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For the new year, I’ve decided to give up fast fashion . That means no popping into M&S for a multipack of pants. No rummaging through Primark for sale socks. And certainly no scrambling through Topshop for a last-minute party dress.
I write about fashion as part of my job, so I'm constantly keeping an eye on new boutique brands and emerging designers, who, in all honesty, I'd rather give my money to than high-street brands. Not just because it supports new talent, but because the clothes tend to be more innovative and you're less likely to show up somewhere wearing the same damn polka dot dress as every other woman there. When I first announced to my friends that I’d be giving up fast fashion, they didn’t even flinch, saying: “You think you’re too cool to shop on the high street anyway.” That said, there can be no denying that your money goes further on the high street. So I love the odd haul at Zara, H&M, or & Other Stories that usually happens after I’ve walked past and been seduced by something in the window. And while I’d rather source my clothes from unique second-hand shops I’ve visited on trips abroad, or designer-loaded charity shops in wealthy areas of London – there are still plenty of occasions where I have to hit the high street to get what I need because of some kind of urgent wardrobe-related mishap, like a broken zip or ripped trousers.
There’s also my occasional splurging habit to consider. Occasionally I save up to buy a special piece from one of my favourite (more expensive) brands: Ganni, Rixo, APC… In my head, these are more eco-friendly purchases simply because they cost more and I’ll keep them for longer. But my logic – that more money automatically means more sustainable – is obviously flawed and based on, well, nothing. I have no idea if these purchases count as fast fashion or not because I’ve never bothered to ask. Now I will have to.
The best dresses of the decadeShow all 50 1 /50The best dresses of the decade The best dresses of the decade 50 - Lady Bird's prom dress, vintage, 2018 Actor Saoirse Ronan was a delight to watch in Greta Gerwig's Oscar-nominated debut, and while there were many notable outfits throughout the 2002-based film, this one remains the most meaningful. Towards the end of the film, Lady Bird goes prom dress shopping with her mum in a scene that sees their fraught relationship come to a head when Lady Bird asks “I just wish... I wish that you liked me”. Finally, she tries on this pink sparkly gown but her mother, Marion asks, “Is it too pink?” The girlish tulle gown with full skirt is reminiscent of the one worn by Molly Ringwald in the cult 1980s coming of age film, Pretty in Pink , worn as a feminist statement. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 49 - Alma's pink gown, Phantom Thread, 2018 Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2018 film Phantom Thread , centres on fictional fashion designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his love affair with waitress Alma (Vicky Krieps). One of the most significant looks from the film is a lavender-pink strapless gown that Woodcock asks Alma to model early in their relationship. The gown was made from a three-meter piece of 17th-century Flemish lace and costume designer Mark Bridges said that the colour was actually chosen by Day-Lewis so that he could “feel connected” to the creation. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 48 - The balloon dresses, Fredrik Tjaerandsen, 2019 Yes, you read that right. Balloon dresses. Jaws literally dropped when Central Saint Martins graduate sent models down the runway in balloon concubines that the models then popped, causing the outfits to slowly slide down onto the model's bodies, eventually becoming dresses. We're still not sure how he did it either, but the dresses sparked a frenzy on social media, with editors and fashion insiders all regaling at Tjaerands' sheer creativity. OP
The best dresses of the decade 47 - Moneypenny's gown in Skyfall, Amanda Wakeley, 2012 In what is unquestionably one of the most glamorous on-screen gowns of the decade, Naomie Harris turned about a thousand heads in this gold Amanda Wakeley gown. The column-shaped, one-shouldered dress features three straps and was constructed with fabric that fanned out from the waist to reveal folds and cuts like a sunray, twisting around Harris' torso and elevating the power and authority of her character, who remains one of the most memorable “Bond Girls” of all time. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 46 - Suzy Bishop's pink dress in Moonrise Kingdom, 2012 This dress in Wes Anderson's 2012 Moonrise Kingdom embodies all the childhood innocence and nostalgia that defines the film. From its bubblegum-coloured hue and its Peter Pan collar to the Sixties A-line cut and the knee-high socks it's worn with, this dress was one of the best costumes in cinema from the last decade. No, it wasn't grand. And it certainly didn't look expensive, either. But, like the film itself, the dress is an homage to childlike nativity and it couldn't have been more appropriate. