The Best 10 Celebrity Red Carpet Ensembles of 2023
An extraordinary year of fashion innovation! From Harry Styles' daring Egonlab ensemble at the Grammys to Rihanna's stunning Schiaparelli gown at the Golden Globes, these 10 celebrity red carpet looks of 2023 pushed boundaries and challenged the norms of style
As 2023 comes to an end, it's time to look back at the star-studded red carpet events and reflect on the most memorable fashion moments of the year. Despite the red carpets being impacted by the four-month SAG-AFTRA strike, there were still many noteworthy and unconventional celebrity fashion statements. From Jared Leto's spot-on portrayal of Karl Lagerfeld's famous cat, Choupette, at the Met Gala, to Margot Robbie's life-size doll looks during her "Barbie" press tour, this year showcased the power of creativity and the importance of a skilled stylist.
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In 2023, A-listers recognized the red carpet as a global stage and used it to promote independent designers and sustainable fashion. There was a noticeable shift towards risk-taking and pushing back against traditional fashion norms. For CNN Style's top 10 red carpet moments from the past year, continue scrolling to see the list in no particular order.
Harry Styles in Egonlab at the Grammys
Harry Styles at the 65th Grammy Awards.
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Margot Robbie in Vivienne Westwood at the London Barbie premiere
The low-cut jumpsuit from Styles was the talk of the night, styled by Harry Lambert. The harlequin-patterned romper, made from Swarovski crystals, paid homage to the flashy, embellished classic rock jumpsuits favored by Mick Jagger and David Bowie in the 70s, serving as a reminder that there is life beyond the traditional suit.
Margot Robbie at the "Barbie" London premiere.
During the "Barbie" press tour last summer, Margot Robbie and her stylist Andrew Mukamal painstakingly recreated iconic Barbie looks in full size. A standout moment occurred in London, where Robbie donned a custom baby pink Vivienne Westwood gown inspired by the limited edition "Evening Enchantment" Barbie doll. While we've seen method dressing in the past (such as Zoë Kravitz infusing her "Batman" red carpet looks with feline motifs as a nod to her character last year), Robbie and Mukamal took it to the next level.
Cardi B in Dilara Findikoglu at the MTV Video Music Awards
Cardi B at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
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Jared Leto in Specialty Costumes and Props (SCPS) at the Met Gala
Cardi B has always embraced bold fashion choices, often opting for vintage Mugler, Balenciaga, or Schiaparelli. However, this year she has showcased smaller, independent designers. One standout look was the Dilara Findikoglu dress she wore to the MTV Video Music Awards. Styled by Kollin Carter, the gown was constructed entirely of silver hairpins. "I have to be creative with everything, with my clothes, with my pictures, everything," Cardi said at the event.
Jared Leto at this year's Met Gala, themed "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty."
At this year's Met Gala, most guests paid tribute to Karl Lagerfeld's legacy with pearls, tweed, and gray wigs. However, Jared Leto stood out by dressing in a Choupette costume, designed by custom props and costumes company SCPS. His unexpected attire was the highlight of the evening, as his identity remained a surprise until his grand reveal. Leto's decision to dress as Lagerfeld's beloved cat was unconventional, bold, and truly brilliant.
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Fan BingBing in Christopher Bu at Cannes Film Festival
Fan Bingbing at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
Fan Bingbing turned heads at this year's Cannes Film Festival with a series of stunning looks, but it was a Christopher Bu gown that garnered the most attention from fashion critics. The intricate tigers and bamboo forest print evoked traditional Chinese paintings and showcased the talent of Bu and other rising Asian designers like Sohee Park and Chung Thanh Phong. Actress Fan Bingbing and her stylist Wish Gui used this global platform to showcase and support the work of these lesser-known designers.
Anne Hathaway in vintage Valentino at the British Fashion Awards
Anne Hathaway at the latest British Fashion Awards.
Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
Jennifer Lawerence in Dior and flip flops at Cannes Film Festival
Anne Hathaway's archival Valentino ensemble, curated by Erin Walsh, not only embraced sustainability, but also put a couture twist on the concept of carb-loading. "Valentino designed it with spaghetti in mind," shared the label's co-founder, Giancarlo Giammetti, with Vogue. Hathaway, in turn, complemented the look with a hearty grin. "I've always fantasized about being pasta," she quipped.
Jennifer Lawerence at Cannes Film Festival 2023.
At Cannes, the glitz and glamour can be overwhelming, but one particular look stood out as a refreshing change. Jennifer Lawrence, styled by Jamie Mizrahi, defied the red carpet norms by wearing a classic red Dior princess gown with comfortable black flip flops. As she walked down the red carpet, her casual sandals peeked out from under her gown, creating a heartwarming and relatable moment at the prestigious festival.
Sienna Miller in Schiaparelli at Vogue World
Sienna Miller at the first ever Vogue World red carpet.
Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images
Riz Ahmed in Prada at the Oscars
Sienna Miller made a stunning announcement of her pregnancy at Vogue World this September, showcasing her baby bump in a remarkable fashion. Stylist Harry Lambert's choice of an ethereal, puff-ball Schiaparelli two-piece perfectly highlighted Miller's bump, adding to the list of his stellar moments.
Riz Ahmed at the 2023 Oscars.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Although not fully shirtless like Timothée Chalamet at the 2022 red carpet, Riz Ahmed did showcase a hint of bare chest at this year's Oscars. If a Swarovski-spangled jumpsuit isn't your style, Ahmed's stylist Julie Ragnolie and him displayed a playful yet sophisticated Fall-Winter 2023 Prada ensemble. Adding to the allure of his outfit was a stunning pink Shetland wool cardigan shirt with an exaggerated 70s khaki-colored collar peeking out from underneath his blazer.
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Rihanna in Schiaparelli at the Golden Globes
Rihanna at the Golden Globes 2023.
At this year's Golden Globes, Rihanna may have skipped the red carpet, but she still managed to stand out as one of the best dressed attendees, thanks to her custom black velvet Schiaparelli outfit styled by Jahleel Weaver. The romantic, old Hollywood glamour look, complete with a giant puffy shawl and matching velvet elbow gloves, made a strong case for being fashionably late.
