Red carpets were back this year, and celebs didn’t hold back when it came to making up for lost time with their fashion. From the stars who had style home runs at the Met Gala, to the models and actresses who stepped out at awards shows in their best glam looks, 2021 was packed with epic outfits.
While some nailed it with their most stylish looks yet, others took some daring fashion risks that didn’t always pay off. Luckily, we’ve rounded up the best and worst looks from the year to reminisce on as we head into 2022.
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The best celebrity looks of 2021:
Zendaya at the Venice Film Festival
Zendaya always slays the red carpet, and this year she absolutely stunned at the premiere for Dune at the Venice Film Festival. The gown was sculpted to fit her perfectly, and combined with a Bulgari necklace, there was no doubt that she killed this look.
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Lizzo at the 2021 Grammy Awards
Lizzo’s gorgeous Grammy dress gave us elegant mermaid vibes, and we love how she accessorized it with barrettes and matching grills. The look was the perfect outfit for the awards show, being equal parts fun and glamourous. Plus, it fit her perfectly, and the shiny fabric added a touch of whimsical sparkle.
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Carey Mulligan at the 2021 Oscars
The British Oscar nominee wore an epic, sparkly gold two-piece to the ceremony that made our jaws drop when we saw the shimmering sequins. The crop top paired with the full skirt was unexpected yet fun, and no one else on the red carpet rocked anything similar. She may not have won Best Actress, but she definitely won best look of the night.
Related: Oscars 2021 red carpet: all the best dresses.
Zoë Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala
Zoë took a huge risk when she wore this shining, beaded see-through dress to the Met Gala, and her boldness paid off because she looked amazing. Her earrings matched her underwear, which isn’t an easy feat to pull off. One commenter on Instagram asked why the Lolawolf frontwoman opted for such a naked dress, and she clapped back by writing: “Being uncomfortable with the human body is colonization/brainwashing. It’s just a body. We all got ’em.”
Related: Zoë Kravitz’s style evolution.
Dua Lipa at the 2021 Grammys
Dua proved Y2K was back this year with her stunning Versace gown. From the beading to the butterfly, it was the perfect look for the awards ceremony and to highlight her Future Nostalgia era. Her makeup also complimented the playful pink in the dress.
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Bella Hadid at Cannes Film Festival
Bella shut Cannes down in this epic Schiaparelli gown with golden lungs. We wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes the next go-to designer for all the celebs looking to make a statement in 2022.
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Gemma Chan at Rome Film Fest
Gemma Chan was ethereal in her all-white outfit at the photo call for Marvel’s Eternals in Rome. The dramatic cape elevated her dress from simply looking chic and gave it a bold, angelic touch. We also love that she went with some strappy heels to play up the details in the dress.
Related: All the best red carpet looks of 2021.
Olivia Rodrigo going to the White House
In July, Olivia reported to the White House in this adorable vintage Chanel outfit with sky-high platform Mary Jane pumps. It was professional, yet fun, and reminded us all of Clueless. It’s a look that’s so timeless, we bet it’ll keep getting recreated for years to come.
Related: We can’t stop talking about Olivia Rodrigo’s White House outfit.
The worst celebrity looks of 2021:
Kim Kardashian at the 2021 Met Gala
To this day, we’re still shaking at Kim K’s shocking all-black Balenciaga ensemble. As much as we didn’t love the look, it did give us some of the best memes of the year, and it definitely was dramatic considering we’re still talking about it several months later.
Related: The funniest memes about Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala outfit.
Camila Cabello at the ‘Cinderella’ premiere
We love that Camila went for it with a dramatic puffy skirt at the Cinderella premiere, but we’re confused about the plain white crop top. Playing a princess calls for some more glamour, and we wished the top matched the skirt.
Related: 10 style and fashion trends to watch for in 2022.
Megan Fox & Machine Gun Kelly at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards
Megan has had some amazing looks this year, including her gorgeous red Met Gala gown. But we wish she and MGK would have gone for something more simple and less gothic at the BBMAs.
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Rita Ora at the 2021 MTV Europe Music Awards
The wild train on Rita’s jumpsuit distracted from the whole look, and made it look a little like a porcupine. We wish she had opted for a more simple jumpsuit as the tailoring on the pants looks phenomenal.
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Billie Eilish at the Variety 2021 Music Hitmakers Brunch
We love a good oversized outfit, but we didn’t feel this look suited Billie at all. The Grammy winner is known for rocking baggy jackets and tees, which probably would have worked better than this licorice-esque jacket.
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Priyanka Chopra at the 2021 Fashion Awards
This floral look could have maybe been cute if it was only the jumpsuit; however, the cape is so bulky that it’s overwhelming Priyanka. We also think she could have skipped the necklace if she was going for such a bold print.
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Katy Perry at Variety’s Power Of Women
The colour of Katy’s dress is beautiful, but the dress itself resembles a bedsheet. Maybe if the sleeves were simpler it could have worked, but it feels like the dress is wearing her, rather than the other way around.
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Emma Corrin at the 2021 Emmys
We normally love all of Emma’s daring looks, but we’re not sure what to make of the yellow bonnet and claw-like manicure aspects of the outfit. It feels a bit too dystopian for the Emmy’s, when they had the chance to wear something more glamourous.
Related: The best and worst dressed celebs at the 2021 Emmys.
Nicole Kidman at the ‘Being The Ricardos’ premiere
Green is definitely Nicole’s colour, but the print on this dress is too much, especially with the sequins. It’s reminding us of Christmas wrapping paper, and not in a good way.
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Cardi B at the 2021 Paris Fashion Week
Cardi B channelled a green Teletubby in this emerald jumpsuit and bonnet. We’re not entirely sure what inspired the Kermit the Frog-esque number, but it doesn’t really make sense for the “WAP” hitmaker. She should have worn something a little more Parisian if you ask us.
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