2018’s Best Dressed: Models
They all look good on the runway, but which of fashion’s famous faces (and bodies) dress the best off it? Here are 2018’s top models…
Giedre Dukauskaite
Runway to reality: We’re almost more interested in what 30-year-old Lithuanian Dukauskaite wears off the catwalk than on it. This year, our former cover star got us hooked on headscarves, knee-high boots with a pleated skirt and a blazer, and made some of us chop most of our hair off. Her style icons? “Carrie Bradshaw, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and Princess Diana. And there should be a man in the mix because I wear a lot of men’s clothing, too; maybe James Bond, or anyone in a great suit!”
Look of love: This shape of this pant suit is so retro, but also so completely modern – we’re taking the lesson about mixing your accessories (’40s bag, ’90s shades) eras to heart.
Gigi Hadid
Runway to reality: This Hadid sister does off-duty with a sporty spin in cool-girl brands like Isabel Marant and Monse. But by night she turns into a glamazon, favoring body-confident dresses by Versace, Brandon Maxwell and more.
Look of love: It’s a gold star for the Atelier Versace minidress she wore to celebrate her 23rd birthday.
Adwoa Aboah
Runway to reality: The 26-year-old British model’s wardrobe is a refreshing jolt of color and spirit on the fashion scene. Mixing exciting new labels such as Emory Bee and Molly Goddard with an individual take on heritage brands like Burberry, her style is an exquisite means of expression.
Look of love: Floral Richard Quinn at the AMFAR gala in Milan was our Aboah highlight.
Bella Hadid
Runway to reality: The ’90s appear to have inspired the younger Hadid in a big way this year, as she led the charge in bringing back super-small shades, midriff-baring tops and figure-hugging slip dresses.
Look of love: Street-style Bella is always inspiring, but the sheer red Dior dress in Cannes was epic.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Runway to reality: Even up close, there is something about Devon-born Huntington-Whiteley that doesn’t quite feel like reality. Her about-town looks always have an element of polish, even when she’s ‘dressed down’ in jeans and a knit, but it’s after dark that she really shines – not since the ’90s Supers have we seen such knockout glamour.
Look of love: When the supermodel wore cut-out Versace (second from right) to the GQ Awards in London, it was all our ’90s fashion-reboot dreams realized.
Liya Kebede
Runway to reality: Ethiopian model Kebede may design laid-back beachwear with her label LemLem, but her city style is sharp and super-chic. When she does red carpet, it is always with a smartly sexy twist; when she’s snapped on the streets, expect a high-low mix of miniskirts or tailored pants with plain tees or a bomber jacket.
Look of love: It’s got to be the white hooded sweatshirt under a belted, oversized blazer, complete with fringed boots. To us, this proves that, done right, trends can be ageless.
Lily Aldridge
Runway to reality: March’s PorterEdit cover star began working with stylist Leslie Fremar earlier this year, walking out in an impressive array of Givenchy, Isabel Marant and Saint Laurent. Since announcing her second pregnancy in August, she has continued to set the bar high – even walking the Brandon Maxwell SS19 runway in figure-hugging red.
Look of love: The Nashville resident wore a floor-length black gown and cape to Ralph Lauren’s 50th anniversary celebrations and looked so incredible, we almost couldn’t believe she was hiding a bump under there.
Hailey Bieber
Runway to reality: The newlywed Mrs Bieber’s climb to the top of the street-style tree has been steady and very successful this year. Rather than merely stylish, she embraces trends and mixes casual-cool brands with more experimental labels to create looks that demonstrate the best of fashion’s current street-meets-chic obsession. Her stylist, Maeve Reilly, says the model is all about comfort. “She’ll say, ‘Okay, but let me do it with a sneaker,’” laughs Reilly, “and I’m like, ‘Can you put on a heel, please?!’”
Look of love: Almost too much to choose from, but the monochrome leather pants and hoodie look edged out the competition with those super-sharp shoulders.
Imaan Hammam
Runway to reality: OK, so it could just be that Hammam could wear a bin bag and still look incredible, but we just lap up her off-duty outfits, especially between shows during fashion month. Denim dungarees, long-length bomber jackets and knee-high boots, khaki pants and a checked blazer… We love it all. And when it comes to the hair? The bigger the better, please.
Look of love: Not many people can floor us in basic khaki pants with a white turtleneck and boots, but it’s the very fact that the pieces themselves are nothing groundbreaking that makes this our favorite. Oh, and her dedication to gold hoops? Impressive.
Dilone
Runway to reality: Long-limbed Dilone’s style is as energetic as she is – we love her sports-influenced off-duty outfits, and the simple yet stunning slip dresses and super-short tuxedo dresses she favors by night.
Look of love: This surfer-style shirt (second from right), loose pants and huge, infectious smile make us so happy. And look, when she loves an accessory, she really loves it.
Kate Moss
Runway to reality: There is no one quite like Ms. Moss, and the supermodel-turned-designer-turned-fashion-editor-turned-modeling-mogul continued to blaze a trail in 2018, championing a more languid approach to life in everything from silk pajama suits to a velvet jumpsuit.
Look of love: In feathered Saint Laurent and Jimmy Choo at the Met Gala, Moss proved she still has the best legs in the business.
Kaia Gerber
Runway to reality: The 17-year-old took away the Model of the Year prize at the 2018 Fashion Awards, and though her accolade recognized her efforts in front of the camera, we want to acknowledge her street-style success. From pinstripe suits with sweatshirts to Alexander Wang separates, Re/Done jeans and logo prints, and the odd high-octane dress thrown in, Gerber is definitely making her mark.
Look of love: Maybe it’s because we like to see a young woman dressing in what makes her feel at ease, or maybe it’s because we love the link to ’90s fashion and Cindy Crawford, but Gerber’s cropped Balenciaga tee with high-waisted black pants and super-sweet half bun hit the spot.
Natalia Vodianova
Runway to reality: The Russian supermodel is a designer’s dream, morphing from sophisticate to cool girl to full-blown fashion experimentalist as the occasion demands.
Look of love: The shapes are simple – a fitted turtleneck mini dress and point-toe court shoes – but in leopard print and scarlet, it’s a showstopper (second from left). Also, this body has carried five children. Five.
Soo Joo Park
Runway to reality: Korean-American Soo Joo Park is our go-to girl when it comes to bold, fashion-forward dressing. Life is her runway (as well as the actual runways, obviously).
Look of love: Neon Prada plus a bucket hat – slam dunk.
Liu Wen
Runway to reality: Chinese supermodel Liu Wen epitomizes elegance with a modern twist. We love to see her in color, but she adds interest to all-black, too: the embellished skirt and belted silk jacket, both by Jason Wu, that she wore to the premiere of Ocean’s 8 is a stylish case in point.
Look of love: We’ll take the yellow velvet on the Cannes red carpet with just a hint of black lingerie, please.
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