Every fall, Bazaar’s editors gather to create a list of our favorite 100 things from the past year: the runway shows that made our hearts beat a little faster, the movies we couldn’t stop thinking about, the beauty products that made us feel a little more prepared to face the day. This time around, we realized quickly that 2024 was a particularly overstuffed 12 months. Remember when Zendaya appeared on the Dune: Part Two red carpet dressed like the world’s chicest robot in vintage Thierry Mugler? That was this year.
But if 2024 was busy, it was because it was notable in the worlds of fashion and culture. This year gave us leopard-print everything, pierced mules, and freaky tutus. It gave us a whole new pantheon of pop stars, with everyone from early-career artists like Tyla to alt-pop stars like Charli XCX to well-established creative geniuses like Kendrick Lamar stepping into a bigger spotlight. It gave us art shows, novels, TV shows, and documentaries that will remain with us for a long time. It gave us designer debuts at many of the historic fashion houses, major milestones for some of the industry’s biggest names (happy 90th, Mr. Armani!), and groundbreaking moments of creativity among independent labels.
Below, we tried to put it all into one bursting-at-the-seams list—organized in no particular order because, honestly, we love it all. Read on for the annual Bazaar 100.
01
The Red Carpet Goes Method
Back in February, Law Roach and Zendaya captivated the fashion world with a series of on-theme looks for the Dune: Part Two press tour, including a knotty Torishéju Dumi dress that winked to the movie’s sandworms. “I think of it as Method dressing, kind of like Method acting,” Roach told Bazaar. In the spring, the pair took the same approach to Zendaya’s tennis drama, Challengers, and it seems their winning formula inspired countless others. In 2024, everyone from Anya Taylor-Joy (Furiosa) to Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) went Method, turning the red carpet into an arena for channeling your character. Movie promotion may never be the same.
02
Charli XCX Paints the Industry Brat Green
Courtesy Charli XCX and Youtube
After a decade of walking the tightrope between alt-pop darling and full-fledged star, Charli XCX finally broke into the mainstream in 2024 with the emotionally complex electropop album Brat, which dissects the trappings of fame, the butterflies of serious romance, and the constant push-pull between career and family. Even as a big-time star, Charli did things her way, hosting impromptu pop-ups in Times Square and New York’s Hudson Valley, leading a sweaty coheadlining tour with longtime friend Troye Sivan, erecting neon-green billboards across the country, and dropping a remix album chock-full of surprise guests.
03
John Galliano Goes Back to His Roots
Galliano’s Spring 2024 couture show for Maison Margiela was a genuine event, the kind of thing that fashion lovers will be talking about for years to come. From the whimsical, theatrical silhouettes to the over-the-top staging (it took place under a bridge in Paris), it felt like the kind of spectacle Galliano was famous for creating back in the ’80s, an era when he known for being a wildly talented upstart and no one had ever heard of social media.
04
Luca Guadagnino’s Breakout Boys
Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures and YouTube
The moment that Drew Starkey enters the frame in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer is a pivotal one. His character, Eugene, a discharged Navy man, instantly enchants Daniel Craig’s William, a dapper but self-destructive addict taking refuge from his past in 1950s Mexico City. The film hinges on William’s growing infatuation with Eugene, and it’s essential that the audience shares that infatuation. Of course, Guadagnino knows how to cast young actors who can transfix us, from Timothée Chalamet in Call Me By Your Name to the one-two punch of Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist in Challengers. With Starkey, he’s introduced us to yet another actor we’ll be obsessing over for years to come.
05
Perfumers Take Inspiration From the Dessert Menu
The only thing better than eating a gourmet treat is smelling like one. This year, Bazaar editors and readers alike fell in love with gourmand scents redolent of vanilla, cocoa, and toasted almond, like Chanel’s buzzy Comète Les Exclusifs de Chanel Eau de Parfum and Dolce & Gabbana’s Devotion Eau de Parfum Intense.
06
Nobody Wants This Ushers In a Brody-ssance
This sitcom about a rabbi who falls for a sex podcaster was polarizing, but audiences could agree on one thing: More than 20 years after The O.C. premiered, Adam Brody still has a place in our hearts.
07
LED Light Tools Take Over Skincare
Bazaar’s three beauty editors have tested so many beauty tech devices that their bathrooms look like Apple stores—and the most real estate by far is held by LED tools. From face masks to lip devices to helmets that stimulate hair growth, the market was flooded this year with tools that harness the healing, regenerating powers of light therapy.
