When it comes to celebrity style, what is the measure of iconicity? Social media impressions? Critical acclaim? A standard that combines the two whilst also incorporating some sort of ineffable “it” quality no man, woman or child can comprehend? Quite possibly.

While celebrity culture continues to split at the seams – with fans obsessively surveilling their faves, or lashing out at the stars who do clap back – celebrity style is actually in a great place, which is happy news for the fashion section of this website (sorry to Life & Culture). Though not quite a renaissance, 2024 saw many a star wield style in unexpected ways, whether they were utilising fashion for a personal rebrand, digging through the archives for a rare vintage find, or simply serving cunt at a red carpet event. Doubtless you’ll all have something to say about the ranking below, but you’ll also be pleased to know that the true measure of iconicity is actually whatever Dazed Fashion says it is – so enjoy!

25. ADDISON RAE IN MISS CLAIRE SULLIVAN

Some people weren’t too enthused with this look, but, as stylist Dara Allen said on TikTok afterwards, “all of those things that ya’ll want to love and gag on now in hindsight – people were mad.” This Miss Claire Sullivan design references the bridal looks Britney and Christina wore at the 2003 VMAs, and though that red carpet has since become a self-referential feedback loop with little to no new ideas, this one’s allowed – just look how happy she looks!

24. CARDI B IN MCQUEEN

This didn’t light up the internet in the way it should’ve done, which is insane because it’s the best she’s ever looked. There are iconic looks for those with eyes to see, I guess. Cardi in McQueen sitting front row at McQueen would be more than enough, but the feathery 80s bob and comically large faux-fur shrug take things to the next level. It’s difficult having a vision no one else can see.

23. YSEULT IN BALENCIAGA

Yseult may have closed the 2024 Paris Olympics with a historic rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”, but she also dressed as Gene Simmons from Kiss outside a Balenciaga show, which is equally as important. The French singer’s appearance at Demna’s AW24 show also came with hair-whipping and tongue choreography. Rock on!

22. KAIA GERBER IN GIVENCHY COUTURE

Kaia Gerber looks like the daughter of a supermodel and that’s because she is. Granted, she’d probably look good in anything, but this Givenchy AW97 couture gown by Alexander McQueen elevated her to ubermodel status. In a year overstuffed with archive pulls, this managed to cut through the noise simply by not looking like an archive pull at all.

21. DAISY EDGAR-JONES IN CHLOÉ

This year, an unexpected It-girl emerged in Daisy Edgar-Jones, who donned a carousel of sleek looks for the Twisters press tour. There was Gucci, Acne and 16Arlington – but it was the actress stomping the New York sidewalk in floaty Chloé that became the enduring image of the Edgar-Jones rebrand.

20. TAYLOR RUSSELL IN LOEWE

While there are almost too many Met Gala looks to choose from this year (which is why the whole event went on our wildest fashion moments list), this sculptural wooden bodice and draped skirt from Loewe was too good not to mention. Taylor Russell try not to murder a red carpet challenge. Difficulty: impossible.

19. ROSAMUND PIKE IN DIOR COUTURE

It’s difficult to believe it was only this year that Rosamund Pike flew the motherplane into the Cuntagon and World Serve Center, but it’s true. After a scene-stealing turn in Saltburn, Pike arrived at the 2024 Golden Globes in AW19 Dior couture, and suddenly gay people couldn’t give a normal compliment. The look also featured a dramatic lace veil because the actor had “smashed up” her face after a skiing accident last Christmas. Smash up our faces, queen!

18. MILEY CYRUS IN BOB MACKIE

This Grammys Miley moment pretty much solidified her status as a pop supreme, slipping into some 2002 Bob Mackie and teasing her hair into an inexplicable bouffant to perform megahit “Flowers”. While accepting her award, Miley confessed that she “might’ve forgotten underwear” but at least she didn’t forget the dress.

17. KRISTEN STEWART IN BRUNELLO CUCINELLI AND CHANEL

Kristen Stewart had fashion media in a chokehold during the Love Lies Bleeding press tour, and this buttery leather blazer and suspenders look literally forced us to declare she’d completed lesbianism. An historic moment for all.

16. CAROLINE POLACHEK IN OLIVIER THEYSKENS

We can always rely on Caroline Polachek to do something different on the red carpet (see: her gargantuan Louis Shengtao Chen frock at the Resonator Awards). Taking the number 16 spot on our list, however, is this incredible Olivier Theyskens AW98 creation she wore to this year’s Grammys, featuring crimson blood vessels and an embroidered aortic system.

15. DANIEL CRAIG IN LOEWE

Daniel Craig has never really been on my radar style wise, but after this year I am well and truly sat. 2024 saw the actor go from slick Bond suits to some sort of befuddled grandfather in a Fair Isle jumper, and the universe couldn’t be happier. A star turn in a Loewe campaign was parlayed into this IRL appearance at the brand’s SS25 show, where he continued his descent into oddball eccentricity. More of this please.

14. KYLIE JENNER IN JEAN PAUL GAULTIER COUTURE

Kylie’s recent rebrand as a high-fashion couture girl can sometimes feel a little contrived, but tens where tens are due – this Jean Paul Gaultier look was incredibly good. Taken from the label’s SS23 couture collection by Haider Ackermann, Kylie’s clearly been taking fashion tips from bf Timothée Chalamet, who’s famously a huge fan of Ackermann’s work.

