<strong>Trend 1. Dopamine dressing:</strong> After a year spent indoors, many stars took their opportunity to make a flamboyant fashion statement -- as seen with singer Billie Eilish's frothy ballgown at the Met Gala.
Trend 1. Dopamine dressing: After a year spent indoors, many stars took their opportunity to make a flamboyant fashion statement -- as seen with singer Billie Eilish's frothy ballgown at the Met Gala.
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Highlighter neons and bold colors -- like Michaela Coel's stunning yellow Christopher John Rogers outfit at the Emmy Awards -- were seen across red carpets. <br />
Highlighter neons and bold colors -- like Michaela Coel's stunning yellow Christopher John Rogers outfit at the Emmy Awards -- were seen across red carpets.
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Other stars opted for joyful sparkle, including Dakota Johnson at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
Other stars opted for joyful sparkle, including Dakota Johnson at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.
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More sparkle: A highlight of this year's Met Gala red carpet was when Lil Nas X cast off a gigantic Louis XIV-style cloak to reveal glitzy outfits underneath -- each one more surprising than the last.
More sparkle: A highlight of this year's Met Gala red carpet was when Lil Nas X cast off a gigantic Louis XIV-style cloak to reveal glitzy outfits underneath -- each one more surprising than the last.
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<strong>Trend 2. Archival fashion:</strong> Stars brought sustainability to the forefront as they flexed their knowledge of fashion history on the red carpet, reviving archival designer pieces such as this 2001 Versace gown worn by Gen Z queen Olivia Rodrigo.
Trend 2. Archival fashion: Stars brought sustainability to the forefront as they flexed their knowledge of fashion history on the red carpet, reviving archival designer pieces such as this 2001 Versace gown worn by Gen Z queen Olivia Rodrigo.
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Other stars breathed new life into existing archival pieces, with designer Roberto Cavalli putting a golden skeletal twist on an existing gown from its 2000 Fall/Winter collection for Zendaya.
Other stars breathed new life into existing archival pieces, with designer Roberto Cavalli putting a golden skeletal twist on an existing gown from its 2000 Fall/Winter collection for Zendaya.
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Some, like Cardi B, used the opportunity to pay homage to certain designers by wearing their vintage designs. The rapper attended a photocall for the Thierry Mugler: Couturissime exhibition dressed in a bold crimson gown from Mugler's 1995 collection.
Some, like Cardi B, used the opportunity to pay homage to certain designers by wearing their vintage designs. The rapper attended a photocall for the Thierry Mugler: Couturissime exhibition dressed in a bold crimson gown from Mugler's 1995 collection.
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<strong>Trend 3. Daring to bare: </strong>Skin was on show at many events this year, with stars like Megan Fox leading the charge. At the MTV VMAs, the star's barely there Thierry Mugler dress (matched with a nude thong) turned heads.
Trend 3. Daring to bare: Skin was on show at many events this year, with stars like Megan Fox leading the charge. At the MTV VMAs, the star's barely there Thierry Mugler dress (matched with a nude thong) turned heads.
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"Naked" dresses were a popular choice for stars on the carpet, as seen when Zoe Kravitz wore Saint Laurent at the Met Gala. Others took a more muted approach with revealing cut outs.
"Naked" dresses were a popular choice for stars on the carpet, as seen when Zoe Kravitz wore Saint Laurent at the Met Gala. Others took a more muted approach with revealing cut outs.
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Still others chose to show some skin via sophisticated, midriff-baring ensembles, like actor Carey Mulligan's at the Oscars.
Still others chose to show some skin via sophisticated, midriff-baring ensembles, like actor Carey Mulligan's at the Oscars.
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<strong>Trend 4. Gender-fluid menswear:</strong> As the topics of gender-fluidity and fashion hit social media platforms like TikTok, many celebs and especially LGBTQ+ stars like Billy Porter helped move the conversation forward. Here, Porter attends the 2021 Fashion Awards in a glittering Richard Quinn gown.
Trend 4. Gender-fluid menswear: As the topics of gender-fluidity and fashion hit social media platforms like TikTok, many celebs and especially LGBTQ+ stars like Billy Porter helped move the conversation forward. Here, Porter attends the 2021 Fashion Awards in a glittering Richard Quinn gown.
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Troye Sivan made a statement on the Met Gala red carpet in a minimalist maxi dress by Altu.
