Top Navigation

InStyle.com InStyle InStyle.com InStyle
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop
  • How To
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

  • Previous Your Account
    • Account
      • Email Preferencesthis link opens in a new tab
      • Manage Your Subscriptionthis link opens in a new tab
      • Help

    • More
      • Give a Gift Subscriptionthis link opens in a new tab

Explore InStyle

InStyle.com InStyle InStyle.com InStyle
  • Explore Down

    Explore

    • Badass Women

      1 Badass Women

      Badass Women celebrates women who show up, speak up and get things done. Read More Next
    • Splitting Hairs

      2 Splitting Hairs

      Our monthlong exploration of hair based on a survey of women across America. Read More Next
    • Equal Pay

      3 Equal Pay

      Money is power, and women aren’t getting their share of it. The time to close that gap is now. Read More Next
  • News
  • Fashion Down

    Fashion

    See all Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look Of The Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity Down

    Celebrity

    See all Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty Down

    Beauty

    See all Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health and Fitness
  • Hair Down

    Hair

    See all Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
  • Lifestyle Down

    Lifestyle

    See all Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
    • Entertaining
  • Shop Down

    Shop

    See all Shop
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Gift Guides
  • How To Down

    How To

    See all How To
    • Look Your Best
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Previous Your Account
    • Account
      • Email Preferencesthis link opens in a new tab
      • Manage Your Subscriptionthis link opens in a new tab
      • Help

    • More
      • Give a Gift Subscriptionthis link opens in a new tab

Follow us

View all gallery

Share options

Pinterest Facebook Twitter Google Mail Email Print iphone Send Text Message
  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Fashion Chevron Right
  3. InStyle's 2015 Style 100: The Year in Fashion Hits, Misses, and Hashtags

InStyle's 2015 Style 100: The Year in Fashion Hits, Misses, and Hashtags

By Eric Wilson
Nov 12, 2015 @ 4:30 pm
Pin

Over the past 12 months the headline-making fashion news has been coming nonstop: an Oscars-gown heist, a parade of celebrity burlesque, and all those extraordinary red-carpet creations. That's why we're dubbing this the Year of the Dress. 

Start Slideshow

1 of 101

Pin

Sunshine State

Jason Merritt/Getty Images; REUTERS /SUZANNE PLUNKETT /LANDOV; PacificCoastNews

Everything's coming up daffodils...and marigolds and buttercups. Shades of yellow—like those seen on Jennifer Hudson in Romona, Léa Seydoux in Prada, and Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture—made on irresistible bouquet of brights. 

Advertisement

2 of 101

Pin

Peek-a-boo Dresses

Lionel Hahn/AbacaUSA/startraksphoto.com; Taylor Hill/FilmMagic; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

The friendly competition to create the most naked red-carpet spectacle reached new highs (or lows?) at the Met Ball, where even Lady Godiva would have blushed. Beyoncé, in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci, took it by a bugle bead, followed by Jennifer Lopez in Atelier Versace and Kim Kardashian in Roberto Cavalli by Peter Dundas. 

3 of 101

Pin

High-Style Rollers

Catwalking/Getty Images

Imagine the stakes when Kristen Stewart and Julianne Moore were among the guest stars hitting the craps table at the Chanel Haute Couture show in Paris in July. I'll see your Twilight and raise you a Hunger Games. 

Advertisement

4 of 101

Pin

A Fashion Festival at the Movies

Courtesy

Between two YSL biopics and docs about designers (Dior and I is a must), there were enough stylish films to fill a multiplex. Clockwise, from left: Iris, about 94-year-old fashion icon Iris Apfel; The Artist Is Absent, about Martin Margiela; Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer; Saint Laurent; Dior and I; and Yves Saint Laurent. 

5 of 101

Pin

Double Take

Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Watch your back, Tom Ford. Rodarte sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy are directing their first feature, Woodshock, starring Kirsten Dunst. 

