The biggest and best A-list fashion of 2023: From Kim Kardashian forgetting her trousers to Julia Roberts baring her legs in a mini skirt and Princess Kate battling for the best cape award with Penny Mordaunt

It's been a year where celebrities have given us plenty to look at. Big names – from Kim Kardashian to Emma Corrin – forgot their pants.

Fifty-year-old stars (Julia Roberts) showed off their bare legs in miniskirts in winter, and the Princess of Wales and Penny Mordaunt competed for the 'prize for the best cape dress'.

Unless you were Gwyneth Paltrow channeling stealth wealth, the atmosphere was definitely over the top.

Alex Scott wore a sheer mesh dress with visible panties and no bra at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards

Celebrities show their naked ambition

Transparent is not entirely new. You may remember that Florence Pugh caused a stir in a hot pink sheer Valentino dress in 2022 and she did the same for the fashion house in baby blue at Paris Fashion Week this summer.

But this year's Extreme Look Worn On The Red Carpet transitioned to something your favorite BBC sports presenter could appear in.

Alex Scott wore a sheer mesh dress with visible underwear and no bra to the GQ Men Of The Year Awards (no bra and pants showing is how you do it now, civil or not) and this was the moment – ​​partly because it barely caused a ripple – that we knew the nude look is now actually nude with a clear coating.

We haven't had such a pure year since the early 1990s, when Kate Moss was pictured at a fashion party wearing those sheer long briefs over black bikini bottoms.

Of course there are rules: make sure your pants are an integral part of the outfit (no thongs); keep the neckline high and the sleeves and hemline long (you should be covered everywhere, even if you're practically naked); and expect to be looked at unless you are at a fashion party.

Barbiecore Margot is in pink

Margot Robbie spent most of her time channeling Barbie in outfits from designers from Prada to Versace

This year there was balletcore (tulle dresses and ballet pumps) and Barbiecore (lots of pink and Barbie-esque outfits given a new twist, to coincide with the release of the summer blockbuster Barbie).

If you like sassy, ​​neat little outfits with matching jackets, bags and heels, then you've got it covered this summer. The film's star, Margot Robbie, spent most of her time channeling Barbie in outfits from designers from Prada to Versace (all clothes from the collections, chosen for their Barbie relevance), including pink pajamas with marabou trim and a go-go dress from Pucci.

We may never be able to look at pink again.

Slim Penny, the caped crusader…

Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt wears a teal cape dress during the King's Coronation at Westminster Abbey in May

Another fan of the cape dress this year was actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who wore a molded white dress over a metallic mesh dress for the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Penny Mordaunt's teal cape dress was specially designed by label Safiyaa for her role as bearer of the Sword of State at the coronation of King Charles (left) and it worked wonderfully. It's not often you have the opportunity to carry a sword in public, but Mordaunt looked born to do it, thanks in part to the regal cape sleeves, which showed off just enough push-up-prepped arms.

Other fans of the cape dress this year included the Princess of Wales, who also wore a teal Safiyaa dress with cape to the Royal Variety Performance in November; writer and actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who wore a molded white cape over a metallic mesh dress for the premiere of Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny; and Mick Jagger's partner, Melanie Hamrick, whose bejeweled cape, worn over a black column dress at the king's dinner at Versailles, stole the show.

Olivia Colman was an early adopter (she's been wearing capes for years), while actress Zawe Ashton wore an Erdem dress with cape to the Evening Standard Theater Awards in November; and Kate Moss wore a black hooded dress to the London Fashion Awards earlier this month. When Kate adopts a trend, you pay attention.

But hats off to Mordaunt's Roman goddess look, which will surely be remembered as the standout style of 2023 – even if it was mostly about her steady gaze, ramrod demeanor and Catherine Deneuve-esque beauty.

Rishi's wife nails her color blocking brightly

Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty's most memorable outfit of the year was the Chinti and Parker fuchsia cashmere top with lime green Me+Em trousers when she arrived in Japan in May.

In February, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty was photographed running errands in a pair of sheepskin-lined slippers. She was widely criticized when it emerged that they were from JW Anderson and cost £570.

Since her slippergate, Ms Sunak has worn mostly mid-range labels, stuck to her style guns and, most importantly, has a bold color-blocked wardrobe style. In the process, she has ended up at the top of Tatler's best-dressed list, which is no mean feat.

Her most memorable outfit of the year was the one she wore in May when she arrived in Japan for the G7 summit: a fuchsia cashmere top from Chinti and Parker with lime green Me+Em pants, which she had also worn the year before . achieving its sustainability points.

It's been a really big year for bright colors – and whether it's trousers and a contrast top or a printed maxi skirt, Mrs Sunak wears them well.

Oops, I forgot my pants!

Emma Corrin wears the 'I forgot my pants' look with gold sequin Miu Miu panties in Paris

Model Adwoa Aboah wears wool trousers and a matching cardigan leaving the Vogue World: London afterparty at the George Club in Mayfair

Emma Corrin walked the catwalk in Miu Miu's gold sequin panties and a sweater in March and the 'I Forgot My Pants' look has gone from strength to strength since.

Many celebrities forgot their pants in 2023 and went out in wool trousers and matching cardigans (model Adwoa Aboah); billowy shirts over tiny bike shorts (model Kendall Jenner); buttoned-up blazers and stockings (actress Eva Longoria); or they just went out in their tights.

Kim Kardashian (who else) was pictured wearing just a hoodie and black lace stocking boots – essentially lace tights with built-in high heel pumps – which we assume are the Forgot pants taken to their natural conclusion.

Then again, Kim's boots are from Balenciaga's Pre-Fall 2024 collection, so it's not over yet.

Now everyone can expose themselves to a mini miracle

Anna Eberstein, Mrs. Hugh Grant, wore a short dress at the Wonka premiere at the Regency Village Theater in Los Angeles

Alexa Chung at Vogue World in black with sheer black tights and heels

This year saw the return of the mini, and you can get away with it at any age if you have the balls for it.

Anna Eberstein – Mrs. Hugh Grant – wore a short dress to the premiere of Wonka (above left); and this month, Julia Roberts, 56, wore a miniskirt twice (once in cold London without tights, which may have been a step too far).

The mini look that caught on during the party season was black with sheer black tights and heels (see Alexa Chung at Vogue World); while the star who wore it best was Jodie Comer in a sleeveless mini tuxedo dress.

But Gwynnie hides in quiet luxury

Gwyneth Paltrow took the stand in a Utah courtroom in March and picked up Quiet Luxury Court Style

The court decoration has taken a new twist this year. Following the high-end bling of the 2022 Wagatha Christie trial, lifestyle guru and queen of rich mom energy Gwyneth Paltrow took the stand from a Utah courtroom in March and picked up Quiet Luxury Court Style.

Her outfits included jackets from The Row, Celine boots, clothes from her own brand, G Label by Goop and Ray-Bans.

Everything – even the £65,000 solid gold Foundrae chains – was gobbled up online as quickly as she wore them.

Gwyneth won her case and left with the grace of someone who made her miss half a day of skiing.

This was perfectly executed, tranquil, luxurious dressing at its finest, and boy did we love it.