08-12
“If You Know, You Know” It Bags
In the late ’90s and early ’00s, you could recognize an It bag by its (often prominent) logo. These days, the concept of a must-have carryall is very much back, but instead of being all about the brand name, the brand shape is the signifier. Alaïa’s elongated Le Teckel, Prada’s squarish Buckle bag, the Row’s oversize Margaux—if you follow fashion, you can spot them in a crowd instantly because of their shape. These are the bags that say, “IYKYK,” the ones that make people stop on the street and turn their heads. They’re the most important bags of the year and the ones we’re calling the new classics.
08
Prada Buckle Small Leather Handbag
09
Soft Margaux 17 Bag
10
Alaïa Le Teckel Leather Shoulder Bag
11
Hermès Picotin Bag
12
The Row Black Round ’90s Bag
13
Chloé’s Chemena Kamali Brings Back Boho Style
This year marked the return of boho chic, a trend with deep ties to forever fashion icons like Jane Birkin and Stevie Nicks. The look was born in the ’60s but swept pop culture in the early 2000s, thanks in large part to Kate Hudson’s character, Penny Lane, in Almost Famous. Today, boho is back in a big way, ushered in by Chemena Kamali’s vibe-shifting Fall 2024 debut as creative director of Chloé.
14
Tyla Brings South African Flavor to the World Stage
Courtesy Tyla and YouTube
Tyla’s self-titled debut album and the flawless press run that accompanied it served as a master class in how to be a pop star in 2024. She’s an artist who does her homework: Her edgy style, sexy choreography, and fresh take on R&B and amapiano (a genre of South African house music) pay homage to the music divas who’ve come before her while still establishing her in a class of her own.
15
Leopard Print Becomes Everyone’s Favorite Neutral
From Alaïa to Dior, leopard prints stalked the catwalk this year—and leapt into our closets too. Despite its maximalist appearance, the print has taken on a more approachable feel in 2024’s styling. It looks best when it’s treated like just one element in a look, rather than a standout statement piece. Below, some of our favorite ways to inject a bit of leopard into your wardrobe.
16
Rihanna Brings the Fenty Effect to Hair Care
Fenty Hair by Rihanna was one of the biggest beauty launches this year. Its nine-piece range includes staples like a reparative shampoo, a nourishing conditioner, a deep conditioner, and a heat protectant, all infused with a proprietary strengthening complex that uses Barbados gooseberry and green-tea extract. But our favorite product might be this bond builder, which reverses the effects of heat styling and chemical processing.
Fenty Hair by Rihanna the Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment Bond Builder
17
Female-Led Thrillers Evolve Beyond the Scream Queen
With the releases of The Substance, MaXXXine, Cuckoo, Immaculate, The Watchers, Longlegs, Blink Twice, and the forthcoming Nosferatu, it’s safe to say that 2024 has been the year of women in horror and thriller films. More importantly, though, it’s been the year that women were recast within the genre as fierce, intelligent, and empowered adversaries rather than the fragile airheads of slashers past. The damsel-in-distress trope is officially, finally dead.
18
Two Words: Chloë Sevigny
Not that she ever went away, but Chloë Sevigny really reentered the chat in 2024. She celebrated a major birthday, turning 50 in November; she played the queen of the It girls in Charli XCX’s “360” music video; and she gave great red carpet all year long, appearing in giant bows, bubble hems, and little black evening gloves. At the same time, her roles in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story reminded us that she’s always been a talented actress as well as a style star. May we all ring in our milestones with as much aplomb.
19
New York’s Independent Designers Sweep the CFDAs
At the 2024 CFDA Awards, the top accolades went to four independent New York designers: Raul Lopez, Rachel Scott, Willy Chavarria, and Henry Zankov. Their wins were significant because of the promise their brands represent: a promise to buck tradition, establish a new guard at the top of the industry, and celebrate creativity in all of its forms.
20
Chappell Roan Rewrites the Pop-Star Playbook
Courtesy Chappell Roan and YouTube
After being dropped by her label during the pandemic—apparently the executives didn’t believe “Pink Pony Club” could be a hit—Roan temporarily moved back home to Missouri and began crafting a whole new image for herself, one that allowed her to lean into her queer identity and her love of drag. Her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, technically came out in 2023, but it was this year when fans really responded, making her songs ubiquitous and turning her tour into a national phenomenon.
21
Bag Handles Become the New Charm Bracelets
Why buy a new bag when you can pour all of your creative energy into charming out the one you already have? The Jane Birkin–ification of bags was big this year, as cool girls decorated theirs with trinkets, lanyards, and keychains, just like the style icon was known to do. In a world obsessed with personal style, the over-accessorizing of a bag feels like the perfect way to make a statement. After all, it makes every bag look unique, no matter how many people own it.
22
Solo Female Art Shows Set the Agenda
Amy Sherald, For Love, and for Country, 2022; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; © Amy Sherald. Photo: Joseph Hyde, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth.
