In 2014, fashion, film, and music conspired to give us a million reasons to smile—and we spell out the power of positive pop culture for you in InStyle’s December issue. A convergence of happy trends arrived just when we needed them: The stars paraded a rainbow of blissful looks, designers embraced physical fitness with athleisure, and the smiley face became a style "icon." What's not to cheer about?
RELATED: How the Smiley Face Fits into Fashion
We couldn't get enough of this year's It bags (hello, Mansur Gavriel), Cate Blanchett’s red carpet wins, the hottest hair styles (Frozen side braid, anyone?), Taylor Swift’s endless list of BFFs (Lorde, Karlie Kloss, Hailee Steinfeld…), major statement earrings, and model-of-the-moment Kendall Jenner. Frankly, we're surprised we were able to narrow it all down to just 100 moments.
From Ben Affleck in the box office smash Gone Girl to Céline’s très chic belted coats, see all the looks, trends, and pop culture moments that defined 2014 in our Style 100 now! And, if you don’t want to miss a thing next year, subscribe to InStyle to keep up with all the fashion, hair, makeup, and style trends you’ll need to know about in 2015.
No.1-7. Red-Carpet Rainbow
The color story of the year? All of them, as a spectrum of shades helped brighten our mood.
No.9. CONCERTS ARE THE NEW RUNWAY
No.10. The Louis Vuitton Iconoclast Collection
The Icon and the Iconoclasts project opened the Louis Vuitton logo to outside interpretation, like a shopping trolley by Christian Louboutin.
No.11. Michelle Dockery in Oscar de la Renta
The Downton Abbey actress worked a show-stopping, embellished Oscar de la Renta gown at the 2014 Golden Globes.
No.12. Allison Williams in Giambattista Valli
Bold fashion came roaring back on red carpets, as exemplified by Allison Williams' Giambattista Valli Haute Couture gown.
No.13. Everybody Went to Ibiza
Seen at the Spanish retreat this summer: Kate Moss, Riccardo Tisci, and (now, now, boys) Justin Bieber and Orlando Bloom.
No.14. Miss Manners She's Not
No.16. Tribute: Joan Rivers (1933-2014)
No.17. Masters of Sex
No.18. Paula Cademartori Handbags
Eye-catching graphics, dazzling color combinations, and Italian craftsmanship made break-through handbag designer Paula Cademartori a label to covet.
No.19. A Coke Made Just For You
No.20. Sarah Silverman of the Emmy's Red Carpet
No.21. Tuxedo Dressing
Hedi Slimane refreshed the super-slim, superchic evening suit at Saint Laurent, while Madonna credited her son David with selecting their matching Ralph Lauren Collection looks at the Grammys. No one came forward to claim credit for her gold grill.
No.22. Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag
Utilitarian and elegant, the sleek style introduced by Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel last fall inspired more wait lists (and imitators) this year than you could fit into, well, a bucket.
No.24. Kids of Rock Stars, All Grown-Up
No.25. Gone Girl
No.26. Boyhood
No.27. Down-and-Dirty Overalls
The style became the surprise off-duty hit of the summer, as seen on modern cow-girls like Rita Ora, in Adam Selman, Blake Lively, in Rag & Bone, and Jessica Alba, in Current/Elliott.
No.28. All Sorts of Critters
No.29. Zeitgeist Capturing Modern Farmer
The publication by former city slickers now working in Hudson, N.Y., won a National Magazine Award in its first year in print.
No.30. MILEY-I-E-I-O CYRUS
Cyrus introduced her latest pet project on Instagram. Goes by the name of Bubba Sue.
No.31. Raising Poultry
No.32. Chicken Coops
Chicken Coops became hot real estate. Some birds demand the best brooders from the Williams-Sonoma Agrarian collection.
No.34. Laverne Cox's Moment to Shine
No.35. Karl Lagerfeld's Cat
No.36. Cate Blanchett
Her magnificent range on-screen was matched by the diversity of her unfailing fashion-gorgeous in Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci regalia, a Ralph Lauren Collection column, or Armani Privé lace.