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 45 - Kirsten Dunst’s Rodarte campaign dress, 2019 For spring/summer 2020, Rodarte designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy shunned a traditional runway show and instead chose to present their latest collection via a series of ethereal portraits. The campaign featured 20 of the brand’s favourite female muses including Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, Yalitza Aparicio and Lili Reinhart as they posed against a dreamy floral backdrop. While the starry cast modelled a number of exquisite looks, it was Dunst’s mint green tulle gown that caught the attention of fashion fans. The voluminous dress featured a romantic bardot neckline and full skirt that was delicately embellished with a scattering of pearls. Speaking of their decision to cast Dunst, the Mulleavy sisters said: “We have such a sister relationship with her. She’s so important in our lives, shooting anything with her is so emotional. The moment we had her on set here was just a very special part of the day. She just has the most magic heart.” SY
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The best dresses of the decade 44 - Adut Akech's Fashion Awards gown, Valentino, 2019 When Adut Akech stepped on stage to collect the award for 2019's model of the year, she received a standing ovation. The accolade marked a major step for the fashion industry in terms of diversity, which Akech spoke about in her rousing acceptance speech. "This is for the young women and men who found representation and validation in my work," she told the crowd of designers and celebrities. "I want them to never be afraid of dreaming big like I once did." Her words were bolstered by the boldness of her gown on the night: an emerald green, Christmas tree-esque Valentino gown with a bow for a bodice and a thigh-high slit. It was power personified. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 43 - Anna Karenina's red dress, 2012 For his 2012 adaptation of Leo Tolstoy classic Anna Karenina , director Joe Wright asked costume designer Jacqueline Durran to ensure that the leading lady (played by Keira Knightley) be dressed in costumes in the style of 1950s couture, despite the story’s 19th-century setting. One of Anna’s standout looks from the film was a red ballgown that featured a bodice and a long bustle tail rested on the full skirt beneath. Speaking of the design, Durran said: “Red was good for that party. “She was going to have the real beginning of her liaison. It was always a struggle to work out how to take this 1870s shape and to modernise it.” SY
Focus Features
The best dresses of the decade 42 - Janelle Monáe's Met Gala dress, Christian Siriano, 2019 As a frequent front runner on the red carpet, it comes as no surprise that Janelle Monáe arrived at the 2019 Met Gala with one of the evening's best looks. Wearing an outfit by designer Christian Siriano and a custom eye bag from Judith Leiber, Monáe went all out with her head-to-toe interpretation of the event’s "camp” theme. The dress, which was inspired by artists Picasso and Salvador Dalí, featured a split design consisting of a pink skirt and a bodice complete with a blinking eye. The star finished the ensemble with a headpiece constructed from three top hats that appeared to be toppling off her head. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 41 - Natalie Portman's Black Swan dress, Rodarte, 2011 Rodarte tutus played a starring role in the acclaimed thriller in which Natalie Portman plays a ballerina who slowly finds herself slipping into madness while practicing for a performance of Black Swan. The black tutu, worn when Portman's character dramatically casts off her innocent facade and embraces her dark side as she transforms into the Black Swan, was worn with bold feathering eye make-up, bloodshot eyes and a dark red lip. There was a scandal surrounding the dress, too. Given that neither Kate nor Laura Mulleavy (the designers at Rodarte) were part of the Costume Designers Guild, they weren't eligible for an Oscar for best costume for their work on the film. This later prompted the film's chief designer, Amy Wetcott, to respond publicly by saying the designers' involvement with the tutus had been exaggerated. Regardless, the film's tutus – and this one in particular – remain a significant part of the film's visuals. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 40 - The Great Gatsby: Daisy Buchanan’s Party Dress, Prada, 2013 Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby is a visual feast for many reasons but for fashion fans in particular, it is the film’s costumes that really capture the hedonistic era of the 1920s. The majority of costumes, including the party dress worn by Carey Mulligan aka Daisy Buchanan, were designed in collaboration between costume designer Catherine Martin and Miuccia Prada. Speaking about the process of selecting the character’s costume, Prada said: "When I read [the book], it was psychological. It was not about glamour for me. It was a real [study of] personality, very internalised. "It was meant to be about light. It became about money, because Luhrmann wanted to show her as the most beautiful and rich woman on earth." SY
