What’s the point of December without using it as an excuse to look back at the year and judge the participants within it? (Exactly: without year-end lists, we all lose and time is pointless.)
Fortunately, we will never abandon you, dear readers, and we will always sing the praises of fashion heavy-hitters who spent the last 12 months and/or 365 days looking fly. Here are some of the most stylish celebrity women of 2014 whose wardrobes we would like access to (even if it’s just to look at the fancy clothes up close).
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1. Cara Delevingne
Well, duh. Cara Delevingne was everywhere in 2014, including on several lists we’ve already made. Just last week she showed up at the British Fashion Awards to win Model of the Year before walking arm-in-arm with Karl Lagerfeld in Austria—and that was within only 48 hours. Her flair for toques, high tops, and sweatshirts are a true blessing (especially since she designed some for DKNY), so let the record state: we’re beyond appreciative of her making casualwear so embraced and accessible.
2. Beyonce
She woke up like this! (At the top of our best-dressed list.) Frankly, is there anything Beyonce can’t do? Absolutely not: her performance at the 2014 VMAs captured the best part of a onesie-centric 2014, while the maroon Zuhair Murad gown she wore afterwards reiterated how serious about glamour she can get. Afterwards, lest we forget her Grammy threads: Michael Costello helped her bring it to the red carpet after she debuted “Drunk in Love” live which is as close to church as many of us will ever get.
3. Lupita Nyong’o
No one who paid attention to the 2014 award circuit should be surprised by the presence of Lupita Nyong’o, whose talent is rivaled only by her ability to wear any item of clothing and look so cool. Just last month she kept it simple in a Dior trapeze dress and blazer, but we must also always remember her Ralph Lauren cape dress she showed up in at the 2014 Golden Globes. Basically, Lupita will take over the world, and we should all be so lucky.
4. Emma Watson
2014 was a great year for Emma Watson, who delivered her impeccable #HeForShe speech at the UN this past September (in a Dior coat dress), then walked away with a British Style Award at the BFAs in a Misha Nonoo jumpsuit because she can. Honourable mention: her red backless dress and pants set at the Golden Globes which proves how much of a fashion heavy-hitter she’s grown up into.
5. Taylor Swift
Like her music, hate her music, but accept that girlfriend’s got her aesthetic down pat. She took the onesie route at the 2014 VMAs, then wore a Michael Kors cut-out gown while accepting her Dick Clark Award for Excellence at the AMAs. She’s also the matriarch of crop tops, having posed in one on the cover of ASOS’ December issue, while having performed in no less than a million of them throughout the year. So, see? Crop tops are still cool, everybody.
6. Rihanna
When Beyonce sang “Bow down, bitches” it was in reference to everyone kneeling at the feet of their queen: Rihanna. Her mantra is simple—she doesn’t care what you think. Donned head to toe in Swarovski crystals at the CFDAs courtesy of her gown by designer Adam Selman, she turned heads and inspired blogs, as she should. (Fashion shouldn’t be boring, guys.) She also kept it interesting at the BFAs in only a Stella McCartney jacket (and tights), reminding us why the singer is synonymous with (impeccable) style.
7. Kiernan Shipka
You’re damn right Kiernan Shipka gets a spot on this list: we’re getting the jump start on praising her style choices every year until we pass away. The "Mad Men" star wore a Mary Katrantzou dress to the TrevorLIVE event this week, an Antonio Berardi dress to the Emmys, and a '60s-inspired Tory Burch pantsuit to the store’s flagship opening. In five years, we’ll either be working for her, or dead by her hand. (If you get that last reference, we’re meant to be friends.)
8. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence knows how to wear clothes, and it’s as simple as that. Despite the controversy of her Dior Golden Globes gown (which we think was fine, so calm down, everybody), she brought it at the Oscars in more Dior. She wore Dior at "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" premiere last month, then -- surprise! -- in Antonio Berardi at a taping of David Letterman around the same time. See? She doesn’t need Dior to do her thing.
9. Lorde
It’s time to get behind Lorde and her style choices. Luckily for you, this will be easy, since her Celine and Prada pantsuit put her in a good place back in January at the Grammys. She followed it up with Chanel at the VMAs, then killed it in a white crop top onstage at the AMAs. Be the teen you want to see in the world. Or: don’t be afraid to dress like Lorde.
10. Kim Kardashian
You know what? Let’s keep it simple. All the reasons why Kim Kardashian should be on this list, you can read about here. Break the Internet indeed.
11. Amal Clooney
No one, not even the aforementioned Kardashian had our attention more than Amal Clooney née Alamuddin this year. Proof: her Italian wedding to George Clooney in September, which featured a long weekend filled with extravagant styles that kept our mouths hanging open for days.