News

From Rihanna to Paul Mescal: the 10 best dressed stars of 2023

2023 was a year of fashion highs (and obviously some lows – how many naked dresses on the red carpet does it take to throttle a trend? We’re way over the limit tbqh). The SAG-AFTRA strike might have brought a short pause in red carpet proceedings, but thanks be to Instagram for off-duty insights to keep us going. Who made our best dressed list? Those who came, wore and conquered, did something interesting, pushed a fashion envelope or ten and ultimately entertained us. Our top ten runners unveiled:

Rihanna RIHANNA PERFORMS AT THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW 2023AP

Her Superbowl halftime performance in February was the most watched of all time; yes, she has some bangers, but a moment please for her custom Loewe scarlet red boiler suit and breastplate look in which she casually dropped the news of her second pregnancy. More fiercely fabulous maternity looks continued at the Oscars — three in total — before, she yet again shut down The Met Gala in a custom Valentino look drenched in white camellia appliqués in honour of Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel tenure.

RIHANNA AT THE FENTY X PUMA LAUNCH PARTY, LA, DECEMBER 2023GETTY IMAGES

Her mom-style — see her latest purple big-bird jacket (adore) gets more and more major. Is anyone in the world as cool as Rihanna? We don’t think so.

Emma Corrin EMMA CORRIN WEARS AN INTERPRETATION OF A 80S PRINCESS DIANA LOOK AT THE CROWN FINALE CELEBRATION IN LONDONGETTY IMAGES

From setting off a serious posh-pants trend from the Miu Miu Paris runway in March to gamely cosplaying Princess Diana at the recent premiere of the final series of The Crown, Corrin has continued their ascent in becoming one of our favourite style provocateurs.

ES MAGAZINE

Every time they pop onto a step and repeat we are riveted. And who else would be game enough to let Harry Lambert pop a fork in their hair for the cover of ES magazine? More please, Emma.

Ncuti GatwaNCUTI GATWA IN VALENTINO AT THE LONDON PREMIERE OF BARBIEGARETH CATTERMOLE/GETTY IMAGES

The newest Timelord on the block is a visionary fashion plate, and gives us everything we want — which is no holds barred commitment to A Full Look. His pure hearted embracing of the unexpected, thrilling and off-key pieces are just what the doctor ordered (sorry).

NCUTI GATWA ATTENDS THE SPRING/SUMMER 2024 JW ANDERSON SHOW IN LONDONJED CULLEN/DAVE BENETT/GETTY IMA

Where to start? The perfect 10 Ken premiere looks alongside Margot Robbie et al on the Barbie tour? His sheer, satin half-skirted Burc Akyol number at Vogue World? A pleated Thom Browne skirt-suit for Wimbledon? Sweet knits and pink arm candy front row at JW Anderson? He gives and he gives.

Paul Mescal PAUL MESCAL ATTENDS THE 2023 VANITY FAIR OSCAR PARTYGETTY IMAGES

Hasn’t he come a long way from that gold chain? Mescal has joined the ranks of premium fashion daddies this year, with a pose perfect display of jaunty slogan T-shirts (“untie your tongue” Paul, stop it), layered knitwear and striking red carpet reinterpretations of black tie.

PAUL MESCAL FOR GUCCIGUCCI

Not to mention his internet-halting appearance in one of Sabato de Sarno’s first Gucci campaigns. Legs akimbo, trench coat flowing open to reveal boxers, a white vest and lashings of leg and mullet-beard hair. Gracious.

Margot Robbie MARGOT ROBBIE ATTENDS THE EUROPEAN PREMIERE OF “BARBIE” AT CINEWORLD LEICESTER SQUARE ON JULY 12, 2023 IN LONDONGETTY IMAGES FOR WARNER BROS.

Fashiontainment is the industry’s favourite buzz phrase, a motion which was proven over and over again by the Barbie juggernaut junket this summer — have clothes ever been more entertaining on a red carpet? Were we slightly jaded by the finale of Robbie’s endless incarnations of my size Barbie? Sure, but were we not also incredibly amused, charmed and seduced by this grown woman doll cosplay? Damn straight.

