From the continuing ascendance of street style blogs to high-brow exhibits, 2011 was a good year for fashion photography.
There were vintage Harper's Bazaar photographs on display at New York's International Center of Photography, archived Vogue covers in Dodie Kazanjian's new coffee table book, a tribute to Helmut Newton at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Mario Sorrenti's classy take on nudity for the annual Pirelli Calendar and stunning magazine shoots by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Mario Testino, Hedi Slimane and Steven Meisel.
But there were also living, breathing photo opps happening before our very eyes. So we've pulled together just a few of the amazing pictures taken this year -- on runways, backstage and even on the sidewalk.
Take in the eye candy that was 2011.
Best Fashion Photos of 2011
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(01 of30)
A model poses backstage ahead of the New Generation 2 show during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011/12 at Overseas Passenger Terminal on May 6, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images) (credit:Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(02 of30)
A model rehearses ahead of the Dion Lee show during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011/12 at The Sydney Opera House on May 5, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images) (credit:Lisa Maree Williams, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(03 of30)
A model gets ready backstage before Deng Hao Haute Couture 2012 of China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 on Oct. 31, 2011 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li, Getty Images) (credit:Feng Li, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(04 of30)
A painted model poses for photographers on the final day at the World Bodypainting Festival 2011 on July 3, 2011 in Poertschach, Austria. The festival has been taking place since 1998 and this year drew body painting artists from 40 different nations. (Mathias Kniepeiss, Getty Images) (credit:Mathias Kniepeiss, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(05 of30)
A model walks the runway at the Oscar De La Renta Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on September 13, 2011 in New York City. (Jemal Countess, Getty Images) (credit:Jemal Countess, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(06 of30)
View of runway around Lincoln Center during Spring 2012 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on Sep. 15, 2011 in New York City. ( Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images) (credit: Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(07 of30)
Model Helena Barquilla walks the runway in the Francis Montesinos fashion show during the Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 at Ifema on Sep. 17, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Eduardo Parra, Getty Images) (credit:Eduardo Parra, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(08 of30)
Alessia Piovan wears pieces of jewellery from the new High Jewellery Collection "Sortilege de Cartier" at Villa Aurelia on Sep. 17, 2011 in Rome, Italy. (Vittorio Zunino Celotto, Getty Images) (credit:Vittorio Zunino Celotto, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(09 of30)
A model rehearses on the catwalk before the Fashion Fringe runway show at London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 on September 17, 2011 in London, United Kingdom. (Ian Gavan, Getty Images) (credit:Ian Gavan, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(10 of30)
Models display outfits by Spanish designer Ailanto during the Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week on Sep. 18, 2011. (Dominique Faget, AFP / Getty Images) (credit:Dominique Faget, AFP / Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(11 of30)
A model gets ready backstage before MGPIN Make-up Styling 2012 of China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 on Nov. 1, 2011 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li, Getty Images) (credit:Feng Li, Getty Images)
(12 of30)
A model walks the runway during the Gareth Pugh Ready to Wear Spring / Summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week at Garage Turenne on Sep. 28, 2011 in Paris, France. (Dominique Charriau, WireImage) (credit:Dominique Charriau, WireImage)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(13 of30)
Models walk the runway during the Sonia Rykiel Ready to Wear Spring / Summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week at Halle Freyssinet on Oct. 1, 2011 in Paris, France. (Dominique Charriau, WireImage) (credit:Dominique Charriau, WireImage)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(14 of30)
A model showcases designs by Dominique Sirop on the catwalk as part of Women's Fashion Week Haute Couture program at Marina Bay Sands on Oct. 29, 2011 in Singapore. (Chris McGrath, Getty Images) (credit:Chris McGrath, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(15 of30)
Model Adriana Lima poses backstage at the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on Nov. 9, 2011 in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy, WireImage) (credit:Jamie McCarthy, WireImage)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(16 of30)
Fall 2011 fashion from Monique Lhuillier is modeled during Fashion Week in New York, Monday, Feb. 14, 2011. (Seth Wenig, AP) (credit:Seth Wenig, AP)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(17 of30)
The Halston fall 2011 collection is modeled Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, during Fashion Week in New York. (Andrew Burton, AP) (credit:Andrew Burton, AP)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(18 of30)
A model shows a creation by Chinese designer Lan Yu during China Fashion Week in Beijing Tuesday, March 29, 2011. (Andy Wong, AP) (credit:Andy Wong, AP)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(19 of30)
Brazilian top model Gisele Bundchen poses for pictures inside a shop window during the launch of her women's clothing collection in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, April 28, 2011. (Andre Penner, AP) (credit:Andre Penner, AP)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(20 of30)
A model wears a creation by British fashion designer Bill Gaytten for John Galliano's fashion house spring-summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection presented Sunday, Oct.2, 2011 in Paris. (Francois Mori, AP) (credit:Francois Mori, AP)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(21 of30)
A make-up artist prepares a model backstage before a show during the ModaLisboa fashion week Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 in Lisbon. (Francisco Seco, AP) (credit:Francisco Seco, AP)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(22 of30)
A model showcases designs by Francis Cheong Couture on the catwalk during Audi Fashion Festival Singapore 2011 at Tent@Orchard on May 17, 2011 in Singapore. (Chris McGrath, Getty Images) (credit:Chris McGrath, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(23 of30)
A model showcases designs by Passage Of Dreams By Triumph on the catwalk during Audi Fashion Festival Singapore 2011 at Tent@Orchard on May 18, 2011 in Singapore. (Chris McGrath, Getty Images) (credit:Chris McGrath, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(24 of30)
Models prepare backstage of the Luxe by Lisa Vogel show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim at The Raleigh on July 17, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images) (credit:Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(25 of30)
A model on the runway during the Jogo Beach Swimwear MBFW Swim 2012 show at The Raleigh on July 18, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images) (credit:Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(26 of30)
A model walks the runway during the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada fashion show during the Cibeles Madrid Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 at Ifema on Sep. 17, 2011 in Madrid, Spain. (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez, Getty Images) (credit:Pablo Blazquez Dominguez, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(27 of30)
A model walks the runway during the Gareth Pugh Ready to Wear Spring / Summer 2012 show during Paris Fashion Week at Garage Turenne on Sep. 28, 2011 in Paris, France. (Dominique Charriau, WireImage) (credit:Dominique Charriau, WireImage)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(28 of30)
Models looks at an iphone backstage before Tsai Meiyue Wedding Dress S/S 2012 of China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 at the Banquet Hall, Beijing Hotel on October 30, 2011 in Beijing, China. (Lintao Zhang, Getty Images) (credit:Lintao Zhang, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(29 of30)
A model showcases designs on the catwalk during Deng Hao Haute Couture 2012 of China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 on Oct. 31, 2011 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li, Getty Images) (credit:Feng Li, Getty Images)
Best Fashion Photos of 2011(30 of30)
A model poses before MGPIN Make-up Styling 2012 of China Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 on Nov. 1, 2011 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li, Getty Images) (credit:Feng Li, Getty Images)
To see more great photography visit HuffPost Exposure.
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