Stunt dressing, simplicity, and perfect practicality stood out this year among those aspiring to be on best-dressed lists. Here are the women and men who continue to shake up the cocktail dress code.
Margot Robbie: Best underdressed
Margot Robbie in Armani Prive at the London premiere of “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ in September,Credit: WireImage
New mother Margot Robbie was a red carpet rarity in 2025, focusing on filming the upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation with Jacob Elordi. In September, we received a short and sharp burst of glamour from the Australian who redefined movie promotion with her outfits on the Barbie premiere circuit in 2023.
While few people remember the name of the movie she was spruiking in London (A Big Bold Beautiful Journey), the image of Robbie in a nude illusion gown from the Armani Privé spring 2025 collection, embellished with floral and paisley motifs in crystals and gems, is now etched in fashion history.
The outfit choice managed to be risque and respectful, paying tribute to Giorgio Armani days after the Italian designer’s death at the age of 91.
Runner up: Teyana Taylor
Princess Anne: Queen of the re-wear
Princess Anne’s best dressed moments of 2025: at the Gallipoli Barracks on Remembrance Day on November 11 in Brisbane; with her trusted Oakley sunglasses at the Cirencester Park Horse Trials in April; with the Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara for the German State Banquet in December; in Singapore in November wearing a safari suit that she first wore in public in 1973.Credit: Getty Images
With Catherine, Princess of Wales, on reduced duties while recovering from cancer, other members of the royal family stepped into the style spotlight. Princess Eugenie, Queen Camilla and even Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, had their moments but the consistency of Anne, Princess Royal, has finally paid off. Like her late mother Queen Elizabeth, Anne is less interested in labels and more into the job at hand. Whether it’s a sun smart Akubra on a whistle-stop tour of Brisbane, Oakley sunglasses at the Cirencester Park Horse Trials or borrowing the Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara from the V&A museum for a state dinner, Anne puts practicality ahead of polish. Even if you wanted the safari suit she sported in Singapore in November, you can’t, as the vintage piece has been in the princess’s wardrobe since 1973. When it comes to individuality and sustainability, Anne rules.
Runner-up: King Charles
A$AP Rocky: Knockout looks
A$AP Rocky’s street style: wearing Celine in New York in August; celebrating his new role as a brand ambassador for Chanel in the label in Miami on December 4; in New York wearing a Chanel shirt and carrying a Louis Vuitton bag in September.Credit: Getty Images
Princes William and Harry can take hope that it’s possible to step out of the shadows of more stylish spouses and establish a sartorial signature with flourish. A$AP Rocky, the rapper and record producer, is the partner of the Met Gala monarch Rihanna, but in 2025, he established his own regal look. Stepping away from hip hop’s streetwear associations, Rocky embraced baggy blazers from Celine, a Harlem-inspired suit at the Met Gala, and Chanel knitwear, celebrating his appointment as a brand ambassador this month, making him a certified fashion hit.
Runner-up: Alexander Skarsgård
Kai Schreiber: Good heir
Kai Schreiber’s off-runway looks: with mother Naomi Watts at the Balenciaga haute couture show at Paris Fashion week in June, in New York; wearing Valentino in New York in March; with Watts at the ‘Mother Daughter Holy Spirit Trans Rights Fundraiser’ in New York in May. Credit: Getty Images
There’s a bumper crop of celebrities’ children on international runways, but this year All’s Fair actor Naomi Watts and her ex-husband Liev Schreiber can be especially proud.
On the runway for Calvin Klein, Max Mara and Tod’s, and appearing in Coach’ campaign, their daughter Kai Schreiber, 17, held her own against Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s daughter Sunday Rose, who debuted for Dior, and Cindy Crawford’s supermodel daughter Kaia Gerber.
The transgender model, who has acknowledged model Alex Consani and actors Hunter Schafer and Hari Nef as influences, is developing an endearingly eclectic model-off-duty look that is a stark contrast to her mother’s sleek appearance. Ruffles, frills and fringe are this teenager’s dream.