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The best dresses of the decade 39 - Lady Gaga's Meta Gala look, Brandon Maxwell, 2019 Why limit your red carpet look to just one dress when you can have four? That was the thinking behind Lady Gaga's look at the 2020 Met Gala, where the singer first stepped out in a fuchsia caped gown that had a 25-foot train. Accompanied by designer Brandon Maxwell, Gaga then began to unzip the colossal dress to reveal a corseted black number beneath complete with opera gloves. After applying some lipstick in front of the cameras, the 33-year-old then unzipped again to reveal a third look: a bright pink column dress. Finally, it was time for Gaga to offer one final ensemble: a black crystal bra with matching knickers and fishnet tights. Paired with her doll-like make-up and platinum hair, Gaga's four looks perfectly captured the playful spirit of the camp-themed event. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 38 - Priyanka Chopra's wedding dress, Ralph Lauren, 2018 When Priyanka Chopra married Nick Jonas in early December 2018, the pair paid tribute to the heritages of their families by having both Christian and Hindu ceremonies to mark the occasion. For the Christian ceremony, which took place at the Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India, Chopra wore an elegant, bespoke Ralph Lauren gown, embellished with 32,000 sequins and more than 11,000 Swarovski crystals. It took Ralph Lauren several months to finalise the design which combined a sequinned strapless dress with an exquisite, sheer coat. The coat took 1,826 hours to embroider, while a 75-foot veil had to be carried by six attendants on the day. SY
The best dresses of the decade 37- Jared Leto's Meta Gala look, Gucci, 2019 Jared Leto, holding a model of his own head while clad in blood red robes on the 2020 Met Gala pink carpet, was quite a striking image. The gown was designed by Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele who showed similar looks at his autumn/winter 2018 show, sending each of the models down the runway with a fake severed head. According to Michele, each head took roughly six months to make. "We are the Doctor Frankenstein of our lives," Michele told British Vogue at the time. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 36 - Sansa Stark's armour dress, Game of Thrones, 2019 For the final episode of Game of Thrones , the character of Sansa Stark, played by Sophie Turner, wore a dress that symbolised the journey she had been on to become Queen of the North. The suffering of the character was intentionally reflected in her costume design, which featured a tightly-laced dress, sleeves stitched with Weirwood leaves from the magical tree that stands in Winterfel, leather straps and a breast plate. Speaking of the shift in Stark’s approach to dressing, Turner said: “I wanted her to have a bit of armour and be a bit more warrior like.” SY
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The best dresses of the decade 35 - Rihanna's Met Gala look, John Galliano, 2018 Rihanna's outfit at the 2018 Met Gala where the theme was Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination, is not one anybody is likely to forget any time soon. Given that RiRi had modeled her look on the Pope, the highest member of the Catholic church, some people accused her of religious appropriation and said the look was disrespectful and "sexualised" Catholicism. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 34 - Jemima Kirke and Lena Dunham's Met Gala dresses, Christopher Kane, 2019 The famous friends put the sisterhood front and centre with their co-coordinating Met Gala looks designed by Christopher Kane. Both were apt ensembles for the event's camp theme, though they were apparently rather difficult to get into, with both women reportedly having to use lubricant in order to put on the latex dresses. While the dresses were created especially for the actors, the looks reflected the playful eroticism in his autumnl/winter 2019 collection. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 33 - Celine Dion's Met Gala dress, Oscar de la Renta, 2019 When it comes to making an entrance, Celine Dion knows what she's doing. On the most talked about evening in fashion, the singer showed up on the Met Gala red carpet wearing a gold Oscar de la Renta gown that weighed more than 22 pounds. The look, which featured a metallic bodysuit with fringe-detailing and a plunging neckline, was inspired by the glitzy costumes of the Zeigfeld Follies, particularly one worn by Judy Garland in the film Zeigfeld Girl. The ensemble was completed with a custom headdress made of gold peacock feathers by milliner Noel Stewart. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 32 - Lupita Nyong'o's Oscars dress, Prada, 2014 In recent years, actor Lupita Nyong'o has become one to watch on the red carpet, delivering several impressive looks throughout awards season. For the 2014 Oscars, the star caused a collective gasp when she stepped out wearing a pale blue custom-made Prada gown. The silk georgette soleil pleated dress was a collaboration by Nyong'o, her stylist Micaela Erlanger and the Italian fashion house. Speaking to presenter Ryan Seacrest, Nyong'o explained that she selected the colour because "it reminds me of Nairobi, so I wanted to have a little bit of home," referring to her hometown in Kenya. