The nude selfie
The most influential outfit of the year featured no clothes at all. When Kim Kardashian posted a hotel-bathroom nude selfie on Instagram back in March, she kickstarted a row over how this peculiarly narcissistic form of self-expression squares with its advocate’s self-proclaimed feminism. Should you doubt the impact this image had on our fashion psyche, consider this: shopping site Lyst reported a 400 percent rise in searches for black bandeau bikinis that would recreate the effect of the black censorship bars. At Paris fashion week, a few weeks later, Kim’s sister Kendall wore a minimalist black bandeau top that echoed Kim’s look.
The cold shoulder
From Bardot tops on summer holidays to cut-out knitwear for autumn, with off-the-shoulder wedding dresses and cold-shoulder blouses in between, shoulder-exposure has been this year’s standout detail. If you ever find yourself adrift in the aforementioned space time continuum and needing to find your way back to 2016, you can reorientate yourself by following the clavicles. The cold shoulder hit the spot this year because it encapsulates our love-hate relationship with nudity: the spotlight is on skin, but the whole point of the look is that the rest of you is covered up. The perfect look for a messed-up year.
Hadid-mania
In 2016, people worshipped the Hadids. The new holy family of fashion are models Gigi (21), Bella (20) and their mother Yolanda. For the benefit of those who “ bafflingly “ perhaps don’t follow such things in granular details, the narrative arc of 2016 developed when Gigi, having established a power base via a strategic alliance with Kendall Jenner (scion of the Kardashian sex-tape and lip-gloss fortune) repositioned herself in the celebrity firmament alongside her sister.
Jaden Smith in womenswear
Making a giant leap towards gender neutrality, Louis Vuitton cast Jaden Smith in its Series 4 womenswear campaign”wearing women's clothes. The 18-year old wore a Vuitton pleated skirt, tasseled shirt and leather jacket alongside models Sarah Brannon, Jean Campbell, and Rianne Van Rompae; nonchalantly breaking down gender barriers while doing so.
The gender-neutral shoe
Is it a girl, is it a boy? In 2016, the only appropriate answer is: who cares? That gender neutrality is now solidly embedded in fashion could be seen in Jaden Smith wearing womenswear for Louis Vuitton, and in the many brands that have merged their mens and womens’ collections on the catwalk. But never mind that, look at the shoes. The Gucci loafer “ iconic gender-neutral shoe “ was everywhere this year.
Hedi Slimane's swan song
For his final Saint Laurent collection, Hedi Slimane made quite the mark. The designer staged his own couture show for Fall 2016 in Paris at an 18th-century house on the Rue de l'Université. The collection looked to the 1980s couture scene for inspiration, featuring plunging dresses, strong-shouldered silhouettes, triangular earrings and a show-stopping red heart fur coat that became the standout piece of the collection and was later worn by Rihanna. For Slimane, it was the ultimate way to end his four-year tenure at the fashion house with impact.
Fashion by North West
Leave it to three-year-old North West to wear a slip dress better than anyone else in 2016. The daughter of Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West reigned as the youngest style star of the year”stepping out in furry slides, velvet slip dresses, Yeezy boosts, logo tees and plenty of fur coats.
Ashley Graham’s positive outlook
The body positive model had a breakout year in fashion, shattering the stereotypical "plus-size model" boundaries. From starring in Sports Illustrated's Annual Swimsuit Issue to walking the H&M Studio fashion show, facing an H&M campaign and launching her own lingerie line with Addition Elle, Graham had her biggest year yet. The model also used her voice for good in the industry this year penning an essay about body shaming and speaking out about the importance of inclusivity. Graham also concluded the year in the most fitting way possible”by getting her very own Barbie, which she made sure had "thighs that touched" and curves.
A Titanic moment
If there was one piece of clothing that achieved "viral" street-style status this year, it was the "Titanic" sweatshirt from Vetements's fall collection. Not only did fans scramble to scoop the item up after Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar in February, but celebrities of all ages also couldn't get enough of it, from Celine Dion to Whoopi Goldberg. Considering the hoodie version retailed for over $1,000, it's slightly mind-boggling that it flew off shelves.
