While 2024 hasn’t been the strongest of years for fashion — the continuing musical chairs of creative director positions has left some crucial seats empty for months on end — Hollywood’s showing has remained defiant, with houses like Louis Vuitton adding chic thespian ambassadors seemingly daily, Schiaparelli and Alaia bringing a European aesthetic to the boulevard, and Loewe ad campaigns showcasing an eclectic array of superb acting talent, making it the label everyone aspires to wear.
Monse scored a big hit when Michelle Obama wore its sleeveless suit to the Democratic National Convention in August — possibly the outfit of the year, styled by Meredith Koop. And Method Dressing continues to trend — with mixed results — following the master stroke of last year’s Barbie-themed red carpet looks championed by Margot Robbie and her stylist Andrew Mukamal. This year, Wicked‘s Cynthia Erivo (in Marc Jacobs) launched her own green movement to great acclaim; Maya Rudolph (in Patou) beautifully channeled her bohemian style right back into her Loot character’s wardrobe; Zendaya (in Stéphane Rolland) played a love game with tennis balls and whites to varied success for Challengers; while Blake Lively sadly failed to hit any high notes with her scattered floral tributes to It Ends With Us. (Then again, $350 million at the box office is always fashionable.)
The gentlemen, however, are finding their footing again. There was a moment in 2023 when peacocking was unfortunately the norm, but that has settled in to a louche, suave tone of low-cut shirts, pastels and swagger, dominated from over the pond by the likes of Paul Mescal (in Gucci), Jonathan Bailey (in Giorgio Armani) and Andrew Scott (in Etro). Stateside, Colman Domingo (in Boss) consistently impresses with his dapper, elegant manner, and Lenny Kravitz (in Saint Laurent) always toes the line of the latest look with his unique twist. At last, men are wearing the clothes, not clothes wearing the men. Plus, Robert Downey Jr. (in Stella McCartney) deserves a shout-out for thanking his stylist in his Oscar acceptance speech. These are hardworking people, and Downey famously appreciates his fashion. Well done, Erica Cloud.
And it’s true that enviable style is not just for the youngsters. As Taylor Russell pretty-posed in Alaïa, Ayo Edebiri cutely modeled Loewe and Troye Sivan killed it in Prada, the red carpet veterans were quietly stealing the show. Meryl Streep dazzled in Valentino, Michelle Yeoh rocked Bottega Veneta with new bangs, Emily in Paris‘ Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu sashayed in sculptural Schiaparelli. And at age 64 (yes, really!), Tilda Swinton (in her pal Haider Ackermann’s collection for Jean Paul Gaultier Couture) appeared as icily cool and modern as any fashion ingenue could ever dream to be.
The L.A. Academy Museum Gala continues to gather speed in its sibling rivalry with the NYC Met Gala and is certainly winning out in the lesson of elegance versus exhibitionism, with such stars as Greta Lee (floral in Loewe), Anna Sawai (poufed in Louis Vuitton) and Zoe Saldaña (so stunning in Harris Reed) looking drop-dead gorgeous and going viral without the necessity of over-the-top theatrics — or gowns in which they couldn’t physically move.
All in all, 2024 ended up being a triumph for those who chose style and substance over flash and frivolity … generally a good fashion rule to live by, in my opinion.
Jonathan Bailey brings his prince’s swagger to town in low-cut satin shirts, high-waisted pants and floral embellishments.
L to R:
1. In Dolce & Gabbana at the Wicked premiere, Sydney, November
2. In Giorgio Armani at The Emmy Awards, LA, September
3. In Loewe at The Met Gala, New York, May
Saverio Marfia/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
The real style icon of Emily in Paris — step aside, Lily Collins — Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu epitomizes le style français, naturellement.
L to R:
1. In Saint Laurent at Paris Fashion Week, September
2. In Schiaparelli at the Emily in Paris season 4 premiere, LA, August
3. In Rochas at the Marrakech Film Festival, November
River Callaway/WWD/Getty Images; Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Marc Piasecki/Getty Images
Like a star from a bygone era, Colman Domingo is the definition of suave, showcasing looks that are a far cry from his Sing Sing prison blues.
L to R:
1. In Valentino at the Critics Choice Awards, LA, January
2. In Boss at the BAFTA Film Awards, London, February
3. In Valentino at the Academy Museum Gala, LA, October
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; John Phillips/Getty Images; Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Ayo Edebiri, fresh-faced talent of The Bear, claws her way to the top of any best-dressed list with her endearing smile and innate style.
L to R:
1. In Prada at the Golden Globe Awards, LA, January
2. In Loewe at The Bear Season 3 premiere, LA, June
3. In Louis Vuitton at the Emmy Awards, LA, September
Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty Images; Michael Buckner/Variety/Getty Images; Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Cynthia Erivo brought her own Wicked sense of style to the red carpet this year.
L to R:
1. In Louis Vuitton at The Oscars, LA, March
2. In Marc Jacobs at ABC Studios, New York, November
3. In Balmain at The Gold Gala, LA, May
Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Raymond Hall/GC Images; Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Always marching to the beat of his own drum, Lenny Kravitz has evolved his rock-chic image in to a new, sexy sophistication.