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 31 - Lily Rose Depp’s Chanel bride gown, 2017 Lily Rose Depp, the daughter of of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, enjoyed her second stint as a Chanel runway model in 2017, closing the fashion house’s Spring Haute Couture show. As is customary with any Chanel couture show, the final look was a bridal gown. For the showstopping moment, the 17-year-old was dressed in a ruffled blush pink gown featuring a voluminous skirt and sleeves with a corseted bodice, a Peter Pan collar and a large belt. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 30 - Keira Knightley's wedding dress, Chanel, 2013 Simple, playful and vintage; Keira Knightley's wedding dress was famed for its understated elegance. Yes, it was Chanel couture (spring/summer 2006), but unlike most celebrity wedding gowns, this one was unfussy, featuring a simple pale grey hue, a ruched strapless bodice, and a hemline that skimmed the knees as opposed to the traditional sweeping train. The gown matched the occasion, with Knightley and husband James Righton reportedly tying the knot in front of a small group of close friends and family in the south of France. Proving herself to be a supporter of sustainable fashion, Knightley even re-wore the dress (as seen here) to an charity event in London just a few months later. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 29 - Stranger Things: Eleven’s Pink Dress, 2016 With a wardrobe consisting of printed playsuits and bleached denim, Eleven from hit sci-fi show Stranger Things became somewhat of a fashion icon as soon as the first series hit our TV screens. The one outfit most fans associate with the character is the pink dress she wore in the very first season. The cotton mini dress featured a contrasting white Peter Pan collar, a ruched bodice and long sleeves, and was famously worn with the character's signature shaved head, a pair of knee-high tube socks and Converse trainers. According to Pinterest, the number of pinned Stranger Things images shot up 40 times in the months following the launch of the first season, and while Eleven's pink frock has proved popular, global search platform Lyst has also witnessed a surge in searches for trucker caps and Eighties printed T-shirts inspired by characters Dustin and Chief Hopper, showing the all-round fashion clout of the show. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 28 - Elle Fanning's New Look gown, Dior, 2019 Actor Elle Fanning made waves with her style throughout the Cannes Film Festival but it was this 1940s-inspired look she wore to the Once Upon a Time In… Hollywood premiere that made headlines. The ensemble consisted of an ivory silk organza blouse with puff sleeves and a midnight-blue tulle skirt, both of which were custom-designed by Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. Fanning’s look paid homage to the “New Look” silhouette pioneered by Christian Dior in 1947, a collection credited with revolutionising women's fashion in the 1940s. The actor was showered with praise by fans on Twitter for her elegant take on old Hollywood glamour. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 7 - Jennifer Lawrence's Oscars dress, Dior, 2013 Who could forget that fateful moment when Jennifer Lawrence – then at the early stages of her career – tripped and fell because of the cut of her dress as she went to collect her Academy Award for best actress for her role in Silver Linings Playbook ? Lawrence took it in her stride and got herself up before making light of the moment in her speech. The dress she wore has become instantly recognisable thanks to this moment. Strapless, fitted and with a voluminous skirt, the Dior gown suited the occasion perfectly and made Lawrence's fall one of the most graceful in history. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 26 - Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s Met Gala dresses, Versace, 2019 Kendall and Kylie Jenner made the grandest of entrances to the 2019 Met Gala, coordinating in bright feathered dresses. Kendall opted for a show girl-inspired bright orange feathered dress, while Kylie chose a lavender feathered gown and matching wig. Social media users instantly made plenty of comparisons to the Jenners' looks including Scooby Doo's Velma and Daphne, the sisters from Ella Enchanted , and the twins from White Chicks . On the carpet, Kendall said she and Kylie really “went for it” and designed their outfits with Donatella Versace. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 25 - Pippa Middleton’s bridesmaid dress, Alexander McQueen, 2011 When Pippa Middleton walked towards Westminster Abbey behind her sister on the 29 April 2011, few could have predicted the impact her gown would have on the world. Kate might have been the one getting married that day, but Pippa's name was in almost as many headlines thanks to the way that cowl neck ivory gown hugged her figure. Unfortunately, while many praised Sarah Burton's flawless design which had 58 buttons down the back, the moment led to an unsavoury amount of sexist commentary, with many people focusing on Middleton's body over everything else and lauding her as a sex symbol. But Pippa was able to make light of the scenario when, a few years after the wedding, she teased in an interview with the Daily Mirror that the dress fit “a little too well”. