Kittens, it’s that magical time of the year when we get to be extra-judgy! Come with us as we travel back through the mists of time and re-judge all the best and worst red carpet looks of 2018. In terms of bestness, there were two major stories this year: first, that menswear looks popped up in a big way when we compiled our faves of the year. Second, Black Panther. We actually had to work to not make this an all-Black Panther-cast list. Also, Lady Gaga cast a glow that shone on all who stood near her on the red carpet. Let’s start our countdown as all countdowns must start, at the bottom of the list. These looks are among the very best of the year and their wearers and stylists should comfort themselves with that fact even as they rightly berate themselves for placing so low. Do better next year, celebs.
20: Ben Whishaw in Alexander McQueen at the “Mary Poppins Returns” Los Angeles Premiere.
As we said, menswear made a splash this year, helped along by some fairly adventurous (from a style perspective) boystars all hitting their stride at the same time. Ben came in rather late in the game for the Mary Poppins Returns holiday poledance tour, but he managed to snag a spot on our list with this eye-catching and wittily referential McQueen.
19: Janelle Monáe in Christian Siriano at the “Black Panther” Los Angeles Premiere .
As we noted at the time, Black Hollywood seemed to have collectively received a memo that told them to show up looking like royalty for the Black Panther premiere and the result was a string of eye-popping, declarative, boldly stylish looks. Miss Janelle’s may have been the most overtly regal of all, but we can’t say it doesn’t suit her perfectly. Kudos to Christian Siriano for rising to the occasion and giving her this melange of Euro-portraiture styles and Afro-futurism.
18: Emily Blunt in Schiaparelli Couture at the “Mary Poppins Returns” London Premiere.
It’s just a bold-as-hell, totally on-point look. There may have been bolder and more chic looks on the list, but this is the essence of what a movie star is supposed to be shooting for when she hits a red carpet.
17: Adam Rippon in Moschino at the Oscars Awards.
Oooh, our first truly controversial pick, we’d wager! If there’s an honorable mention among the big red carpet stories of the year, it was an increased queer presence with an accompanying flurry of queer expression-making. From Lena Waithe’s rainbow flag cape to Janelle’s rainbow flag skirt, there was a true sense of queer pride permeating the red carpet this year. And no one seemed more full of pride than Adam Rippon, who served up a little of Tom of Finland queer realness at the very last place anyone would have the nerve to do so. Respect.
16: Shangela in Diego Montoya at the “A Star Is Born” UK Premiere.
And hand-in-hand with that last point about queer visibility on the red carpet came the Drag Queen Moment in pop culture. From Peppermint conquering Broadway to Sasha Velour conquering Fashion Week to RuPaul himself conquering the Emmys, 2018 was the year the Queens came home to roost, henny. And Miss Shangela may have had the fiercest rise of all, as she walked the red carpet premiere of one of the biggest movies of the year, an honest-to-fuck co-star to none other than Lady Gaga. And true to drag queen form, this bitch saw this for the capital-M MOMENT it truly was for her and served up as much draggy glam as the world could possibly handle. Bow down.
[Photo Credit: INSTARImages]
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Meghan and Cathy Bury the Hatchet on Christmas Day Next Post:
The 20 WORST Red Carpet Looks of 2018, Part One: The Best of the Worst
Meghan and Cathy Bury the Hatchet on Christmas Day Next Post:
The 20 WORST Red Carpet Looks of 2018, Part One: The Best of the Worst
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Jennifer Lopez in Patou at the UNSTOPPABLE Beverly Hills Event
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Elle Fanning in Bottega Veneta at the A COMPLETE UKNOWN London Special Screening
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Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2024 Torino Film Festival Opening Ceremony
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