13. MICHAELA COEL IN PAOLO CARZANA

It’s not often that designers like Paolo Carzana come along, and Michaela Coel’s keen fashion eye clearly knows that well. The British actor tapped Carzana for this custom gown back in March, and also appeared front row at the designer’s lauded SS25 show, which he held in his back garden in east London. An iconic pairing, and hopefully more designer-muse moments to come.

12. AYO EDEBIRI IN BOTTEGA VENETA

Looking every inch the starlet, Ayo Edebiri worked the BAFTAs red carpet in peachy Bottega Veneta, arriving a whole five months early to the demure train. In an extremely crowded field, this Matthieu Blazy-designed look was Edebiri’s most memorable of the year, its Old Hollywood charm solidifying her status as a New American Sweetheart.

11. DOECHII IN WILLY CHAVARRIA

They hate it when you serve piss-drenched weird girl then leave. That’s what happened at Willy Chavarria’s SS25 show, when Doechii arrived stoned-facey, barefoot and smeared in mud, wearing the designer’s urine-stained ‘Dirty Willy’ underwear. After a year spent in Thom Browne skirt suits and Miu Miu booty shorts, it was actually THIS Doechii look that blew the Richter scale of iconicity.

10. EMMA CORRIN IN MIU MIU

The double-layered mini. The gelled-up fauxhawk. The schoolboy sock. Few outfits stop me in my tracks, but this is quite literally insane. In 2024, Emma Corrin has had a lot of iconic red carpet looks – from Nina Ricci and McQueen to Saint Laurent and more – but this casual Miu Miu fit they wore to the label’s SS25 show takes it just for being so effortlessly cool. Should be higher tbh, but didn’t pop off like their other looks, so top ten feels right.

9. HUNTER SCHAFER IN MAISON MARGIELA

Trust Hunter Schafer to be the first person to wear that Maison Margiela collection on the red carpet. John Galliano’s 2024 Artisanal collection was the fashion moment to define all fashion moments, and Schafer carried over the drama onto the Berlinale red carpet, channelling the models’ marionette mannerisms and vacant stares.

8. KIM YEJI

South Korean sharpshooter Kim Yeji entered our lives at the Paris Olympics like some sort of gun-slinging, spaghetti Western hero. The competition look was a strong one, but this jet black look she wore in October transformed her into a slick-suited evil villain, which suits her even better. Yes queen, shoot me in the face!

7. RIHANNA IN JAWARA ALLEYNE

While something like the Cookie Monster Lacroix moment might be more iconic in the crudest sense of the word, this was more so because of what it meant. After months of singing his praises – and an alleged Met Gala no-show – we finally got to see Rihanna in Jawara Alleyne, and it was as perfect as we could’ve imagined. We demand more JawaRih link ups for 2025 please.

6. JOSH O’CONNOR IN MODEL’S OWN

The look that launched a thousand thinkpieces (sorry to Halima Jibril’s Instagram DMs). When he’s not on a red carpet in Loewe he’s chilling at the Chelsea Flower Show in oatmeal slacks and a canvas tote. The duality of man, but one you’d be more than happy to bring home to your mum. The coffee cup! The flower badge! The cheeky smirk!! Classic O’Connor, no notes.

5. DOJA CAT IN DILARA FINDIKOĞLU

Yes, the phrase “we moved on too quickly from this” is extremely overused, but when it comes to Doja in Dilara at the 66th Grammys: we moved on too quickly from this. Making a strong case for areolas-as-accessories, the couture-grade boned corset is enough for a top five entry, but the gothic tatts and slimline specs elevate this look to high art.

4. CHAPPELL ROAN IN Y/PROJECT

This was insane when it dropped and I haven’t stopped thinking about it since. Chappell Roan was already owning 2024 with her drag-inspired on-stage looks, but this dreamy Y/Project dress singled her out as a true fashion player. Complete with razor-sharp talons and suit of armour boots, Miss Roan was definitely in a fashion league of her own this year.

3. CHARLI XCX AND LORDE IN SAINT LAURENT

OK, so this is technically two outfits, but it’s definitely one look. Like light and dark or yin and yang, one could not exist without the other, and Charli and Lorde performing the “Girl, so confusing” remix for the first time in matching Saint Laurent was evidence of that. Anthony Vaccarello only dresses cool girls, and judging by the ear-shattering screams in Madison Square Garden, this double serve has more than earned its place in the top three.

2. ZENDAYA IN THIERRY MUGLER

When Zendaya arrived at the Dune: Part Two premiere in vintage Thierry Mugler, people died. OK so no one died, but everyone was like… wow! Sourced from Mr Mugler’s AW95 couture show by Luxury Law himself, the ‘Gynoid’ suit is one of the designer’s most iconic creations of all time, and seeing it revived on Zendaya in the flesh was a truly historic fashion moment.

1. BELLA HADID IN MICHAEL & HUSHI

Well, there could only be one winner. As Mr Hadid calls her, the Princess of Nazareth proudly repped her Palestinian heritage in this Michael & Hushi keffiyeh dress at Cannes Film Festival, taken from the design duo’s AW01 collection. The outfit easily topped our list because, with it, Bella showed that she will always show support for her home country even when it (allegedly) costs her hefty contracts or industry support. A truly iconic look.