6 of 101

Pin

Altuzarra's Sultry Lace

Neilson Barnard/Getty

Rising star Joseph Altuzarra had a breakthrough moment with his prim and perverse fall collection. 

Advertisement

7 of 101

Pin

Caitlyn's Fresh Look

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

For her first major appearance, at the ESPY Awards, Caitlyn Jenner donned custom Atelier Versace. "It was like every fantasy of my life come true," she said. 

8 of 101

Pin

Amy Schumer on the Red Carpet

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

An intentional face-plant was one way to draw attention in a roomful of famous folks, even when they didn't get the joke. 

9 of 101

Pin

Blondes Do It Better...

PJB/SIPA; PacificCoastNews

A sign of the times? Kim Kardashian and Jared Leto went platinum on the same day. 

Advertisement

10 of 101

Pin

...Or Do Brondes? 

PA Photos /Landov

Has a better ring to it than babylights, right? Olivia Wilde wears this year's fave shade. Is it right for you?

11 of 101

Pin

All the Buzz

Runway Manhattan/IMAXtree

Newly shorn model Ruth Bell rocked the runways with military precision. 

12 of 101

Pin

Bag Envy

Courtesy Photo

The slimmest and subtlest It bag we've seen in years, Chloé's Drew owes its success to its versatility, its '70s flair, and its appeal to street-style stars everywhere ($1,850; nordstrom.com)

Advertisement

13 of 101

Pin

A Proper Send Off

Getty Images

When Alexander Wang bade farewell to Balenciaga after a three-year stint as creative director, his famous friends came along for one last ride in his all-white-and-ivory collection. From left: Suki Waterhouse, Zoë Kravitz, and Nicola Peltz. 

14 of 101

Pin

Prada's Sweets

PIXELFORMULA/SIPA

Miuccia Prada's freighted foray into polite macaron pastels proved to be one of the most powerful runway statements of the year. 

15 of 101

Pin

Mad Men Comes to an End 

Justina Mintz / ©AMC / Courtesy Everett Collection

The pressure is off. Navigating the advertising scene of the '60s for seven seasons was enough to send Don Draper to a hilltop meditation retreat. Or was it? 

Advertisement

16 of 101

Pin

FAUX HOLIDAYS BECAME A THING

instagram/LouiseRoe

Bikini Day... Argyle Day... Floppy Hat Day... where does it end?

17 of 101

Pin

Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein Collection

©Rollins-AA15 / AFF-USA.COM

Her Oscars dress was made of 6,000 pearls (faux, as thieves would discover...)

18 of 101

Pin

Julianne Moore in Chanel Haute Couture 

Michael Buckner/WireImage

This gown required 27 workers, 987 hours, and 80,000 sequins to make. 

Advertisement

19 of 101

Pin

WHY, YOU DON'T LOOK A DAY OVER...

Getty Images; Courtesy Armani; Courtesy H.Stern

Fashion anniversaries are like birthdays: a cause for celebration. Designers marked milestones by collaborating with friends and reissuing classics. Among them (from left): Betsey Johnson’s golden jubilee of 50 years running was a runway tribute to Blondie, Nicki Minaj, Edie Sedgwick, and her own dance teacher. The best gift Giorgio Armani could give fans for the last 40 years was an update on his styles called the New Normal, and Brazilian jeweler H. Stern introduced galactic designs for its 70th anniversary, playing off the translation of its name ("star" in German). 

20 of 101

Pin

Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Shoe

Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

The surprise hit of the Gucci reboot was a horse-bit slipper lined with kangaroo fur. Sales are hopping ($995; gucci.com). 

21 of 101

Pin

The Arrival of Alessandor Michele at Gucci

Matteo Prandoni/BFA/Sipa USA

The once-hidden talent chose quirky elegance over flash. 

Advertisement

22 of 101

Pin

Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski's Designs for Hermés

AFP PHOTO / BERTRAND GUAYBERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images

She brought knowing touches to the ultimate luxury label. 

