1983

Admittedly, she may not have dressed herself for this; it's a BMX Bandits promotional shoot. But I could not resist the hair. The true, natural Nic curls, in peak '80s form.

1989

And now we jump ahead in time, to the year Dead Calm was released, and probably the year she was filming 1990's Days of Thunder -- which, of course, is where the Tom and Nicole Story was born. That's the hair I always think of first.

1990 (the year she and Tom Cruise married)

Nicole has always been a nuzzler, by the way. The way she is with Keith Urban now has clear origins in her marriage to Tom -- or obviously maybe before that; she may have been a nuzzler since birth, I don't know.

1992

This is almost CASUAL compared to some of what she's worn to the Globes since.

1992

She could wear that blazer NOW. I also enjoy Tom's cardigan.

1992 Governor's Ball

This photo is admittedly all about Demi and her gloves. (She had been nominated for Ghost the previous year.)

1992

They're in Cannes, which I think was for the Far and Away premiere. Nic wore a lot of black during this time.

1992

That beaded vest takes me back.

Wow, the thick white tights! This was the UK premiere of Far and Away, at which she met Princess Diana. I have no idea if the flowers are for Di, or were given to Nicole. But this whole look feels elegantly brida..

Nicole Kidman And Tom Cruise, 1992

I told you she was a red-carpet nuzzler! Or hugger. Both. ALL.

1993

The beret and the suit probably felt revolutionary at the time, but in retrospect she looks like the girl who went abroad for the fall semester and came back speaking in a faint accent.

She wore this to Tom's handprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater, and not, as it might appear, to skip through a meadow in a Massengil ad.

1993

That purple velvet is nice on her. And on trend again.

Peoples Choice Awards, Los Angeles, America - 1994

Is she binding her elbows?!?

1995

Ah, yes, her Batman with Val Kilmer. I am glad she's graduated from black.

1996

She was nominated for To Die For and WON. I was going to say it's a shame she's dressed as the bridesmaid, but she's ALSO dressed as the bride, so that works.

1996

I hope those shoes were like walking on a bed of gently scented air, or else they were not worth it.

This is when Nicole started to get more interesting, sartorially. People point to the chartreuse Galliano, but we're a year away from that and she's flexing her muscles already.

1996

I appreciate a fun coat, and wish this weren't so blown-out.

1996

SUCH a '90s ingenue in that!

1996

She looks great in this flamenco-style dress at Cannes. I THINK she was there for Portrait of a Lady?

1996

I feel like we're seeing her undercrackers here, right?

1997

And here we have the dress people tend to think of first and foremost when they picture Nicole Kidman's evolution. It's Dior Couture, done by John Galliano, right when he joined the house; it's widely considered the most influential red-carpet moment ever.

1998

I guess it tracks that she'd keep it simple after that.

1998

And then she veered into separates that LOOK like a gown, presumably until she raises her hands in the air like she just doesn't care.

1998

This is before Moulin Rouge -- he presented her with an award for The Blue Room, which is the show in which she appeared naked on-stage. It's a hilarious photo -- she's hiding behind her hair, and HIS is all over the place.

1999

Gorgeous.

1999

This was the Eyes Wide Shut premiere, and the outfit feels a little more intentionally sexy than anything else she's worn before. Rumors were that they had NO chemistry on that set -- I do vaguely remember the love scenes feeling kind of cold -- and so maybe they were trying to heat it up on the carpet.

1999

This is such a dancer's pose, to me.

2000

The tiny fingerless gloves are a touch I ALMOST missed.

2000

Another belly shirt! I guess she liked her navel.

2001

Tom and Nicole were about to announce their divorce at this point. So I guess she's in mourning black.

2001

This is fabulous. She's promoting Moulin Rouge here in Cannes, right after her divorce. Looking completely unfazed and glorious.

The movie opened the festival. LOOK at Baz's hair. I didn't remember he wore it like a struggling magician.

2001

Oh, girl, this is a mess.

2001

So dishy.

2002

That's her dad as her date. She looks nice, but the little bolo choker thing seems uncomfortable.

2002

It FITS, but it's sorta dull? You are SATINE, Nicole! Bloom!

Oh no no no. You're not Hilary Duff, hon.

2002

We have First Suit. Repeat: We have First Suit. And also the beginnings of her crispy blond phase.

2002

I CHORTLED.

2002

That's pretty and delicate on her, but somehow the makeup feels discordant? And it needs silver shoes.

2003

This is the face of a woman who is realizing she cannot get down on the ground with her star without ripping a hole in her skirt.

2003

This is a sexy one. She looks like an exotic bird prancing around.

2003

The precision here is wonderful, but is it washing her out?

9TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS, LOS ANGELES, AMERICA - 09 MAR 2003

I don't think this bob phase was her best, but that dress also looks like something she's supposed to try and escape from while her hands are tied behind her back.

2003

This is pleasantly floaty, but also maybe a bit forgettable?

2003

We might be in a mediocre phase.

2003

All is forgiven; I love this.

2003

She's at the Human Stain premiere here. I love that the word "stain" is in the title when she's wearing a white dress that will NOT forgive any.

2003

Wrist corsage, bracelet... or scrunchie?

2003

It's a blazer AND a straitjacket!

2003

I howled again. Oh, NICOLE.

2003

Why is she SO into serving her head on a platter right now?

2003

Thank God she rescued her neck here, at least.

The Jumbo Fugtrospective of Nicole Kidman: The Early Years

And when I say jumbo...