The Oscarsare only days away! And just in time for thebiggest red carpet of the awards season— on Feb. 24 —PEOPLE delivers a special issueto celebrate all things Red Carpet style. In it, we name the Top 10 Most Stylish Stars of the year, a roundup of A-listers who stole the sartorial spotlight this year. Because not only are these women insanely talented, each has a unique approach to fashion that leaves us inspired, look after fabulous look.
PEOPLE’s Red Carpet Special Cover 2019.
Plus, this year, we also turned our attention to the guys, as we name the Most Stylish Men of the year. Like the women, each has their own a point of view when it comes to fashion, a distinction that makes them red carpet staples. After all, you’ll never see these sharply dressed studs in a standard suit and tie!
Below, find the whole list, and check out the new special issue, on newsstands this week.
The Trailblazing Beauty: Lupita Nyong’o
TheBlack Pantherstar, 35, has always had a knack for head-turning looks, but with more audacious color choices, more daring hairstyles, more playful accessories and, yes, even more delightful twirls, she has become bolder than ever. “We have really embraced the powerful side of Lupita in the last year, shifting our focus to strong, sharp silhouettes,” the actress’sstylist Micaela Erlangersays of her evolution. After all, “not everyone can pull off a cobalt fringe gown, but she owns it.”
The Avant-Garde A-Lister: Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross in Valentine Haute Couture, Marc Jacobs and Giambattista Haute Couture.Getty (3)
TheBlack-ishstar, 46, may have inherited her love of fashion from her mom, Diana Ross, but her red carpet style is all her own. From voluminous ruffles to vivid colors, no look is too over-the-top for the actress. Yet despite her flair for flamboyance, Ross’s criterion for choosing an ensemble is surprisingly simple. “It has to make me feel like a badass,” she says. “You can wear whatever you want as long as it makes you feel fun and powerful.”
The Modern Romantic: Emma Stone
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton.Getty (3)
Throughout her career,theFavouritestar, 30, has developed a signature style that’s equal parts elegant and chic. Instead of relying on flashy and theatrical elements to turn heads, Stone and her stylist Petra Flannery opt for modest designs with unique detail, usually from Louis Vuitton, which made the actress its face last year. “[She has] this femininity and, at the same time, a boyish side that’s supercool and inspiring,” the label’s designer Nicolas Ghesquière toldW.
The Queen of Whimsy: Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt in Oscar de la Renta, Zuhair Murad Couture and Yanina Couture.Getty (2); Shutterstock
Leave it to the woman who revived the magic of Mary Poppins to turn the red carpet into a place of pure delight. Each ensemblethe actress, 35, wears includes an enchanting element—be it billowing sleeves or a sliver of midriff—a style approach that adheres to the age-old Poppins philosophy that “in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Blunt’s longtime stylistJessica Pastersays glee is their top priority: “I hope Emily’s fashion choices inspire women to always be joyful.” No wonder each look she wears seems practically perfect in every way.
The Elegant Icon: Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman in Armani Prive, Michael Kors Collection and Valentino.Getty (2); Shutterstock
The actress, 51, effortlessly pulls off a range of stunning designs, whether it’s a flouncy feathered ensemble or a sleek gown adorned with shimmering sequins, all with her signature sophistication and grace. “There are dreams attached to fashion,” theBoy Erasedactress toldInStyleof her fashion choices. “When it’s presented in a way where you go [gasp], it just makes you feel good.”
The Rule Breaker: Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves in Versace, Versace and Brandon Maxwell.Jason Kempin/Getty; Terry Wyatt/Getty; ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty
The Grammy-winning artist, 30, eschews every cliché about country fashion: no glitzy gowns, no big hair and no Nudie suits. “She’s so talented that she doesn’t need a lot of bells and whistles,” says her stylist Erica Cloud. “The intent is to keep [her looks] clean and strong.” And just like the singer-songwriter’s celebratedGolden Houralbum, her red carpet style is “a nod to the past but grounded in the future,” Cloud says.