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 24 - Phoebe Waller Bridge’s Emmy’s dress, Monique Llhuillier, 2019 While Phoebe Waller-Bridge's red carpet choices are always commendable (she favours cult womenswear label Galvan and their signature jumpsuits), this one is her most famous thanks to a viral photograph of the Fleabag creator sat in a throne-like chair at an Emmys after party, cocktail in one hand, cigarette in the other and surrounded by her four statuettes. The photo was hailed as epitomising old school Hollywood glamour and feminist empowerment, earning Waller-Bridge's sequin covered gown much praise and adulation online. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 23 - Princess Eugenie’s Wedding Dress, Peter Pilotto, 2018 Princess Eugenie married Jack Brooksbank on 12 October 2018. For the occasion, the 28-year-old wore an ivory gown designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. The dress featured an off-the-shoulder neckline and a low-back design that was a special request from Eugenie so as to reveal the scars on her back she acquired after an operation at the age of 12 to correct her scoliosis. The Princess also wore the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, an item lent to her by The Queen which featured a 93.70-carat emerald. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 22 - Serena Williams' US Open tutu, Virgil Abloh, 2018 Serena Williams made it clear during her first match at the US Open that she would not let organisers dictate what she wears on the court. For the match, which took place in August 2018, Williams chose to wear a black and brown one-shouldered custom-designed tutu dress by designer and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh in collaboration with Nike. The 36-year-old completed the outfit with compression fishnet tights and a pair of sparkly silver NikeCourt Flare sneakers as she won her match against Magda Linette. The tennis champion’s sartorial choice was an act of defiance in light of the negative comments made by the president of the French Tennis Federation, Bernard Giudicelli, regarding the catsuit Williams wore to the French Open. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 21 - Zara's polka dot dress, Zara, 2019 During the summer of 2019, it was almost impossible to set foot outside or scroll through Instagram without spotting Zara’s now-iconic black and white polka dot dress. The humble “printed dress”, as it’s called on the retailer’s website, costs just £39.99 and has been spotted on dance floors, in festivals and at several wedding receptions. Some women even got married in "the dress". The retailer has since made it available in other colour ranges, including olive green, black and deep red.OP
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The best dresses of the decade 20 - Jennifer Lawrence’s American Hustle Dress, 2013 The hit heist film American Hustle was set in New Jersey in 1978. While the male cast revived some serious crimes against fashion, from boxy suits to micro perms, the movie’s female stars, Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams lucked out. While Adams spent much of the film in slinky Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, Lawrence wore her hair piled high as her dresses left little to the imagination. Speaking of the plunging metallic ivory gown sported by Lawrence’s character, Rosalyn, Wilkinson said: “She's grappling to get attention so she wears some very eye-catching evening wear. “That dress has an interesting history: We tried on on lots of dresses from the period and there was nothing that really felt exactly right for Jennifer, so we ended up making that dress especially for her. What we were trying to capture was more of a suburban kind of evening wear.” SY
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The best dresses of the decade 19 - Kate Moss' wedding dress, John Galliano, 2014 If anyone is going make a sartorial statement on their wedding day, you could always count on Kate Moss. For her nuptials to Jamie Hince in 2014, the British model wore a custom John Galliano gown with sheer detailing and a floral sequin skirt. According to Galliano, the dress was inspired by Zelda Fitzgerald, the troubled wife of The Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald. While the marriage might not have lasted – Moss and Hince split in 2016 – the impact of the model's stellar gown will certainly stand the test of time. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 18 - Kim Kardashian’s Wet Dress, Mugler, 2019 With the theme of “Camp”, this year’s Met Gala was always going to be one of the best for red carpet ensembles. One of the most memorable came courtesy of Kim Kardashian, who defied all logic in a Thierry Mugler dress that cinched in her waist, took eight months to make and was the first creation the designer made for the House of Mugler in 20 years. The gown featured a latex corset and beaded crystals hanging from the body to simulate drops of water. At the time, Kardashian told American Vogue : “He envisioned me this California girl stepping out of the ocean, wet, dripping”. The reality star later revealed that the corset she wore under the dress was so tight she had to take "corset-breathing lessons" and struggled to sit down the entire night. