Our Hall of Fame Best-Dressed Committee Honorees since 2004:
TOP ROW: Tory Burch, Marina Rust Connor, Francisco Costa, Diane von Furstenberg BOTTOM ROW: Carolina Herrera, Michael Kors, Derek Lam, Oscar de la Renta and Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer
Many people have appeared year after year on our list, while some transient fashionables move on. This year, a Gossip Girl made the list, Sienna and Jude are back and two Avatars swooped in. These stylish New Yorkers keep the season’s trends—effortless casual, American classic (Ralph is the most popular designer, after all), hems hiking up to the flirty mid-thighs, bright bold color, gray holding fast—moving forward. Their common thread: “Fashion fades, style is eternal,” said the late great Yves Saint Laurent. Herewith, some great fashion moments of the year.
FROM LEFT: Anne Hathaway in Valentino at the Met Ball; Zoe Saldana in Calvin Klein at the Met Ball; Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad at the Met Ball BELOW, RIGHT: Jessica Alba in Sophie Theallet for Gap at the Met Ball
“The only real elegance is in the mind; if you’ve got that, the rest really comes from it.” —Diana Vreeland
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan Ravishing royal; this direct descendent of the prophet Muhammad and daughter of Rita Hayworth brings an exotic sensibility to New York society.
Jessica Alba Actress; her beauty, smarts and altruism add to her ultimate elegance.
Hope Atherton Artist; this Downtown girl-about-town perfectly combines punky and proper.
Victoria Beckham Mother/Designer, VB; the New York transient puts spice and style in every fashion moment.
Camilla Belle Actress; this classic beauty is known for her fashion sense above all else.
Byrdie Bell Actress/Model; new on the scene, this young lovely hits all the right notes.
Magnus Berger Editor/Founder, The Last Magazine; he’s a fiercely stylish Scandinavian New Yorker with good looks and simple attire.
Jessica Biel Actress; she’s got smart, understated sex appeal in every look.
Deeda Blair Philanthropist; could she be the best-dressed woman in America?
Beth Blake Cofounder, Thread Social; this long-legged beauty combines Grosse Pointe preppiness with New York sophistication.
Michael Bloomberg Mayor, New York City; DvF says he’s “distinguished” and the best-dressed man at City Hall.
Serena Boardman Senior vice president, Sotheby’s International Realty; the numberone broker in the country is poised in a uniform of shifts from Kors, Blake, Oscar, and Carolina, and suits from Chanel.
“Style and chic are when allure, smarts, and just plain old goodlooking come together nicely.”—Derek Lam
FROM LEFT: Jessica Biel in Diane von Furstenberg at the CFDA awards; Hamish Bowles; Meredith Melling Burke in Etro; Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter
Hamish Bowles European editor-atlarge, Vogue; spruce and stylish, he’s helped make the mustache a popular male accessory again.
Meredith Melling Burke Senior market editor, Vogue; her lithe frame is a perfect fit for the designers she covers.
Robert Burke Founder, president and CEO, Robert Burke Associates; he’s “always immaculately dressed,” says Michael Kors.
Muriel Brandolini Interior designer; from curtains to caftans, she creates luxe and dulcet designs.
Amanda and Christopher Brooks Author/Consultant and Artist; she’s got “ultimate New York style,” says Derek Lam, while his attitude conveys cool.
Christy Turlington Burns Model/Mother/ Entrepreneur; she’s effortlessly pictureperfect in every way.
Anna Carter Wife of Graydon; she’s the fairest of the Vanity set, with a Jackie O aesthetic.
Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter Musician/Entrepreneur; this cool cat loves his concrete jungle, his wife Beyoncé and his Wayfarers.
Georgina Chapman Cofounder, Marchesa; she blows us away with her substantive style and beauty.
Alexa Chung Model/TV Personality; as the new face of Lacoste fragrance, Chung has honed a quirky and distinctive style.
Hayden Christensen Actor; he’s handsome and shimmery in his Richard Chai suit.
Alba and Francesco Clemente Muse and Artist; she possesses a natural flair for color, and his loving eye transfers it to a canvas… complete Eurochic.
FROM LEFT: Hayden Christensen in Richard Chai at the CFDA awards; Alexa Chung in Marc Jacobs at the CFDA awards; Philip Crangi at the CFDA awards; Tina Fey in Yves Saint Laurent at the Met Ball; Charlotte Gainsbourg in Balenciaga at the Met Ball
“In a Balenciaga you were the only woman in the room—no other woman existed.”—Diana Vreeland
Jennifer Connelly Actress; she puts her own spin on fashion, with daring choices in Balenciaga and Dries van Noten.
Anderson Cooper Host, CNN’s 360; he maintains his sleek, understated look in the face of fire or flood.
Philip Crangi Jewelry designer; this nontraditional craftsman draws inspiration from history and describes his aesthetic as “one of contrast in material, color and mood.”
Cecilia Dean Editor/Cofounder, Visionaire; this Downtown fashionista pulls off looks no one else can.
Agyness Deyn Model; the model-as-muse has beautifully tamed her punk-rock style.
James de Givenchy Jewelry designer; he always looks the gentleman.
Annette de la Renta Style icon; we’d give our right arm for her wardrobe.
Barry Diller Mogul; he’s always armed with his strongest partner—his style-arbiter wife, DvF.
Lauren Santo Domingo Stylist/Contributing editor, Vogue; she sets the bar for the young and fabulous.
Robin Chandler Duke Philanthropist; she’s the most elegant of grande dames.