23 of 101

Pin

Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant Short Start at Courréges 

Benjamin Lozovsky/BFAnyc/Sipa US

Their simple approach, with just 15 styles, was a crisp start. 

24 of 101

Pin

Guillaume Henry Takes on Nina Ricci

Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images

His femme-noir take on lightness added a winning twist. 

Advertisement

25 of 101

Pin

Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne Take DKNY

Madison McGaw/BFA/Sipa USA

Pinstripes defined their spin on an N.Y.C. landmark. 

26 of 101

Pin

Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

At the Oscars, Ford picked up on Witherspoon's signature style for sleek and clean gowns with this icy blue dress, to which he added broad bands of black. It was just a little bit unexpected, and a perfect frame for her natural beauty look for the night.

27 of 101

Pin

Raf Simons Exits Dior

Rindoff/Dufour/Getty Images

After three years, Mr. Modern decided to focus on his own label. 

Advertisement

28 of 101

Pin

Gisele Retires

Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

She said she's done with the runways. But for how long?

29 of 101

Pin

Cara as Actress

Courtesy Everett Collection

Her well-received role in Paper Towns, opposite Nat Wolff, was enough to show where Delevingne's heart really lies. 

30 of 101

Pin

Antonio Banderas Enrolls 

Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

Studing at a London design school, the Zorro star half-teased he wants to make capes. 

Advertisement

31 of 101

Pin

Match Made in Heaven: Empire + Saks Fifth Avenue

Courtesy Saks Fifth Avenue

The Lyon-approved collection of designs inspired by the show included gems from Alexis Bittar. Where else would Cookie shop?

32 of 101

Pin

Match Made in Heaven: Target + Lilly Pulitzer

Courtesy Target

Palm Beach color combos aren't just for preppies anymore. The designs were so popular, they promptly sold out.

33 of 101

Pin

Match Made in Heaven: H&M + Balmain

Time Inc. Digital Studios

Olivier Rousteing's admirable embrace of diversity in his model castings finally applied to prices as well. Now we can all dress like the Jenners.

Advertisement

34 of 101

Pin

Match Made in Heaven: Giambattista Valli + MAC

Time Inc. Digital Studios; Courtesy MAC Cosmetics

Was there ever a designer better suited to pick the perfect shade of pink? Valli often jokes his second career would be as a florist.

35 of 101

Pin

Match Made in Heaven: Uniqlo + Lemaire

Courtesy Uniqlo

As spare and sophisticated as Christophe Lemaire's previous work for Hermès, this pairing proved that quiet design also has mainstream appeal.

36 of 101

Pin

Royal Baby No. 2

David Sims/WENN.com

Born on May 2, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana has been described by her father as "a little joy of heaven." She seems unreasonable only in the degree of her adorableness.

Advertisement

37 of 101

Pin

Gaga, Is That You?

Sthanlee Mirador/Sipa USA; INFPhoto.com; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Every little monster secretly has the heart of an angel. Lady Gaga's newfound classicism owes to the direction of stylist Brandon Maxwell, but, of course, she couldn't resist the lobster-catching gloves.

38 of 101

Pin

Miss Jackson Is as Strong as Ever

Alberto E. Tamargo/Sipa USA

Janet Jackson's Unbreakable reminded 21st-century pop stars who's really in control.

39 of 101

Pin

The Biebs Is Full of Surprises

Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

The answer to the question "Where Are Ü Now" is, ahem, online looking at pictures of Justin Bieber naked.

Advertisement

40 of 101

Pin

The Weeknd at Fashion Week

Neil Rasmus/BFA/Sipa USA

Abel Tesfaye went from underground darling to front-row fixture.

41 of 101

Pin

Marni's Geometry

Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

Consuelo Castiglioni's circle play gave us reason to actually look forward to thinking about primaries next spring.

42 of 101

Pin

Vuitton's Arctic Chill

Catwalking/Getty

The brushed sheepskin coats that opened Nicolas Ghesquière’s fall collection for Louis Vuitton would make a polar bear jealous.

