Last year was crazy and game-changing — from politics and celeb culture to, of course, fashion. From Kim Kardashian in Paris to everyone on earth overanalyzing what female political figures wore at every turn and Alber Elbaz’s departure from Lanvin, there was nonstop speculation and opinion-sharing about who wore what, when and how. But there were some bright spots, and inspiration for fashion moments and decisions for 2017.
Gigi Hadid: Her hosting skills at this year’s American Music Awards may have been a little weak, but her outfits were unforgettable. Hadid wore six ensembles, ranging from gowns and cropped tops to a bedazzled jumpsuit. My favorite: a toreador crop-top set by Julien Macdonald. The piece consisted of a crop top, a cropped jacket complete with silver fringe and intricate bead working, and a pair of high-waisted shorts to match. It was youthful, sophisticated and the kind of outfit any closet would benefit from.
Size Diversity: This was a banner year for size diversity in fashion, with one of my dear friends — Tim Gunn — coming out strongly in its favor, calling on designers to include plus-size women in their collections. Meanwhile, Ashley Graham made history as the first plus-size model to make the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. Graham’s February cover opened many people’s eyes about how healthy and gorgeous women of all sizes can be, and also opened many doors for Graham, whose career took off after publication.
Christian Siriano took a similar stance for his Spring 2017 runway show. The designer, who has been a voice for inclusion for women of all sizes in fashion, put his designs where his mouth is when he sent a handful of plus-size models down the catwalk at his New York Fashion Week show.
Sneakers: And on the casual-gone-elegant front, 2016 also saw a big moment for sneakers, like never before. Paired with everything from wedding dresses to hot denim, this year saw the likes of Adidas Stan Smiths, Comme des Garcons and (my personal fave) the Italian luxury line Golden Goose taking center stage and elevating outfits all over the place.
Red Carpet Winners: As always, so many stars did right by the red carpet last year, but two stood out for me: Charlize Theron, stunning in a beautiful red Dior gown at the Oscars, and Kristin Bell, in a feminine yet defined floral flowing gown by Zuhair Murad at the Emmys. Both were confident looks coming from two women who know what flatters them, know who they are and aren’t afraid to make strong but simple statements. Those are moments I’d love to see even more of in 2017.
