by While the last few years have been marked by various Covid-related restrictions, 2022 has seen a triumphant return to the red carpet.
All the highlights are back in person – meaning a new range of celebrity styling.
Here are some of the most memorable of the year.
1. Adele at the Brit Awards
Adele kicked off the awards season in a sleek all-black outfit for the Brit Awards in February.
Her voluminous Armani velvet gown had a delicate tulle wrap and plunging V-neckline, and she was accessorized with bold Lorraine Schwartz diamond earrings and a large diamond on her ring finger – leading to speculation that she was engaged to sports agent Rich Paul.
2. Zoe Kravitz at the premiere of Batman
As the last actress to play Catwoman, Zoe Kravitz drew inspiration from her character during The Batman press tour.
For the film’s New York premiere, she donned a slick black Oscar de la Renta dress with a built-in corset and a silhouette of cat ears on the bust.
It might have looked kitschy, but Kravitz gave her an ultra-chic hairstyle with a slicked-back bob with baby bangs, along with simple makeup and a French manicure.
3. Lady Gaga at the Bafts
Lady Gaga, who has never shied away from being dramatic on the red carpet, showed off her old Hollywood charm in a dark green Ralph Lauren gown with a long train and sparkling diamonds and emerald jewels.
While it was a classic look, it still had some of Gaga’s quirky touches – including platform boots and a miniature feather purse.
4. Daniel Kaluuya in the Bafts
Showing that men don’t have to wear a plain black tuxedo to awards shows, Daniel Kaluuya went out of his way to get the Baftas look.
On this occasion, he visited Prada wearing a striking blue coat trimmed with mohair, with a simple white turtleneck underneath.
5. Zendaya at the Vanity Fair Oscar party
Zendaya continued her run of red carpet looks at Vanity Fair’s Oscars party, swapping out the Valentino women’s outfit she wore at the ceremony for a much edgier vibe.
She wore a black Sportmax suit with broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and an unusual purple shirt underneath.
6. Julia Fox at the Vanity Fair Oscar party
Julia Fox has made herself known as an “it girl” this year, making headlines with her dramatic red carpet style.
While not everyone liked her looks, people regularly talked about them – as was her outfit for the Vanity Fair Oscars party.
She wore a black Han Kjobenhavn leather dress with a malevolent hand around her neck and a black fur clutch bag which she later revealed was made of real human hair.
7. Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala
Fox may have caught some attention with her hair bag, but few 2022 outfits would be as controversial as the one Kim Kardashian wore to the Met Gala.
Kardashian donned a nude sequin gown Marilyn Monroe wore during her famous 1962 performance Happy Birthday to US President John F. Kennedy, borrowed from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum.
The reality TV star and entrepreneur said she was “honoured” to wear the dress, with some praising its vintage style – while others suggested such a historic gown should not be worn.
Kardashian also drew criticism for stating that she lost 16 pounds (7 kg) in three weeks to fit into a dress.
8. Blake Lively at the MET Gala
Blake Lively hosted this year’s Met Gala and did so in style with an opulent outfit from Versace.
The dress code was “gilded glamor” and Lively appeared in a rose gold beaded bodice dress inspired by New York’s Art Deco architecture.
Introducing a red carpet theater feel, the bow on the side of the dress has been untied to reveal a turquoise skirt paying homage to the Statue of Liberty.
9. Nicola Coughlan at the Bafts
Keeping Valentino in fashion on the red carpet has shown no signs of abating in 2022, with celebrities continuing to wear the brand’s voluminous outfits.
One of the best of the year was Nicola Coughlan at the Bafta TV Awards, where the Derry Girls star opted for a maximalist look in a breathtaking pink dress with bows along the neckline.
10. Gemma Chan at the Venice Film Festival
Despite the premiere of Don’t Worry Darling at the Venice Film Festival being dominated by headlines about Harry Styles, Florence Pugh and director Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan managed to steal the show on the red carpet.
She wore a custom Louis Vuitton armor-like gown, a silver column dress that was given a feminine twist by 3D floral appliqués.
11. Florence Pugh at the BFI London Film Festival
Florence Pugh spent a year honing her voice on the red carpet and became known for her dramatic dresses with full skirts and bright colors.
Her outfit for the BFI London Film Festival was the best example of this.
She often chooses Valentino, and this salmon number brought the boudoir to the red carpet with thin straps, a voluminous skirt and feather trim.
12. Cate Blanchett at the Governors Awards
Cate Blanchett’s white, layered Alexander McQueen dress with a black blazer was not only a bold look for the Governors Awards, but also had a significant message behind it.
If this unique outfit looks familiar, it’s because Blanchett wore it to the 2020 Venice Film Festival.
Blanchett’s stylist Elizabeth Stewart wrote on Instagram: “We understand that most people change clothes all the time and how great it is for the environment (keeping clothes out of landfills etc.). However, on the red carpet, fashion is all about being exciting, splashing and pushing our industry forward, so the bar is set high.”
13. Jodie Turner-Smith at the Fashion Awards
Jodie Turner-Smith hosted the Fashion Awards in a series of quirky outfits, starting with a bang in a lime green Gucci gown with long sleeves, emerald jewels and a blonde hairdo.
14. Simone Ashley at the Fashion Awards
There was no shortage of spectacular outfits at the Fashion Awards, and Simone Ashley was on all the best-dressed lists in a lavender embellished hooded dress from fabulous disco brand 16Arlington.