Advertisement

43 of 101

Pin

Paint It Red with Louboutinize

Courtesy Louboutin

Christian Loubouin's Louboutinize photo-filter app put rose-colored glasses on any picture taken with an iPhone.

44 of 101

Pin

Dior Funny Pages

Courtesy NBM Publishing

Telling the story of Christian Dior in comic-book format was delightful—until he died. The end.

45 of 101

Pin

Blow-outs for the Face

Courtesy MAC Cosmetics

A New York makeup salon from the artists of MAC? Why didn't we think of that? 

Advertisement

46 of 101

Pin

News in Brief

Courtesy Armani; Courtesy Tommy Hilfiger

Celebrity six-packs never get old, especially those in the category of Who Knew? Thanks are in order to Emporio Armani for uncovering the secret talents of Calvin Harris, and to Tommy Hilfiger for introducing Rafael Nadal to the sport of strip tennis.

47 of 101

Pin

Allison Williams

Steve Granitz/WireImage

In Giorgio Armani Prive.

48 of 101

Pin

Emma Stone

Allen Berezovsky/WireImage

In Altuzarra.

Advertisement

49 of 101

Pin

Dakota Johnson

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

In Saint Laurent by Heidi Slimane.

50 of 101

Pin

Spin Art

RAMEY PHOTO

Putting a new twist on paparazzi posing, stars introduced twirling to their red-carpet repertoire. Chiffon never had it so good.

51 of 101

Pin

Depp Did Dior

Courtesy Dior

In a new commercial for Sauvage Johnny Depp played guitar, took a road trip, encountered a buffalo, buried some jewelry, wore eyeliner, and generally behaved like Johnny Depp.

Advertisement

52 of 101

Pin

DINERS CLUB ACCEPTED

Antonello Trio/Getty

Art was in the details in the world of Karl Lagerfeld, whose extravagant brasserie set for his fall Chanel collection stayed on point even in a clutch shaped like dinner plates.

53 of 101

Pin

JUDY BLUME

Time Inc. Digital Studios

Beloved by adolescents, the author penned a novel focused on events from her own childhood.

54 of 101

Pin

HARPER LEE

Courtesy HarperCollins

Atticus, what happened to you? At least you didn’t disillusion us about your power to sell books.

Advertisement

55 of 101

Pin

DONNA KARAN

Courtesy Donna Karan

The designer came to terms with her success, beginning to end.

56 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Emily Blunt

© Sven / AFF-USA.COM

When the Cannes Film Festival reportedly enforced a high-heels-only standard, she said, “Everyone should wear flats.” But she lost points after the Republican debate for joking that her U.S. citizenship was a mistake.

57 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Patricia Arquette

John Shearer/Invision/AP

“Wage equality once and for all,” said the best actress Oscar winner.

Advertisement

58 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Barbie

Courtesy Mattel

A redesign with articulated ankles meant that, after 56 years, she could finally walk in sneakers.

59 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Army Rangers

REX Shutterstock

“We can handle things physically and mentally on the same level as men,” said Capt. Kristen Griest.

60 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Ronda Rousey

Scott Kirkland/PictureGroup

The mixed-martial-arts champ said, “If anyone calls me fat one more time in my life, I’m going to kill them.”

Advertisement

61 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Megyn Kelly

Charles Sykes/Invision for The Hollywood Reporter/AP Images

She drew the wrath of Donald Trump by exposing the candidate’s Achilles heel: his own quotes.

62 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Viola Davis

© Scott Varley/Los Angeles Daily News via ZUMA Wire

“The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” said the first African-American to win an Emmy for best actress in a drama.

63 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Misty Copeland

Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS via Getty Images

She’s the first African-American female principal of the American Ballet Theatre.

Advertisement

64 of 101

Pin

Women Who Should Be on the $10 Bill: Sarah Thomas and Jennifer Welter