Best Dressed Of The Year - 2015

FROM pyjamas to capes to sheer dresses that only qualify the noun thanks to strategically placed sequins, 2015 has seen radical interpretations of red carpet style. Wear-it-once, razzle dazzle dresses reigned thanks to the return of in-your-face maximalism; but numerous stars went against the grain, honing a louche, girl-meets-boy look that put them firmly in the sartorial spotlight. In no particular order, here is Vogue's definitive 10 best dressed stars of 2015.

Sienna Miller

This has been a big year for Ms Miller. Originally the purveyor of Brit bohemianism (circa 2005), the November Vogue cover star has backed up her unstoppable film career with an endless stream of fashion hits. The cut-off denim shorts, neon aviators and Ugg boots are long gone - the bobbed bombshell is now rarely seen out of Céline. 

 

Cate Blanchett

You, like us, have probably fawned over Blanchett's poise and impeccable make-up in Carol. The Australian actress champions a very modern kind of grace on and off the silver screen, sporting the designers doing new school glamour, such as Proenza Schouler who created the irresistible frilled dress she wore to American ambassador Matthew Barzun's Oscar's cocktail in October. Flawless red carpet style at its grown-up best.

 

Cara Delevingne

Cara's meteoric rise in the modelling world was accompanied by a uniform of black skinny jeans, beanie hats, round sunglasses and hoodies. Her success this year as an actress has brought about an altogether different sense of style. Gone are the slogan tees, instead the British star has Hedi Slimane on speed dial for a smart mini dress, worn these days with major glam make-up. 

 

Alicia Vikander

The 27-year-old Swedish actress may have only just come to the attention of the masses with the release of The Danish Girl, but in the fashion world, she's commanded far-reaching appeal for more than two years. The sun-kissed skin completes an ultra-natural look that Louis Vuitton creative director, Nicolas Ghesquière, can't get enough of. The highlight this year? The futuristic look Vikander rocked during the Cannes Film Festival.

 

Léa Seydoux

A blazing performance in Spectre as clever bond girl, Dr. Madeleine Swann, and a succession of fearless red carpet dresses (usually by Miuccia Prada) during the film's global promotional tour have thrust the born-and-bred Parisian further into the limelight this year. Seydoux wears the attention well - particularly the canary yellow cutaway gown (Prada, again) that stole the show at the BAFTAs. 

 

Gigi Hadid

She's bossed it this year, and no mistake. Thigh-high boots, cutaway dresses and cream coats are now firm Gigi staples, but this was our favourite of her civilian looks. The chin-grazing jumper is the perfect foil to a slippery maxi skirt; the flash of thigh keeps things fresh. 

 

Alexa Chung

Have we reached Peak Alexa? She's in our best dressed list every week, whacking out elegant look after elegant look without a hint of fashion fatigue. Usually she favours prim, ladylike dresses or grey cashmere, jeans and killer shoes. This Preen dress was a little different for her - less girly, more undone. We liked it. 

 

Carey Mulligan

Sweet but never saccharine, classy but never tipping into safe-as-houses, Mulligan has come a long way from the hunched over teenager who used to skulk around red carpets with an uneasy look on her face (see her Style File for evidence). Fond of a bow and a strapless neckline, she looked ravishing in this Alexander McQueen number, as befits a star who has hardly put a foot wrong this year, sartorially speaking. 

 

Rihanna

Christian Dior - Wham, bam, thank you ma'am - Rihanna can pull off nearly nude or even an egg-yolk cape so luxurious it looks like an oozing slice of Domino's, but this Dior look was utterly killer. And whilst we love her oversized Nineties bomber jacket and Calvin Klein slip combos when she's popping out for late night tattoos, she's at her best when swaddled in haute couture. 

 

Dakota Johnson

A frilly marigold crepe dress topped off with a corsage is a tricky one to make your own, but Johnson is no wallflower. This Gucci look proved she can take on the aristo granny aesthetic and imbue it with youthful zest - a characteristic she brings to all her red carpet looks.

 

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