After taking a Christmas break, I returned to my computer on the weekend to ponder my list of the best celebrity style of 2008. The list had to be split into two, so this is the list of the best “formal” style of 2008.
This list comprises all the dresses worn to the award shows and events. I always preferred the red carpet part of the Oscars, anyway. The casual/everyday style list will come next.
1. Camilla Belle: For someone so young, Camilla Belle has certainly learnt how to freshen up a classic look. She doesn’t mess with her face or hair much, usually wearing natural make up and keeping her hair very simple. I love how, in the first picture, she takes a classic pink mini dress and pairs it with funky patent shoes and jewellery, which makes it look young and breezy. In the second picture, she effortlessly takes a simple, ethnic-print dress and adds studded, chunky heels to adapt the look and make it her own.
2. Chloe Sevigny: Apparently discovered by a fashion editor on the streets who loved her style, it’s hardly surprising that she has become such a fashion icon for so many women. What I love about Chloe is that she will do anything and everything: she will wear 50s swimsuits to the beach with high-waist bottoms and belts. She’s daring, versatile and bold. Her dress on the left carries on from 2007′s sequins trend and livens it up a little with its interesting neckline. Her look on the right is “classic Chloe” – taking on a trend in its early stages, with these wide leg pants. She adds a touch of red lipstick and she’s good to go.
3. Gwyneth Paltrow: Earlier this year, a fashion critic somewhere said that women over 35 should not show this much leg but I have to say, if I have these legs at 35 I’ll be showing them off. Gwyneth has made some bad choices in the past, wearing the wrong shoes, going without a bra, but it seems like, after two kids, Gwyneth is finally coming into her own. The little black dress is a great choice for her. She’s got this amazing blonde hair and striking face and wearing prints, in my opinion, would be almost “too much”. The LBD is just what she needs.
4. Kate Hudson: Kate Hudson is often seen as this free-spirited, hippie actress and she does often dress this way, so it’s good to see that she doesn’t feel like she has to live up to this look all the time. Obviously, in the second picture she is wearing a very bohemian-style dress and this look definitely suits her. But her dress in the first picture is still very “Kate” without being part of this hippie stereotype. She has a fantastic body and could pull everything off. I think what is best about Kate is that she is super comfortable with herself and seems just very happy with life so this mini dress and heels just look natural and easy on her.
5. Michelle Obama: Simply put, Michelle Obama is a breath of fresh air. Gone are the days of pant suits and stiff, crisp dressing. Michelle is gorgeous, knows herself, knows her body and works it. She takes risks which are a huge thing to do on the political circuit and this is, I think, what everyone is loving about her. She will be bringing something totally new to the White House which hasn’t been done in a long time! I love that she wears up-and-coming designers and I love that she wears things from the cheaper stores as well as designer fashion. This dress is simple and classy but she gives it a sharpness by adding the oversized necklace.
6. Olsen Twins: It seems like a fashion list isn’t complete without the Olsen twins and this one is no exception. This year, Mary-Kate stuck with her tried-and-true vintage dresses, chunky antique jewellery and messy hair but Ashley got a little classier, a little more risky and a little more stylish. The Olsens seem to be the “ones to watch” right now. They’re constantly evolving and trying new things and they know what they’re doing. Ashley looks really grown up in her tight, black gown but still gives it the “Olsen touch” with the cut-outs on the side.
7. Mischa Barton: I can’t always agree with Mischa’s choices; sometimes she has very poor taste. However I think Mischa is very “outside the box” and forward-thinking when it comes to fashion, even if she’s not quite “there” yet with all her choices. What I really like about Mischa is that she’s fun and she doesn’t care. She’s open to trying new things even though she knows she’s going to have cameras all over her. I love the ethnic-inspired belt around the first dress here – it makes this simple dress stand out and adds a young-at-heart twist to it. Really, it’s the same thing with the second dress. I love how she’s gone for something a little different with its embellished straps, though I think it looks slightly too big for her.
8. Nicole Richie: Nicole is another girl who seems to have come into her own, fashion-wise, after having her baby. This year she’s tried a variety of looks, which she always does, but it’s almost like having Harlow has forced her to get to know her body. Her first “event” after giving birth gave us this first dress, showing off her new curves but sticking to her bohemian style. This second dress is a little more risk-taking but it really works. Nicole always gives me the impression that she knows exactly what she’s doing and this is no exception. It could have gone really wrong, but it’s so, so right – the print, the shape, the fringing.
9. Natalie Portman: Natalie Portman seems to fly slightly under the radar when it comes to fashion. I’ve seen very few “candid” shots of her out on the street. But when it comes to events and premiers and awards, she seems to really know what she’s doing. Her face always makes me feel really refreshed, she is so beautiful, and she plays on her very understated and natural looks by wearing dresses that are slightly off-beat but still very classic. I love the way the first dress here has the tulip skirt and the cupped bust line, while the second dress has its unique Jetson-esque top and great, flowing skirt.
10. Rachel Bilson: I love Rachel Bilson’s style, always. Sometimes she’s a little too simple but she’s never boring and I think with both of these dresses she got it just right. The tie-dye was really “on trend” in 2008 and pairing it with black tights gave it an edgier look. Considering she has often stated that Kate Moss is her “style icon”, I like how she managed to get this edgier look but with her own twist on it – she doesn’t just copy, she enhances. The white dress is gorgeous anyway but considering that she has a really tiny frame (5?3? tall), I think she wears it really well. The fact that she looks long and lithe in this just shows what an eagle-eye she has for fashion.
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