As 2014 comes to a close, we can’t help but reminisce on all the great fashion moments of the year, starting with the most talked-about red carpet looks. Who can forget the red cape dress Lupita Nyong’o wore to the Golden Globes, Rihanna’s saucy see-through number from the CFDA Awards, or Suki Waterhouse’s layered silk organza confection from the Met Gala? From jaw-dropping glamour to scandalous appeal, we’ve had ourselves another fashion year for the books! Keep reading for our curated selection of the best of the best on the red carpet.
WEAR: Jolie chose to only wear black on her press tour for Maleficent—a clever nod to her famous Disney character—which resulted in this dramatic number: a leather gown by Versace. Much like Jolie, the unexpected dress is at once edgy and captivating.
WEAR: When did we officially know that Kendall Jenner was all grown-up? When the model turned up to host the MuchMusic Awards in a Fausto Puglisi hand-embroidered gown with pelvic-revealing slits. Luckily, there was no wardrobe malfunction to speak of.
WHAT: Toronto Film Festival premiere of The Face Of An Angel
WEAR: It’s not often you find Delevingne all dolled up on the red carpet, but we have to admit we like the feminine contrast. The look reads movie star, and with five films slated for 2015, that’s precisely where she is headed.
WEAR: The singer had everyone buzzing when she showed up in—gasp!—a very leggy Mary Katrantzou romper instead of a bare midriff look. We applaud Swift for breaking away from the expected.
WEAR: Teigen kicked off her major year with an appearance at the Grammys in a bombshell Johanna Johnson gold strapless, deep-V sequined gown. We can’t think of a more stunning way to return to the spotlight.
WEAR: When Queen B didn’t show up on the Grammy red carpet, we were both shocked and disappointed. Luckily, the singer more than made up for it when later that evening she turned out in this Michael Costello sheer lace dress.
WEAR: Kristen Stewart took a risk in this feather-embellished Chanel number, and it definitely paid off. Not only does the dress mimic the actress’ edgy style—note her orange locks—it makes a fashion-forward style statement, too.
WHAT:Clouds of Sils Maria photocall at the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival
WEAR: Moretz’s lovely Chanel look couldn’t be more perfect for the French Riviera backdrop and proved the actress has a fashion sense well beyond her 17 years.
WEAR: Rihanna solidified her sartorial risk-taker status when she showed up on the red carpet in a see-through Adam Selman fishnet dress, gloves, and headscarf, all embellished with over 2,000,000 crystals. We’re still picking our jaws up from the floor.
WEAR: Maybe it’s the delicate black lace or the subtly sexy flashes of skin, but we couldn’t get this romantic Valentino number out of our heads for months.
WHAT:The Hunger Games: Mockingjay-Part 1 Los Angeles premiere
WEAR: November might arguably be our favourite time of year, because it means we get to see a ton of Jennifer Lawrence while she promotes the next instalment of The Hunger Games franchise. We were particularly fond of the midi-length silver jacquard Dior dress she wore to the L.A. premiere.
WEAR: Nyong’o may not have won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress, but she did win the red carpet in this gorgeous cape gown by Ralph Lauren—and later the Academy Award, too.
WEAR: The fashion community let out a collective “aww” upon seeing Lively, her growing baby bump, and Ryan Reynolds on the red carpet at The Angel Ball in October. Besides the fact that she is absolutely glowing, the Gucci gown fits her body like a glove.
WEAR: We didn’t think anything could top Emma Stone’s incredibly stylish press tour for The Amazing Spider-Man: Rise of Electro until she cut her hair and turned up at the Venice Film Festival in this Oscar-worthy emerald green Valentino gown.
WEAR: Pantsuits on the red carpet were de rigueur for the fashionable set this year, but we particularly love Watson’s belted tuxedo version by Givenchy. Note her utterly cool double cone shark earrings too, also by the brand.
WEAR: We credit this Lily Aldridge look for putting New York designer Rosie Assoulin on the fashion map. The off-the-shoulder silhouette is unlike anything we’ve ever seen, and the gold choker served as a brilliant complement to the dress’ architectural vibe.
WEAR: We can’t think of anyone better to bring this Balenciaga creation from the S/S 15 collection to the red carpet than Mara. A nod to her moody style, the two-piece set brings a surprising elegance to one of the year’s biggest trends.
WEAR: Ombre can be tricky, but Collins, wearing Elie Saab, is proof that when done the right way the results are nothing short of breathtaking. We love that she opted for a wine lip to further the look’s dark, romantic vibe.
WHAT:Transformers: Age of Extinction New York premiere
WEAR: For her first year out of the gate Nicola Peltz racked up a pretty impressive sartorial resume, which included the likes of Prada, Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney, and this all-over sequin Balenciaga dress.
WEAR: We can’t remember the last time we didn’t love an Olsen red carpet moment, and their Met Gala appearance was no different. In true Olsen fashion, their vintage gowns made an understated yet very cool statement.
Who do you think had the best red carpet moment of 2014? Tell us in the comments below!