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Home · Fashion

2013: The Best Dressed List

From stylish newbies like Lupita Nyong'o to consistently chic go-to girls like Zoe Saldana, here's our list of the hottest dressed women of the year.

By Celia L. Smith · Updated October 27, 2020
01
Lupita Nyong’o

The 12 Years a Slave stunner is the newest kid on the carpet landing on everyone’s “Best Dressed” list. Knocking every look she sports, out the park, including this angelic Prada gown, the actress is blazing a stylish path for herself.

2013: The Best Dressed List
02
Kerry Washington

It was the year-in-chic for Kerry Washington with practically every red carpet moment. The Scandal star knows how to make any dress incredibly feminine and pretty, even this funky Vera Wang gown and leather gloves at this year’s MET gala.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
03
Zoe Saldana

Without trying too hard, Zoe Saldana always gets it. Whether it’s modest midi dress or this Gucci gown that’s simply spot-on, it’s always a tasteful selection.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
04
First Lady Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama holds no punches when it comes to dressing. Whether it’s a haute one-shoulder style at dinner or this off-the-shoulder Marchesa moment at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors, she’s just as fab as she wants to be.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Kristoffer Tripplaar-Pool/Getty Images
05
Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris takes chances on the red carpet, always lending her Euro-chic flair, which is what we love most. This gasp-worthy McQueen gilded peplum gown at a recent Mandela premiere sent us over the moon.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Dave M. Benett/WireImage
06
Rihanna

We can always expect the unexpected from Rihanna, like a doobie wrap and a chic barely-there Jean Paul Gaultier Couture two-piece gown. But there’s no denying, on the red carpet, she’s always on point.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Dominique Charriau/WireImage
07
Joan Smalls

Joan Smalls is not only slaying on the runway, but clearly on the red carpet. This Tom Ford lace gown at this year’s MET gala says it all.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
08
Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie played out the punk theme fabulously in a custom beaded Topshop gown at this year’s MET gala, but it was her frosted mane that really drove the look over-the-top!

2013: The Best Dressed List
09
Naomi Campbell

Industry vet, Naomi Campbell is still killing the competition as proven by this Gone With The Wind fabulousness by Zac Posen and a few other jaw-dropping gowns that graced her toned physique this year.

2013: The Best Dressed List
10
Solange Knowles

While we’re on the subject of Gone With The Wind, Solange Knowles blew every other look in the dust with this chiffon Stephan Rolland Haute Couture gown at the The Great Gatsby premiere in Cannes, France.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images and Rex USA
11
Chanel Iman

It doesn’t take much for a model to look flawless on the runway when you’re being dressed by the best, but when you can step off of the catwalk and kill the red carpet, now we’re talking. Chanel Iman is one of the few models that does it every time, this epic one-shoulder Julien MacDonald gown at the Glamour Women of The Year Awards being one of our faves.

2013: The Best Dressed List
12
Ciara

Since Ciara was adopted by the fashion world as a favorite, the singer has been serving nothing but bad ass looks from hair to heel (this one courtesy of J. Mendel).

2013: The Best Dressed List
Kevin Mazur/AMA2013/WireImage
13
Brandy

Our childhood sweetheart Brandy earned her ranks this year on the red carpet by trading in that wholesome girl next door look for some fierce fashion moments that include this lace Michael Cinco dress with Kempton by Priveledged lace-up boots.

2013: The Best Dressed List
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
14
Zendaya Coleman

She may be young, but Zendaya Coleman is batting in the big leagues when it comes to red carpet dressing. This dreamy Donna Karan look from the AMA’s is giving us serious Cher nostalgia.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
15
Zoe Kravitz

Zoe Kravitz kept it dark and vampy on the red carpet this year in a consistently polished way. One style, a Balenciaga cacoon-shaped dress, definitely brought the heat at The Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere in L.A.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
16
Ashley Madekwe

Revenge beauty, Ashley Madekwe ceases every opportunity to get dressed-up, and for that matter she’s absolutely chic 24-7. This gauzy printed Zimmerman dress is just one example of the many tricks she’s got up her sleeve.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Veuve Clicquot
17
Hannah Bronfman

This entrepreneur gets it from her mama (super stylish socialite and philanthropist Shelly Bronfman). DJ’ing at the swankiest parties in the hottest looks, this beauty never misses a beat!

2013: The Best Dressed List
Getty Images
18
Thandie Newton

Thandie Newton has a certain je nais se quois that makes everything she wears looks so effortlessly fab –– this Giles Swarovski crystal embelished tulle cocktail dress, included.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Steve Granitz/WireImage
19
Garcelle Beauvais

Quiet as kept, Garcelle Beauvais Nilon had some pretty awesome red carpet moments this year. This J. Mendel style was just one of the wow-worthy moments that stopped us in our tracks.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
20
Danai Gurira

Another newbie on the scene is Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira. The actress lands red carpet looks that are just as bold and striking as her beauty. For example, she’s wearing this Tadashi Shoji backless number like no other.

2013: The Best Dressed List
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

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