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Home · Fashion

Best of Red Carpet Style 2012: #1 Stunners

Gorgeous gowns and jaw-dropping dresses that stopped us in our tracks and made for the best style moments this year.

By Celia L. Smith · December 9, 2012October 28, 2020
01
Babe in Blue

At Mario Lopez’s Big Bang New Year’s Eve 2012 Party Annie Ilonzeh definitely had a ball-dropping dress. This leg-baring, body-hugging, plunging back style is definitely a winning look.

02
Short & Stunning

Tika Sumpter hit up The ‘Red Tails’ premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City in an explosive Nicole Miller dress.

03
Bold Move

Who could forget Paula Patton in this canary yellow Monique Lhuillier gown? An absolutely stunning style at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards After Party.

04
Mellow Yellow

We stalked Solo’s style this year, and this yellow Christopher Kane pleated dress, CC Skye clutch and Fendi satin colorblock sandals wowed us at the Tiffany celebration of the launch of ‘True Love in Pictures.’

05
Golden Girl

At the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Viola Davis glowed in an ivory Marchesa gown with intricate golden embroidery.

06
Black on Black

Sexy, stunning, and bold was Rihanna’s Armani gown at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards. Hands down, best dressed of the night.

07
White Out

At our very own 5th Annual Black Women in Hollywood event Kerry Washington worked a Cushnie et Ochs peplum dress with super sharp swag.
 

08
Jeweled Gem

The most talked about look at the 84th Annual Academy Awards was Viola Davis wearing this gorgeous green Vera Wang gown with her natural ’do. A look that stole our hearts too!

09
Black & White Babe

Alicia Keys looked stellar in this Stella McCartney “Optical Illusion” dress at the designer’s 2012 Paris Fashion Week show. It’s a look we saw her killing the carpet recently in a gorgeous green.

10
Greige Goods

Vanessa Williams is an ageless beauty. This draped, empire waist, deep-V gown, with a hint of sparkle on charcoal grey made for a tasteful moment.

11
The Bold and The Beautiful

At BET’s Celebration of Gospel in Los Angeles we were singing Michelle Williams’s praise in this yellow pleated BCBGMAXAZRIA gown.

12
Sunshine State of Mind

June Ambrose showed up and showed out at The Wendy Williams Show in NYC sporting a dainty and demure Vera Wang silk canary yellow dress with Guiseppe Zanotti platforms.

13
Edgy Chic

We’re suckers for leather and colorblocking, and this Tibi shirt-dress was a killer combination at the Atlanta premiere of Think Like a Man.

14
Futuristic Fashion

This was Kat Graham’s year to shine! This gorgeous gal consistently picked the hottest red carpet looks. At the Los Angeles premiere of Marvel’s Avengers at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood she wore a super-hero style gown and looked super fab.

15
Orange Appeal

This citrus, pleated Liz Claiborne look at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida was a First Lady fave for us.

16
Leather Love

On the opening night of A Streetcar Named Desire in New York City Tracy Edmonds surprised us in a smokin’ hot leather dress.

Fernando Leon/Getty Images
17
Shimmering Chic

The First Lady’s fabness never ceases. At the 98th Annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C. she donned a youthful Naeem Khan look complete with hoop earrings and a cocktail ring.

Getty Images
18
Canary Cutie

Another knock-out look for this Knowles sister was at The  Costume Institute Gala’s “Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations” debut at the MET. Solange brought it in a bright Rachel Roy silk corset peplum gown, Lady Grey jewels and an Edie Parker clutch.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
19
Noir Nightengale

Ambrose’s angelic Carlos Miele gown was a chic black swan-inspired moment at The American Ballet Theatre’s 2012 Gala in New York City. This taffeta and tulle style definitely brought the drama.
 

Andy Kropa/Getty Images
20
Halter Hotness
Janet Jackson
Getty Images
21
Glam Gown

Kelly Rowland was utterly glamorous in a Maria Grachvogel silk floor-length halter gown at The Glamour Women of the Year Awards.
 

Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
22
Lovely High-Low

It was a year of trendy high-low gowns and dresses, but model Joan Smalls pulled it off best in a crisp Michael Kors style at The 2012 CFDA Fashion Awards in New York City.

Larry Busacca/WireImage
23
Emerald Elegance

VOGUE’s best dressed diva Zoe Saldana worked it this year. At The Persol Magnificent Obsessions: 30 Stories Of Craftmanship In Film event the actress wore a jewel toned Louis Vuitton look and Persol sunglasses with effortlessness.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
24
Rainbow Brite

Solo was haute and ready for summer in a satin Roberto Cavalli blazer, neon CC sky clutch, and Pierre Hardy heels at the See What Unfolds Live at Trident Layers event in New York City.
 

