The “people” on this list — who are presented in no particular order — reflect the ways that the Styles desk defines its coverage: high and low; fun and serious; curious and open-minded; reveling in characters; appreciating the material world; inviting everyone to the party.
Many were recognized for being Styles-ish, others for being stylish. (Several could not have done it without the help of stylists, costume designers and other crews.) Lots came from the worlds of politics, film, TV, music, sports and fashion. But a few caught our attention in less expected places, like courtrooms.
Some had great hair. Some had singular accessories. One person had both — and was mistaken for a duchess in disguise. Certain people might surprise you or (we hope) inspire heated debate. After all, one thing they had in common is they made us talk: about what we wear, how we live and how we express ourselves.
Michelle Yeoh
The actress made history at the Oscars, became a face of Balenciaga and stood out on every red carpet.
Beyoncé
Her wardrobe for the Renaissance tour featured almost an entire season’s worth of couture looks.
Phoebe Philo
Six years after leaving Celine, fashion’s prodigal daughter returned with a namesake brand sold only online. Fans lost their minds, some over what they felt were absurd prices.
Frances Tiafoe
Big Foe, as the tennis player is known, scored big style points when he played the Australian Open in his colorful lava-lamp-like kit.
P.J. and Josie in ‘Bottoms’
P.J., played by Rachel Sennott, and Josie, played by Ayo Edebiri, helped to usher in a rugby shirt renaissance.
NewJeans
With a sound inspired by late ’90s and early 2000s R&B, the bunny-ears-wearing members of NewJeans climbed to the top of Billboard charts and earned various distinctions — including being the first female K-pop act to play Lollapalooza.
Representative Patrick McHenry of North Carolina
When the boat set sail, many started to see Lauren Sánchez, the former news anchor who became engaged to the Amazon founder in May, in its figurehead. In an interview with Vogue, she denied it was her likeness, suggesting that if the figurehead were inspired by her, it would have bigger breasts.
Travis Kelce
The singer and rapper has made an art form of altering her image, using prosthetics (and an Oscar de la Renta gown) to evoke Karl Lagerfeld’s cat at the Met Gala and covering herself in ruby crystals to complete her fiery look at a Schiaparelli couture show.
Dylan Mulvaney
The transgender influencer did not let critics of her Bud Light campaign stop her from gracing red carpets at events like the Tony Awards, where she sparkled in a semi-sheer gown.
Pharrell Williams
Las Vegas’s new arena has become the biggest visual spectacle in a city full of them.
Alan Cumming in ‘The Traitors’
Her tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of her album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” treated fans to nostalgia and some pretty neat costumes.
Paul Mescal
His commitment to — and command of — the mullet was remarkable.
The Ludicrously Capacious Bag in ‘Succession’
As Tom Wambsgans said in the show: “What’s even in there, huh? Flat shoes for the subway? Her lunch pail? I mean … it’s monstrous. It’s gargantuan. You could take it camping. You could slide it across the floor after a bank job.”
Jacob Elordi
Onscreen and off, the actor has surprised people with his accessories (that eyebrow piercing in “Saltburn”) and lack thereof (walking barefoot in Los Angeles). But his best accessorizing by far has been with handbags big and small.
State Representative Justin Jones of Tennessee
The Democratic lawmaker’s white suit became a potent political symbol when he was briefly expelled from the Tennessee legislature over a protest for gun control.
Lily Gladstone
On red carpets, the breakout star of “Killers of the Flower Moon” has a knack for mixing luxury fashion with pieces from independent and Native American designers.
The “Past Lives” actress dresses with a fearlessness that makes fashion fun. Her return to red carpets was among the many benefits of ending the actors’ union strike.
King Charles III
Her Loewe campaign was one the fashion world didn’t know it needed.
The A.I. Pope
Few of the artificially generated images that have flooded social media feeds were as fly as the rendering of Pope Francis in that puffer.
Jenna Lyons
If nothing else, the “Real Housewives of New York City” reboot was a platform to remind people how well she executes high-low style.
Remember how many great outfits the comedian wore as host of the Golden Globes?
Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan
He quit styling A-list celebrities. Or did he? Either way, he garnered a ton of attention for a job that’s mostly behind the scenes.
Kristen Kish
She’s the new host of “Top Chef,” which hopefully means more opportunities to see her in top-notch tailoring.
Jimmy Butler
The capstone of his stylish year? When Timothée Chalamet and the band boygenius replicated a look from the singer’s “Got Me Started” video — a tight white tank, baggy blue pants and red undies — on “Saturday Night Live.”
As Amy, played by Ali Wong, unraveled, her changing hair and wardrobe perfectly captured her emotional state.
Karl Jenkins
His rugged physique, along with paternal roles in “The Last of Us” and “The Mandalorian,” helped him become the internet’s daddy.
Martha Stewart
British Vogue’s new top editor, who took over this fall, is the first Black woman to lead the publication.
Miuccia Prada
His pitch-perfect performance of “American Pie” at the White House was worthy of “American Idol.”
Olivia Rodrigo
A rock star for Gen Z, she embodies her cohort’s love of Doc Martens and vintage, wearing archival pieces on red carpets at award shows and other events.
Chirlane McCray and Bill de Blasio
They navigated some big personal changes — their separation as a couple, his newly dyed hair — with admirable transparency.
Pamela Anderson
Each Barbie in the film was as put together as the last.
But of all the people who played Barbie onscreen, none had as many moments on the pink carpet as Margot Robbie.
Sofia Richie
Bridal mood boards have not been the same since she wore a trio of custom Chanel dresses at her April wedding.
Ariana DeBose
Among the achievements notched by the model with golden prosthetic legs: a cover of CR Fashion Book, a Giorgio Armani campaign and a Women of the Year Award from Glamour Germany.
Robert Oppenheimer in ‘Oppenheimer’
Fedoras, trilbies and their ilk had a bit of a boom thanks to the theoretical physicist played by Cillian Murphy.
E. Jean Carroll
Lots of eyes were on the singer at the Oscars, partly because her gravity-defying gown blocked some guests’ view of the stage.
David and Victoria Beckham
The couple may be serious about their clothes, but as their Netflix documentary series showed, they don’t always take themselves too seriously.
The Cockroach at the Met Gala
The U.S. Open champion’s electric separates at the tennis tournament were almost as exhilarating as her performance on the court.
Taylor Swift
Though she’s still keeping fans waiting for a new album, she did deliver an epic performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, where she revealed her second pregnancy while wearing a red Loewe jumpsuit, replicas of which the brand later sold — and quickly sold out of.
The 71 entries on this list were chosen from an initial pool of some 250 submitted by Styles staff members. The larger pool was winnowed in meetings and video calls that were not without passionate debate. To those who did not make the cut, 2024 is just a few weeks away — and we’ll be watching.
Produced by Anthony Rotunno, Christy Harmon, Jeremy Allen, Minju Pak and Stella Bugbee.