The Style 100: See the Looks, Trends, and Pop Culture Moments that Defined 2014
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.
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No.1-7. Red-Carpet Rainbow
The color story of the year? All of them, as a spectrum of shades helped brighten our mood.
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No.8. Delish Dish
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No.9. CONCERTS ARE THE NEW RUNWAY
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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No.14. Miss Manners She's Not
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No.15. Emma Stone
Emma Stone in Atelier Versace, a spirit-soaring vision of sunshine.
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No.16. Tribute: Joan Rivers (1933-2014)
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No.17. Masters of Sex
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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.
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No.19. A Coke Made Just For You
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No.20. Sarah Silverman of the Emmy's Red Carpet
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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.
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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.
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No.23. Fashion as Art
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No.24. Kids of Rock Stars, All Grown-Up
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No.25. Gone Girl
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No.26. Boyhood
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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.
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No.28. All Sorts of Critters
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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.
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No.30. MILEY-I-E-I-O CYRUS
Cyrus introduced her latest pet project on Instagram. Goes by the name of Bubba Sue.
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No.31. Raising Poultry
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No.32. Chicken Coops
Chicken Coops became hot real estate. Some birds demand the best brooders from the Williams-Sonoma Agrarian collection.
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No.33. Belted Coats
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No.34. Laverne Cox's Moment to Shine
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No.35. Karl Lagerfeld's Cat
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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.
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No.37. The Goldfinch
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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.
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No.39. Rita Ora
Rita Ora in Lanvin, bringing luster and lust back to metallic shine.
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No.40. Tribute: Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
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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).
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No.42. Frozen Side Braids
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No.43. In Their Own Words
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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.