With the sheer number of red-carpet events, premieres and galas that pepper the entertainment industry's calendar, it's an incredible feat that A-listers and their stylists are able to put together so many breathtaking and innovative looks throughout the year. But, as our best dressed round-ups repeatedly show, celebrity dedication to red-carpet fashion is only increasing in intensity.
Whether it was the Met Gala's striking celebration of couture, the award season display of vintage, or the delightful method dressing we saw in numerous press tours, 2024's red-carpet looks have doled out a visual buffet of delectable looks for us to enjoy.
From Zendaya in archival Mugler to Daisy Edgar-Jones in custom Vivienne Westwood and Cynthia Erivo in sculptural Schiaparelli, these were our 10 favourite red-carpet moments of 2024.
Zendaya in archival Mugler for the 'Dune: Part Two' premiere in London
Zendaya kicked off 2024 with what promised to remain one of the most memorable looks of the year, if not in the history of movie premiere fashion. In a tribute to Dune's dystopian science-fiction genre, Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach pulled an archival piece from Mugler's autumn/winter 1995 ‘Cirque d’hiver’ 20th anniversary collection to wear to the film's London premiere.
Going over and above in her commitment to method dressing, Zendaya's futuristic look consisted of an armour-clad metal bodysuit with sheer panelling and matching metallic heels, with a blue diamond Bulgari necklace layered over the top.
Elle Fanning in Balmain at the Met Gala
Elle Fanning has had quite the year in fashion, delivering a consistent stream of elegant looks with the help of her stylist Samantha McMillen. But for what was undoubtedly her best moment of 2024, Fanning transformed into a glass sculpture for the annual Met Gala in New York.
Pertaining to the gala's 'The Garden of Time' theme, the actress slipped into a transparent, statue-esque gown by Balmain, a design which appeared to be held up by two hovering glass birds. The sheer sculptural dress was an unbelievable demonstration of what fashion and technology can achieve together, with Fanning embodying every part of her ethereal Aurora-inspired character.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Cynthia Erivo in Schiaparelli at the 'Wicked' premiere in London
With a release as momentous as Wicked's, it would be easy for anyone to tip into overkill with the number of red-carpet looks required, but Cynthia Erivo masterfully navigated her press tour with the help of her stylist Jason Bolden, and cemented herself as one of the best method-dressers to grace our screens along the way.
While we had plenty of Elphaba-green moments throughout the press run, for the London premiere, Erivo chose a sleeveless black velvet Schiaparelli gown with a voluminous layered tulle skirt that gave way to a sculptural mosaic detail underneath, with the glistening embellishments continuing down her tights. She paired the look with long black gloves, a velvet headpiece and platform satin heels.
Daisy Edgar-Jones in Vivienne Westwood at the 'Twisters' premiere in London
Daisy Edgar-Jones became something of a poster girl for Chloé's new era under creative director Chemena Kamali this year, turning out a non-stop succession of boho-inspired outfits during her Twisters press tour.
But it was Edgar-Jones' ethereal Vivienne Westwood gown, which she opted to wear to the Twisters premiere in London, that stole our hearts. A sartorial nod to London's dame of fashion never goes unappreciated, and Westwood's custom black-and-brown corseted gown elegantly portrayed Edgar-Jones' appreciation for high fashion, with her trailing one-shoulder silhouette giving the subtlest nod to the film's theme.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Nicola Coughlan in Rodarte for the 'Bridgerton' season 3 screening
The Bridgerton cast has been responsible for some of the best fashion moments of the past few years – both off and on the screen – and this season was no different.
Bazaar cover star Nicola Coughlan embodied Regency beauty as she attended the Bridgerton season three screening in London wearing a rosé sequin-embellished off-the-shoulder dress by Rodarte, complete with a floral lace trim and garnet velvet gloves. She accessorised the look with a floral headband with a trailing tulle veil in an ensemble that looked as if it had just stepped out of an opulent Renaissance painting.
Bella Hadid in Saint Laurent at Cannes Film Festival
Bella Hadid's take on the 'naked' dress may just win the award for the most conversational and divisive red-carpet look this year.
Having taken time out of the limelight to focus on her health, the model made a head-turning return to the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, wearing a sheer tan halter-neck dress by Saint Laurent with a hemline that fell just below the knee and gathered ruched detailing running along the body. She styled the see-through look with yellow diamond jewellery from Chopard and a pair of glossy brown Saint Laurent La Scandale heels.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Lady Gaga in Dior at the Venice Film Festival
Never one to shy away from a dramatic look, Lady Gaga attended the Joker: Folie à Deux premiere at the Venice Film Festival in a look that combined old Hollywood glamour and abstract design in true Gaga style.
The actress and singer opted for a Dior gown with a plunging V-neck bodice and billowing skirt constructed with voluminous folds that brought to mind the layers of a Viennetta ice cream. Her sculptural lace headpiece came courtesy of none other than legendary milliner Philip Treacy, pulled from the archives of his autumn/winter 2001 couture collection.
Carey Mullgian in Balenciaga at the Oscars
The Oscars provides an annual opportunity for displaying the very best in couture and atelier craftsmanship, with many a historic fashion moment having taken place on its iconic red carpet.
This year, Carey Mulligan tapped into vintage elegance for the awards, wearing a sweetheart-neckline Balenciaga gown with black scalloped-detailing and a fishtail tulle skirt. The dress was modelled on a 1951 gown by the Spanish fashion house owing to its timeless, sophisticated silhouette which translated as beautifully onto the contemporary red carpet as it did 70 years ago.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Hunter Schafer in Prada at the Golden Globes
Since sweeping onto our screens in Euphoria back in 2019, Hunter Schafer has gifted us with displays of beautiful fashion and custom pieces, including her Ann Demeulemeester ensemble at last year's Oscars after-party which looked to be plucked straight out of Greek mythology.
This year, Schafer appeared at the Golden Globe awards in an angelic swirling Prada dress fabricated out of a sheer soft pink, almost iridescent organza. Swathes of the gauzy material danced behind her as she walked, adding to her enchanting presence on the red carpet.
Nicole Kidman in Schiaparelli at the Venice Film Festival
If New York is the city that never sleeps, then Nicole Kidman is the Manhattan of the film and television industry. This year alone Kidman has cycled through press tours for Lioness season two, The Perfect Couple, Spellbound, and most recently for her forthcoming film Babygirl.
While her and flower-embellished Balenciaga gown were stunning feats of red-carpet dressing, our favourite Kidman look of the year had to be this two-tone corset dress by Schiaparelli. The actress opted to wear the ornate creation for the Venice Film Festival red carpet, where a swathe of dangling beads and sequins dropped at her hips and adorned the hourglass bodice.