Troye Sivan made a statement on the Met Gala red carpet in a minimalist maxi dress by Altu.
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Nail polish also became a surprising mainstay of many male stars' wardrobes, with a few including Harry Styles and Machine Gun Kelly launching nail polish lines.
Nail polish also became a surprising mainstay of many male stars' wardrobes, with a few including Harry Styles and Machine Gun Kelly launching nail polish lines.
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<strong>5. Fashion as wearable art: </strong>Celebrities and designers pushed the boundaries of what fashion could be this year, creating thought-provoking and sculptural designs. Surrealist designer Schiaparelli lit social media on fire with this black gown worn by Bella Hadid, paired with a gigantic bronze necklace designed to look like a pair of lungs.
5. Fashion as wearable art: Celebrities and designers pushed the boundaries of what fashion could be this year, creating thought-provoking and sculptural designs. Surrealist designer Schiaparelli lit social media on fire with this black gown worn by Bella Hadid, paired with a gigantic bronze necklace designed to look like a pair of lungs.
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Designers also experimented with structure and form: Zendaya's figure-hugging Balmain dress at a Venice "Dune" premiere was designed to look as though it was wet -- although it was crafted from nude leather.
Designers also experimented with structure and form: Zendaya's figure-hugging Balmain dress at a Venice "Dune" premiere was designed to look as though it was wet -- although it was crafted from nude leather.
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The surreal, artistic approach to fashion continued throughout the latter half of the year, as Cardi B donned a golden Schiaparelli mask while hosting the American Music Awards.
The surreal, artistic approach to fashion continued throughout the latter half of the year, as Cardi B donned a golden Schiaparelli mask while hosting the American Music Awards.
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<strong>Trend 6. Celebrity throwbacks: </strong>As stars continued to innovate on the red carpet, others took a moment to pause and reflect on those that had come before them. Kaia Gerber wore Bianca Jagger's 1981 Met Gala gown to the same event this year.
Trend 6. Celebrity throwbacks: As stars continued to innovate on the red carpet, others took a moment to pause and reflect on those that had come before them. Kaia Gerber wore Bianca Jagger's 1981 Met Gala gown to the same event this year.
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Some like actor Gemma Chan also used the opportunity to pay homage to cultural icons. Chan's Prabal Gurung dragon-embellished mini dress at the Met Gala was a nod to Chinese-American film star Anna May Wong.
Some like actor Gemma Chan also used the opportunity to pay homage to cultural icons. Chan's Prabal Gurung dragon-embellished mini dress at the Met Gala was a nod to Chinese-American film star Anna May Wong.
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Playwright Jeremy O. Harris' custom Tommy Hilfiger look at the Met Gala was an homage to Aaliyah.
Playwright Jeremy O. Harris' custom Tommy Hilfiger look at the Met Gala was an homage to Aaliyah.
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<strong>Trend 7. Y2K: </strong>The 2000s nostalgia stayed strong this year, with stars such as Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo and the Hadid sisters leading the charge. Lipa revived an old noughties motif with this sparkling butterfly dress at the Grammy Awards, which itself appeared to be a quiet nod to Mariah Carey's famed Emanuel Ungaro butterfly top from 2000.
Trend 7. Y2K: The 2000s nostalgia stayed strong this year, with stars such as Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo and the Hadid sisters leading the charge. Lipa revived an old noughties motif with this sparkling butterfly dress at the Grammy Awards, which itself appeared to be a quiet nod to Mariah Carey's famed Emanuel Ungaro butterfly top from 2000.
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The over-the-top denim looks of the 2000s lived on through pieces like Lupita Nyong'o's Versace Met Gala gown, which was more high fashion than Britney Spears' and Justin Timberlake's infamous double-denim red carpet moment from the 2002 American Music Awards.
The over-the-top denim looks of the 2000s lived on through pieces like Lupita Nyong'o's Versace Met Gala gown, which was more high fashion than Britney Spears' and Justin Timberlake's infamous double-denim red carpet moment from the 2002 American Music Awards.
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Avril Lavigne channeled punk trends of the Y2K era in a pink plaid suit by Area at the 2021 MTV VMAs.
Avril Lavigne channeled punk trends of the Y2K era in a pink plaid suit by Area at the 2021 MTV VMAs.
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