Kim Kardashian's Post-Divorce Style Transformation Helped Her Reclaim Her Independence

Kim Kardashian has become a modern style icon, and becoming single again has only made her more empowered. For years, she's turned heads at the Met Gala, inspired countless headlines with risqué outfits, and even founded her own clothing brand. The reality TV star has also dipped into experimental haute couture, like the strange outfit from the 2025 Academy Museum Gala that made Kim Kardashian look truly unrecognizable. However, she wasn't always so adventurous when it came to her clothes.

Many attribute the businesswoman's foray into the fashion world to her ex-husband Kanye West — including Kardashian herself. "I always thought I had really good style ... until I met my husband and he told me that I had the worst style," she revealed at the Business of Fashion West summit in 2018. "He was really nice about it and cleaned out my whole closet. I probably had 250 pairs of shoes and when we were done cleaning it out, I had two pairs left and I cried." 

Kardashian has slowly begun to open up about divorce from West in 2021, citing the instability that came with his mental illness and controlling tendencies as some of her reasons for leaving. On the "Call Her Daddy" podcast in October 2025, she recalled "just not feeling safe" emotionally and financially. But now that she's on her own, Kardashian uses fashion as a way to reclaim her power. The social media star explained to Vogue France that longtime collaborator Demna, former artistic director for Balenciaga, helped her rediscover her personal style. "I think things really changed with Demna. He doesn't care about what other people think, so I learned to do the same," she said.

Even though Kim Kardashian was arguably one of the worst-dressed stars at the 2024 Academy Museum gala, Balenciaga has by far been the most influential brand for the businesswoman in recent years. While she had collaborated with Demna (then still at Balenciaga) before, it wasn't until after her split from West that her relationships with both the brand and individual designer really took off. She walked for Demna's Balenciaga fall couture presentation in 2022, as well as in Demna's final show with the brand in 2025. The designer even made Kardashian the face of Balenciaga in 2022.

"We became very close. I already liked dressing up before I met [Demna], of course, but it was different. I thought fashion was something very elaborate, with sequins or that kind of flashy stuff," Kardashian told Vogue France. She noted that Balenciaga pieces allow her to dress "more simply, without the help of a stylist." Instead of tailoring her style to fit a certain image, the reality TV star is following her gut when it comes to fashion choices. "It's very validating," she admitted. It seems that Kim Kardashian's biggest style secret is just dressing how she wants.

She also explained that her self-assured nature is a very recent development. Turning 40 in 2020 and ending her marriage with West the following year were ultimately what led Kardashian to fashion enlightenment. "Before, I constantly had to consult someone to make a decision ... It's crazy to need other people's opinions all the time." The Skims founder said her newfound confidence is "exhilarating," and anyone paying attention to her style evolution can see that she's more empowered than ever.