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images
25
Graphic Girl

First Alicia in Stella McCartney’s stunning “Optical Illusion” style at Paris Fashion Week then Tika atTyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection New York premiere. We can all agree the style looks just as amazing on the actress, especially paired with towering Olcay Gulsen platforms.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Nike
26
Sheer Bliss

Fiona channeled a bride in black with this heavenly lace and tulle Marchesa gown while performing on stage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
 

27
Fabulous Fuschia

Talk about curves ahead! Jilly from Philly flaunted a puff sleeved fuschia and black mini while performing at the Somerset House in London and looked hot.

RexUSA
28
Vampy Vixen

Zoe debuted her new pixie cut at The Dark Knight Rises world premiere along with a sexy see-through Emilio Pucci cocktail dress and mesh Alexander Wang heels certainly made it a dark night.
 

29
Fabulous Frock

Zoe hits the carpet in another one-hit haute look. At the press room of the 2012 Teen Choice Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre in California she poses in a bubble-hem tribal print Jonathan Saunders dress, throwing in blue satin Christian Louboutin heels for fun.

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
30
Wonderous White

We’re still in awe of Michelle Obama’s beautifully embroidered top and chiffon skirt by J. Mendel at the Olympics Opening Ceremony reception at the Buckingham Palace  in London. This tops the list of our First Lady faves!

WPA Pool/Getty Images
31
Cobalt Queen

Tyra Banks in this one-shoulder, cobalt blue style was simple but packed a lot of punch at The Cinema Society special screening of Two Days In New York.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
32
Stage Star

We caught the former Spice Girl looking spicier than ever at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games. The singer sauntered the stage in a sequin, see-through catsuit. Fierce!

Leon Neal/AFP/GettyImages
33
Sleek Young Thing

At The 2012 Do Something! Awards Palmer’s white sheath dress and pumps made for a pretty, polished combo. This year the young starlet really stepped up her style.

34
Natural Beauty

This RVN jacquard dress was tastefully sexy and highlighted Angela’s natural curves at a VIP cocktail reception for the grand opening of Dr. Susan’s Health and Beauty Institute in Beverly Hills.

David Livingston/Getty Images
35
Pretty in Pink

Mrs. O took the cake in this fashionably feminine Tracy Reese dress and matching J.Crew kitten heels at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

STAN HONDA/AFP/GettyImages
36
Color Craze

June is a fashion risk taker, and we love it! At the Nanette Lepore Spring 2013 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the stylist donned an out-there color combo and matching fuschia head wrap and it worked.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
37
Hourglass Glam

Angela Simmons rung in her 25th birthday at the Martin Lawrence Gallery in New York City in a custom gown by Edwing D’Angelo with a removable fish tail. Now that’s what we call fashion!

38
Ethereal

Solo made a heavenly entrance in a draped Rubin Singer gown at the amfAR Milano 2012 event during Milan Fashion Week. This was a simpler statement for the stylista, but in this case less was definitely more.

Venturelli/Getty Images
39
Supermodel Moment

When the former French VOGUE editor throws a party, you show up and show out! This is what Joan Smalls did in a see-through Chanel at “Le Bal” party during Paris Fashion Week.

KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP/GettyImages
40
Menswear Chic

The First Lady gracedThe Steve Harvey Show with her presence in what might be her sharpest look this year: an off-white, three-piece suit. Mrs. O has a natural knack for style.

Chuck Hodes/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
41
Ebony in Ivory

Viola Davis can be definitely credited for making classic look oh-so sleek this year. At ELLE’s 19th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration the actress transformed a stark white minimal style into an impressive look accessorized with blue suede Mary Jane’s.

42
Winter White

Naomie Harris had an outstanding run during her world tour of Skyfall, and this knit Chanel Spring 2013 runway dress and Pierre Hardy pumps at the Royal Albert Hall in London topped our list of faves.

Dave M. Benett/WireImage
43
Oxblood Babe
Naomie Harris
Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
44
Vivacious Vixen

We went gaga for Rihanna’s burlesque stage style at The 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City. It was over-the-top but that was everything we loved about it.

Getty Images
45
Gold Medal Glam

This was Allyson Felix’s year to shine, not only in the olympics but in the fashion world. At The 22nd annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall in New York City the ESSENCE cover girl donned a Vera Wang fishtail gown flawlessly.

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
46
Ravishing Red Style

Selita Ebanks knows what works for her, and this stunning scarlet is it! But if you can see pass the color, you’ll also notice some incredible details –– an origami collar and an updated peplum, which makes for a truly standout style at The 2012 UNICEF Snowflake Ball.

Why: There are so many elements we love about this satin stunner. First: the ravishing shade of red, second: the detailed collar and finally the updated peplum –– a great finishing touch. Get the look!

Rob Kim/FilmMagic
47
Disco Era Diva

The most recent style stunner for Solo was this disco-chic double-split style by Olcay Gulson and B Brian Atwood sandals at The Ermenegildo Zegna ‘Essenze’ Collection Launch event at The Ermenegildo Zegna Boutique in New York City. The hair totally drives the look home!

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

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