From painter-of-the-moment Anna Weyant’s Gagosian show in London to Amy Sherald’s look at the American sublime with her mid-career survey at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art to Simone Leigh’s current show at Chelsea’s Matthew Marks, this was a breakout year for solo female shows that interrogated themes of race, gender, representation, and beyond.
23
Marc Jacobs Makes a Manicure Statement
When it comes to Marc Jacobs and his nail art, the sky is the limit. This year, the designer seemed to be having the time of his life showing off his larger-than-life nail designs, whether he was at the Met Gala 2024 or on the streets of Rye, New York—all thanks to his nail artist, the talented Yulenny Garcia, owner of Muñeca Beauty Salon & Nails in the Bronx.
24
We Get Girl-Boss-Pilled by the Martha Stewart Documentary
Martha Stewart has been so ingrained in our culture for so long that it can be easy to forget how groundbreaking her work was. Her sheer determination and work ethic are enough to make even the biggest skeptic grudgingly respect the hustle. In a year when caring deeply about anything gets called cringe, it’s refreshing to see a woman who barely blinks at criticism, focusing instead on what it takes to live beautifully.
25
Personality Lighting Takes Over Our Homes
It was easy to bring touches of originality into your home this year. Pleated-detail pendants like this one from Hay and table lamps by It interior designer Matilda Goad make a case for updating your fixtures. Let there be light!
26
Anora Introduces a Major New Star
Mikey Madison runs away with the show in Sean Baker’s funny, fast-paced, ultimately heartbreaking film about a stripper who marries the son of a Russian oligarch.
27
The Olympics Launches a Million Viral Moments
The Paris Olympics and Paralympics saw peak coverage and attendance this year, with spectators falling in love with all the characters that came out of the Games. Pommel Horse Guy Stephen Nedoroscik, who tossed his Clark Kent glasses off before swooshing around like a pro, became our Superman. Snoop Dogg, in head-to-toe Olympics merch, became our cheerleader. South Korean pistol shooter Kim Yeji, with her sleek custom shooting glasses, became our fashion icon. And Raygun, with her kangaroo-inspired breakdancing performance, went viral for her sheer audacity.
28
Freaky Tutus Are the Next Frontier of Coquette
Funky iterations of tutus were all over Fashion Month, from Simone Rocha and JW Anderson in London to Vaquera and Loewe in Paris. In contrast with the over-the-top girliness of this past summer’s coquette obsession, they weren’t just hyperfeminine; there was something subversive about the shapes and the styling. Bows feel tame in comparison.
29
Tiffany Celebrates 50 Years of Elsa Peretti
When Elsa Peretti presented her first collection for Tiffany & Co. in 1974, she ushered in a fresh era of modernism to the house and reflected the human form and the natural world with sculptural wonders like her iconic Bone cuff, which was worn by everyone from Liza Minnelli to Diana Vreeland. Fifty years later, Peretti’s timeless designs continue to claim admirers for their elegant lines and distinctive shapes. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, Tiffany debuted updates of some of her staples, including a yellow-gold Bone cuff featuring more than 100 pavé diamonds.
30
Chocolate Brown Takes Over Our Fall Wardrobes
In pop culture, 2024 belonged to Brat green, but when it came to our closets, it was all about chocolate brown. From supple leather jackets in rich mocha to suede bags the color of Toblerone, the hue dominated the runways at Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo, not to mention our fall wardrobes.
31
Kendrick Lamar Curates a Juneteenth to Remember
Do you remember where you were when Kendrick Lamar performed “Not Like Us” five times in a row at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Juneteenth in 2024? Lamar redefined the concept of hometown concerts with his first-ever “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” show this past summer. Witnessing the Pulitzer Prize–winning emcee celebrate all that encompasses West Coast hip-hop for one night only felt like watching Black history be made in real time.
32
Celebrity Lookalike Contests Have Us Doing a Double Take
The most wholesomely silly trend of 2024 kicked off in late October, when a throng of young men and their friends and loved ones swarmed New York’s Washington Square Park to see who would be crowned Timothée Chalamet’s closest doppelganger (and win $50). Four people were arrested in the mayhem, but the real Chalamet was spotted walking through the crowd unscathed. From there, the idea snowballed, expanding to include Jeremy Allen White in Chicago, Paul Mescal in Dublin, Glen Powell in Austin, and Dev Patel in San Francisco. Next up: Paul Rudd in Brooklyn on December 21.
33
Everyone Gets a Bob
Celebrities often go through major hair transformations, but the most popular chop of the year was the bob. From Rihanna’s platinum-blond lob that she debuted at the top of the year to Kendall Jenner’s more recent shoulder-length cut, some of our favorite stars adopted the short, timeless look.