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 17 - Bella Hadid’s Cannes red dress, Alexandra Gauthiere, 2016 In 2016 supermodel Bella Hadid attended the Cannes Film Festival wearing an Alexandre Vauthier gown that featured a slit that went above the thigh. The look prompted hundreds of headlines around the world and instantly became one of Hadid’s most memorable in addition to firmly heralding her arrival into the fashion industry. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 16 - Emma Watson’s Beauty & The Beast dress, 2017 For Bill Condon’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast , the director enlisted the help of Academy Award-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran to create Belle's (Emma Watson) famous yellow gown. The dress itself featured multiple layers of yolk yellow-dyed organza and 2,160 Swarovski crystals and it took a team of seamstresses more than 12,000 hours to make. The significance of Watson’s gown was bolstered by the fact that it lit up our screens a mere two months after Emma Stone’s similarly sunshine yellow gown did the same in La La Land . Yellow went on to reign as the colour of the season that year and was soon dubbed the next millennial pink, earning the nickname “Gen Z yellow”. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 15 - Emma Stone’s La La Land dress, 2017 In many ways, 2017 was the year of the yellow dress – and this was the one that started it all. When Emma Stone danced across our screens with Ryan Gosling in La La Land , it sparked something in all of us. Sure, the dancing was brilliant as were the Oscar-nominated songs, but that canary yellow gown made us all want to dash out and light up our wardrobes with items in a similar hue. Costume designer Mary Zophres told Fashionista that the dress was in fact inspired by a Versace gown worn by Stone at a promo appearance for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 . “It's stunning on Emma and I pitched [that color] to Damien [Chazelle] for that sequence,” she said. The end product was hand-crafted with canary polyester from a fabric shop and hand-painted florals by artist Rob Philips. Inspired by Stones’ dress, it was all yellow the following awards season, with Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman among the stars to sport the shade on red carpets that year. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 14 - Viktor & Rolf’s slogan dresses, Viktor & Rolf, 2019 If Instagram had a fling with a tutu, their child would look something like Viktor & Rolf’s slogan dresses. With messages like “I'm not shy, I just don't like you,” “Sorry I'm late, I didn't want to come,” and “NO,” these voluminous tulle gowns made quite the statement when they graced the runway at Paris Couture Week in January. Not only did it suddenly seem like all our darkest and most millennial thoughts were suddenly displayed on gargantuan tutus, but said tutus went on to almost break the internet with the countless memes they prompted. People shared the photos in WhatsApp groups, tagged themselves on social media, and captioned them with things like ”Mood”. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 13 - Cardi B’s Clam Dress, Mugler, 2019 For the 2019 Grammy Awards, rapper Cardi B arrived on the red carpet wearing a look straight out of a Botticelli painting. For the occasion, the "Bodak Yellow" singer wore a vintage Mugler design pulled straight from the archives of the label’s Fall 1995 Couture collection. The dress, which was originally worn by model Simonetta Gianfellici on the catwalk, featured a sequin nude bodysuit and long black skirt that bloomed out of something resembling a giant clam shell. The design also included pearl drapery around the singer’s hips, opera-length gloves, a bibi choker necklace and a twisted pearl headpiece atop of her head. Despite its high-fashion credentials, Cardi B’s outfit also proved to be great meme material, with the "I Like It" rapper being compared to everything from a stack of Ferrero Rocher’s to coffee filters and Ursula from The Little Mermaid . SY
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The best dresses of the decade 12 - Angelina Jolie’s ‘leg’ dress, Versace, 2012 In 2012, Angelina Jolie quite literally stepped out in a black Atelier Versace gown that came with a thigh-high slit, revealing much of the actor’s leg. Jolie posed for photographers with her right leg pointed outwards, to exaggerate the slit and ensured that almost every image showed her in that pose. Showing true dedication, Jolie even maintained the pose when she presented an award on stage. The stance generated a flurry of memes and a hashtag: #AngiesRightLeg. Jolie recently spoke about the look, explaining that it was one of two options she had that evening. “I had a more complicated dress and I wore the more comfortable dress, which was that one, and I think I was just so comfortable,” Jolie said at the premiere for Maleficant: Mistress of Evil in October. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 11 - Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Gown, Jason Wu, 2009 Dressing a First Lady for the inauguration is a momentous occasion, and one that many designers consider to be the greatest honour of their career. So, when Michelle Obama chose a relatively unknown name within the fashion sphere for the occasion, critics were taken by surprise. For her debut as First Lady, Obama chose an ivory, one-shouldered gown designed by 26-year-old Jason Wu, who was a relatively little known designer at the time. Like the rest of the world, Wu had no idea that the Obama was seriously considering wearing one of his designs and claimed that he wasn't even sure that the white chiffon dress she wore was his until the phone began to ring. “It's difficult to describe,” Wu said the following afternoon, after appearing on the morning shows. “I was over the moon. I know I am an unusual choice for a first lady. I didn't think it was my turn yet.” SY
