy-brown shade. Her makeup was also very different, as she opted for a bronze eye and a natural glossy lip.

Sydney Sweeney's style evolution

The choice of outfit is very different to what Sydney wears on the red carpet today. Most recently, she attended the Armani Beauty dinner during the 2026 Venice Film Festival. Sydney wore a sheer gunmetal sequin gown from the Giorgio Armani fall/winter 2000 archives. Her bright blonde locks were styled into voluminous curls and she opted for a sultry smoky eye. 

Sydney has previously addressed "the biggest misconception" about her following comments on her appearance. "The biggest misconception about me is that I'm just a dumb blond with big tits," she said in an interview with Glamour. 

"I'm naturally brunette. I'm very different to a lot of the characters I play, or the version you see of me on red carpets or in interviews because I'm still made up. Like, this is still the work version of me."

Sydney announced the launch of her lingerie brand, Syrn, at the end of January. As per the press release, Sydney opened up about what inspired her to create the lingerie brand. "I was in the sixth grade with DDs. I hated the bra I had to wear. When I bought my first cute bra that actually fit, I wore it to pieces. Designing for different bodies is a huge part of Syrn," she shared.

"I wanted to create a place where women can move between all the different versions of who we are. I love working on cars, I go waterskiing, I'll dress up for the red carpet, then go home to snuggle my dogs. I'm not one thing, no woman is."