34
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys Curate a Milestone Art Show
Installation view, “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” February 10, 2024 – July 7, 2024.
Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys have together amassed a collection of art by the likes of Nina Chanel Abney, Jordan Casteel, Derrick Adams, Arthur Jafa, Deana Lawson, and Kehinde Wiley. And earlier this year, from February 10 through July 7, they brought together a selection of these works for a groundbreaking show at the Brooklyn Museum focusing on Black diasporic artists.
35
Fashion Embraces Piercings Without the Pain
The times we live in just keep getting more unprecedented … and maybe that’s why punk accents like piercings have slowly started to enter the zeitgeist again. Tory Burch’s pierced mule wedge is an IYKYK staple among fashion editors everywhere. And garments and accessories with piercings have quietly taken over the runway, from Prada to Balenciaga.
36
Sabrina Carpenter Brings Sexy Back
Courtesy Sabrina Carpenter and YouTube
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show may have returned in 2024, but if anyone really did the work to update va-va-voom bombshell style for the modern era, it was Sabrina Carpenter. Clad in bedazzled corsets embroidered with lipstick marks and slinky garters designed to be tossed off stage, the pop star performed songs with lyrics like “Come ride on me / I mean camaraderie” for huge audiences, proving that sexiness doesn’t have to be serious and that everything is more fun when it’s, well, tongue in cheek.
37
We’re Wearing Dresses Over Pants Again
The Row’s Spring 2025 collection included a modern take on the controversial Y2K trend of styling a short dress over long pants, and suddenly the so-wrong-that-it’s-right approach felt cool. The best part of this look is that there are so many ways to style it: You can go pared back with monochromatic separates or go more glam with a structured minidress worn as a tunic.
38
The WNBA Wins Our Hearts
Has women’s basketball ever had a better year? Newer contenders like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Cameron Brink became household names, leading their teams to major wins in front of the league’s biggest audiences to date (and turning the WNBA tunnel into a fashion runway in the process). Seasoned athletes like Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and A’ja Wilson took the U.S. to the top of the podium at the Paris Olympics. And New York Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant became a new kind of sports celebrity, adored by fans worldwide. One thing is clear: Everyone watches women’s sports.
39
Fashion Reminds Us That It’s Okay to Be a Mess
It started with Mrs. Prada, as most things do. For her Spring 2024 collection for Miu Miu, the industry oracle sent models down the runway in mashed-up outfits made up of swim trunks and tailoring and eveningwear, carrying bags exploding with underwear and heels and more of life’s detritus that can’t be contained. The clothes and the styling, by Lotta Volkova, struck a chord; the show went viral. Here was high-fashion validation that it was okay for our outsides to match our insides, for the chaos of the real world to be reflected in our clothes.
40
Clothes Get Sheerer and Sheerer
From Chloé’s bohemian ruffles to the corporate-coded collections spotted on the Dries Van Noten and Saint Laurent Fall 2024 runways, the sheer trend continued to pick up steam this year as fashion shook off the remains of the covered-up and buttoned-up stealth-wealth craze. Delicate and sexy pieces in vibrant colors like cherry red and chartreuse proved what we knew all along: When it comes to clothes, people are ready to have fun again.
41
One Beauty Device to Rule Them All
Medicube Medicube Age-R Booster Pro
Now 34% Off
In a world that’s inundated with beauty tech, there’s something especially appealing about a single device that covers all the bases. Bazaar editors are obsessed with the Medicube Age-R Booster Pro’s six-in-one skincare capabilities—from its fine-line-reducing microcurrent mode to an option for contouring electric muscle stimulation—that don’t even require a conductive gel to activate.
42
Industry Fills the Succession-Shaped Hole in Our Lives
You don’t have to be a finance bro to be enthralled by the cutthroat world of Industry. The HBO drama hit its stride in its third season thanks to knockout performances (the ultra-cool cast includes Marisa Abela, Myha’la, and Harry Lawtey, among others) and top-tier writing that highlights the grit and greed that makes the world go ’round.
43
The Eras Tour Opens the Door to a New Generation
Last year, Taylor Swift kicked off her world-dominating Eras Tour, shattering records with every glittery stop. But if 2023 was Swift’s year, 2024 was the year of her openers—stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, and Beabadoobee, who were able to parlay the exposure into increased chart success and mainstream notoriety. As Swift admits in her Red vault track “Nothing New,” she used to fear being replaced by newer stars, but now she’s giving them a platform.
44
TikTok Gives Us a Gen Z Martha Stewart
No one has captured (or maintained) the internet’s intrigue quite like Nara Aziza Smith. The 23-year-old TikTok phenomenon has entranced fans with her glamorous kitchen outfits and improbable recipes—so much so that her day-to-day has become fuel for endless discourse over what her whole schtick really means.
