Best Dressed 2008

 
Victoria Beckham

THE SHOWSTOPPER – VICTORIA BECKHAM

Since moving Stateside, the former Spice Girl hasn’t missed a chance to strut her stuff. Having admitted to some major fashion faux pas in the past, Posh made ’08 her year of sartorial triumph with a Marc Jacobs campaign, a new and utterly gamine hair cut and a seriously sophisticated debut dress collection. After all, when life is a constant photo op, a girl must always dress the part.

 
Katie Holmes

THE LEADING LADY – KATIE HOLMES

Mrs. Cruise continued her reign as a style star this year with a covetable new haircut, on-trend boyfriend jeans, designing her own fashion line em>and becoming Miuccia Prada’s latest muse by shooting the Miu Miu spring campaign. All that and a Broadway debut: now that’s one leading lady.

 
Rihanna

THE RULEBREAKER – RIHANNA

The Barbados beauty never misses a beat, whether she’s going avant-edge for day in latex leggings or glam on the red carpet at night in a Zac Posen gown. With her short hair and a high-low fashion mix, Rihanna is the perfect blend of sweet and street.

 
Anne Hathaway

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR – ANNE HATHAWAY

Favouring ladylike pieces with feminine touches like bows, ruffles and fleurettes, the 25-year-old brunette always looks pretty and polished. Sticking to a strict palette of white, black and especially red (all the better to enhance her creamy complexion), Hathaway has shown us that less is definitely more.

 
Reese Witherspoon

THE SOPHISTICATE – REESE WITHERSPOON

From her sexy post-divorce ‘do to her enviable collection of Nina Ricci frocks (courtesy of her friendship with A-list designer Olivier Theyskens), Reese Witherspoon has the refined look locked. The hot mama always sizzles on the red carpet with effortless elegance.

 
Gwyneth Paltrow

THE GLAMOUR GIRL – GWYNETH PALTROW

Gwynnie is back and better than ever. After stepping out of the spotlight for motherhood, Paltrow returned to the red carpet with a penchant for shorter hemlines and traded in her signature long blonde locks for a tousled bob. The yummy mummy even managed to score this Chanel dress just hours after it made its debut on the catwalk!

 
Ashley Olsen

THE TRENDSETTER – ASHLEY OLSEN

Unlike the stylist-enabled starlets in Tinseltown, this diminutive designer is no dress-me-up Barbie when it comes to style. Ashley’s willingness to take risks and rock whatever strikes her fancy – be it a boho frock or a girl-meets-boy blazer – is precisely why she’s beloved by fashion editors everywhere.

 
Sarah Jessica Parker

THE SCENE STEALER – SARAH JESSICA PARKER

Sure Carrie Bradshaw was a cutting-edge cutie, but she doesn’t hold a candle to the real-life woman behind the character. With her unabashedly feminine taste–think lace, florals, circle skirts and dresses to die for–and offset by modern styling, SJP is clearly incapable of a red carpet misstep.

 
Jessica Biel

THE NEWCOMER – JESSICA BIEL

JTs lady-friend may have entered the fashion scene late in the game but she arrived in ’08 with serious style. The movie star has transformed from a jeans ‘n tee tomboy to red carpet siren rocking Oscar de la Renta and Valentino gowns with the best of ‘em. Jessica radiates a low-key cool and while her enviable assets are a definite plus, she also knows what flatters her athletic figure.

 
Keira Knightley

THE CLASSIC – KEIRA KNIGHTLEY

While some starlets gravitate towards the typical LBD, this Brit beauty has developed a knack for picking the perfect frock for the perfect occasion. Whether she’s working a fanciful Alexander McQueen number to the Toronto Film Festival or supporting fledgling designers like Canada’s Erdem (pictured) and Alexis Mabille, Keira always manages to make the look her own. This former FLARE cover girl is a young woman with a clear and personal perspective on chic.

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