Getty Images
Well, 2022 was the year that the red carpet came back with a bang. While there were certainly some memorable celebrity fashion moments during the height of the pandemic, this was the first year in a while that saw uninterrupted award-season events and film festivals galore. Of course, this gave way to plenty of exciting red-carpet fashion.
We saw celebrities and their styling teams telling stories in impactful ways. Many dipped into the archives to bring back iconic designer pieces, while others were simply inspired by red-carpet or movie moments from the past, referencing some of fashion’s greatest looks. There were also more than a few breakout red-carpet stars and lots of emerging designers championed on the red carpet, and countless controversial looks that divided opinion.
Below, we round up the 10 most talked-about red-carpet moments of 2022, from Cannes to the Oscars, the Met Gala to the Venice Film Festival.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Kim Kardashian in Jean Louis
For the 2022 Met Gala, Kim Kardashian pulled off one of her most sensational red-carpet appearances to date, and it was perhaps the most controversial celebrity style moment of the year.
The reality star slipped into the actual gown that Marilyn Monroe wore for one of her most famous performances – which is also one of the most well-known pop-culture moments of all time. She hit the red carpet in the Jean Louis dress that Monroe wore to sing ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ to John F Kennedy in 1962. Creating a huge stir at the time, the dress was covered in crystals but almost completely sheer, and Monroe is said to have been sewn into the dress moments before stepping on stage.
And, Kardashian managed to cause quite the stir herself. Many Monroe fans felt it was disrespectful for the star to wear the gown, while the comments Kardashian made about drastically losing weight to fit into it also did not go down too well.
So many of the most impactful celebrity fashion moments in recent years come from stars dipping into the archives, and this can certainly be said for 2022, which saw more than a few breathtaking vintage gowns grace the red carpet.
For the Cannes Film Festival in May, Bella Hadid turned heads for all the right reasons, wearing a dramatic black gown from Gianni Versace’s spring/summer 1987 collection. The design featured a figure-hugging mermaid silhouette with a velvet skirt and voluminous draped detailing around the hips, which culminated in a dramatic bow at the back. It was perfection.
Some of the most talked-about red-carpet moments this year came courtesy of Julia Fox, who continued to divide opinions with every look she stepped out in. And, perhaps no outfit garnered as much discussion as her very revealing CFDA Awards gown, which was designed by the Italian label, Valerievi.
The dress featured a high neck, long sleeves and a flowing skirt, but had the entire mid section cut out to fully reveal her bra and briefs. She also bleached her brows and embraced slicked-back grey hair as a “love letter to getting older”.
Love it or hate it, Fox’s style always gets people talking.
Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé
She has been in the public eye for a long time, but it felt like 2022 was the year that Anne Hathaway really stepped out of her style comfort zone, and her incredibly chic appearance in this white Armani Privé gown during the Cannes Film Festival was the best example of that.
The actress walked the red carpet for the Armageddon Time premiere in a sequin gown with a satin wrap that cascaded dramatically behind her into a train. She added a spectacular one-of-a-kind necklace from Bulgari, which featured a rare 107,15-carat cushion-cut Sri Lankan sapphire, and a matching ring.
Miranda Priestly would have been proud.
The best thing about Zendaya’s style is that it is always unexpected, and a white shirt at the Oscars is just that. Emulating the look that Sharon Stone wore to the event in 1998, the actress chose to forgo the ballgown, instead teaming a flowing silver Valentino skirt with a teeny-tiny, cropped, white button-up, putting an excellent modern spin on a hugely iconic look.
Always one to tell a story with her fashion choices, conceived in partnership with stylist Law Roach, this was probably the most talked-about look on Hollywood’s biggest night.
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton
After taking on the role of the beloved film star in Blonde, Ana de Armas had her very own Marilyn moment for the film’s premiere, which took place during the Venice Film Festival in September.
The actress wore a pink Louis Vuitton gown which was inspired by the white dress that Monroe wore in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Although a different colour and much longer, the dress featured the same pleated satin style and plunging V-neck, and was a subtle nod to one of Monroe’s most well-known fashion moments. Unfortunately, de Armas’ big premiere look didn’t get the attention it deserved at the time, as it took place the same evening that the death of Her Majesty the Queen was announced.
Taylor Russell in Schiaparelli
Taylor Russell was probably fashion’s biggest breakout star this year as the actress carved out a name for herself on the red carpet. While she had more than a few headline-making moments, Russell’s statement Schiaparelli ensemble – which she wore to the BFI London Film Festival in October – was probably her biggest triumph.
The ensemble was from the house’s autumn/winter 2022 couture collection – and was made up of a short jacket with sharp shoulders and embroidery, a champagne-hued double
satin corset that attached to a silk crepe skirt, decorated with two black velvet bows, while she added a statement hat.
The outfit was unexpected and incredibly chic, and proved that Russell is not afraid to push the boundaries on the red carpet. We can’t wait to see what she does next.
Tessa Thompson in Elie Saab
Tessa Thompson is another star who had more than a few impactful red-carpet moments this year, but her stint during the Venice Film Festival was particularly good – and the red, hooded gown she wore for the premiere of Bardo had to be our favourite.
The sculptural design, from Elie Saab’s most recent couture collection, was made up of a red mini dress with an enormous hood and a train. She gave it even more impact by adding a red lip, a boxy red bag, red heels and red tights. The outfit solidified her reputation as the coolest person on the red carpet.
It is difficult not to love an Amal Clooney red-carpet moment. She exudes elegance and always gets the dress code just right. For the 2022 Academy Museum Gala, which took place in October, the lawyer wore a beautiful silk gown by Del Core.
The bodice and skirt were created with panels of silk tulle in different green shades, creating an ethereal springtime feeling in the middle of autumn, while she added a matching clutch and a contrasting red lip to give even more impact.
Jodie Turner-Smith in Christopher John Rogers
The fashion at the Venice Film Festival has perhaps never been better, and that’s partly thanks to Jodie Turner-Smith who made a serious splash each time she stepped onto the red carpet. Our favourite of her gowns was the paint-splattered Christopher John Rogers design she wore to the Bardo premiere, which featured a high neck and a train, while she teamed it with plenty of diamonds.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
