We’re continuing our Best of 2011 roundups with the Outfit of the Year:
Though most of you guys didn’t have much input (reader Smaq1 nominated, “Something Rihanna wore,” as outfit of the year), some of you did manage to pinpoint a few ensembles that got people talking and turned heads, either due to their sheer beauty, iconic cuts, or symbolism. We filtered out the best, and chose the following 7 ‘fits based on your nominations:
1. Beyonce in Lanvin at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards
Beyonce didn’t issue a press release to announce her impending pregnancy. Instead she arrived at the 2011 MTV Awards in a stunning one shoulder blood orange Lanvin gown, smiling brightly, and cupping her burgeoning baby bump.
Lady Bey looked radiant, and the frock’s searing color gamely reflected her glow. Soft makeup, diamond jewelry, and a side swept hairstyle completed her look.
2. Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad at the 2011 American Music Awards
Jennifer Lopez turned up the heat at the 2011 American Music Awards in a sultry high slit dress from Zuhair Murad’s Fall 2011 couture collection.
She played up the one sleeve silk gown with black pumps, a high bun, and nude lips. Suffice it to say: Jenny from the block shut it down.
3. Janet Jackson in Haider Ackermann at the Amfar Gala
Though most starlets go for full on gowns for high wattage events, Janet broke the mold at the amFar gala in a two piece colorblock look from Haider Ackermann’s Fall 2011 collection. Edgy and different, she complemented the eggplant and forest green ensemble with a lovely blue belt, and a super chic short hairstyle.
Janet’s look was cool and sophisticated, and on trend without trying too hard.
4. Iman in Zac Posen at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Opening Night Performance
Supermodel Iman may not light up the catwalks anymore, but she still gives her younger counterparts a run for their money on red carpets! The industry veteran sizzled at the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Opening Night Performance in a Spring 2012 Zac Posen gown.
The burgundy color looked ravishing against her skin, while Fred Leighton jewels framed her face.
5. Rihanna in BCBG Max Azria at the 2011 Billboard Awards
Though not everyone was a fan of Rihanna’s Kool Aid red hair moment, we can’t deny it was a head turner. Few outfits she wore in 2011 played up her red mane quite like the optic white BCBG Max Azria suit she wore to the 2011 Billboard awards.
Was it the drastic contrast between red and white, the suit’s chic tailoring, Rihanna’s sultry stare, or the alluring way her blouse was barely buttoned that caused stylistas to go wild? It’s hard to say. But the overall effect was simply fierce.
6. Solange in Acne at the Rimmel London Party
While we fell in love with lots of Solange’s outfits this year, the silk one shoulder Acne dress she wore to the Rimmel London party was one of our faves.
The yellow complemented her skin perfectly, the one shoulder was on point, and the high slit on trend. Oh, and don’t forget about her large, bouncy curls.
Hot!
7. Ciara in Alexandre Vauthier at Fashion’s Night Out
Ciara has one of the most toned bodies in the biz, and showed it off like a champ in a sultry Fall 2011 Alexandre Vauthier Couture gown. The ravishing red dress elicited many the Mail Bomb request due to its saucy yet subdued design and hi-lo hem. The Christian Louboutin pumps she wore with it didn’t hurt, either.
Which outfit was your fave? And did we miss anything?
Stay tuned for more Best of 2011 fun!
December 27, 2011 1:50 pm
Janet
December 27, 2011 1:51 pm
Rihanna for me. Simple and chic.
December 27, 2011 1:54 pm
Rihanna or JLo
December 27, 2011 2:03 pm
Janet
December 27, 2011 2:13 pm
Solange. Beyonce. Ciara.
December 27, 2011 2:13 pm
I went with Solange b/c that’s the BEST I’ve ever seen her look hands down……Iman was a close 2nd for me b/c anyone can be beautiful young but she’s wayyy up there in age and still killen em.
December 27, 2011 2:19 pm
Rihanna..It’s just so fresh and elegant. But damn it if J.Lo ain’t killin em’ lol
December 27, 2011 2:21 pm
Janet, Ciara, Rhianna.
I love that Janet’s look was not too overdone, and her hair and makeup perfectly complemented the look. She was working it without overworking it.
Honestly though, they all look damn good. This was like haggling over pennies.
