Nicole Kidman

At the time, I put this up to a vote. Something about the midriff bit looking like it was being peeled open? I don't know. I was being silly. This L'Wren Scott is amazing on her, and might have been aided by a stronger, richer lip, but it's still fantastic.

Nicole Kidman

ESPECIALLY when you see it from behind. The swirls on that train are a marvel.

Nicole Kidman

Fabulous color, and the gold neckline on this rocks. Very Cleopatra, but in a way that does not make everyone think of Lindsay Lohan playing Liz Taylor playing Cleo.

Nicole Kidman

And then there's this, which is amazing, head to toe.

Nicole Kidman

Let us give the shoes a nicer moment in the sun.

Nicole Kidman

I like this, too -- very simple, but with the fun touch of those sleeves and the shoes. Nicole Kidman can wear the hell out of a clingy dress.

Nicole Kidman

More Cannes loveliness, this time Valentino. Ugh. It's so great.

Nicole Kidman

I love that he's drinking it all in, as am I.

Nicole Kidman

She is so stinking elegant sometimes.

Nicole Kidman

This may have read better in person -- the skirt has some sparkly beading on it, which I like -- but it's a perfect fit and she paired it with super cute shoes, and I like her hair. So even when she's keeping it simple, she throws in some welcome twists.

Nicole Kidman

I didn't expect to like this, but in the end that unusual shade works for me on her.

Nicole Kidman

I also liked this more prim take on black and gold. Still foxy, still polished.

Nicole Kidman

She is amazing in that color, and in those shoes. As she ages, I think she's doing a really nice job finding ways to remind everyone she's still sexy, without appearing that she's STRAINING to remind everyone of that.

Nicole Kidman

Okay, this one, you will all think we are crazy, but Jess and I were both strangely drawn to this... this... Festival of Sleeve. I mean, i think it's... is it a cape attached to her wrists, sort of? A stole? I don't know. I never fully understood it, but she is probably The Person who could pull that off (aside from SWINTON, maybe), and I love that she tried. I love the hit of orange. I love that I don't even really understand what's happening with it. It's the catastrophically weird choice she made this year that falls into the So Wackadoo That It's Wonderful file, for me. Because the miracle of her is that she manages not to look absurd even though her dress is... WHAT IS IT.

Nicole Kidman

Let's also give it up for this gorgeous, simple cover shot.

Nicole Kidman

And to her face. It was a year where I personally was reminded what a great beauty she still is, and in Cannes she seemed to have SO MUCH FUN deploying it. Here's to her having an even better time with it in 2014.

It Was A Very Good Year: Nicole Kidman, The Veteran

Before we get into 2014 in earnest, we decided to take a more focused look back at a couple people who put together very nice fashion years in 2013. These aren't absolute choices, nor exhaustively researched ones; just the people who, when we were looking for our favorite and least-favorite single looks, seemed to pop up a lot in our "win" columns. Nicole is a red-carpet veteran with a checkered history. Sometimes she's profoundly memorable, like that chartreuse Dior Oscars gown she wore that put her on the map, and sometimes she picks stuff that's crazy-weird, and sometimes she can't decide what the hell her vibe is. We were so taken with her Cannes wardrobe that we decided to look back at the rest of This Year In Kidman, and although it wasn't all successful, there was a lot more to love than in years past. So three cheers to the icon who got her groove back in 2013.