Best & worst dressed celebrities of the year: A look back at 2019 – Stuff.co.nz

Welcome to the year that was in fashion, where flames were hot (pun intended) anddenim disasters were frequent.

Style queens Dame Helen Mirren and Cate Blanchett continuedto rule the red carpet in 2019, while newcomers Elle Fanning and Timothee Chalametmanaged to steal the spotlight (for all the right reasons) on more than a few occasions.

Zendayararely set a foot wrong this year, while Sarah Paulson and the Game of Thrones ladies sure knew how to keep things interesting.

At the other end of the style spectrum was Rita Ora, whose fashion choices continued to baffle us here at Best & Worst, and Halsey, who seemed to be a regular on our "worst" list.

AP, GETTY IMAGES

Miley Cryus and Cate Blanchett earned our praise this year. We weren't so fond of most of Kim Kardashian's looks.

READ MORE:* Best & worst dressed celebrities of the week* Best & worst dressed celebrities of the week* Best & worst dressed celebrities of the week

It also hasn't been the bestyear fashion-wise for Kim K, and don't even get us started on some of Shailene Woodley's shockers.

Without further ado, here's a look back of some of the year's biggest hits and misses. And we'll see you right back here next week for yet another year of Best & Worst...

BEST

THE GOOD: It's only January, but we're already picking Sarah Paulson in Prada as one of our best dressed of the year. It's striking, unusual, and an example of someone taking a fashion risk, which is ultimately what we're all here for (else things get a bit staid). A hot pink gown with green flames roaring up the skirt = the definition of fashion ferocity, and we love that her jacket is faux fur, and that she went for a super simple hair and makeup look. Love her, love the look. Fast fact: the coat designer isHiraeth, which is a vegan fashion line headed up by actress Rooney Mara. A woman of many talents, then.

THE GOOD:Bow down: I'm calling that this is a best dressed of the year. Top ten. Helen Mirren reigns supreme in this custom Badgley Mischka gown and opera coat.It's all so glorious: the colour sings on her, and the bulbous taffeta sleeves on the coat are given space to do all the heavy lifting thanks to the sleek dress underneath. And it's all perfectly complemented by that purple JudithLieberclutch and turquoise David Webb statement necklace (eat your heart out CountessLuann).

THE GOOD: We just had to give a special shout-out to Julia Roberts and this Stella McCartney get-up. In a Golden Globesred carpet awash with glitter, jewel-toned gowns, and voluminous skirts, this tailored pants, tulle bodice, and dramatic train combo was a refreshing palate cleanser. Sure, there were gowns aplenty also worth remembering from the night (Lady Gaga, Lupita, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge were particular highlights, to name just a few) but this understated, supremely chic, and fiercely refined little number was a stand-out moment for us.

THE GOOD: Livening up the royal family dress code this week was the Duchess of Sussex, who looked resplendent in two exceptionally vibrant hues for an outing this week. While Harry was sombre in winter greys and navys, the mum-to-be brightened up a January morning in a purple Babaton for Aritzia dress underneath a contrasting scarlet Sentaler coat. It sounds like it'd be a touch too much in theory, but in reality it only serves to up the royal's glow (as well as sending out the all-important message that pregnant women shouldn't feel any pressure to blend into the background). More of this pure-fun fashion in 2019, please.

THE GOOD:Yes, this Dior look is directional:ElleFanning looks like she's time travelled straight from the era in which the cover of women's fashion magazines were still sketches, rather than photos. But, she's clearly having fun, and so we're full on Fanning-girling. It's definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but this outfit manages to make photos of a woman walking down a red carpet look like a well-crafted high-end editorial fashion shoot, we'd call that a win.

THE GOOD: This isn't going to be for everyone, but it's a big, bold fashion moment, and we love it. Miley Cyrus is promoting a Valentine's Day rom com, and so really, this frilly red Valentino is perfect for the occasion. She's like a really couture version of the dancing red dress flamenco emoji - quite the inspiration. It's a weird mix of sheer and frou-frou, and kind of looks like maxi dress negligee, yes, but somehow it all works - and wacky whimsy suits Ms Cyrus.

THE GOOD: Selma Blair, in Ralph & Russo, is a true triumph. Hercapedand paneled pastel dress is gorgeous in its own right, but when you consider this is the star's first public outing since her multiple sclerosis diagnosis, the whole thing takes on a different tone. That cane is there for a reason. Blairtearedup on the red carpet, explaining onInstagramthat in the midst of her illness, the Vanity Fair party was a "streak of light". Fitting, then, that she looks so elegant, strong and striking.

THE GOOD: We've said it before, and we'll say it again - Zendaya Coleman is a style icon (and she's only 22). Not everyone could pull off a jumpsuit with arms that pay homage to the Cookie Time monster, but she can. This organza-tastic David Koma suit is chic and fierce all rolled into one: it's defiantly modern, delightfully strange and daringly ruffly. We love it, love her.