45-49
The Five New Beauty Products We Can’t Live Without
45
Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eye Illusion Eyeshadow Duo
It’s almost impossible to not get served a first-impression TikTok these days on this trending eyeshadow set from celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta. Available in five shade options, its dazzling shimmer finish truly is eye-catching.
46
Rhode the Pocket Blushes
Bazaar beauty editors are still clamoring over the ease and pigmented color payoff of Rhode’s viral pocket blushes. Pro tip: Apply your shade of choice straight out of the tube to the high points of the cheeks and the tip of your nose, then blend with your fingertips for the ultimate boyfriend-blush effect.
47
Dior Beauty Dior Forever Perfect Skin Stick Foundation
Dior’s compact Forever Perfect Skin stick foundation proves that crafting a seamless makeup base doesn’t have to be complicated. Its buildable formula is not only supremely hydrating, it also delivers a blurring effect to conceal the appearance of pores, breakouts, and more.
48
Makeup by Mario Softsculpt Multi-Use Bronzing & Shaping Serum
This buildable bronzer from Makeup by Mario was a mainstay in the makeup bags of our editors this year for an effortless sun-kissed look. It also uses a combination of hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to keep skin plump and hydrated.
49
Prada Lip Balm
This elevated Prada balm isn’t just stylish. It’s also packed with moisturizing ingredients like bifidus extract and jojoba oil to keep your lips nourished and smooth for up to 24 hours.
50
J.Lo Keeps It Moving
By now, Jennifer Lopez must have gotten used to knowing that her name is perpetually in other people’s mouths. Her personal life was plastered all over headlines and social media this year, from breathless accounts of her canceled concert tour to cruel musings over what ultimately led to the dissolution of her fourth marriage. No one would begrudge her for lashing out—or, at the very least, retreating from the public’s unrelenting eye. But whatever may have been going on in Lopez’s private life, the superstar kept cute and classy in public. She spent much of the summer doing what she does best: dressing impeccably, frolicking through the Hamptons, and looking completely and blithely unbothered by anything anyone has to say about her.
51
The Danielle Goldberg Effect
Stylist Danielle Goldberg has been quietly transforming the image of Hollywood stars for years, but in 2024 she stepped into the spotlight. The ascent of Ayo Edebiri and Greta Lee to red-carpet mainstays, Solange’s refined looks from Gucci and the Row, and Saoirse Ronan’s latest stylish press run were all masterminded by Goldberg, who has a knack for mixing archive pieces and working with the likes of Gucci and Bottega Veneta on one-of-a-kind wonders that let the beauty of her clients shine through.
52
Nicole Kidman Is Everywhere
Nicole Kidman knows what she wants, and she wants to give it to you. This year alone, she’s given us prestige TV (Expats), a frothy murder mystery set in a tony locale (The Perfect Couple, her latest follow-up in the genre that delivered Big Little Lies, The Undoing, and Nine Perfect Strangers), sexually charged comedies both silly (A Family Affair) and sizzling (Babygirl), and a white-knuckle spy thriller (the second season of Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness) … not to mention her new role as a Balenciaga ambassador.
53
Tyler, the Creator Reminds Us His Only Competition Is Himself
Courtesy of Tyler, the Creator and YouTube
The artist continues his exploration of the outer bounds of hip-hop with his latest studio album, Chromakopia, which narrates his evolving relationship with fame and his fans (with a little help from friends and peers such as Solange, Doechii, and Teezo Touchdown). The album’s accompanying visuals offer another route into his creative psyche: black-and-white, militaristic, fever-dream vignettes that we just can’t look away from.
54-63
These 10 Books Take Over Our Nightstands
64
Dries Van Noten Says Goodbye
The beloved designer Dries Van Noten showed his final collections this year, having announced that he would step away from his eponymous label after 38 years. The news hit his fans and admirers hard. How would the brand survive without the man who gave us wild prints, powerful silhouettes, and a modern sense of femininity in fashion? But maybe we shouldn’t worry. Though a successor has yet to be announced, Van Noten’s final men’s and women’s collections were triumphs—reminders that even if he isn’t making the clothes himself, his vision will be strong enough to keep on going.
65
“Extreme Cream” Goes Viral
Innbeauty Project Extreme Cream Firming & Lifting Moisturizer
Now 10% Off
This moisturizer was all over our TikTok feeds in 2024, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The formula combines peptides, bio-retinol, and ceramides to lift and contour skin while strengthening its barrier.