No.37. The Goldfinch
No.38. "David Bowie Is"
After a stellar run in London, the exhibition combining his fashion, music, and art is now wowing audiences at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
No.40. Tribute: Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
No.41. Kendall Jenner
For once at Paris Fashion Week, Kendall Jenner got all the attention in the family (unless her niece North West was sitting in the front row).
No.42. Frozen Side Braids
No.43. In Their Own Words
No.44. Hector and the Search for Happiness
In the film Hector and the Search for Happiness, Simon Pegg plays a psychiatrist who travels the world in pursuit of the meaning of life.
No.45. ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
No.46. Jeremy Scott
No.47. Anya Hindmarch
No.48. Stars Without Makeup
The feel-good Instagram trend of the year: stars without makeup. A natural glow always shines brightest, as demonstrated by Drew Barrymore, Beyoncé, Ciara, and Cameron Diaz.
No.49. "All About That Bass”
No.50. Pharrell Williams' "Happy"
No.51. Fashion Force
No.52. Hers for the Night
No.53. Taylor Swift's BFFs
No.55. Opening Ceremony
No.56. "Let It Go"
No.57: New Era
No.59. Tribute: Lauren Bacall (1924-2014)
No.60. Jennifer Lawrence's Dior Haute Couture Gown
No.61. The Statement Earring
One at a time, please! From Emma Watson at the Valentino Haute Couture show to Taylor Swift on the cover of InStyle, stars decorated just one lobe as a way to turn heads.
No.62. Show-Offs
No.63. Iggy Azalea's "Fancy"
No.64. New York's Latest Design Stars To Watch
Scott Studenberg and John Targon, of Baja East (right), whose luxurious cashmere sportswear has been flying off the shelves at Barneys. Brunello Cucinelli (left) came up with looks that were all about comfort, like sweatshirts so chic you would never dream of sweating in them.
No.65. Johnny Weir and Tara Lipinski
No.66. The Ultimate Casual Luxury Sneaker from Chanel
No.67. Roger Federer at the U.S. Open
Federer débuted a tennis-appropriate version of the Air Jordan, tagged with his own RF logo, as Michael Jordan watched from the stands.
No.68. Net-A-Sporter
Treadmills became a running runway thanks to Net-a-Porter, which introduced a shopping portal for designer workout gear, fittingly called Net-a-Sporter.
No.70. Tribute: Oscar de la Renta (1932-2014)
A diplomat for American fashion, he was the ultimate gentleman designer to First Ladies, ladies who lunch, and ladies on the street alike.
No.72. The Haircut
No.73. Lebron James Goes To Cleveland
No.74. Kiesza Crosses Over
No.75. Alexander Wang's Fall 2014 Collection
No.76. Undercover’s Jun Takahashi
No.77. Kim Kardashian's App
No.78. The Diane von Furstenberg and Google Collab
Google tapped Diane von Furstenberg for a fab collaboration on Glass, the eyewear-mounted devices she featured in her show. Long live geek chic.
No.79. Apple Watch
No.80. Polo Tech Shirt
Ball boys at the U.S. Open, along with tennis cutie Marcos Giron, tested the Polo Tech Shirt, which monitors performance through a small device just below the sporting pony.
No.81. Tory Burch for Fitbit
Fitbit tracking devices got an identity makeover from Tory Burch, who turned the smart bracelet into a swish pendant.
No.84. Amal Clooney in Dolce & Gabbana
No.85. Amal Clooney in Alexander McQueen
While in Venice, Amal worked a red-and-black siren number by Alexander McQueen.
No.86. Amal Clooney in Giambattista Valli Couture
Mrs. Clooney dazzled us all in a little lace Giambattista Valli Couture dress.
No.87. Amal Clooney in Stella McCartney
For the civil ceremony with George Clooney, Amal wore matching cream separates by Stella McCartney.
No.88. Jean Paul Gaultier's Adieu
No.90. Charles James
A Metropolitan Museum of Art retrospective put the American couturier back in the fashion consciousness, prompting Harvey Weinstein to revive the label.
No.91. Puppy Love
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