THE GOOD: Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner has been at this for a while, and you can tell. This Louis Vuitton gown is not what you'd call a starter dress. It's stately and sculptural, and not exactly youthful. I can imagine Meryl Streep looking amazing in this. However, so too does Turner. She's got the presence and the height to carry this simplified scifi (or is that Dynasty?) gown off. The red lip and sleek, centre-parted hair are the perfect accompaniments.

THE GOOD: Gwendoline Christie is on fire. In the very best of ways. This Iris van Herpen dress is part gown, part performance art, but it's full fabulous. Move over fire crotch (literally) Melisandre, this butterfly goddess is going to sashay her way straight to King's Landing domination. Slay girl, sashay and slay.

THE GOOD:Ms Blake Livelyannounced she was with child via this red carpet experience: popping a cute announcement on Facebook is one thing, but turning up to a premiere looking impossibly chic in a sparkly Retrofete lemon yellow dress is a truly A-list way of telling the world you're up the duff. Her curly hair is goals, and we love how she's dressed in yellow for aPikachumovie premiere, and even has a wee Pikachu symbol in her nail art. Cute. What's not cute, however, is Ryan's denim waistcoat: he's cute (we would), but the sleeveless denim is simply too reminiscent of NSync in the days before Justin started straightening his hair.

THE GOOD:Vanessa Hudgens looks like a Sevillan princess in this study in polka dots and layers by Carolina Herrera. The red lip and scarlet nails, the simple centre-part hairdo - everything about this is on point. The dress could veer into Flamenco costume territory, but it doesn't because the bodice fits so perfectly and the ruffles are very tasteful (it was a good design decision to start the ruffles at mid thigh rather than at the hip, as it makes the skirt sleek rather than swamping). Ole!

THE GOOD:Have you been on the internet this week? If not, I admire your self restraint and your logged-off lifestyle, but if so, you will have seen these pictures of Timothee Chalamet in Haider Ackermann.It's an instantly iconic fit. An ivory tux with a cinched waist would have been newsworthy in itself, but when you add in that silk top underneath and some of the finest Chelsea boots I've ever seen, it's on another level. Chalamet doesn't work with a stylist. This is all him. Very, very good work.

THE GOOD:It hasn't escaped my notice that this is essentially a fancy duvet cover, or maybe a very lush curtain. Jennifer Lopez looks a bit like that thing women do after sex in movies, where they strip the bed and swan around in a sheet so as to avoid being naked on camera. Has anyone ever done that in real life?If so, there's no way they looked as good as Lopez does in this Reem Acra. Sophisticated, luxurious, unexpected. This is vaguely 1960s and definitely brilliant. Even if I hadn't just seenHustlers, I'd love it.

THE GOOD:Bow down.If Beale Street Could Talkstar KiKiLaynelooks like an alien queen from the year 2120, or at least, what people thought the year 2120 might look like in 1962.Her hair is not what you'd call subtle, but her skin is glowing, her Gucci gown fits her like a dream, and the overall impression is one of elegance and command. This is bananas, but in the best possible way. Gucci dressed just about everyone at thisLACMAgala, because they co-hosted it, but not all fared as well asLayne. To be fair, most of us have never looked even 10 per cent this good in our lives. Stunning.

THE GOOD:Here's Cate Blanchett, always a red carpet highlight, in Armani Prive. She looks like a good witch, like a Christmas ornament from the 1950s.Such is Blanchett's power that I'm barely even noticing the slightly dishwater-y mint colour. There's probably about four people on the planet who could glow in this hue, but she's one of them.

THE GOOD:This lavenderGiambattistaValligown might not be everyone's cup of tea (or coffee, whatever your preference) but there's no denying that Margot Robbie is pulling it off with aplomb. The floral waistband stops it from being too plain while the tiered skirt is ultra romantic; there'sfrou, but not frou-frou.It's chock full of whimsy without feeling toohippyish- if SofiaCoppolawas making a modern day remake ofA Midsummer Night's Dream, this is totally what we could imagine Titania wearing.

WORST

THE BAD:Here are Gigi and BellaHadiddressed as if they are a new Marvel superhero and super villain. Gigi's Emilia Wicksteadjumpsuit is very close to being something that Jane Fonda could make look fabulous, but it's just a little too cape adjacent. Bella, meanwhile, is wearing somethingBritneywould have worn back when she was dating JT. Or, in fact, that Ms Fonda would have worn back when people still regularly called her Hanoi Jane. It's actually a look from Rosetta Getty's 2019 collection. We do love a throwback, but we're not ready for this level of bootleg to make a return.

THE BAD:We are crossing every single appendage in order to wish that this type of jumpsuit doesn't become a thing and begin to take over high street stores. We do not want to see people struggling down Willis Street in these,havingto surreptitiously pull at their crotch every few seconds (the kind of moment when it's really rude to stare, but also kind of impossible not to).It's part bike short, part wrap dress, part Victorian puff sleeve, and it's simply not a shape that will make any woman look comfortable. This particular design is by Russian brandDalood. Its wearer,ChrissyTeigen, has the kind of body most of us would need to be on permanent juice fasts to achieve. We shudder to think what our torsos would look like if attacked by this clingy chartreuse.