66
Jeffrey Gibson Breaks New Ground for Native American Art
Installation view of “the space in which to place me” (Jeffrey Gibson’s exhibition for the United States Pavilion, 60th International Art Exhibition–La Biennale di Venezia), April 20–November 24, 2024. From left: If Not Now Then When (2024); The Enforcer (2024); We Want to Be Free (2024). Mural: We Are Made By History (2024).
This year, contemporary artist Jeffrey Gibson—a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians who is also of Cherokee descent—represented the United States at the 2024 Venice Biennale, making him the first Native artist to have a solo exhibition in the U.S. pavilion. Spanning video, painting, performance, traditional Native garments, sculpture, and more, his vibrant work celebrates and brings visibility to queer and indigenous communities. In November, a sweeping exhibition showcasing his oeuvre, “Power Full Because We’re Different,” opened at MASS MoCA, and next year four new figurative sculptures by Gibson will be on display at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for its Genesis Facade Commission.
67
J.Crew Masters the Collab
J.Crew hasn’t been this buzzy in years, and it’s all thanks to the vision of creative director Olympia Gayot, who has revitalized the mall classic. This year, Gayot worked with designers like Maryam Nassir Zadeh and Christopher John Rogers to create collaborations that fashion girls everywhere wanted to add to their carts. (And considering that plenty of pieces sold out, it’s safe to say that many did.)
68
Blake Lively’s No-Fucks-Given Personal Style
Blake Lively’s personal style is just that: really and truly her own. She doesn’t use a stylist and seems to delight in getting dressed, whether you like it or not. Sure, there are plenty of naysayers who find fault with her frilly, feminine, more-is-more vibe. There’s nothing sleek or restrained about it. But why should it be? Fashion should be fun, and Blake Lively always seems to be having a lot of it.
69
New Names at Big Houses
It was the year of designer musical chairs, with new creative directors being announced so rapidly that it was hard to keep up. To name a few of the big ones: Adrian Appiolaza took the helm at Moschino, and Matteo Tamburini took charge at Tod’s. Chemena Kamali infused a new sense of cool into Chloé, while Seán McGirr did the same at McQueen, and Alessandro Michele went full glam magpie for his beautiful first two outings at Valentino.
70
Only Cole Escola Could Make a Broadway Smash Out of a Deranged Mary Todd Lincoln
Escola’s hilarious Oh, Mary! imagines Mary Todd Lincoln as a bored and nasty drunk who is trapped in the White House as her husband tries to bring an end to the Civil War. Her greatest dream is to perform cabaret, and the madness that ensues is exactly what this chaotic moment calls for.
71
New Ways to Dress Up Your Table
This was the year our favorite fashion brands got into homeware. From gorgeous glassware to plates in stunning hand-painted motifs, we invested in beautiful place settings that felt simultaneously dainty and daring.
72
Dover Street Market Doubles Down
The innovative retail space opened its doors in Paris this spring, much to the delight of fashion obsessives both there and abroad. The location is so much more than a store; there’s a gallery space, a café, and an incubator program that aims to empower young talent in the industry. At a moment when big-box department stores and fashion e-commerce giants are struggling to find their way forward against financial headwinds, Dover Street’s expansion is a signifier that sometimes betting on a concept, rather than following a traditional model, can be the most successful strategy.
73
Salma Hayek Pinault’s Like Water for Chocolate TV Adaptation Really Delivers
Cooking is a labor of love, and in the television adaptation of Laura Esquivel’s novel Like Water for Chocolate, we also see it become a conduit for magic, helping the protagonist, Tita, speak her truth in an atmosphere of familial constraint and growing political dissent. The limited series is the latest passion project for Salma Hayek Pinault, who worked for more than six years to reimagine the tragic love story of Tita and Pedro for a new generation as part of her ongoing mission to bring more Latino stories to Hollywood.
74
Beyoncé Reminds Us of Country Music’s Black Roots
Courtesy of Beyoncé and YouTube
Not only did Beyoncé’s eighth studio album produce some of the most beautiful vocal arrangements and ambitious productions of her career, it also provided a platform for up-and-coming Black country artists and industry legends alike—making it both a history lesson and a contemporary pop landmark. Like most of her projects, Cowboy Carter caused some controversy and commotion, but this was a cultural conversation that was long overdue.
75
Hollywood Flips the Script on Age-Gap Discourse
Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine in The Idea of You. Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron in A Family Affair. Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth in Lonely Planet. Nicole Kidman again, this time with Harris Dickinson in Babygirl. This was the year that a slate of movies explored the complicated entanglements of older women and younger men. These films raised important questions about desire and shame, freedom and social expectation, and—okay, who are we kidding?—they were also just really hot.