December 27, 2011 2:25 pm
Iman she´s just … wow
December 27, 2011 2:25 pm
damn…all solid choices…this is hard
December 27, 2011 2:27 pm
Solange definitely slayed with that dress but I will say that Ci Ci is a very close second
December 27, 2011 2:32 pm
Janet!
December 27, 2011 2:46 pm
Rihanna or Solange hands down. Then the ranking goes
#2 — JLo
#3 — Ciara
#4 — Beyonce
#5 — Iman
#6 — Janet
That being said…they all look great and I love every look.
December 27, 2011 2:54 pm
Ciara…Solange…Rihanna…In that order!
December 27, 2011 2:58 pm
Rihanna killed it. Hands down.
December 27, 2011 3:03 pm
Everyone looked great….but Rihanna ran away with the competition. The white suit with her creamy skin and the bright red hair.
December 27, 2011 3:09 pm
Beyonce, Solange, then Jlo.
December 27, 2011 3:23 pm
ARGH! Talk about a hard one. Rihanna got my vote. Flawless and effortless.
December 27, 2011 3:26 pm
Ciara killed them!
December 27, 2011 3:28 pm
JJ all day! her two piece ensemble was sooo different yet so freakin’ haute! and her short do makes her even more stunning! love <3
December 27, 2011 3:36 pm
I went with Janet. Her hair and makep were the perfect compliment to her outfit. I love that its seperates and the belt ties the look together.
Ciara and Rhianna are a close #2 and #3. They all look damn good though. This is like haggling over pennies.
December 27, 2011 3:40 pm
Beyoncé’s Lanvin dress will always be remembered, simply FLAWLESS & ICONIC ♥
December 27, 2011 3:47 pm
J.Lo – that dress was it!
December 27, 2011 3:55 pm
I’m really not understanding why Beyonce or Iman are even being considered for this list.
December 27, 2011 3:56 pm
Bey then Cici!
December 27, 2011 4:06 pm
1st-Solange (h2t in my Tyra voice)
2nd-Ciara ( my gurl wurkin it in the red #bad)
3rd-Beyonce (very hot b be killin em)
4th-Rihanna (even though it wasn’t custom fitted)
5th-Iman
6th-J.Lo (I really hate this dress)
7th-Janet (please fix the hair )
December 27, 2011 4:17 pm
Rihanna for sure!
December 27, 2011 4:20 pm
Rihanna did not kill anything. I’ve seen her wear way better outfits than that. I’m surprised that one was chosen. She seems like the odd one out in this category. The winner is between Beyonce or Solange.
December 27, 2011 4:22 pm
Rihanna soooo effortless!
December 27, 2011 4:38 pm
This is a tough one! These are some amazing looks…minus Beyonce, hers was more about the pregnancy than the dress. If she weren’t prengant I’m not sure I would have loved the look on her.
December 27, 2011 4:51 pm
Wow it is a total toss up, i love love RiRi but Solange knocked it out of the park in the Acne!
December 27, 2011 4:52 pm
Janet. It takes a good eye to match seperates, and gut to wear them when everyone else is in dresses. Hair and makeup are a perfect match for the look too.
Ciara and Rhianna look great too. This was like haddling over pennies since they all look great!
December 27, 2011 5:04 pm
It is a toss up between j-lo,ciara or solange for me.
December 27, 2011 5:17 pm
There is no competion Ciara did that!!! Y R we voting, duh?!
December 27, 2011 5:19 pm
Janet alllllllllllll the way, which Ciara in a close second……FIERCE.com
December 27, 2011 5:25 pm
I’m gonna have to go with Miss Solange on this one!
December 27, 2011 5:35 pm
solange, definitely. From the hair, make up, shoes, and of course dress she look gorgeous.
December 27, 2011 5:48 pm
J. Lo gets my vote! She was giving good face and diva-tude in that beautiful dress. However, Solange was a definite close 2nd for me.
Honestly, Beyonce’s dress wasnt that amazing. The only thing that made it list worthy was the fact that it was the dress she wore for her “announcement”. And that’s not fair to the other looks on the list that are there b/c of pure fierceness! My opinion tho…
December 27, 2011 6:03 pm
I honestly don’t see why Solange is in this. That dress is horrid. EVERYONE elses outfit on this list MURDERS that horrible dress. *sigh* To each her own tho.