L to R:
1. In Saint Laurent at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, LA, March
2. In Saint Laurent at the Blink Twice premiere, London, August
3. In Laquan Smith at the Critics Choice Awards, LA, January
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Mike Marsland/WireImage; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
The Morning Show star Greta Lee effortlessly brings an elevated attitude to her cool-girl evening looks.
L to R:
1. In Loewe at the Academy Awards, LA, March
2. In Loewe at the Academy Museum Gala, LA, October
3. In Bottega Veneta at the Governors Awards, LA, January
VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
Gladiator II star Paul Mescal dressed against his role’s typical masculine trope with deconstructed tailoring and undone shirts.
L to R:
1. In Gucci at the Gladiator II premiere, Dublin, November
2. In Gucci at the Gladiator II premiere, London, November
3. In Gucci at the BAFTA Film Awards, London, February
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images; Samir Hussein/WireImage; Karwai Tang/WireImage
It’s easy to upstage most politicians on the fashion front, let’s face it, but Obama managed to wear possibly the outfit of the year in 2024.
In Monse, at The Democratic Convention, Chicago, August
CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/Getty Images
Maya Rudolph easily owns a modern bohemian style that works for both her eccentric Loot character and her real-life persona.
L to R:
1. In Rodarte at the Loot / Emmy event, LA, May
2. In Patou at Paris Fashion Week, June
3. In Gabriela Hearst at The Time 100 Gala, New York, April
Monica Schipper/Getty Images; Christian Vierig/Getty Images; Gotham/WireImage
On the jury at the Venice Film Festival this year, Taylor Russell can certainly win over any fashion judges with her statement looks.
L to R:
1. In Schiaparelli at the Venice Film Festival, September
2. In Alaia at the Venice Film Festival, September
3. In Loewe at the Met Gala, New York, May
Marilla Sicilia/Archivio Marilla Sicilia/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images; JB Lacroix/FilmMagic; ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty Images
Looking incredible on her Emilia Pérez press tour, Zoe Saldaña and her stylist Petra Flannery are only hitting the high notes.
L to R:
1. In Saint Laurent at the Emilia Perez premiere, LA, October
2. In Harris Reed at the Academy Museum Gala, LA, October
3. In Prada at the BFI London Film Festival, October
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Gilbert Flores/WWD/Getty Images; Mike Marsland/WireImage
The breakout winner this TV season for Shogun also beat out her competitors in the style stakes.
L to R:
1. In Louis Vuitton at the Emmy Awards Celebration, LA, September
2. In Louis Vuitton at the Academy Museum Gala, LA, October
3. In Tory Burch at the Time 100 Next Gala, New York, October
Elyse Jankowski/Variety/Getty Images; VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images; Taylor Hill/WireImage
No stranger to playing colorful roles, Andrew Scott set a high bar modeling a show-stopping palette this year.
L to R:
1. In Vivienne Westwood at the Netflix Emmy Party, LA, September
2. In Etro at the Independent Spirit Awards, LA, February
3. In Berluti at the BAFTA Film Awards, London, February
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Mike Marsland/WireImage
With his sweet and innocent looks, music ingenue Troye Sivan can always get away with rule-breaking outfits that create some “Talk Talk.”
L to R:
1. In Tanner Fletcher at the CFDA Fashion Awards, New York, October
2. In Prada at the Pre Grammys Gala, LA, February
3. In Prada at a Grammy after party, LA, February
Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Jerritt Clark/Getty Images
Among all Meryl Streep’s statuettes, this is one red carpet veteran who can always add “best dressed” to her list of accolades.
L to R:
1. In Alexander McQueen at the Emmy Awards, LA, September
2. In Valentino at the Golden Globe Awards, LA, January
3. In Dior at the Cannes Film Festival, May
ilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Rocco Spaziani/Archivio Spaziani/Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
Perhaps the best-dressed actress in Hollywood, Tilda Swinton never fails to bring her unique understanding of fashion in to the room.
L to R:
1. In Standing Ground at the Governors Awards, LA, March
2. In Haider Ackermann X Jean Paul Gaultier Couture at the Problemista screening, New York, February
3. In Schiaparelli at Deadline Contenders Film, LA, November
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; Gilbert Flores/Deadline/Getty Images
With a singular elegance, Michelle Yeoh knows how to carry off style top to toe with everything, everywhere, all at once in perfect place.
L to R:
1. In Bottega Veneta at the Wicked premiere, London, November
2. In Bottega Veneta at the Cannes Film Festival, May
3. In Bottega Veneta & Mikimoto jewels at the AmFar Gala, Cannes, May
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images; JB Lacroix/FilmMagic; Mike Marsland/WireImage
Zendaya played her best game in a chic menswear inspired look and glamourous show-stopping gowns.
L to R:
1. In Roberto Cavalli at The Green Carpet Fashion Awards, LA, April
2. In Stephane Rolland at the Dune II Premiere, New York, February
3. In Ralph Lauren at Jimmy Kimmel Live, LA, April
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images; RB/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Famously a fan of fashion, Robert Downey Jr. quite rightly gave a nod to his stylist Erica Cloud after a stellar red carpet campaign for Oppenheimer.
L to R:
1. In Louis Vuitton at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, February
2. In Stella McCartney at the BAFTA Film Awards, London, February
4. In Prada at the Producers Guild Awards, LA, February
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images; Shane Anthony Sinclair/BAFTA/Getty Images; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
This story appeared in the Dec. 13 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