76
The Ambani Wedding Puts High Jewelry on the World Stage
Days before the 2024 Olympics showcased the best athletes in the world, the Ambani wedding did the same with jewels. Placing the ancient heritage of Indian jewelry-making front and center, bride Radhika Merchant and groom Anant Ambani wore hundreds of carats’ worth of quarter-plus-size diamonds, ripe rubies, and emeralds as big as bricks, all pressed into intricate masterpieces. Their guests followed suit—like Kim Kardashian, who frosted herself in custom Lorraine Schwartz diamonds, and Bulgari ambassador Priyanka Chopra, who made her entrance dripping in gemstones.
77
Alaïa Makes a Triumphant Return to New York CIty
Alaïa’s runway show at the Guggenheim Museum amped up the glamour at this fall’s New York Fashion Week. It wasn’t just the incredible collection—which solidified creative director Pieter Mulier as one of the industry’s next great talents—it was also the stellar casting, the location (Azzedine Alaïa had a longstanding relationship with the city, first showing there in 1982), the venue (the Guggenheim has never held a fashion show), and the appearance of Rihanna, whose presence confirmed that this was one of the buzziest shows of the entire season.
78
We Fell for This Luscious Matte Lipstick
Inspired by Gabrielle Chanel herself, this long-wearing lipstick (which comes in 12 shades) has a velvety texture that makes it perfect for holiday party beauty looks.
Chanel 31 Le Rouge Matte Lipstick
79
The Humble Barn Jacket Develops a Major Fan Base
The runway trickle-down effect is real. Ever since Prada and Loewe debuted their own versions of the barn jacket on the catwalk, the utilitarian outerwear has become a fan favorite, ushering in a new generation of barn-jacket devotees.
80
French-Girl Retinol Goes Viral
A313 Vitamin A Pommade 200.000 UI
This Parisian skincare secret had a cult following well before it made its way stateside. The Vaseline-like formula contains a low dose of vitamin A, meaning it’s safer than typical retinoids for sensitive skin and causes less irritation.
81
Addison Rae Recruits a Varsity Creative Squad
Courtesy Addison Rae and Youtube
Addison Rae released only two singles this year, but she’s already proven that she’s a strong contender to be the Next Big Thing—in part because her formidable creative team is made up of fashion insiders like stylist Dara and creative director Mel Ottenberg. Anyone who’s able to round up such impressive support has a bright future, and it’s clear she’s got surprises around every corner, whether she’s dropping remixes with Arca or joining Charli XCX and Troye Sivan onstage at Madison Square Garden.
82
Belts Get Weird
Belts are no longer just for keeping your pants up. On runways from Prada to Miu Miu to Hodakova, the utilitarian accessory was styled in unexpected ways that made us look at them in a new light. It feels like designers are finally seeing the belt for what it really is: a freaky strap of leather that can add some perversion to a look.
83
Amelia Dimoldenberg Proves She’s Here to Stay
Courtesy Amelia Dimoldenberg and YouTube
For 10 years, Amelia Dimoldenberg’s web series, Chicken Shop Date, has been subverting the traditional celebrity-interview format with digestible and hilarious one-on-one moments between the blond British comedian and her guest stars. This year, Dimoldenberg’s two-year-long public flirtation with Andrew Garfield came to a critical point when he came on her show. There were awkward silences, lots of swooning, and nearly 10 million views.
84
Blackpink Grows Up
There’s no stopping the women of Blackpink. The group is set to reunite in 2025, but its four members spent 2024 giving fans a taste of what they can do on their own. Most notably, Lisa made a standout appearance at the Victoria’s Secret runway show, Rosé dropped an instant-hit collab with Bruno Mars, and Jennie staked her claim as a soloist with her new track “Mantra.”
85
Armani’s Year of Milestones
Giorgio Armani turned 90 in July, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Not only did the designer open a massive new retail and residential space on Madison Avenue in New York City, he also put on a fabulous black-tie-only show for his Spring 2025 collection inside the Park Avenue Armory. This was the year of Mr. Armani (never “Giorgio,” as Osman Ahmed pointed out in his profile of the designer in our October issue).
86
Miu Miu Makes the Pearl Necklace Feel Impossibly Cool
Miuccia Prada has a talent for weaving touchstones from the past into collections that shape how we will dress for the future. In her Fall 2024 Miu Miu show, classic pearls topped off layered polos and baby-doll dresses. Fast-forward to now, and pearls have bloomed across scores of preseason collections and runways. At the same time, fresh collaborations like Mikimoto x Chrome Hearts show just how popular the marine treasures have become. Why not take a cue from Miuccia and use them to accent your wardrobe too?
