InStyle's 2015 Style 100

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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.

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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.

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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.

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High-Style Rollers

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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.

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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.

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Double Take

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

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Altuzarra's Sultry Lace

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

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Caitlyn's Fresh Look

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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.

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Amy Schumer on the Red Carpet

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

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Blondes Do It Better...

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

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...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?

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All the Buzz

Runway Manhattan/IMAXtree

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

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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)

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A Proper Send Off

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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.

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Prada's Sweets

Backstage of Prada fashion Show, as part of the women's ready-to-wear winter 2015 2016 Milan women fashion week, Milan, Italy/PIXEL-FORMULA_f073/Credit:PIXELFORMULA/SIPA/1502270152

PIXELFORMULA/SIPA

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

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Mad Men Comes to an End

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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?

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FAUX HOLIDAYS BECAME A THING

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

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Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein Collection

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

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Julianne Moore in Chanel Haute Couture

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

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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).

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Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Shoe

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

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The Arrival of Alessandor Michele at Gucci

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The once-hidden talent chose quirky elegance over flash.

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Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski's Designs for Hermés

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She brought knowing touches to the ultimate luxury label.

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Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant Short Start at Courréges

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

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Guillaume Henry Takes on Nina Ricci

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

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Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne Take DKNY

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

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Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford

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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.

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Raf Simons Exits Dior

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

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Gisele Retires

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

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Cara as Actress

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

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Antonio Banderas Enrolls

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

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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?

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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.

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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.

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Match Made in Heaven: Giambattista Valli + MAC

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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.

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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.

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Royal Baby No. 2

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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.

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

1 of 100

Sunshine State

1 of 100

2 of 100

Peek-a-boo Dresses

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3 of 100

High-Style Rollers

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A Fashion Festival at the Movies

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5 of 100

Double Take

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Altuzarra's Sultry Lace

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Caitlyn's Fresh Look

7 of 100

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Amy Schumer on the Red Carpet

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9 of 100

Blondes Do It Better...

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...Or Do Brondes?

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11 of 100

All the Buzz

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12 of 100

Bag Envy

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A Proper Send Off

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Prada's Sweets

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Mad Men Comes to an End

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FAUX HOLIDAYS BECAME A THING

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Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein Collection

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Julianne Moore in Chanel Haute Couture

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

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Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Shoe

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21 of 100

The Arrival of Alessandor Michele at Gucci

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Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski's Designs for Hermés

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Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant Short Start at Courréges

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Guillaume Henry Takes on Nina Ricci

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Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne Take DKNY

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Reese Witherspoon in Tom Ford