inStyle November - 50 Best Dressed
The 50 Best-Dressed Women of 2018
Who won fashion in 2018? Meet this year’s most outrageously elegant originals.
We all know that a timeless sense of style is not just about what you wear, but how you wear it. And this year, Hollywood’s most outrageously elegantly originals certainly dressed the part. From Jennifer Lopez and her near constant rotation of shock and awe street style to Zendaya's elegance, we’re counting down the 50 stars that turned their #OOTDs into an art form — and stealing their style secrets along the way.
“The key to a memorable look? A great fit,” says Diane Kruger, who lands on our list for her beautiful, boundary-pushing dresses like the voluminous floral Valentino number that she wore to the German Film Awards. “I’m never unsure about an outfit once I made my final decision. If it’s altered to perfection, I always feel strong and beautiful.”
For Sarah Paulson, who thrilled throughout awards season and the Ocean’s 8 red-carpet tour with a range of neon gowns by Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Valentino, it's all about keeping it effortless. “My style mantra is ‘non-obvious dressing for the win,’” she says. “When you are trying too hard to make a mark, it doesn’t feel as authentic. Style should be dictated by your mood — it’s a way of expressing yourself without words.”
Actress and up-and-coming fashion star Lily Collins puts her fashion strategy simply: “As long as you wear something with confidence, it will always be in style.” Well said.
Keep scrolling to see our complete list of the 50 best-dressed stars of 2018. For more stories like this, pick up the November issue of InStyle, available on newsstands, on Amazon, and for digital download Oct. 12.
1. Jennifer Lopez
Felipe Ramales / SplashNews.com
| Credit: Felipe Ramales / SplashNews.com
Whether she’s redefining couples-style goals with A-Rod or turning heads in yet another jaw-dropping Versace gown, one thing’s for sure: Jenny from the block (seen above in Gucci) has never looked better.
2. Cate Blanchett
ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images
| Credit: ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images
Sophisticated and avant-garde, Blanchett (in Missoni) is right at home in velvet, feathers, sequins, and pretty much anything else she throws on. Let’s just say we wouldn’t want to follow her on the step and repeat.
3. Zoë Kravitz
Swan Gallet/WWD/REX/Shutterstock
| Credit: Swan Gallet/WWD/REX/Shutterstock
Daytime pastels, peekaboo cropped tops ... It’s hard to predict what fashion’s resident cool girl will try next — and that’s just how she likes it. “Her style is very connected to her mood,” says stylist Andrew Mukamal of the star in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.
4. Zendaya
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
| Credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
When it comes to sartorial choices, Zendaya (in Dice Kayek Couture) always goes with her gut. “She loves looks that feel light,” says stylist Law Roach. “When she puts something on and we have an aha moment, that’s when we know it’s a winner.”
5. Rihanna
SplashNews.com
| Credit: SplashNews.com
Forget the slinky dresses. Now that RiRi’s a power player in the fashion and beauty worlds, she’s dressing like a boss. Her daily uniform of oversize jackets and joggers (by Vetements and Off-White C/O Virgil Abloh) is both badass and entirely original.
6. Sarah Paulson
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
| Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Of all the boldly colored gowns Paulson wore this year, one shone brighter than the rest for the star. “My neon green Prada (above) was extraordinary,” she says. “I felt like an extra-terrestrial in couture.”
7. Kristen Stewart
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
| Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
Stewart does Coco proud when she leaves the heels at home and brings her rebellious tomboy spirit to Chanel’s latest offerings.
8. Charlize Theron
PG/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
| Credit: PG/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
In Givenchy.
9. Liya Kebede
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| Credit: Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images
In Sonia Rykiel.
10. Nicole Kidman
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| Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
In Givenchy.
11. Yara Shahidi
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| Credit: Dan MacMedan/Getty Images
In Ralph Lauren Collection.
12. Millie Bobby Brown
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| Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
In Calvin Klein By Appointment.
13. Kerry Washington
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| Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
In Atelier Versace.
14. Margot Robbie
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| Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
In Louis Vuitton.
15. Ruth Negga
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| Credit: James Devaney/Getty Images
In Michael Kors Collection.
16. Tracee Ellis Ross
Courtesy Tracee Ellis Ross
| Credit: Courtesy Tracee Ellis Ross
In Christopher Kane.
17. Laura Harrier
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| Credit: Jared Siskin/Getty Images
In Sies Marjan.
18. Jane Fonda
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| Credit: VALERIE MACON/Getty Images
In Brandon Maxwell.
19. Madeline Brewer
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| Credit: Rachel Murray/Getty Images
In a Giorgio Armani suit.
20. Constance Wu
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| Credit: Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
In Ralph & Russo Couture.
21. Lily Collins
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| Credit: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
In Miu Miu.
22. Priyanka Chopra
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| Credit: Lee/Stewart/Gotham/Getty Images
In Dion Lee.
23. Whoopi Goldberg
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| Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
In Christian Siriano.
24. Elle Fanning
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| Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images
In Valentino Haute Couture.
25. Judith Light
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| Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
In Gucci.
26. Brie Larson
brielarson/Instagram
| Credit: brielarson/Instagram
In Scotch & Soda.
27. Gemma Chan
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| Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
In Oscar de la Renta.
28. Carolyn Murphy
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
| Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
In Gabriela Hearst.
29. Janelle Monáe
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
| Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
In Nicolas Jebran.
30. Naomi Campbell
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| Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
In Calvin Klein 205W39NYC
31. Michelle Monaghan
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| Credit: George Pimentel/Getty Images
In Reem Acra.
32. Emily Ratajkowski
emrata/Instagram
| Credit: emrata/Instagram
In a white suit.
33. Naomi Watts
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| Credit: Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images
In Dolce & Gabbana.
34. Naomie Harris
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| Credit: David M. Benett/Getty Images
In Roksanda.
35. Reese Witherspoon
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| Credit: BG004/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images
In Draper James.
36. Ciara
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
| Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
In Tom Ford.
37. Lupita Nyong'o
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
| Credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
In Atelier Versace.
38. Emma Stone
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| Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
In Louis Vuitton.
39. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
| Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
In Christopher Kane.
40. Thandie Newton
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| Credit: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images
In Osman.
41. Tessa Thompson
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| Credit: Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images
In Dior.
42. Christy Turlington Burns
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
| Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
In H&M Conscious Exclusive.
43. Diane Kruger
Franziska Krug/Getty Images
| Credit: Franziska Krug/Getty Images
In Valentino.
44. Christine Baranski
Neil Mockford/Getty Images
| Credit: Neil Mockford/Getty Images
In Gabriela Hearst.
45. Emma Watson
Chris Allerton/REX/Shutterstock
| Credit: Chris Allerton/REX/Shutterstock
In Ralph Lauren Collection.
46. Danai Gurira
Karwai Tang/Getty Images
| Credit: Karwai Tang/Getty Images
In Jean-Louis Sabaji.
47. Gwyneth Paltrow
Greg Doherty/Getty Images
| Credit: Greg Doherty/Getty Images
In Retrofete.
48. Gabrielle Union
Sean Zanni/Getty Images
| Credit: Sean Zanni/Getty Images
In Prada.
49. Nicki Minaj
Gotham/Getty Images
| Credit: Gotham/Getty Images
In Balmain.
50. Greta Gerwig
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| Credit: Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
In Gucci.