The Fresh Face: Constance Wu
Constance Wu in Miu Miu, Ralph & Russo and Jason Wu Collection.Getty (3)
InCrazy Rich Asians, the actress, 36, undergoes one of the best style metamorphoses in cinematic history, transforming from the girl next door into a world-class fashionista. Her red carpet trajectory has been similar: While promoting the blockbuster film, she enlisted top stylist Micaela Erlanger to take her look to the next level. “We are incredibly thoughtful in our choices,” Erlanger says of Wu’s impressive lineup of designer gowns, several of which were custom-made for the star. “It’s important that she look like the movie star she is.”
The Showstopper: Rihanna
No one brings the runway to the red carpet likethe singer and designer,30, who pushes the limits with her unique and often outrageous style choices. With the help of her stylist Mel Ottenberg,Rihannakeeps the fashion world on the edge of its seat to see what daring look she’ll take on next, be it a python-print mini and matching hat or Chopard diamonds paired with a lace catsuit. And her ever-changing approach to style reflects her personality. “I get bored. I get very bored,” Rihanna told The New York Times. “It’s like a pair of shoes, you know. They’re only good until tomorrow.”
The Bombshell: Amber Heard
Amber Heard in Oscar de la Renta, Adriana Iglesias Atelier and Elie Saab.Shutterstock; Getty; Shutterstock
TheAquamanstar’sfashion formula—curve-enhancing gowns, sexy tousled updos and classic black stilettos—embodies Old Hollywood glamour with an edgy twist. But there’s one ever-present element that seals her siren status. “I can’t live without red lipstick,” Heard, 32, toldShape. “Nothing is more transformative.”
The Minimalist: Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts in DSquared2, Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton.Shutterstock (2); Getty
With decades of red carpet experience under her Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton belts,theBen Is Backactress, 51, has mastered a less-is-more approach to style. Trends are a “game I don’t have enough time to play,” she says; instead she gravitates toward classic menswear-inspired looks in a neutral color palette. “I’ve always been very masculine in my dressing,” she says of her looks, which she creates with stylist Elizabeth Stewart. “I would always take a suit over a gown if I had a choice.”
And now for the men…
The Trendsetter: Timothée Chalamet
Getty (3)
From bold patterns to unique embellishments, there’s no design too daringfor theBeautiful Boyactor, whose bold fashion choices have skyrocketed him to style star status. And he does it sans stylist: “I can wear cool clothes from some of the nicest designers in the world,” the star, 23, toldTime Out. “[So why] am I going to pay someone to figure out what I should be wearing? That’s the fun part.”
The Throwback: Donald Glover
Donald Glover in Alexander McQueen, Ferragamo and Gucci.Getty (3)
Theactor and musician(he performs under the name Childish Gambino), 35, embraces funky ’70s-inspired styles, favoring jackets with wide lapels, patterned sweater vests and snazzy shoes. “He has a lot of swagger, which means he can get away with a lot,” says his stylist Ilaria Urbinati. “He never overthinks it,” she adds. “He’s just living in the moment and having fun.”
The Eccentric: Jeff Goldblum
Jeff Goldblum in a Saint Laurent jacket, Prada and Calvin Klein.Getty; Shutterstock; Getty
Five years agothe actor and jazz musician, 66, asked stylist Andrew Vottero to help him edit his closet. The fashion expert took it one step further and gave Goldblum a major makeover that turned him into a late- blooming fashion influencer. “Jeff has this charismatic, colorful personality, and his clothes reflect that,” says Vottero. “The idea is always for him to look super- handsome with an element of playfulness—never too crazy or outlandish.”
The Gentleman: Henry Golding
Henry Golding in Giorgio Armani, Tommy Hilfiger and Tom Ford.Shutterstock (2); Getty
No one made a tux look as cool asthe star ofCrazy Rich Asians, 31, did this year with his fresh approach to formal wear. “He’s pretty fearless, so we avoid the staples of solid black and navy,” says his stylist David Thomas. “Instead we embrace color, pattern and texture . . . and sometimes even dress shoes with no socks.”
source: people.com
