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The 20 Most Insanely Stylish Women of 2016

20 incredible women—rebels and bombshells, artists and classicists—whose wardrobes never failed to keep us guessing this year.

Headshot of ELLEBy ELLE
Clothing, Footwear, Leg, Trousers, Coat, Outerwear, Bag, Style, Fashion accessory, Street fashion,

In our October 2016 Personal Style Issue, we celebrate 20 incredible women—rebels and bombshells, artists and classicists—whose wardrobes never failed to keep us guessing this year. Their looks tell us not just what's on trend but what they value and which tribe they belong to—reminding us that the power of fashion can always be wielded in new and imaginative ways.

1

BELLA HADID | DARK BEAUTY

Textile, Outerwear, Jacket, Latex, Leather, Fashion, Boot, Black, Leather jacket, Thigh,

When the in-demand model goes femme fatale, the result is va-va-voom. Then again, the same applies for a pair of CK jeans (Hadid's a face of the brand) and a plain T-shirt.

2

WILLOW SMITH | COSMIC GIRL

Footwear, Standing, Style, Hat, Street fashion, Sunglasses, Goggles, Fashion, Jacket, Leather,

She had the nation whipping its hair even before she was a teenager. Smith's new claim to fame? Her space age-inspired Chanel getups.

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3

PETRA COLLINS | FLASH FACTOR

Lighting, Human leg, Dress, Pink, Bag, Fashion accessory, Thigh, Fashion, Blond, Knee,

When she takes a turn in front of the lens, the fashion photographer/artist never fails to thrill with her savvy riffs on the moment's must-haves—like teaming head-to-toe Gucci with white tube socks.

4

SOLANGE KNOWLES | SAINT SOLANGE

Sleeve, Outerwear, Style, Collar, Flowerpot, Blazer, Street fashion, Knee, Bench, Houseplant,

By promoting young designers—C/MEO Collective, Brother Vellies—on her Saint Heron website, Solange takes personal style beyond the beaten path.

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5

KRISTEN STEWART | KICKING IT

Jacket, Cap, Trousers, Textile, Outerwear, White, Standing, Style, Street fashion, Black,

You're just as likely to spot Stewart on a step-and-repeat wearing a beanie and ripped jeans as a sequined Chanel mini—and the actress manages to pull off both with equal amounts of cool, seen here in Vans shoes.

6

ERIN O'CONNOR | FASHION CHAMELEON

Human, Sleeve, Style, Knee, Camouflage, Bag, Street fashion, Military camouflage, Active pants, Houseplant,

The Brit model, whose raven hair and quirky posture made her a '90s phenom, has inspired everyone from Galliano to illustrator David Downton. We love the contrast between her dramatic features and colorful ensembles.

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7

SELENA GOMEZ | MISS CONGENIALITY

Clothing, Eyewear, Glasses, Vision care, Product, Trousers, Human body, Sunglasses, Outerwear, Style,

After a pic of a Cindy Crawford-look-alike, Gomez scored 5.3 million likes (an Instagram record), her fan base—and her airport style (Vetements sweats)—are stronger than ever.

8

MARGOT ROBBIE | MODERN BOMBSHELL

Clothing, Eyewear, Vision care, Shoulder, Bag, Hand, Outerwear, White, Sunglasses, Fashion accessory,

This Aussie temptress can work a kimono with the flair of a Golden Age film star—as with this casually louche topper she sported in NYC.

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9

JEANNE DAMAS | FRENCH DRESSING

Clothing, Footwear, Leg, Trousers, Coat, Outerwear, Bag, Style, Street fashion, Overcoat,

A little bit of Sonia Rykiel, a touch of Roger Vivier, and the perfect vintage accent—this Parisian model and actress has that je ne sais quoi we crave.

10

ALEXA CHUNG | ETERNAL MUSE

Clothing, Dress, Style, Fashion model, Beauty, Model, One-piece garment, Day dress, Headpiece, Long hair,

If she wears it, we'll buy it—so we're as anxious as anyone for the debut of Chung's eponymous line. For now, we'll continue to mimic her every highly original fashion move, like pairing lingerie and Converse.

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11

ZOË KRAVITZ | JEAN GENIUS

Clothing, Textile, Sunglasses, Street, Outerwear, Bag, Goggles, Street fashion, Style, Collar,

The actress and singer keeps us captivated with her inventive choices. At the core of her wardrobe: stack upon stack of must-have denim, frequently by pal Alexander Wang.

12

ADWOA ABOAH | RARE BIRD

Clothing, Footwear, Leg, Trousers, Human body, Dress, Outerwear, Human leg, Style, Fashion accessory,

Cara's London bestie, model Aboah is making a name for herself thanks to her eclectic style: a colorful shearling coat and Timberlands one day, a sleek white mini and strappy black sandals the next.

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13

AMANDLA STENBERG | STAR STUDENT

Sleeve, Human body, Shoulder, Style, Fashion, Street fashion, Knee, Jheri curl, Fashion model, Afro,

Taking a page out of Kiernan Shipka's playbook, the 17-year-old Hunger Games star has found a way to look age-appropriate yet wise beyond her years. See: bold Marc Jacobs prints plus cool kicks.

14

FRANCESCA AMFITHEATROF | DIAMOND STANDARD

Clothing, Sleeve, Shoulder, Textile, Joint, Dress, White, Style, Formal wear, Waist,

The Tiffany & Co. design director's penchant for architectural silhouettes—both in ready-to-wear (Proenza Schouler, Preen, Alexander McQueen) and her own sparkling creations—reflects her globe-trotting youth.

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15

LEAF GREENER | HOTHOUSE FLOWER

Clothing, Sleeve, Goggles, Textile, Human leg, Outerwear, Fashion accessory, Street fashion, Style, Bag,

Always tuned into the scene as a stylist, reporter, and creative consultant, the former ELLE China editor consistently turns heads during fashion month with her kooky accessories and outsize proportions.

16

ROONEY MARA | MOOD MASTER

Clothing, Eyewear, Sleeve, Shoulder, Shoe, Joint, Collar, Outerwear, Bag, White,

While it's still unconfirmed if she'll star in the upcoming sequel to The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the Givenchy muse certainly appears to be back in character with her edgy noir ensembles.

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17

LUPITA NYONG'O | ROUND-THE-CLOCK GLAM

Eyewear, Vision care, Trousers, Coat, Sunglasses, Outerwear, Hat, Jewellery, Goggles, Bag,

The Oscar winner and meme inspirer ("United Colors of Lupita" pays tribute to her gowns of every shade from crimson to aubergine) now proves she can do incognito with equal aplomb.

18

BRIE LARSON | GOLDEN GIRL

Shoulder, Flooring, Floor, Red, Style, Carpet, Fashion, Street fashion, Bag, Maroon,

Though she once struggled to find her way on the red carpet, Larson—and her style—is all grown up. To wit, she hit the awards-season circuit in this chic Céline ensemble and then collaborated with Gucci on her smash-hit Oscar gown.

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19

CARA DELEVINGNE | LEADING LADY

Textile, Outerwear, Style, Street fashion, Light, Pattern, Fashion, Black, Black hair, Fashion model,

No more ski caps. Now that she's on her way to Hollywood A-listdom, the runway transplant has made the season's must-have pantsuits her #iwokeuplikethis uniform. Fellow starlets, take note.

20

LOTTA VOLKOVA | THE DICTATOR

Clothing, Sleeve, Shoulder, Textile, Bag, Pattern, Pink, Style, Street fashion, Fashion,

The Russian-born stylist is the secret sauce behind Vetements. She's also walked Demna's runway five times, showcasing her street-savvy point of view with every one.

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Clothing, Footwear, Leg, Trousers, Coat, Outerwear, Bag, Style, Fashion accessory, Street fashion,
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