It’s a testament to the power of personal style when an outfit can launch as much buzz as a new movie (or a bit of salacious behavior). Think about your Instagram feeds around the time of the Met Gala or the Cannes Film Festival (yes, it is more than just a red carpet). Were you more interested in the tangled web the characters of The White Lotus weaved? Or the absurd sartorial choices they made? If you, too, fall into the latter school of thought, we’ve rounded up the style moments that infiltrated the cultural discourse on a grand scale below.
Timothée Chalamet (Backless) in Cannes
Photo: Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images
Red carpets are often evidence of the narrow lane that the state of men’s formalwear occupies. Hollywood’s leading lads (and their stylists) are constantly edging the boundaries further and further, but looks like this crimson backless Haider Ackerman ensemble Timothée Chalamet donned at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Bones and All took us to a new level of sartorial inspiration.
Rihanna's New Take On Maternity Wear
This year, Rihanna changed the landscape of maternity style—forever. She kicked off the year by debuting her (bare) full belly alongside a pink Chanel puffer jacket and bejeweled body chains. Ever since, she’s experimented with sheer lingerie, midriff-baring crop tops, and flashy outerwear (often left open, of course), proving that bumps should not be shrouded but celebrated in the fashion vernacular.
Portia’s Divisive Attire on The White Lotus
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
HBO’s The White Lotus dominated the cultural conversation of 2022’s fall season. Everyone's favorite character to hate, Portia, occupied her fair share of the discourse, mainly thanks to her rotation of quirky outfits. Costume designer Alex Bovaird has used this controversial character's ensembles as cultural commentary on the absurdity and entertainment factor of Gen Z style.
The Many Lives of the Miu Miu Mini
Photo: Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images
Yes, that Miu Miu mini skirt technically debuted at the Spring '22 fashion week in 2021, but the fallout the high hemline left in its wake lasted well into 2022. With moments ranging from Nicole Kidman's Vanity Fair cover to multiple red carpet appearances to the barrage of similarly dressed Miu Miu showgoers, Miuccia Prada's design left its mark on the fashion discourse this year.
An Icon References An Icon
Photo: Gotham/Getty Images
Regardless of whether you were for or against it, Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn Monroe's dress (name two bigger icons in their respective eras) for this year's Met Gala raised a number of interesting questions about referential fashion. What is the value of a historical reference? How important is the preservation of said fashion? Should you alter yourself for clothes? This choice left lots to unpack—and that, the internet did.