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The best dresses of the decade 10 - Beyonce’s Lemonade Dress, Roberto Cavalli, 2016 The video for Beyonce’s visual album "Lemonade" in 2016 was filled with fashion that had the world abuzz, from a floral Gucci suit to a two-piece Yeezy ensemble. However, the one look that cemented itself in the minds of Bey fans everywhere, was the ruffled yellow gown she sported while smashing car windows with a baseball bat for the single "Hold Up". The off-the-shoulder Roberto Cavalli number was designed by creative director Peter Dundas for the label's autumn/winter 2016 collection and was accessorised with Saint Laurent platforms and layers of Jacquie Aiche jewellery. Speaking about why she chose the marigold number, Beyonce’s stylist B. Akerlund said: “Ultimately, the yellow dress is what makes it [the video] iconic and memorable and stands out. Yellow is a colour that we’re feeling really strong about — it’s coming back as a statement.” SY
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The best dresses of the decade 9 - Jennifer Lopez's green dress, Versace, 2019 When Jennifer Lopez wore this dress to the 2000 Grammys it went down in fashion history, second only to Elizabeth Hurley’s iconic safety pin moment in 1994. Over the years, numerous brands have tried to copy the Versace gown but no one has managed to do it justice quite like J.Lo herself. In September 2019, the singer gave the fashion pack a dose of nostalgia at Milan Fashion Week by closing the Versace show wearing an updated version of the gown 20 years later. The crowd rose to its feet as J.Lo walked the room before linking arms with Donatella Versace for the final applause. The gown is also the reason we now have Google Images. Following Lopez’s 2000 appearance, people were so fascinated by the dress that they tried to search for photos on Google. In 2015, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said: “We had no sure-fire way of getting users exactly what they wanted: J-Lo wearing that dress.” As a result, Schmidt said “Google Image Search was born.” SY
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The best dresses of the decade 8 - Billy Porter’s Oscars dress, Christian Siriano, 2018 In February, the Pose star became the most talked-about guest at the Oscars thanks to his tuxedo gown, designed by Christian Siriano. But Porter’s gown didn’t just defy sartorial conventions by blending a suit with a dress, it subverted gender norms and reflected a key societal shift. In the last year, we’ve seen more and more brands create unisex lines, showing that there is no such thing as dressing according to your gender and giving way for all of us to feel a little bit more liberated about the clothes we wear. Speaking about the gown to Variety , Porter described wearing it as a form of activism. “I knew that that tuxedo gown at the Oscars would create a conversation surrounding what gender means, what all these rules we put on everybody in life,” he said. “We’ve gotten past a problem with women wearing pants. When women wear pants it’s powerful. When men wear a dress it’s disgusting. We’re not doing that anymore. I’m not doing it.” OP
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The best dresses of the decade 7 - Meghan Markle’s wedding reception dress, Stella McCartney, 2018 While Meghan Markle opted for a white Givenchy wedding dress designed by artistic director Clare Waight Keller for her wedding ceremony, the bride turned to Stella McCartney for her reception gown. The Duchess of Sussex looked every bit the duchess in the white silk halterneck gown which featured a dramatic low back and full-length skirt. The elegant dress drew compliments the world over and prompted many a copycat design before the actual dress itself became available to buy online for £3,500. According to McCartney, Markle chose her because she is a female British designer. "I think being a woman and being a women’s woman played a part,” McCartney said. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 6 - Rihanna’s Met Gala dress, Guo Pei, 2015 When an item of clothing becomes more synonymous with a breakfast than the designer who spent two years making it, you pay attention. The yolk yellow gown that Rihanna wore to the Met Gala in 2015 spawned so many memes that it’s hard to keep track of them all. Items photo-shopped onto the dress by social media users included pepperoni pizza and a Gregg’s sausage roll, but it was memes that reimagined RiRi’s gown as an omelette that acquired the most notoriety. To this day, you can ask anyone engaged with popular culture about the omelette dress and they will immediately know what you’re talking about. In fact, the elaborate caped gown was created by Chinese couturier Guo Pei and took two years to make. Two pieces by Pei were being shown at the Costume Institute that year as part of the “China: Through the Looking Glass” exhibition, which the Met Gala was held to celebrate.OP
