The Mindy Project: Mindy Kaling’s Style Evolution

Stepping out in 2005 for the premiere of The 40 Year-Old Virgin, actress Mindy Kaling was already making moves on-screen — and on-stage. Just three years earlier, Kaling scored major accolades for an off-Broadway play she co-wrote (where she portrayed Ben Afleck) — a play which landed itself on Time magazine's "Top Ten Theatrical Events of The Year". A fresh face in the industry, it was clear from the start that Kaling was destined to blaze her own trail.

Looking super casual for the occasion, Kaling wore a silvery satin camisole and boot-cut jeans, with a mish-mash of accessories and a bold lip. Not her finest style moment, but she gets points for making less-is-more a thing when everyone else was heavy into the excessive-glam trend.

Killing it as the character of Kelly Kapoor on The Office, Mindy Kaling was enjoying the spotlight in 2006, when she stepped out for the 58^th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards looking drop-dead-gorgeous in a strapless floor-length gown.

Did you know: a writer-performer and sometimes-director for the hit television show, The Office from 2005 to 2013, Mindy Kaling was the first female cast member to join the program, and in season 11 was also promoted as a full-time executive producer of the show.

In a fitted, floor-length silver satin gown, Mindy Kaling stunned at the 2007 Emmy Awards. Always willing to experiment with colours, cuts and styles, Kaling is quickly becoming one to watch for on red carpets.

Taking style risks sometimes pays off, as Mindy Kaling discovered in 2008, when she rocked this funky black gown for the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards.

Blue never looked so good. While we can’t say we love the style of Mindy Kaling’s gown for the 2009 Screen Actor’s Guild Awards – or the bizarre choice of eyeshadow — we do love the bright blue pop of colour!

Looking like a living doll, Mindy Kaling is perfection in a strapless black tulle gown. Keeping her makeup simple and rocking a playful updo, Kaling keeps her look chic — and entirely unique. Continuously serving up fresh takes on glam styling, Kaling has become one of the most fun celebrities to watch for at red carpet events.

Tacking “author” onto her ever-growing list of industry credentials, Mindy Kaling keeps in sleek and simple in an LBD for the New York launch of her first book, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

Celebrating the premiere of Mindy Kaling’s new show, The Mindy Project, the actor-writer stepped out with then-boyfriend and former Office co-star, B.J. Novak. 2012 was a big year for Kaling, who ranked on Time magazine’s list of “100 Most Influential People”.

While attending a party hosted by Spotify in 2013, Mindy Kaling showed up rocking prints-on-prints and we couldn’t love it more. What might’ve been a major fashion misstep felt more like a major style moment, as Kaling managed to take a mishmash of prints and accessories and throw it all together in a way that just works.

For the 2013 premiere of This Is The End, Mindy Kaling knocked it out of the park in a gorgeous cream-and-black colour-block belted dress. Simple, super-flattering and on-trend, this one was a definite win.

Posing in the press room for People Magazine Awards in 2014, Mindy Kaling is a knockout in a hot pink, low-cut mini dress. This cut, this colour – yes, Mindy, YAS!

We – are – not –worthy! Mindy Kaling glided onto the red carpet of the 2016 Academy Awards and right onto best-dressed lists everywhere in this off-the-shoulder black gown with sweeping blue sleeve details.

Showing a lighter side, hair-wise, Mindy Kaling glowed at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party in a low-cut gown, bold lip and caramel-coloured locks.

Mindy Kaling showed up and showed out in a big way at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in 2017, rocking a floral applique dress and sleek, straight hair for a look that felt 70’s-inspired. Kaling accessorized with her favourite eye candy – on-again, off-again partner B.J. Novak, whom Kaling would name as the godfather to her child, born later that year. Fun fact: Kaling has never revealed the identity of her baby’s father, even to close friends.

All smiles while attending a scholarship luncheon for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles in 2017, Mindy Kaling looked picture-perfect in a baby-blue dress and cardigan co-ord.

We always knew Mindy Kaling was fit for a crown, and she showed us all how well she wears one at the 2018 MET Gala. Simple and understated, Kaling let the crown be the standout piece for her look that evening, and while she might have flown under the radar amongst the favourites for best-dressed that evening, we love how she opted to do less on a night when everyone typically does the most.

Is there a mini-dress with a full skirt that Mindy Kaling can’t rock? The answer is no – there isn’t. Always experimenting with new prints and colours, Kaling knows the secret to killer style is to have fun with it.

Almost unrecognizable at first glance, a very blonde and gold-clad Mindy Kaling made a decidedly less subtle fashion statement at the 2019 MET Gala compared to her low-key princess ensemble the year before. In a one-shoulder gold foil gown and platinum blonde wig, it was clear: Kaling did not come to play. Not surprisingly, this look made waves and landed her on several best-dressed lists to follow.

Posing for the press at a Tory Burch fashion show in 2019, Mindy Kaling was print-perfection in a dress by the brand, complete with mixed-print handbag and cap-toe metallic pumps. With so much going on in this look, someone else might have been overwhelmed by all the mixed prints and colours, but Kaling rocks it with ease.

What would be one of Mindy Kaling (and everyone else’s) final red-carpet events of 2020 pre-Covid would also go down as our favourite look to-date from the style star. Absolutely glowing in a bold yellow one-shoulder gown, Kaling stunned on the red carpet of the 2020 Academy Awards.