THE BAD:No,ShaileneWoodley hasn't rifled through fabric offcuts at hernana'shouse to fashion a chic Dennis the Menace Halloween costume. She is in fact wearing hot off the catwalk Prada resort 2020. It's likeBCBGMaxazriameets Canterbury rugby jerseys: not a naturalmashup.

THE BAD:Words cannot describe how much I detest this top-to-toe denim look on KimKardashianWest - but that kind of defeats the point of this column, so I'll lay my disgust out as best I can. This full Burberry look screams early 2000s pirate, except the only thing she's plundered is a Levi's outlet store.This is right up there with Justin andBritney's2001 denim on denim crime, butKardashian'sversion is bordering on a full-on assault (on my eyeballs) thanks to those bum-cupping boots. I'd need a catheter installed before spending an evening in them. When evenKanyecan barelymake eye contact out of seeming embarrassment, you know you've done a bad, bad thing.

THE BAD: DearElenaPerminova, your very expensive Balmain dress actually just looks like a pink Post-It note you know, the skinny kind you use to mark a spot on a page. We're all for a 'statementlewk', but can you imagine trying to navigate life with this stiff pink foot-long rectangle jutting out from your LBD? "Thwack" "Oh, sorry, don't mind me, that's just my skirt's skirting board best you walk to my left to avoid any further bruising."

THE BAD: Should I ever meet Rita Ora, I will ask what the noble fabric of denim ever did to her to deserve treatment such as this. It's a level of disrespect that I just can't allow. I saw a tweet the other day referencing FloRidaand T Pain's iconic 2008 hit Low which changed the lyrics to "Shawtyhad them apple bottom jeans, boots with the jeans, the whole club was looking at jeans". Who could have expected it to come to life like this? Those boots are in fact wearing jeans. Also, there is no need for a fleece denim trench coat to exist, or for your denim shirt tails to hang below your denim skirt. Too much of a good thing.

THE BAD:I am, admittedly, not what you'd call aSwifty. But even her most devoted fans would be forced to admit Taylor Swift has looked better. Has she offendedDonatella? Was the new album not to her taste? I can't thinkwhy else Versace would put someone so famous in something this unflattering. That print and shoulder pad combo is pretty ageing.Add in the dated, too-styled hair and Swift looks like she's all dressed up for bingo night. Not the one.

THE BAD: Kim Kardashian's chest looks like a piece of Mickey Mouse merch in this vintage Versace dress. The rest of the dress is inoffensive, but the fact is, it simply doesn't fit across her lovely lady lumps. Hey, we've all been there - you stumble across a cute little op shop, and inside find a gem of a 40s tea dress that's almost perfect, but just pulls and puckers in all the wrong places. But, thing is KK, you've just gotta let it go: put that dress down and move on. Do not employ double sided tape and do your darndest to squeeze yourself into it.

THE BAD:Y'all, it looks like these are culottes. Sheer yet twee shorts. I am clutching my pearls. Dear Dior, Shailene Woodley deserves better. The stripes and polka dots are confusing, as is the see through mixed with the fussy retro shape. The whole thing looks like a Playboy Bunny outfit designed for Betty Draper. All the girl needs is some lining, and we'd be cooking with gas. Glass half full, she suits the retro hair - deliveringBarbarellarealness in the best of ways.

THE BAD:It pains me to have to put Gwendoline Christie on the lower end of the spectrum, as she's normally such a power dresser. But alas, it seems she confused her invite for this year's Emmys as an invite to a friend's fancy dress party - surely that's the reason she showed up asJoaquinPhoenix inGladiator? It's an incredible costume, yes, but not quite as incredible as an awards ceremony gown (although there's no denying she's carrying it off with real aplomb and regality). This would have really brightened up the final season ofGame of Thrones- and God knows the writers needed it - but it's a thumbs down on this occasion. It's by Gucci, by the way, which really explains a lot.

THE BAD:Who on the GuyLaRochedesign team decided we needed a holey, sheeny denim jumpsuit with an Elvis collar? This jumpsuit is actually discriminatory: anyone with a D cup and above would end up withunderboobflopping out of that gaping left torso hole.Now, CaraDelevingnecan make thequirkiestlooks work, but even she can't triumph over cheese grater cloth. The pointy white heels certainly don't help.

THE BAD:Halseyis, unfortunately, at it again. This week she's in PeterPilottorather than in costume, but the results are no better. Too many lengths, too many clashing patterns, too much eye makeup.This looks like a discarded Carrie Bradshaw outfit. If even Patricia Field would say, "You know what, I think that's a bit much," you know you've gone too far.

THE BAD:Winnie Harlow is beyond beautiful, but this Vivienne Westwood number looks like something a Disney princess would wear on her hen's night.Why would you have all that fabric and volume at the sides, and then so little covering the crotch that Harlow can't safely put an arm over her head? They can't all be winners, and this one certainly isn't.

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Best & worst dressed celebrities of the year: A look back at 2019 - Stuff.co.nz