Aishwarya Rai in Michael Cinco

I had to begin here. (Spoiler: I will also end here.) This dress was magical, and at a place - Cannes - that lends itself to major moments, it won them all. Can you even IMAGINE what it must feel like to transform into this? And I say that knowing Aishwarya Rai was already practically perfect in every way, and has had a gajillion majestic red carpet moments besides this one. I STILL it must have been special.

Cate Blanchett in Mary Katrantzou

I almost went to find this at Harrods when we were over there in May, to try it on. Then I felt guilty, beacuse OBVIOUSLY I was not going to buy it and would just be doing it for the experience, and that somehow made me feel grubby. I don't know why. Also, there is no topping Cate in it, so.

Cardi B in Michael Costello

Cardi has had a roller-coaster year, but for pure impact, this is at the top of her list of successes. You could write a whole movie around this.

Lena Waithe in Carolina Herrera

If Herrera had done nothing else this year, then it would still have been a success. This was a truly moving and wisely chosen Met Gala outfit -- a statement about religion and inclusion -- on a night that was dedicated to Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.

Janelle Monae

Monae came out as pansexual this year, and wore this to the BET Awards as a celebration of Pride month and the Pride flag. It's wonderful.

Tiffany Haddish in Prabal

This was in honor of the Eritrean flag, the homeland of her late father, with whom she had just become close. It's the second time in 2018 that she sought to honor him on the red carpet -- the first is also in this slideshow -- and it was joyful as well as meaningful.

Allison Janney in Reem Acra

I loved those crazy-ass sleeves. She is a goddess.

Hofit Golan

I don't have the credit on this gown -- she is not well known outside the foreign festival circuit -- but it's marvelous. VERY Cannes.

Janelle Monae in Christian Siriano

Christian does some of his best work when Janelle calls him for something custom. This is so perfect for her.

Jasmine Tookes

This fills the "simple but effective" slot.

Cate Blanchett in Armani

That fits like a dream, and the cummerbund gives it spice.

Julianne Moore in Givenchy

This is one whose impact has really grown on me over time. It's super.

Amber Heard

She was one of my favorite "straightforward gown, big headpiece" combos. Everything fits.

Allison Williams in Jean-Louis Sabaji

I LOVE that skirt.

Alison Brie in Dundas

This dress is wacky, but she was there being honored for GLOW, and so it suddenly becomes totally apt. I like that it has a little of the show's personality.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy

I may not LOVE the turtleneck, but I'm not actively MAD at it, and the skirt really saves this. She was heavy on impact this year.

Kristen Bell in J. Mendel

She hosted, and so she got to the red carpet early and was one of the first to get coverage; she did not throw away that shot.

Joey King in Zac Posen

Totally dreamy, and I say that as someone who is not always into tulle.

Tyra Banks

She is cuckoo on the regular, so I appreciated that she applied her flair to something glam here.

Jenna Dewan in Pamella Roland

Gorgeous.

Priyanka Chopra in Ralph Lauren

This was superbly effective at the Met.

Zazie Beetz in Ralph Lauren

You can tell these two outfits are cousins. But in two different contexts -- one costume gala, one awards show -- each has its place and looks stunning.

Blake Lively in Versace

I still don't LOVE those front panels that are either sheerish or want you to think they are, but it's hard to argue with how magnificent this whole photo is.

Emilia Clarke in Valentino

This photo showed off the dress's colors and swirl better than any of the front views we had. You're not missing much. It's basically the same, and it was a super fun change for her.

Naomi Watts, Poppy Delevingne, Liu Wen, Tracee Ellis Ross, all in Kors

We loved all of these creations from Michael Kors at the Met.

Katherine Langford in Prada

This lovely girl often gets bogged down in depressing black outfits with too many bits and pieces. What a wonderful change of pace this was.

Amber Heard in Valentino

The top of this is a tad slight for me, but I love the skirt -- it showed up on Serena Williams at Meghan's and Harry's wedding reception -- and Amber is carrying off this whole cut well.

Andra Day in Victoria Hayes

She just really sold the hell out of this.

Lady Gaga in Valentino

This dress found its absolute rightful home.

Thandie Newton in Brandon Maxwell

She owned this.

Tracee Ellis Ross

This is just a delightful day dress, worn by a delightful human.

Taylor Louderman

Taylor is in Mean Girls on Broadway, and picked this for her big Tony Awards night. I love it -- it's bright and bold, and yes, it has a nod to pink even if it wasn't a Wednesday.

Elle Fanning in Valentino

She's Cate Jr. in this. It was a big statement, and a fun one from her.