MARGOT ROBBIECHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP

Our key look was obviously the classic 60s Barbie-inspired black fishtail custom Schiaparelli number closely followed by the 80s pink Judith Leiber glitter phone moment in Seoul. And then, there was pink, a lot of pink. We (not so) secretly adored it all.

Pedro Pascal MAKING YELLOW HAPPEN: PEDRO PASCAL AT EL CAPITAN THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA ON FEBRUARY 28, 2023GETTY IMAGES FOR DISNEY

For services to Carhartt Dads of East London, we thank Pascal for his The Last of Us hot-apocalypse looks, has a grungy plaid shirt ever looked so aspirational next to a mushroom head zombie? Do discuss. But away from the end of the world, he continued on his fashion daddy ascent.

PEDRO PASCAL IN VALENTINO AT THE MET GALA, MAY 2023GETTY IMAGES

A bare leg in Valentino shorts, a yellow buttoned-up shirt with jaunty coordinating sweater nonchalantly thrown over a shoulder, lamé silver cardigans and mesh knits? Honestly, we need a lie down. And our daddy.

Michaela Coel MICHAELA COEL WEARS SCHIAPARELLI AT THE 2023 MET GALA CELEBRATING “KARL LAGERFELD: A LINE OF BEAUTY” AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART ON MAY 01, 2023GETTY IMAGES

In a sea of polite, anodyne red carpet options, Coel is a beacon of originality and personality. Her appearances might be few, but they are always worth paying attention to. At this year’s Met Gala she stunned in Schiaparelli haute couture, but it was her jewellery choices which defiantly set her apart. Eschewing the (paid) offers from myriad major brands, she instead chose to support independent talent and reflect her West African roots. Her extraordinary earrings and headpiece were made by fellow British-Ghanaian Emefa Cole, who works out of London’s Goldsmith’s centre. Coel’s specially cast pieces were created through a dash to a SMO (single mine origin) mine in Côte D’Ivoire to source the fully traceable and responsibly sourced gold.

MICHAELA COEL IN FERRAGAMO AT THE FASHION AWARDS 2023DAVE BENETT

In December. at the Fashion Awards, Coel picked up her Pandora Leader of Change award wearing a striking white look by Manchester-born Maximilian Davis for Ferragamo. Quietly, major.

Sienna Miller SIENNA MILLER ATTENDS VOGUE WORLD WEARING SCHIAPARELLI, AT THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 IN LONDONGARETH CATTERMOLE/GETTY IMAGES

M&S has been staging a turnaround for years, but it was through enlisting everyone’s favourite millennial blonde Sienna Miller that it really took hold. Could Miller — the style crush of every forty-ish year old woman — lure them back into this sometimes-staid stalwart of the British high street? With a slew of Succession-y stealth wealth homages in chic knits and easy black suiting, yes! Results are up 30 per cent year on year.

SIENNA MILLER FOR M&SSIENNA MILLER FOR M&S

But she hasn’t just saved the everywoman from fashion oblivion. Miller’s finale of swooping onto the cover of US Vogue — displaying her almost 42 year old baby bump — has secured her place as a dependable style icon for all.

BeyoncéBEYONCÉ WEARING CUSTOM LOEWE ON THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR IN STOCKHOLMGETTY IMAGES FOR PARKWOOD

The Renaissance tour has cemented queen Bey’s role as a killer arbiter of fashion. From that trompe l’oeil Loewe sequin drenched jumpsuit, to Courréges and Balmain bodices not to mention the litany of London-based star turns whom she turned to for her Tottenham-leg.

BEYONCÉ SERVING LOOKS AT THE LONDON PREMIERE OF HER RENAISSANCE FILMES COMPOSITE

That role call included Vivienne Westwood, Roksanda, David Koma and Mary Katrantzou. We must also allow for the not insignificant contribution in kicking off this year’s major silver trend. She came, she slayed, etc.

