From Kate Middleton’s triumphant return in My Fair Lady glamour to J-Lo’s revealing revenge dress…. The Wow! dresses that defined 2024

The biggest fashion moments of 2024 started with Beyoncé dressed as a couture cowgirl and ended with Kate Moss modeling her collection for Zara, with some magical moments in between.

Here, SHANE WATSON picks her standout looks of the year…

J-Lo’s ultimate revenge dress

Unstoppable premiere, Toronto, September

Revenge dresses were everywhere this year, but the top prize goes to Jennifer Lopez, 55, at her first red carpet event after filing for divorce from Ben Affleck.

Never shy about showing some skin, on this occasion – the premiere of her film Unstoppable, produced by Affleck – J-Lo went all out in a silver Tamara Ralph dress consisting of two long sequin panels held together by a pair well-spaced black velvet bows.

The message was, ‘I still have it and here it is,’ and we all adopted it.

Far from dowdy widow

Wedding of the Duke of Westminster, June

The wedding was the club party of the year, but the guests dressed disappointingly modestly.

The person who accidentally stole the show was the groom’s mother.

The Dowager Duchess, 65, wore a fuchsia coat over a matching dress, with Manolo Blahnik heels and nails in contrasting red and a fireworks explosion of headpiece with pink, red and white feathers.

History doesn’t tell where it came from, but mothers of the groom everywhere would love to know.

The Prime Minister’s wife steals the show

London Fashion Week, September

Before the election we were only vaguely aware of Victoria Starmer’s style and then, shazam, there she was on the world stage, wearing British designers Edeline Lee and Me+Em and, quite frankly, looking like the poster woman of a prime minister.

In September, she wore (one of our favorites) a long, funnel-neck, polka-dot dress by Edeline Lee to London Fashion Week.

We were in the middle of ‘Wardrobegate’.

This was the row over undeclared donations from Lord Waheed Alli intended for Lady Starmer’s new No10 wardrobe and Sir Keir’s glasses.

Maybe that’s why we haven’t seen much of the Prime Minister’s wife in recent months. I miss those showstoppers.

Daisy’s glow

Twisters premiere, London, July

Fashion watchers went crazy about this. It’s a va-vavoom dress and it’s brown.

Brown! Yes, the color of the season, but it was still a revelation to see how well it worked on the red carpet instead of the usual sequins or scarlet.

Moreover, the dress had the vintage cachet of Vivienne Westwood.

This was also a ‘Who’s That Girl’ moment for 26-year-old Daisy Edgar-Jones; a step up from the Normal People actress’ usual understated style.

Everyone noticed.

Taylor’s regalia

Wembley Stadium, August

The record-breaking Eras tour may also have broken records for the number of outfits Taylor Swift, 34, wore on stage.

She wore more than 60, but most memorable were her signature beaded bodysuits, particularly the Zuhair Murad design she presented this summer during the Wembley performance in London.

Of her many bodysuits with corsets, the midnight blue creation – decorated with moons and stars and 10,500 beads – was the most magical.

Bodysuits don’t get more brilliant than this.

Sienna’s style web

Birthday party, Isle of Bute, April

We now await the M&S

There is always something that is tempting.

As for the 42-year-old actress’ calendar highlights, the white, backless spiderweb dress from Annie’s Ibiza that she wore to Lady Lola Bute’s 25th birthday party on the Isle of Bute in April – wow!

Kate reigns supreme

Trooping the Colour, June

The Princess of Wales’s public appearances have been limited, but the outfit she wore for Trooping the Color – her first official appearance after her cancer diagnosis – went straight into our top 20 best Kate looks of all time, perhaps even the top ten.

It was a My Fair Lady meets Princess Diana moment – ​​a black and white Jenny Packham dress, recycled with the addition of a bow, a belt and a Philip Treacy saucer hat.

Zendaya aces tennis glamour

Premiere of The Challengers, London, April

The 28-year-old actress’ tennis-inspired looks were a highlight.

There were stiletto heels punctured by tennis balls, a beaded tennis dress and a Thom Browne number she wore for the London premiere: long, white and cool, with a collar, racket appliqués, a high slit at the legs and athletic stripes with beading on the hem. . Sporty, Gatsby-esque and fun.

Anya makes it chic at the airport

Nice Airport, May

It wasn’t until Anya Taylor-Joy, 28, was spotted arriving in France for the Cannes Film Festival that we realized how much we missed the old glamour.

She channeled Rita Hayworth and Marilyn Monroe in a Jacquemus hat, cat-eye sunglasses and an Atlein Paris one-shoulder dress.

She was a pure screen goddess.

Nicole has the right tone

Venice, August

It’s been a busy year for Nicole Kidman, 57, which has meant plenty of red carpets.

The one that stands out from the rest is the Schiaparelli couture gown she wore for the Venice Film Festival.

It was two-tone with a ribbed corset top in sheer beige, studded with black sequins and a sleek black velvet column skirt.

Never has a corset looked as light and delicate as the sugar-spun cage on a Michelin-starred dessert… This was a dazzling effect.