Angela Bassett in Alberta Ferretti

SO fab.

Zendaya in Ralph & Russo

This is beautifully draped.

Allison Janney in Prabal Gurung

HELLO.

Jackie Tohn in Sachin & Babi

This is unusual and colorful -- it ALSO brings some of that GLOW flavor -- and one of the reasons I like it so much is: I don't know how much help the ladies of GLOW really get for something like this, or how expensive a stylist is, or anything. But when you're part of a newish ensemble, I feel like a big awards show like this has to be daunting, and I LOVE that she went with this and not just basic beige sparkles.

Caitriona Balfe in Delpozo

That gown is full of unusual texture and choices, and I'm into it, even if I am NOT feeling Cait with the bangs. (As ever, Sam, we are sorry about this photo. But we weren't looking at you when we downloaded it.)

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Givenchy

One of the few Clare Waight Keller outfits I like.

Lupita in Versace

Fantastic.

Helen Mirren

Great color, great lady, GREAT BLING.

Jane Fonda in Mary Katrantzou

Between this and Cate, Mary K. had a stellar Cannes.  (The shorter version of this dress also looked great on Princess Beatrice this year.)

Amber Heard in Valentino

This is one of the rare times a swim cap on the red carpet will be applauded. But she took something campy and made it outstanding.

Laurie Metcalf in Yanina

This year, we learned what interesting taste Laurie Metcalf has.

Yalitza Aparicio

Fug Nation went nuts for this cute and colorful ensemble from a total newcomer (she is in Roma), and I wanted to honor it here for much the same reasons I did Jackie Tohn's: It has to be SO VERY HARD to get chucked into all this.

Rachel Brosnahan in Carolina Herrera

I have a little trouble with her getting lost in her outfits sometimes, but this works. I also really liked her ikat Oscar, but didn't have as clear a photo of it.

Regina King in Siriano

She is just the best.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Vionnet

That's so unusual and neat.

Fan Bingbing in Ali Karoui

She ALWAYS brings it to Cannes. Also, her whole story this year of disappearance and reappearance is fascinating. I don't know if this is the best source but it's got a lot of details.

Natalia Dyer in Carolina Herrera

Herrera really did have a good year.

Whoopi Goldberg in Siriano

I love Whoopi for going BIG GLAM.

Khadja Nin

Khadja is a singer who was on the Cannes jury, and she looked fabulous the entire time. This is but one representative sample.

Sally Hawkins in Dior

This is NOT pants, despite how it looks the way she's standing, and it's a joy.

Annie Ilonzeh in Rami Kadi

Y'all didn't love this as much as I did, but I'm keeping it in here anyway. I thought it was a nifty design, perfectly fit to her; the skirt in particular really sings.

Regina King in Missoni

This is one I would love to have on my body.

Rowan Blanchard in Elie Saab

Enchanting.

Emily Blunt in Zuhair Murad

Someone said, "You guys are suckers for a cape." TRUE STORY.

Zoe Kazan in Miu Miu

I just love everything about his, right down to the lipstick she chose.

Mya in Jason Grech

This made me think, "Whoa, who is Jason Grech, and WHERE HAS MYA BEEN!?" So, an unqualified success, methinks.

Gloria Estefan

She ruled in this.

Issa Rae in Rosie Assoulin

We've loved other dresses from this collection, and this for me is no exception.

Lupita in Tom Ford

This is wonderfully done.

Mary J. Blige in Jean-Louis Sabaji

That's the same designer that did the Allison Williams dress I put in here earlier; it's the best thing Mary J wore during all of awards season, and I absolutely love it.

Cate Blanchett in Armani

She wore this to the Star Is Born premiere, and it took a LOT to stand out next to Lady Gaga at that event, but this did it.

Natalie Portman in Dior

I want this vibe to be my life.

Ezra Miller in Moncler

He is not the only person to wear one of these -- Millie Bobby Brown did it, also -- but he IS the only person to do it in what I think is a nod to Dementors. (He wore another outfit later that's basically a sartorial expression of Hedwig's story in Harry Potter 7.)

Bella Hadid in Gareth Pugh

I don't usually love what she wears, but for the Met Gala this year, I thought this was an excellent riff on sinners. It's fit to a tee.

Rosamund Pike in Givenchy

We're in the Vaguely Evil portion of this slideshow, it seems.

Gal Gadot in Tom Ford

Gorgeous.

Evan Rachel Wood in Altuzarra

Blazers and blazer-based outfits really had quite a year.

Solange in Iris van Herpen

This Met outfit was very effective, and I was impressed with the thought put into it (treat yourself).