Pamela Anderson PAMELA ANDERSON WEARS VICTORIA BECKHAM – AND NO MAKEUP – AT THE FASHION AWARDS 2023GARETH CATTERMOLE/GETTY IMAGES

From her Netflix documentary to the front row, Ms Anderson has had a much adored return to the public eye, and with it some seriously fine looks. However, it was her face peeking out from underneath a giant hat at the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood show in Paris that set off one of the year’s most welcome style moments. In a sea of Botoxed and filled faces, her no makeup visage was as refreshing as a red-one-piece sea rescue.

PAMELA ANDERSON AT THE ANDREAS KRONTHALER FOR VIVIENNE WESTWOOD SHOW IN PARISGETTY IMAGES

It also underscored a sharp point, why are the micro-needling, aesthetician-bookmarking Gen Z so terrified of getting older? It’s clearly fabulous. Oh to be that free of f**** in your prime. Pamela, we love you.

Related Posts

Labour’s big new ‘back to work’ threat to strip youngsters of their benefits if they are unwilling to graft or train already happens, admits minister –  and they can appeal if it’s too harsh

Labour’s big ‘back to work’ threat to strip unwilling teens of their benefits if they don’t try to get a job or train is just a continuation of the current system, a senior minister admitted today. Alison McGovern was grilled over the drive to ‘get Britain working again’ and achieve an ‘ambitious’ target of getting another 2 million people into jobs. As well as targeting the long-term sick, ministers have also vowed that those aged 18 to 21 who are out of work but refuse to look for a job, seek training or an apprenticeship, will get no taxpayer cash.

Israel and Hezbollah on the cusp of a peace deal: Netanyahu ‘gives green light to ceasefire proposal’

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah could see the terrorist organisation leave southern Lebanon and the IDF withdraw its troops. The deal, which reportedly has the support of Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, could see the nearly two-month military incursion to come to an end. A source within the government told the Daily Telegraph that the Israeli cabinet will vote on the proposals drawn up by the United States today.

Reason I’m A Celebrity’s Tulisa and Reverend Richard Coles are exempt from height trials is revealed

I’m A Celebrity fans discovered last night that Tulisa and Reverend Richard Coles were exempt from height trials, with the N-Dubz singer accidentally revealing hers was on ‘medical grounds’. Before the voting opened for tonight’s Bushtucker trial, the show’s longtime hosts Ant and Dec announced Tulisa, 36, and Reverend Coles, 62, would be exempt from the trial with no further explanation. Fans were left speculating as to why even when the Geordie duo told the camp Dean McCullough, 32, was going to face a trial yet again.

New bank holiday planned to mark major event anniversary in 2025

Brits are to get a new bank holiday next year to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War – with a bumper four-day weekend planned. The major celebration will be marking the heroics of the ‘Greatest Generation’ who fought against Hitler and the Nazis in Europe and Africa, and Imperial Japan in Asia. And as part of a big year of events, a four-day jamboree will reportedly be staged either in May or August.

Gavin Newsom proposes ‘insane’ move against Elon Musk as he attempts to defy Trump with electric car rebates that excludes Tesla

Gavin Newsom is plotting to defy Donald Trump while stiffing key MAGA ally Elon Musk, as California plans an electric vehicle rebate program that intentionally leaves out Tesla. The California governor is planning to introduce a state tax rebate on purchasing electric cars if the Trump administration eliminates the federal tax cut. Newsom even bragged that his policies have made Tesla and Musk ‘so damn successful.’

Supreme Court hearing which will determine the definition of a woman begins TODAY – in a case with major implications for female-only spaces

A Supreme Court hearing that will determine the definition of a woman begins today in a case with major implications for female-only spaces. The case – which has been brought by gender-critical activists – will see five justices consider the question: ‘Is a person with a full gender recognition certificate which recognises that their gender is female, a ‘woman’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010?’ Feminist group For Women Scotland (FWS) will argue that trans women should not be able to fill roles meant for biological women under legislation designed to ensure equal numbers of men and women on company boards.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *