BEST & WORST 2016

Best and worst 2016: Style

BEST

• Cate Blanchett

Not only is the Australian beauty a stunning performer and a brilliant actor, but she can also captivate audiences on the red carpet.

From looking exquisite in a teal embellished Giorgio Armani Prive gown (pictured) at this year's Academy Awards to dressing down in overalls and a red jumper to a screening of her movie Carol in Los Angeles, the actress always keeps things classy and chic.

The 47-year-old mother of four is also known for being up to date and daring. Just two weeks after Gucci's Spring 2017 collection show in Milan, she wore an ivory-and-black silk wool gown from the collection to an IWC Gala Dinner. According to Vogue, she was the first celebrity to be spotted in an ensemble from the collection.

Cate Blanchett PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

The huge ruffles along the shoulders of the dress and the plunging neckline could have looked awkward and off-balance, but the Oscar-winning actress managed to pull off the bold look with elegance.

• Millie Bobby Brown

At just 12 years old, the rising star from Netflix's series, Stranger Things, is already making an impact with her adorable yet undeniably cool style.

The English actress looked elegant yet whimsical in a Red Valentino sheer gown (pictured) embroidered with birds on the red carpet at the Emmys earlier this year, proving that grace has no age restriction.

She was also spotted at the front row of the Coach Spring 2017 show at New York Fashion Week recently, looking at home next to more experienced actresses such as Winona Ryder, Chloe Grace Moretz and Emma Roberts. Brown mixed punk tones with feminine florals in a mixed-print dress paired with studded black boots and a pink satin bomber.

With her pixie-cropped hair and animated personality, the bubbly tween manages to be fashionable while keeping things fun and age-appropriate.

During the Netflix premiere of Stranger Things, she wore a pretty white dress with a light gold brocade lace, but made it fun with a pair of glittery sneakers.

The upcoming style star, who has 1.9 million followers on Instagram, has also been on the covers of magazines such as American publication Interview and Britain's Dazed.

Millie Bobby Brown (right) PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

• Eddie Redmayne

The English actor sure knows how to wear a suit. Consistently looking effortlessly dapper, the 34-year-old Oscar winner is always in fitted outfits that keep his slim frame looking sharp.

From the classic grey plaid Ralph Lauren suit (pictured) he wore to the recent world premiere of his film Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, to the casual navy blue sweater-and-blue pants combination at San Diego Comic-Con 2016, the man has charismatic elegance.

Besides once modelling for luxury fashion house Burberry, Redmayne has also been named the best dressed man in Britain by GQ magazine for the past two years.

The actor also knows how to accessorise and is often seen with patterned ties, colourful pocket squares and spiffy glasses. Even when he is dressing down, he mixes things up by layering slim-fit blazers over crisp white or denim shirts. No tacky colours or gaudy combinations for this gentleman.

That said, his impeccable taste does not belong to him alone.

Redmayne revealed a few years ago that he is slightly colour-blind and actually turns to his wife, publicist Hannah Bagshawe, to help him make sure he picks the right colours.

WORST

• Heidi Klum

The German-American model has had more misses than hits on the red carpet this year.

Although the 43-year-old looked svelte and classy in a shimmering strapless dress at this year's Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the elegant look was a rare winner.

Eddie Redmayne PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

She wore a beaded and feathered dress to this year's Golden Globe Awards. The heavy material and low-cut neckline made her skinny frame look tired rather than sophisticated.

She was also seen in clashing outfits on the red carpets of two awards shows. She wore an awkward lavender chiffon gown to the Academy Awards - the ruffled flowers on her shoulder, wrist and waist made her look like a badly decorated cupcake.

The mother of four also donned a disco-inspired jumpsuit, with wide legs and a glaring pussybow, to the American Music Awards - an ensemble better left in the 1970s, an era when tacky holographic shine was deemed acceptable.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 18, 2016, with the headline Best and worst 2016: Style. Subscribe