December 27, 2011 6:29 pm
Ciara’s legs in that dress…slayed them all!
I need to do some squats and lunges ASAP
December 27, 2011 6:32 pm
Cosigning with Dani re: Solange. I think she constantly gets a pass for being the unfortunate younger sister of Beyonce.
December 27, 2011 6:49 pm
Janet gets my vote! That entire outfit was grown, feminine and sophisticated. Maybe because I love separates and the color combination was amazing
December 27, 2011 8:01 pm
Janet. No competition.
December 27, 2011 8:38 pm
Rihanna…She Just Looks So Clean With All That White On. She Has My Vote.
December 27, 2011 8:50 pm
Jlo gets my vote…Stunning!
December 27, 2011 9:05 pm
CiCi or RiRi!
December 27, 2011 9:23 pm
J.Lo >>>
December 27, 2011 9:27 pm
this is the best you can do ? :/
December 27, 2011 9:59 pm
Quickly eliminated Iman, Beyonce and Solange
-hmm just wasn’t feeling Iman’s dress
-wasn’t feeling beyonce’s at all
-lastly solange didn’t like the fit of the dress/the dress was to simple for me
I had to give it to Janet. She wore a great example of one of the most worn trends of the year and wore it pretty damn well. The colors complimented her as well as each other and she chose to wear a gown like everyone else.
Rihanna was close-kind of. She did something different and looked beautiful/feminine while wearing a suit. Playing on the whole menswear trend and this was the outfit that actually made me stop hating her hair so much
Ciara’s dress just didn’t impress me. Yes it fits her wonderfully, but I thought it would have also looked just as good on JLO. Also, I don’t really like the high cut on her.
JLO’s dress-too much for me
Overall everyone looked so beautiful!!!
December 27, 2011 10:07 pm
Solange!
December 27, 2011 10:10 pm
Ciara!
December 27, 2011 10:16 pm
1st- Rihanna
2nd- Solange
3rd- Ms. Janet
December 27, 2011 10:22 pm
Given only these to chose from I’m gonna with Janet. She’s doing something different and her look is eye catching
December 27, 2011 10:29 pm
Janet, then solange. Agree with others, if Bey hadnt announced that she was preggers, I would have no emotion about her dress. Beautiful color tho.
December 27, 2011 10:50 pm
this was a hard one!
I picked Rihanna though… my next fave is Ciara.
December 27, 2011 11:57 pm
I voted Solange, but I’m also wanted to vote for J-lo
December 28, 2011 12:31 am
Rihanna, Ciara, Jennifer Lopez
December 28, 2011 1:26 am
im gunna have to say rihanna !!!
December 28, 2011 1:43 am
CIARA! Then Janet and J.Lo.
…Rihanna’s HORRID red bob-ish hair ruined the entire look for me. sorry, no ma’am BAM!
December 28, 2011 2:40 am
Rihanna! <3
December 28, 2011 4:17 am
Solange
December 28, 2011 6:32 am
Love Ciara! ATL shawty!!
December 28, 2011 8:14 am
Ciara love that dress
December 28, 2011 8:57 am
I love all the looks equally it makes it impossible to vote!
December 28, 2011 9:11 am
Janet. And Rihanna in a close second.
December 28, 2011 10:18 am
JANET
The others are great, but none are as unique and interesting as Janet’s.
December 28, 2011 10:22 am
Solange or Ciara! I voted for Solange though
December 28, 2011 1:15 pm
Janet!
December 28, 2011 1:46 pm
Rihanna (love the white pantsuit), Solange and Janet!
December 28, 2011 2:27 pm
CIARA
December 29, 2011 1:31 am
Solange because that hemline was the trend this year and that colour choice was bold!
December 29, 2011 9:30 am
Definitely Rihanna. Hands down.
December 29, 2011 3:01 pm
Solange, Rihanna and JLO
December 29, 2011 9:57 pm
I chose Solange, but Jennifer Lopez at the 2011 Met Gala should’ve been included.
December 30, 2011 5:38 am
I voting for solange , but Ciara & Janet had some bad a$$ outfits as well!
January 2, 2012 5:49 am
Solange..the nails plus the gown is giving me life.yall did miss someone..me..j.k