Can you believe September is here? Boots and coats are in stores, fashion week schedules are being typed up (slash freaked out over) and we've got that back-to-school feeling despite the fact that the leaves definitely haven't yet turned and, well, we haven't been in school for a long time. So we're in a reflective mood today, and our thoughts have turned to which of our most featured girls has really made the summer swell with their impressive sartorial know-how.
We've had strange and spontaneous heatwave days, torrential rain, holidays, Haute Couture Week, film festivals, worldwide tours… in short, plenty of opportunities for our favourite ladies to flex their fashion muscles. They've inspired us to try new trends just as much as they've encouraged us to delve into our wardrobes for something old.
So we've waded through the many pieces we've penned in honour of their style greatness over the past few months to bring you the edited version of who's who and what's what. Keep reading to see which women scoop up our accolades for summer's best dressed celebrities of 2016—and why.
'Twas a hot hot week in New York City, and it's coolest British resident, Alexa Chung, didn't muck around when it came to looking chic in soaring temperatures. These simple-but-effective sundresses and denim short ensembles are the kind we don't get to see on the Chungster in Blightly (because the weather won't allow it), but, boy, were we pleased there were paps downtown.
Style Notes: With her Alexa Chung for AG Kety Skirt (£155/£93) nodding to the '60s, it's no wonder the icon paired it up with a vintage-style tee from The Deep End Club—a brand that she has continued to highlight throughout the summer.
Style Notes: Who needs more than an LBD and red lipstick when it looks this good? Alexa offsets the sass with some customised Superga sneakers and celebrity-ready shades from Gucci.
Style Notes: Supporting her pal Harley Viera Newton on the launch of her super-cute dress range, this HVN Morgan Gingham Short-Sleeved Dress (£555) put the vintage cut back on the map.
Style Notes: Proving that vintage Levi cut-offs can be worn a million-and-one ways, Alexa's boho blouse–and-trainers combination isn't one we'd automatically think of, but it works. And she has a bodysuit layered under this for when things really reached boiling point. Plus, she was so onto the basket bag trend before anyone else.
Victoria Beckham tends to fly under the radar, until she doesn't. And when she's out in public—most commonly when staying in NYC—we are happily subjected to a stream of excellent outfits. This summer VB surprised us all with vibrant shocks of colour (canary yellow, who knew?) but all of her looks shared one thing in common: We could totally steal them for work. Office-appropriate but never standard, she was the ultimate in sophistication. Bravo.
Style Notes: In a Victoria Beckham yellow satin coat and matching dress, the designer made a decisive move away from her signature black—and we, her adoring audience, lapped it up.
Style Notes: Following her turn on the Cannes red carpet, VB took up the airport dressing baton and hit the other kind of runway in wide-leg trousers, shirting, black-out shades and her all-important Victoria Beckham Half Moon Leather Shoulder Bag (£1590). Again, this is a totally transferable ensemble for your next big boardroom session.
Style Notes: Not only did this make us entirely rethink the waistcoat as a stand-alone piece, but it also highlighted Victoria Beckham's Flat Top Visor Sunglasses (£295), which keep selling out. You can (should) pre-order them again now.
Style Notes: Another hotel exit, another shade of yellow, another waistcoat, another pair of those infamous shades and the smaller version of the half moon bag. Victoria is nothing if not an exemplary brand ambassador, but we also like the artful half-open trench tying technique—it leaves her other layers visible. Clever.
It doesn't take a pop culture expert to see that Rihanna has had a storming year. Not only have her globetrotting Anti album tour and various high-profile awards appearances been highly commended but her business-minded fashion forays have also been wildly successful. From the continued craziness over her Puma fur slides (the full ready-to-wear Fenty collection is arriving imminently) to a ridiculously cool Manolo Blahnik collaboration and designing futuristic sunglasses for Dior, she's had a firm grip on what's hot. Add in a conveyor belt of directional outfit choices catered for by the moment's most hyped designer—Demna Gvasalia of Vetements and now Balenciaga—and you will agree that RiRi has been boldly going where no others dare.
Style Notes: Just when you thought you knew everything you needed to know about double denim, along comes this combination—not to mention the Balenciaga Metallic Patent Leather Knee-High Boots (£715) that are selling out all over the place in both this style and the ankle-boot cut.
Style Notes: We never imagined that denim diamanté-dotted over-the-knee chaps would be a must-have accessory, but such is the power of Rihanna. Also, the Princess Diana tee is quite a talking point…
Style Notes: Post-VMAs Rihanna partied the night away in The Dolls House Lana Fringed Jumpsuit (£340), which looked far more expensive than it's price-tag and was surely perfect for grinding to "work, work, work, work, work."
Yes, we have endless love for Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid (you know this), but it's really been Bella's year. The fashion world have wholeheartedly adopted her as a seriously high calibre model (Calvin Klein ads, Givenchy runway shows, Vogue Paris covers, the list goes on). All of this success is far away from any allegations of nepotism or being a social media sorceress, and she has carved out her own gothic-tinged street style niche. Bella Hadid, along with her awesome stylist Elizabeth Sulcer, has overhauled the idea of athleisure and moved it into darker territory, kick-started the off-duty-model combination of the summer and no doubt played a big part in ankle boots become de riguer once more.
Style Notes: Wearing the Are You Am I bodysuit that everyone's been after, this simple two-step formula has provided numerous days of outfit inspiration for us.
Style Notes: She can do pretty too, you know. This divine pailette-covered Givenchy creation looked sharp with a matching choker and sleek 'do.
Style Notes: Stompy ankle boots? Check. Coloured-lens shades? Check. Slightly risqué dress? Check, check, check. This is a classic Bella Hadid combination if ever we saw one.
Style Notes: With her feline features and armoury of ankle boots, Bella can make even the cutest LBD look rather ferocious.
Oh, Olivia, how you have spoiled us. Not only did the star put in more than a handful of glamorous turns during Couture Fashion Week, but she upped the ante on her beach holiday and hit the streets of NYC in some seriously wise investments from Zara. She's the girl we're most likely to copy because her style is approachable without being boring and she shops where we like to shop (when she's not dripping in bespoke designer pieces, naturally).
Style Notes: A pitch-perfect white T-shirt get-up we can all get on board with. OP's bangle stack, strappy sandals and statement sunglasses give a simple pairing some extra fashion kudos.
Style Notes: Proving you can wear lace in its most see-through form and still look classy, OP's Elie Saab dress looked incredibly elegant with Jimmy Choo flats.
Style Notes: Another week, another brilliant Self-Portrait dress cherry-picked by Miss Palermo. It's one of her go-to brands, and we an see why. Impactful but not bank-breaking. Ideal.
Style Notes: Solace London's Singer Pleated Printed Crepe Dress (£320) was yet another standout-but-still-worth-saving-up-for choice from Olivia's Couture Fashion Week wardrobe—a perfect number for any last-minute wedding guest dress needs you may have.
Scroll down to cast your vote—who was YOUR best dressed girl on this list?