87
Workout Blush Without the Sweat
There’s always a new way to look rosy, and this year was no exception. TikTok called the trend “boyfriend blush” (as in, the flush your boyfriend gets after running around a soccer field), but Dior Makeup creative and image director Peter Philips reframed it as the less-gendered “workout blush.” Either way, the 2024 way to wear blush is lower on the face. “It’s not on the apples of the cheeks. It’s not a contour blush,” Philips explains. Instead, he used the Dior Rouge Blush Colour & Glow placed low under the cheekbone to mimic the natural flush one gets from exercise—no cardio required.
88
RIP Rubber Hair Ties
Tying your hair back into a ponytail is no longer just about getting it out of your face; it’s about making a statement. You can buy an oversize bow from Vaquera so large, it looks like giant bunny ears from afar. Owning a certain colorway of Maryam Nassir Zadeh’s popular Carnation scrunchie is enough to make you a minor celebrity amongst a select group of fashion friends. And wearing a Sandy Liang Flower Power scrunchie on your wrist is like wearing a friendship bracelet for the internet’s coquette clique. Who needs a rubber tie when you have these?
89
Yseult Enters the Chat
It’s hard to capture the hearts and minds of the fashion industry, but from Demna to Maria Grazia Chiuri, everyone’s obsessed with Yseult. Not only is the French singer-songwriter making waves with her second album, Mental, she’s become an important symbol of style and inclusivity with her risk-taking looks.
90
Pat McGrath Creates an IRL Face Filter for Margiela
It was the backstage beauty look that shook the world. For the Maison Margiela Fall/Winter 2024 runway, makeup artist Pat McGrath gave the models glass skin that made them look like dolls. The look went so viral, McGrath will be selling the porcelain formula for professional use come 2025.
91
Excess Marks the Spot
Last spring, Fall/Winter 2024 runways amplified the presence of bold button earrings, heavy cuffs, and piles of beaded necklaces, rekindling the shameless expression of gilded glamour encapsulated by the fashion of the 1980s. If last September’s runways are any indication, the fever shows no signs of breaking. In Paris, Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection included heavy stacked cuffs and weighty gold earrings impressed with crimson and purple inlays, while Alessandro Michele showed layers of beaded necklaces and crystal-encrusted drop earrings for Valentino.
92
Textiles Get Crafty
This was the year that home textiles took cues from pastimes gone by. Crochet and needlepoint motifs and patterns that looked like sketchbook doodles adorned cushions, tablecloths, and place mats for an effect that was at once homespun and chic.
93
Alvin Ailey Lives On
Carmen de Lavallade and Alvin Ailey at Jacob’s Pillow, 1961. Photo by John Lindquist. © Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard University.
Losing the legendary Judith Jamison recently reminded us how much Alvin Ailey and his community of dancers and choreographers changed the landscape of performance for generations to come. Luckily, their colorful creative contributions live on by way of the powerful exhibition of Ailey’s life and career at the Whitney Museum and the annual holiday season showcase at New York City Center.
94
Dyson’s Beloved Hair Dryer Gets a High-Tech Upgrade
Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
Now 20% Off
Dyson tools have taken the hair world by storm, and for good reason. This year, the vacuum-turned-hair-care brand released a new version of its original hair dryer, the Supersonic Nural, with smart features like Scalp-protect mode (which reduces the temperature as the device moves closer to your head) and a built-in sensor that recognizes the chosen attachment.
95
Designers Ring In Big Anniversaries
The fashion world had a lot to celebrate in 2024, including the big anniversaries of some major names—like Marc Jacobs, who marked 30 years in business. Rick Owens’s label also turned 30, as did Isabel Marant’s namesake brand. Phillip Lim and Tory Burch hit 20 years, while Jonathan Anderson and Nicolas Ghesquière celebrated a decade each at Loewe and Louis Vuitton.
96
TikTok Becomes Obsessed With Heatless Curls
It turns out waking up with bouncy, voluminous waves is as easy as getting a good night’s sleep. You can’t scroll on TikTok without seeing a video of someone road-testing heatless curls, using everything from foam rods to socks to bathrobe ties. Even heading into a new year, the trend shows no signs of slowing down.
97
Cartier Reminds Us That Good Things Come in Small Packages
Cartier Tank Louis Watch
In a prelude to the “demure” phenomenon, Cartier debuted the mini Tank Louis watch at the Watches & Wonders trade show in Geneva last spring. The Cartier Tank, which has been beloved by icons from Jackie O to Michelle Obama, has become an emblem of classic style. The new 24mm iteration reflects a growing demand for smaller watches that rekindle the quaint proportions of the art-deco era.
98-100
Flat Shoes Captivate the Fashion Crowd
From Alaïa’s cult-favorite ballet flats to the viral boat-shoe trend, these are the standout shoes that editors loved and wore everywhere this year.
98
Bally Pathy Leather Loafers
99
Loro Piana Rebecca Ballerina Flats
100