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The best dresses of the decade 5 - The viral colour perception dress, 2015 In 2015, the internet was divided after a photo of a dress functioned as an accidental experiment in colour perception. #TheDress, as it became known, was first spotted by a blogger who turned to Tumblr for help when the garment prompted an argument between her friends about whether it was white and gold or blue and black. The image quickly went viral online with a number of celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Anna Kendrick and Kim Kardashian weighing in on the argument. Experts later explained the reason people couldn’t agree on the colour of the dress was because of the way human eyes have evolved to view colour in sunlight. What’s happening here is your visual system is looking at this thing, and you’re trying to discount the chromatic bias of the daylight axis,” said Bevil Conway, a neuroscientist. “So people either discount the blue side, in which case they end up seeing white and gold, or discount the gold side, in which case they end up with blue and black.”
The best dresses of the decade 4 - Vilanelle’s dress, Molly Goddard, 2018 Never has tulle caused such a ruckus. When Jodie Comer stomped across our screens in Killing Eve wearing Balenciaga biker boots and Molly Goddard’s frothy pink dress, it turned the British designer into a household name. There was something about the way all that joyous oversized smock juxtaposed with Comer’s character, Villanelle, who— as a ruthless assassin — was perhaps the least likely wearer of Goddard’s girlish garb. But thanks to writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s clever characterisation, the ensemble worked perfectly and a sartorial moment was born. "Big dress energy” later become a major fashion trend across the spring/summer 2020 catalks, with Richard Quinn, Giambatista Valli and Richard Malone all taking their cues from Goddard’s gargantuan silhouettes. OP
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The best dresses of the decade 3 - Lady Gaga’s meat dress, 2010 For the 2010 MTV Music Video Awards, Lady Gaga turned her back on the usual glamorous red carept garb, wearing dress made from raw flank steak, complete with matching ankle boots, a handbag and hat. In an interview with the Financial Times , Lady Gaga said the look referred to a speech she made, "The Prime Rib of America", which urged the US military not to discriminate against gay men and lesbians from serving in the army. In 2015, the dress was put on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 2 - The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress, Alexander McQueen, 2011 Kate Middleton and Prince William's wedding on 29 April 2011 included many memorable moments but no detail has stood the test of time quite like the duchess’s iconic wedding dress. The gown was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen and was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice was handmade by the Royal School of needlework, while the train made for a dramatic entrance measuring at two meters long. SY
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The best dresses of the decade 1 - The black dresses at the Golden Globes, 2018 While the Golden Globes are typically cause for celebration, 2018’s ceremony served as the scene of a major protest. Countless actors, presenters and nominees – including Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain and Emma Stone – chose to wear all-black clothing in protest of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry and beyond. The move was a symbolic show of solidarity with victims of sexual harassment as part of the Time’s Up movement. Speaking about her decision to wear black to the event, Allison Brie said: "I am wearing black to stand in solidarity with all of the women who have come out about being sexually harassed and abused. I'm so in awe of the bravery it took for the first few to come forward. They are heroes." Out of all the women who attended the 2018 globes, just three chose not to wear black. SY
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All things considered, then, I presumed this pledge would be easy. I’d finally kick my & Other Stories habit, something that might harm the planet as much as it harms my wallet, and enjoy the feeling of knowing I’ll be making better, more sustainable sartorial choices. But having given this some thought, I’m not sure how comfortable I feel about waving goodbye to the ease and accessibility that high street shopping allows. What if I ladder my tights at work? Or forget to pack a second pair of underwear for after my lunchtime gym session? Such issues arise – all too often for me – and it’s arguably easiest to solve them by heading to the nearest high street shop, which, let’s face it, is probably not going to sell eco-friendly lingerie.
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