Fashion Evolution: Nicole Richie

From Hollywood wild child to stylish earth mama -- Nicole Richie has undergone some extreme style transformations. We take a look back at Nicole's various incarnations, from her colored hair extensions and trucker hats (yes, we have the proof), to her scary skinny days as the controversial subject of fashion fascination, and on to her current healthy, laid back L.A. mom style.

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Back in 2002, party girl Richie was a regular at all the L.A. hot spots with her posse of friends. Her red carpet attire? See through tops, layers of shimmery make-up and straggly hair. Richie has yet to hit her red carpet mojo!

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Is that you Nicole? In 2003 Richie's choice of attire was a far cry from the designer duds she wears today. Her L.A. style consisted of bright trucker hats, colored braids, ruffled mini skirts and biker boots.

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With her new reality series The Simple Life set to air within the month, Richie, back in November 2003, didn't exactly look ready for prime time!

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What a difference a TV show makes! In early 2004 Richie's style starts to emerge -- she's ditched the heavy make-up and colored hair but still loves her micro-miniskirts!

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At the MTV Awards in June 2004, Richie takes another step towards a new look by getting rid of her crazy hat collection, but her two-tone hair is still mismatched to her emerging soft feminine style.

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By January 2005, Richie had teamed up with celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who helped turn Mischa Barton, Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Garner into Hollywood's most fashionable stars. Zoe, who reportedly who earns up to $6000 a day for her shopping services, creates a unique look for Richie by mixing high-end designer pieces with chic vintage finds. Richie's look also gets a boost from a new hair and make-up team.

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Like her style mentor (stylist Rachel Zoe), Richie falls for the glam look of the 70s and rocks a retro-looking Missoni halter dress at a Tommy Hilfiger charity event in April 2005.

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In May 2005, at a Maxim Magazine's Hot 100 party, Nicole's fashion savvy was on the rise, but her weight had dropped to a dangerous low. The next year, a healthier Nicole admitted to Vanity Fair she had gotten too thin: "I wouldn't want any young girl looking at me and saying, 'That's what I want to look like.'"

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At the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) Awards in June 2005 (aka "the Oscars of the fashion world"), Richie looked every inch the fashionista in a sparkling pale pink Michael Kors gown, Neil Lane diamonds and a satin Judith Leiber clutch.

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