Hollywood’s Best (and Worst) Style Choices of 2025

As the fashion world finally filled its designer vacancies, showing some auspicious debut collections, so did the red carpet start to shine again this fall. House ambassadors like Ayo Edebiri, resplendent in Chanel by Matthieu Blazy, and Greta Lee, powerful in Dior by Jonathan Anderson, showcased what the modern muse will look like in the future.

Not that the beginning of 2025 was a total loss. Nicole Kidman dazzled in Balenciaga at the Globes, Ariana Grande’s Schiaparelli gown was a lesson in exceptional craftsmanship at the Oscars, and Charli XCX swept into the Grammys in Jean Paul Gaultier. At last at the Met Gala, it seemed folks understood the assignment, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” with sartorial aficionados like Tracee Ellis Ross in Marc Jacobs and Doechii in Louis Vuitton as standouts, and newcomers to the scene like Severance‘s Tramell Tillman in Thom Browne launching a stellar year of style.

From maximalism to minimalism, who would have thought that a simple Bottega Veneta ivory shirt and pants could ignite a frenzy? But that’s exactly what Jacob Elordi did when he sailed in to the Venice Film Festival, not to mention that at 6-foot-5, Elordi is perhaps the perfect coat hanger. With similar aplomb, Pedro Pascal muscled his way into all our hearts at the Cannes Film Festival wearing a Calvin Klein black cutoff tee and pants … less is most certainly more for these gents. Meanwhile, Alexander Skarsgard has been pushing the envelope in all the coolest ways — tongue presumably in cheek — and we have loved his experimentation, from being the first to wear the ubiquitous Saint Laurent thigh-high boots on the carpet to baring it in a Ludovic de Saint Sernin halter neck shirt. (Their peer Timothée Chalamet could take note here, as he veered messily from a lemon tux to a neon orange tracksuit like a cheap fruit salad … while I’m sure he’s having a great time, we all miss the chic Haider Ackermann collabs of Timmy past.) On the TV front, everyone’s White Lotus obsession, Walton Goggins, here in Dunhill, may have played our favorite failure Rick, but he scored the most lauded success in the style stakes.

Jenna Ortega and stylist Enrique Melendez won match-made-in-heaven duo of the year — it’s hard to choose one single look as the best from all the hits they served up in 2025, but this Givenchy look rocked. Plus, an unexpected runner-up on the style-setter list was Pamela Anderson in Ferragamo — ably aided by stylist Bailey Moon — with her newly cut bob and retro-inspired wardrobe, on tour to promote The Naked Gunshe made us all long for romance this summer.

And who says funny can’t play it straight? Comediennes Desi Lydic and Kathryn Hahn both made a serious play for best dressed at the Emmys this year, in Yara Shoemaker and Valentino, respectively. Meanwhile, Sydney Sweeney sadly got no laughs whatsoever by turning up in a totally sheer dress at a women’s empowerment event. Naked dressing can be so tiring… and missing the point is never on trend.

Campaigns were hitting top speed, and talent was out on full display by the fall. Business casual? Forget it. It’s an actual catwalk at every turn. Jeremy Strong was a stinger in custom Loro Piana at the Academy Gala — love or hate his fashion statements, at least he always makes one. Jennifer Lawrence went full goddess in Dior at the Governors Awards as only a true movie star can. Followed by the ever-edgy Renate Reinsve at the Elle Women in Hollywood event, draped in a knockout fluid blush Louis Vuitton number.

The star-crossed lovers of the year were Rihanna and A$AP Rocky (now formally a Chanel ambassador), who, with their adorable kids, rocked every look in tandem. They closed out the year at the Gotham Awards in December (her in Pierpaolo Piccioli’s delightful Balenciaga) looking like a throwback to the era of the Hollywood greats. Where we all long to be.

This story appeared in the Dec. 17 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.