Lizzo in Thom Browne

When you consider the very SPECIFIC vibe Thom Browne creates, and how much of it we saw on Janelle Monae alone, it may surprise you anew that he made this.

Jodie Turner-Smith in Christopher John Rogers

In the end, of all her outfits this year, we picked this one. It was almost the Met Gucci, almost another CJR, almost so many of them. But this was just such a breathless WOW moment.

Carlos Lopez Estrada and Kelly Marie Tran in Thai Nguyen

She is in traditional Vietnamese garments, some of which took over 1400 hours to complete. Stunning.

Taylor Hill in Miss Sohee

Just... wow.

Shawn Mendes

What a dashing young revolutionary. This was a well-executed reference and a fun departure from a tux.

Amal Clooney in Versace

She almost always kills it, but this one really stuck with me.

Emma Corrin in Miu Miu

This was a well-researched and thought-out tribute to Evander Berry Wall, and worth another read if you forgot the details. We love this approach to the Met, especially as so many people (AHEM, LOUIS VUITTON AND VALENTINO) simply treat it as a second runway.

Sarah Jessica Parker

SJP was the only person (that we saw) to tap Christopher John Rogers for the night. Maybe it happened the other way around, but regardless, any study of American fashion is already obsolete if he's not part of it, so good on her for making sure he was represented. And in stunning fashion: They collaborated on a tribute to Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley, a woman born into slavery who bought her way out and became a renowned Gilded Age seamstress.

Alicia Keys in Ralph Lauren

It's New Yoooooork. Of COURSE Alicia Keys is wearing the concrete jungle where dreams are made of (can we just pretend she's saying "concrete jungle where dreams are made up," or something?). This is stunning and Ralph is the ideal person to have put it together.

Megan Thee Stallion in Moschino

Beautiful, beautiful work from Jeremy Scott and company.

Teyana Taylor

I will be honest: For me, this is only here because her red carpet explanation made me laugh. And when I revisited that slideshow, I realized Jessie Buckley deserves an honorable mention, if our interpretation of her outfit is correct (I still haven't seen it affirmed or denied).

Blake in Versace

Blake's gown started off as an art deco tribute to the Empire State Building and -- with her spikes on the tiara -- the Statue of Liberty. But Ryan's face tells you that mischief is afoot, and indeed it is.

Her bustle came off to reveal a skirt that echoes the ceiling of Grand Central Terminal, and a new color combo that Blake said was a tribute to the way Lady Liberty oxidizes? A LOT HAPPENING here, and Blake is truly at her best when she gets to unfurl A A Whole Lot. As Jess noted, between this and Cannes, maybe her secret sauce is getting to work a staircase.

Cardi B in Versace

And this is magnificent. Donatella gets it. She actually crafts stuff that plays with the theme. Remember when Lupita wore the denim dress that Versace made? I was shocked more American designers didn't play with that. Anyway. That was so 2021. Let's move on.

Dwyane and Gabrielle

Officially the hottest and best-dressed couple out there. Sorry, J.Lo and Ben.

Michelle Yeoh in Prabal

I mean.

Quannah Chasinghorse in Prabal Gurung

We had a lot of good details on the jewelry in our original post about this, which was informative and touching; this was an exemplary representation of indigenous culture on a night that might otherwise have paid little heed to its rightful role in American fashion history.

Kirsten Dunst in Erdem

We were so tickled that Kirsten departed from her usual black, and LOVED this cherry red on her...

in Lacroix

... and then she went and did it AGAIN, and we couldn't decide which we liked better, so they're both here.

Elle Fanning in Gucci

This is chic and perfect.

Sandra Oh

Her best ever? Methinks so.

Cynthia Erivo

I want to go to this wedding.

Ashley Park

Emily in Paris still infuriates me -- WHO is really that torn about an opportunity to stay in FREAKING Paris, it's a boring trope to make a grown human be completely incapable of making a choice or speaking it to their boss, and NONE of her friends are correctly counseling her which means they are terrible people, NONE OF YOU DESERVES PARIS, I made it up through like two episodes of season three and they did not reward my efforts -- but Ashley looks hella major here.

Becky G in Zuhair Murad

What a marvel.

Ryan Coogler, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira and Letitia Wright

They attended the historic premiere of Wakanda Forever in Lagos, and they all turned it out. What a foxy group of people.

Sabrina Elba in Gucci

This is the cape version of Jodie Turner Smith's Cannes ensemble, and it is perfectly executed.

Auli'i Cravalho

Beautiful dress, edgy styling... this is such a nice transformation for our Moana.

Zoey Deutch in Michael Kors

Whereas this is very simple, sleek elegance, and a high point for her as well.

Sarah Snook

She is addicted to wearing black, so this was a wonderful surprise. It's beautiful on her.

Tessa Thompson in Marc Jacobs

So many Marc Jacobs experiments were bad this year, and so many of Tessa's were too, that I wanted to give credit to the best of them. This is wacky and perhaps tough to wrangle, but it's my favorite of all the massive swings she took in Cannes.

Megan Richards

Likewise, you may find this an unexpected choice, but I thought Megan did a superb job at the LOTR events -- she really found a way to adhere to her own unique sense of style, while also hitting the right formal notes. This is SO charming.

Carey Mulligan in Schiaparelli

Yeah, the hair maybe wasn't exactly how we'd have styled it, but LOOK at that gown.

Katherine Langford in Prada

Prada, and her styling, have not always been hits in the past. But this was breathtaking.

Carrie Underwood

FINALLY, she gets a superb suit. She often veers so cheesy, but this is absolutely splendid and maybe the best thing she's ever worn. Cheers!