Ava DuVernay

She always looks good; this was my favorite of hers this year, though. It's like little fireworks popping off all over the place.

Saoirse Ronan in Versace

This was a cool twist on the Globes' basic black aesthetic.

Angela Sarafyan in Siriano

This aesthetic had a bit of a year: We saw a shorter version on Busy Philipps, a suit version on Kourtney Kardashian, a blouse version on Alicia Silverstone, and the sleek version on Claudia Kim at a Fantastic Beasts premiere. This one tops them all.

Diane Kruger in Prada

Hard to argue with THIS. It's a shame she didn't get an Oscar run for In the Fade.

Mandy Moore in Rosie Assoulin

I liked the touch of red here; the runway original is a pink dress which she had remade into black for this particular awards show, and I both like it better AND applaud her for keeping the splash of color.

Taraji P. Henson in David Koma

She is super.

Megan Mullally in Carolina Herrera

She bought this herself online, and it's a joy. She ALSO said no one would dress her for the Globes, and so guess who stepped up? Siriano. I don't know why he isn't everyone's first call.

Jenifer Lewis

Jenifer stood here with Colin Kaepernick (and Nike) and I do too.

Tess Holliday

That caftan plus her hair = YES.

Laurie Metcalf in Sachin & Babi

This brand served her so elegantly.

Rita Moreno

This is famously the same gown she wore to the Oscars in 1962 (she won for West Side Story), though she altered the bodice and added the necklace, and it's EVEN BETTER.

Evan Rachel Wood in Altuzarra

What's that I was saying earlier about how we're suckers for capes? Here's why. LOOK AT THIS CAPE.

Kim Kardashian in Versace

Even I have to admit that she looks sensational in this.

Niecy Nash

She's fabulous.

Kerry Washington in Ralph Lauren

Glorious.

Naomie Harris in Miu Miu

YES.

Danai Gurira in Vivienne Westwood

MORE YES.

Gemma Chan in Oscar de la Renta

I AM SUCH A MAGPIE.

Lupita in Versace

So, so fab.

Sandra Bullock in Louis Vuitton

This is so much better than SO MUCH VUITTON that gets shoveled to other women.

Ellen Pompeo

You probably weren't expecting a jumpsuit! This is such a good one on her, though, and it's a groovy version of a REALLY AWFUL ONE you will see in the Worst slideshow.

Judith Light in Siriano

THE BOSS. (I will always make that joke. ALWAYS.)

Dakota Johnson in Gucci

This was custom for her, and it's proof that Gucci does still know how to dial it down a notch or two.

Gigi Hadid in Versace

My favorite angle on this was from behind, because you can see more of the blue, but: This fit without error and was a shimmering delight. Supposedly she and Bella were plays on saints and sinners, and the workmanship and overall beauty of this delicate gown really did blow me away.

Olivia Munn in Oscar de la Renta

Good grief, that's pretty.

Constance Wu in Jason Wu

I don't always like stuff that's so twisty and complicated -- well, except in TV, and escape rooms -- so I was surprised that this is my cup of tea, but it REALLY is.

Lady Gaga in Givenchy

That is a lot of look, but it's also pretty breathtaking.

Samira Wiley in Jenny Packham

I'm ready for Jenny Packham to come back around; we don't get as much of her as I think we should. This is sleek and fantastic.

Zendaya in Versace

The best Joan of Arc of the night.

Gemma Arterton in Michael Kors

All the changes in direction, which don't normally work for me, really manage to sing here. I'm sure it's the metallics.

Uzo Aduba in Jonathan Cohen

I just loved the unusual pattern mix here. I feel like... it's busty but not in a way where I think anything is outside her control, if that makes sense?

Eve in Naeem Khan

Love this suit. Blake Lively may be having envy pangs.

Keala Settle

I LOVE how textural that is. And of course the dark lip.

Reba

Reba, YOU SLAY.

Sonequa Martin-Green

I BELIEVE this is Dior, and it's SO INTERESTING. Dior is on the way up.

Tiffany Haddish

This is the other Eritrean-themed dress Tiffany Haddish wore this year, and she looks super in it.

Awkwafina in Reem Acra

This was such a departure from her semi-street-chic style, and I thought it was effective on her -- especially with the hits of red.

Lupita in Prada

I too want to party in that skirt.

And, to round things out, a full-circle trip back to our two lead-off hitters. Cate promenading is quite a sight...

... but did ANYTHING truly top this?

GFY's Best of 2018

Relax into some beauty (before the fug piles up later).