We’d like to say 2014 was a well dressed front-row type but we fear the last 12 months had more than it’s fair share of mistake laden trends, ill-thought looks and impulse purchases.* So it’s with fondness that we take a look back at the wardrobe heroes we never thought we’d wear, the unlikely style icons, and the trends that showed staying power. It was a rollercoaster year of whats, whys and ahhhhhhs, we’ll miss you 2014!
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An army green boiler suit about a foot too long in our case.
New Red Carpet Royalty
2014 went off with a bang as Lupita Nyong’o brought colour, grace and excitement back to the red carpet. From a ravishing fire engine red Ralph Lauren dress – complete with cape - at the Golden Globes to an emerald green Dior gown at London’s BAFTAs, Lupita rarely put a well shod foot wrong. Topping off the awards season with an Oscar win in powder blue Prada, it didn’t get any better for the Kenyan actress.
Fashion went Krazy over Kendall
Kendall Jenner emerged as the newest face from the fame loving Kardashian family and she did it with the full support of the fashion world. Despite luxury designers’ reputation for distain towards reality TV stars, Kendall walked on the catwalk of every big name brand during fashion week. If that wasn’t enough, the teenager has capped the year out with an Estee Lauder contract, a Chanel show in Austria and an induction into the Taylor Swift posse of young celebrity BFF’s.
Pharrell’s Hat
The most youthful man in music – seriously, he doesn’t age – whipped out this red-carpet styling trick at the Grammy’s back in January and the internet went wild. Although it wasn’t the first time the singer sported the Vivienne Westwood creation, it was the certainly the most glamorous outing. If you’re wondering what the hat it is up to now may we suggest you follow it on Twitter - 19,000 fans and counting.
Beards Became Ubiquitous
Yes, we know it’s been around for a while and if you live in East London this is life not a trend. However, in celebrity land this year saw even more formerly clean shaven A-listers joining the facial hair movement with varying degrees of success. In the ‘Hell yes keep it’ corner we have Michael Fassbender, Bradley Cooper, Liam and Chris Hemsworth. Unfortunately in the ‘Why?! Why would you do that!’ team is Spiderman star Andrew Garfield, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jake Gyllenhaal. Someone pass these still exceptionally good looking men a razor.
Get Your Kicks
It started at Celine - doesn’t it always? - when Phoebe Philo took her bow in a pair of box fresh Adidas Stan Smiths. Next thing you know every editor perched front row had foregone their four inch stilettos and was instead wearing a reissue trainer be it a Stan Smith, Nike Air Max or Adidas Gazelle. Running between shows became a doddle, cobble stones were no longer a foe and the acceptance that trainers go with everything hit the high street. A trend our feet finally thanked us for.
Fashion Merry Go Round
Hermes, Nina Ricci, Sonia Rykiel and Mulberry have all hired new Creative Directors in the last 12 months and 2014 has ended with Gucci designer Frida Giannini announcing she will leave the brand after her next runway show in February. As things stand everyone from Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci to Saint Laurent’s Hedi Slimane is in the running, so expect a lot more names to be thrown into the mix as the fashion rumour mill continues to churn. Place your bets now.
Wearing Clothes Became Old News
From Miley’s nipple pasties as-a-top to Rihanna’s completely see through Swarovski covered dress – worn without bra, obvs – this year saw celebs reconsidering the whole reason for wearing clothes. At September’s GQ awards Kim Kardashian, Jourdan Dunn and Cara Delevingne all rocked up in see-through confections, and while we can’t see this trend dribbling down into our ‘I’m just popping to Tesco’ wardrobe, we can admire the determination of these ladies to wear what they want.
The Angels Touched Down
The Victoria’s Secret show arrived in London in a flurry of long legs, fake tan and big hair. The media was screaming about it and men everywhere were trying to find an invite. However, compared to our friends across the pond us Brits were a pretty reserved bunch and didn’t quite drum up the fangirl support we were meant to. The night’s producer summed it up when he told the audience 'Get off your rich English butts and have fun!' Errr, OK.
We Bundled up in Blankets
Blanket coats, capes, oversized scarfs, whatever you want to call them, they where everywhere this winter. Burberry kicked things in February with their monogrammed versions sported by Cara and the gang and lauded on every street style blog there after. We hate to admit it did cause us to contemplate if only for a moment stitching our own initials to an ASOS version. (We didn’t, don’t worry.) But the thing that gave this trend real staying power is that it’s practical and cosy. Not something you can always say about a fashion trend.
Everyone Became a Designer
It’s that age old question isn’t it. If I wear the clothes, can I design the clothes? Most of the time the answer is no. No you can’t. Designers spend years training, learning, working for other brands before most even get to approach putting their designs into production. But that’s not something our celebs have to contend with. This year alone has seen them putting their style wear their mouth is with both Cara and Poppy Delevingne producing collaborations with DKNY and Solid and Striped respectively, Olivia Palermo teaming up with Aquazzura, Beyonce launching a line with Topshop and rounding out the year Rihanna announced as Creative Director at Puma. We’re as stumped as you are on that one.
A Royal Sign Off
Move over Kate Middleton, the person ending the year with 2014’s style crown is someone who cares little about fashion. In fact, his only thoughts are probably when is nap time, and great grandma has an awfully funny hat. Yes, Prince George, the chubby cheeked and ridiculously cute son of Will and Kate has stolen are cold fashion hearts with his adorable Christmas pictures. After all, who else could pull off a knitted jumper featuring a Queen’s Guard paired with knee high socks? Exactly, no one.
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Hannah Fillis is the Social Media Editor at Net-A-Porter. Follow her on Twitter: @hannahfillis
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.