Now that we are almost through the month of January, it is time we reflect on 2024, a year of bold, boundary-pushing moments in fashion. From icons like Pamela Anderson going barefaced for big-name fashion campaigns to the reinvention of fashion spectacles like the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the year has been unforgettable. Both music and film deeply influenced the zeitgeist of the year, from “Brat Summer” and “Cowboy Carter” to the fashionable media frenzy that was the “Wicked” press tour. 2024 was a year of celebrating reinvention. Here are the top 12 moments that made 2024 impossible to forget.
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In January, Pamela Anderson was the [bare] face of Proenza Schouler’s spring 2024 campaign after making waves at Paris Fashion Week for going makeup-free. “At fashion week, I did that for myself,” Anderson told Allure in an interview. “It wasn’t to make a political statement, I just wanted to have my little weird face sticking out of the top of those great clothes.” The Schouler campaign saw Anderson in smart suiting, crisp whites, and a dress in that iconic “Baywatch” red.
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Scan the “Grammy” nominees this year and you’ll note how big a year it was for women in the music industry, with album releases from main players like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, and more. Each album brought with it its own unique aesthetic, and a sure standout was Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter,” without a doubt. Harkening to the origins of cowboy culture, Beyonce’s nouveau western aesthetic will remain one to remember.
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Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach have become quite the dynamic duo over the years, dominating the red carpet with countless iconic looks. This year was no exception on the “Challengers” press tour. The pair turned out looks in custom LOEWE, Thom Browne, vintage Louis Vuitton by Marc Jacobs, and more, each look seemingly topping the last and evoking the sport of tennis in the chicest of ways.
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The WNBA’s Caitlin Clark made quite the splash this past year as the only player since 2003 to have 40 points and 10 assists in an NCAA Women’s Tournament game—twice, among other achievements. Her unmatched talent caught the attention of Prada, who dressed Clark in a $16,875 ensemble for the WNBA Draft, for which she was the number one pick. Point for the fashion industry. Yay, sports!
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The Met Gala is fashion’s biggest night for a reason, and it would be foolish to exclude it from this list. The theme was “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” and fashion’s most prolific figures didn’t shy away from showing out. Emerging recording artist Tyla wore an hourglass shaped, sand covered dress and had to be carried up the Met steps. Lana Del Rey donned a headpiece that stunningly evoked both antlers and tree branches. Michael Shannon brought along the most unusual accessory: a Balenciaga bag of chips!
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In June, “Naomi: In Fashion,” an exhibit in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, opened to honor supermodel Naomi Campbell. The exhibit featured numerous of Campbell’s glamorous looks, photographs, and a replica of her dressing room. This made Campbell the first fashion model to have an eponymous exhibition.
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Prior to the Olympics opening ceremony, Vogue hosted a star-studded soiree at Fondation Louis Vuitton. Co-hosted by Anna Wintour, Pharrell Williams, Bernard Arnault, and Brian Roberts, the party featured an Olympic-themed theme park, and guests enjoyed elegant cuisine provided by Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert.
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Due to the release of Charli XCX’s album, “Brat,” summer 2024 will forever be remembered as “Brat Girl Summer,” characterized by lime green and a universal yet niche pop-goth essence. The album’s aesthetic garnered a cult-like following, leaving lovers of the trend to know exactly what is meant by, “That is so brat.”
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Ralph Lauren kicked off New York Fashion Week in September by bringing his Americana charm to the Hamptons. “It is more than a place,” Lauren said, in the official press release. “It has been home, my refuge and always an inspiration.”
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After a seven-year hiatus, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned to the runway at the Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, New York. The show was a loud celebration of inclusivity, with transgender models Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio on the runway, models with disabilities, and models of all shapes and sizes. Lisa, Tyla, Cher, and Orianthi were featured performers.
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A 2024 recap would be incomplete without the mention of the “Wicked” film’s release; the Broadway adaptation that took the mainstream by storm. With its release came an undeniably fashionable press tour. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were a markedly pink and green duo, neither skimping on the drama. Designers included MUGLER, Schiaparelli, Atelier Versace, and Vivienne Westwood, to name a few.
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This year saw a changing of the guard, with many newly appointed creative directors at the biggest houses and brand names in fashion. Among them was the appointment of visionary Matthieu Blazy at Chanel. Blazy was formerly, and famously, at the helm of Bottega Veneta. He replaced Chanel’s former creative director, Virginie Viard.
—Marley Gifford
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