Kodi Smit-McPhee in Bottega Veneta

A refreshing color on a big night. Kodi has a distinct sense of style and he held onto it through the Power of the Dog awards run.

Aunjanue Ellis in Versace

Much as I did with Saniyya Sidney, I wish that THIS, right here, is what Aunjanue holds onto from this night.

David Oyelowo

One of the snazziest men around.

Olivia Colman

I love the soft glam on her.

Rob Morgan

Does this not perk up your mood immediately?

Mark Indelicato

This is so f*cking slick, I can't even. SWINTON would crave it.

Simone Ashley

This gets the nod for being her first truly successful look in her big-boom year.

Tinashe

I just want to roll around in that.

Iman Vellani

Great dress, and great, great choice by picking jazzy flats. Don't break your toes before their time, kiddo.

Lizzo in custom Gucci

I downloaded this photo before I realized a) it's not the best one I could have picked, and b) you can see her bra. But let's pretend neither of those things is true, because I love this sexy robe of a custom Gucci, and it's a fun break from when she wears giant loofa-like poofs.

Nazanin Boniadi in Elie Saab

Incredible, and bold.

Simone Boseman

Simone picked up what is likely Chadwick's last posthumous award -- for a "What If" episode about T'Challa becoming a Star Lord -- and she looks regal and fab.

Drew Barrymore

Still her best of the year. Of many years, in fact.

Rose Abdoo

I could not resist the divine dots of it all.

Jessica Chastain in Oscar de la Renta

I can practically smell the garden.

Cate Blanchett in McQueen

We correctly called this one! It's also by far her most intriguing outfit of the year, and one not everyone could make work. But she does.

Lili Reinhart in Max Mara

Max Mara doesn't get that much attention outside of its coats, so I wanted to give credit to how neat this is.

Angela Bassett in Moschino

She did not miss.

Florence Kasumba

Neither did Florence.

Renee Elise Goldsberry

And HOT DAMN neither did Renee.

Law Roach in custom Oscar de la Renta

He's the first stylist -- sorry, "image architect" -- to get a CFDA, I believe, and he worked that moment to perfection.

Jessica Henwick

One of the commenters said, effectively, that this is finally making sheers work because it puts something interesting under it. And it IS totally intriguing and unusual, and memorable.

Kylie Jenner in Mugler

I know. It's the first time she's ever been on my radar for this post, much less twice. I almost put this Mugler in the post instead, and it MIGHT be better, but the headpiece here spoke to me loudly.

Gwen Christie and Christina Ricci

Frankly, they BOTH look perfect at the Wednesday premiere. Gwendoline got me when she talked about this being the first time she felt beautiful on-screen (you always are, G), and Christina's is note-perfect for the show.

Tyler James Williams

Excellent.

Gabrielle Union

The very best. She made it tough to pick, but honestly... it was always gonna be this.

HER

I love this - the brightness, the sparkle, and how the jacket gives it a sporty feel that aligns with how she dresses much of the time.

Julianne Moore

I am as surprised as you are that we went with a sheer here, but can you argue with that cape? It's a BIG moment.

Timothee Chalamet

Props to him for effortlessly wearing this backless number.

Rachel Brosnahan

Her styling has been a mixed bag, so this felt like a massive leap in a super direction. It's interesting, flattering, and major.

Jada

She is a teeny person, and she wears MASSIVE dresses, and they never once overpower her. That is a superpower.

Ana de Armas in LV

They can get it right when they really, really want to.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Nope, not the wind. It's made like that.

Kristen Stewart in Chanel

This may be a controversial pick, but I contend that Kristen looks enormously sexy and cool in this Chanel tweed jumpsuit, a phrase that otherwise would NEVER be synonymous with either "sexy" or "cool."

Sarah Niles

DING DONG, Dr. Sharon!

Rhea Seehorn

This had Big Night Vibes, and in the end she didn't win... but apparently she has a good shot next year. It's SUCH a stunner.

Natasha Rothwell

I miss her on White Lotus. I hope she's opening up that spa somewhere.

Jon Batiste

Another jolt of adrenalin anytime you need one. Just bookmark it.

Lil Naz X in Balmain

He honestly makes everything feel massive and delightful.

Claire Danes

She's at a screening of something called "The Essex Serpent," which makes this perhaps a bit on-the-nose, but it's kitschy in a way she doesn't usually go for and that's fun.

Laura Harrier in Off White

Love it.

Dakota Johnson in Gucci

Oh my God, I had forgotten about this somehow? It's AMAZING.

Rosie Perez

What a bombshell.

Lupita Nyong'o

She had an up and down year. This was definitely up. Although, this photo is blurryish and I couldn't tell that until after we'd downloaded it. BOO.

Zendaya

A thousand times yes.

Rita Ora

Hey, it surprised me too, but this is undeniable.

Sandra Bullock

This is stompy and fun and MAJOR for Sandy.

Kelly Hu

Amazing.

Haley Bennett

This almost makes me feel badly about how much I disliked Cyrano. It's SUCH a stunner.

Millicent Simmonds

And how nifty is that?

Nicole Byer

PERFECT. No notes.

Renate Reinsve

She does not always escape Louis Vuitton unscathed, so this was a happy moment. That's some gorgeous work.

Lea Seydoux in LV

Ditto, frankly. That's super custom work that washes away SOME of the taste of the regular stuff.

Jabari Banks

Yes, you DO look fine, sir.

Daveed Diggs

But surely no one beats the master. Happy 2023, and all hail Daveed Diggs.

Our Favorite Red Carpet Looks of 2022

Well, a sampling. But a thorough one.