Runner-up: Romy Mars
Joe Alwyn: Ex-factor
Actor Joe Alwyn: at the Governor’s Awards in New York in November wearing a Dior suit and Tiffany & Co. brooch; in Dior at the menswear shows in Paris in June; wearing JW Anderson in New York in May; wearing Emporio Armani at a BAFTA dinner in December. Credit: Getty Images
Taylor Swift’s footballer fiancée Travis Kelce may finally have scored a US GQ cover in August, but it’s her ex-boyfriend actor Joe Alwyn who is scoring with his stripped-back style. Whether flexing in a Dior evening suit and white shirt, or a rugby top and jeans, Alwyn looks incredibly at ease in clothes. The Hamnet and The Brutalist actor gravitates towards serious film projects but lightens up with his wardrobe, experimenting with bold colours and sumptuous textures to add maturity to boyish silhouettes. Having given Swift plenty of material for her songs, we shouldn’t be surprised that Alwyn knows his fabrics.
Runner-up: Harry Styles
Jacob Elordi: Fashion euphoria
Jacob Elordi at the Venice Film Festival in August wearing Bottega Veneta; at the LA premiere of ‘Frankenstein’ wearing a Bottega Veneta suit; arriving in Venice in August wearing a white T-shirt, Jacques Marie Mage’s Casablanca sunglasses, “Saint Natalie Wood” cap from James Franco’s streetwear label, Paly Hollywood, Bang & Olufsen headphones, Bottega Veneta bag and Prada shoes.Credit: Getty Images
A long-term relationship with luxury label Bottega Veneta and a 1.97m athletic frame gives Jacob Elordi an unfair advantage over mere mortals who live closer to the ground and a Country Road outlet store. It’s the rising star’s commitment to tonal dressing, or colour drenching, wearing Cloud Dancer whites and rich chocolates top-to-toe, that’s worth interpretation at home. Elordi is always ready to step up to an intimidating dress code, preferring polished shoes to sneakers, unlike media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. But like Murdoch, Elordi wears stealth wealth sunglasses from Jacques Marie Mage that would even dent a Hollywood salary.
Runner-up: Josh Heuston
**Sarah-Ellen: Positive influence
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Model singer Sarah Ellen at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney in May wearing a Ganni trench coat; on Oaks Day at Flemington Racecourse in November wearing Effie Kats; at the AACTA awards on the Gold Coast in February wearing Rabanne.Credit: Getty Images, Justin McManus
Australian social media staple Sarah Ellen puts years of modelling experience to good use as a VIP at Australian Fashion Week, the Melbourne Cup Carnival and the AACTA Awards. Unlike many of her influencer peers, the former Neighbours actor-turned-singer (with the band Pamela) looks relaxed in her red carpet wardrobe, rather than like runway roadkill. Ellen allows strong silhouettes, such as an oversized Ganni trench coat, or an updated Audrey Hepburn-esque pink dress by Melbourne designer Effie Kats, to do the heavy lifting. Statement accessories are kept to a minimum, and a no-fuss approach to hair makes her an influencer worth following.
Runner-up: Emma Kate Boyd
Patty Mills: He shoots, he scores
Patty Mills makes an entrance in Romeo Hunte in Phoenix, Arizona with Utah Jazz on January 11; in oversized leather in Los Angeles with the LA Clippers on May 1; wearing an Amiri x Wes Lang furry coat and Dita sunglasses at Madison Square Garden, New York with Utah Jazz on January 1.Credit: Getty Images
Indigenous Australian NBA player and five-time Olympian Patty Mills continues a winning streak as one of the most stylish men in sport. AFL and NRL players take note: Mills consistently demonstrates that there’s more to looking good than a mullet and a suit. Oversized leather shorts, furry coats slathered with graffiti art and graphic T-shirts are the type of elevated choices you expect from a player who has collaborated with denim brand Ksubi, sportswear label LKSD and the San Antonio Spurs on sold-out collections. Mills’ next move as a basketballer may be up in the air, but his style will always be sky-high.
Runner-up: Ben Simmons
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