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Home · Fashion

2014 ESSENCE Best Dressed List

The stars that shined brightest this year showing off their daring and equally divine styles.

By Celia L. Smith · Updated October 27, 2020
01
Rihanna: Red Carpet

Rihanna didin’t earn the coveted Fashion Icon of The Year Award by simply being a wall flower, infact she stirs the style pot by baring all or covering the essentials in the least safest ensemble you could choose, because in her words, “There are rules! But rules are meant to be broken.”

In Adam Selman.

Larry Busacca/Getty Images and Rabbani and Solimene Photography/WireImage
02
Rihanna: Street Style

In Edun.

Gary Gershoff/WireImage
03
Lupita Nyong’o: Red Carpet

Lupita’s a lady of elegance, but classic she is not. The actress’ discerning sense of style always finds her in pieces that are chic in the traditional sense of the word but never lacking a surprising plot or twist.

In Ralph Lauren.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images
04
Lupita Nyong’o: Street Style

In Bally London.

Splash News
05
Kerry Washington: Red Carpet

The Scandal star’s classic Americana style spread like wild fire on the show. While on the carpet, Washington didn’t lose an ounce of chic even with a baby on board.

In Calvin Klein.

06
Kerry Washington: Street Style

In Comptoir des Cotonniers.

07
Solange: Red Carpet

Solange’s swoon-worthy style is less about the minimal monochromatic or iconically vintage looks she wears, but about the woman who pulls them off without waiting on anyone’s approval.

In Calvin Klein.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images
08
Solange: Street Style

In Jonathan Simkhai.

Splash News
09
Nicole Richie: Red Carpet

The House of Harlow designer just gets it. Whether in a mom-on-duty edgy-street mix with the babes or  a red carpet number that is unlike what anyone else is ever wearing, Richie proves she isn’t just being styled, but that she’s a natural at it.

In Tadashi Shoji.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
10
Nicole Richie: Street Style
Alo Ceballos/GC Images
11
Gugu Mbatha-Raw: Red Carpet

We’re gaga for Gugu’s striking beauty in it’s own right, but the Brit beauty’s equally demure and daring dress choices shows she might be new to Hollywood but no stranger to chic red carpet looks.

In Calvin Klein.

Getty Images
12
Gugu Mbatha-Raw: Street Style
Michael Rowe
13
Naomi Campbell: Red Carpet

Clearly Naomi Campbell is no model hanger, never has and never will be. She’s the type of gal not only wearing the clothes, not allowing the looks to wear her––but will make you stop and stare in the process.

In Givenchy Custom Couture.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
14
Naomi Campbell: Street Style

In Fendi.

Darren Gerrish/WireImage and Harlem Mepham/GC Images
15
Keke Palmer: Red Carpet

Keke Palmer has come into her own this year with particularly chic and grown-up fashion choices and especially owned her look when she chopped her tresses into a cute pixie cut for kicks.

In Antonio Berardi.

Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET
16
Keke Palmer: Street Style
Robin Marchant/Getty Images
17
Zendaya Coleman: Red Carpet

She may be young, but Zendaya Coleman is batting in the big leagues when it comes to red carpet dressing.

in Donna Karan.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
18
Zendaya Coleman: Street Style

In Miuniku, Acne, and Rag & Bone.

Hannan Saleh
19
Tracee Ellis Ross: Red Carpet

With a style icon for a mom, for some, those are hard heels to follow, but not for Tracee Ellis Ross. The actress doesn’t just play red carpet dress up, she’s a style connoisseur in her own right donning threads not from anyone’s showroom, but straight from her closet.

In a self-designed dress.

Steve Granitz/WireImage
20
Tracee Ellis Ross: Street Style

In J. Crew.

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

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