This year was eventful (to say the least) and the 21 stories that dominated the news cycle prove it. Ashley Graham ascended to supermodel status. Not for the first time, Marc Jacobs came under fire for failing to consider the meaning behind a hairstyle. The U.S. election, a gut-wrenching roller coaster ride, at least yielded some very serious sartorial gains. As did Beyoncé’s breathtaking visual album. And then there was that time the world’s most powerful social media force up and left the game after a traumatizing encounter with a band of jewel thieves. Looking back is bittersweet, but what can we say, we’re sentimentalists. Scroll through the slideshow above to reminisce on the 21 fashion news stories that defined 2016.
Biggest (Fashion) News Stories of 2016
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Kim Kardashian Takes a Horror-Induced Hiatus
On October 3, Paris Fashion Week took a horrifying turn when Kim Kardashian was tied up, gagged and robbed at gunpoint in her luxurious rental apartment. Kim, badly shaken, has retreated from the spotlight and hasn't updated her Instagram or made a red carpet appearance since. (Although she did just drop some merch and star in LOVE's advent calendar.)
Image: @kimkardashian
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Marc Jacobs Gets Dragged for Dreads
Each year, public figures take turns making remarkably ignorant comments on ethnic hairstyles. In 2016, that person was Marc Jacobs. After sending models down his Spring 2017 runway in multicolored wool dreadlocks, Marc got summarily dragged by the internet. His response? "All who cry 'cultural appropriation' or whatever nonsense about any race or skin color wearing their hair in any particular style or manner — funny how you don't criticize women of color for straightening their hair." This did not help matters. Hours later, Marc firmly inserted his foot into his mouth. Ah, tradition.
Image: @themarcjacobs
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CoverGirl Names a CoverBoy
In 2016, CoverGirl gave gender stereotypes a much-needed makeover. In October, the cosmetics giant appointed its first-ever male spokesperson, 17-year-old beauty blogger James Charles. And CoverGirl wasn't the only barrier-breaking beauty brand. Back in July, Anastasia Beverly Hills put boys in highlighter for its Glow Kit campaign.
Image: @jamescharles
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Designers Play Musical Chairs (Again)
The game of designer musical chairs continued. Hedi Slimane parted ways with Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello took his place just three days later. Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli exited Calvin Klein, which later announced Raf Simons its new lead. Maria Grazia Chiuri took the reins at Christian Dior, compelling her ex-partner Pierpaolo Piccioli to make his solo debut at Valentino. Diane von Furstenberg announced Jonathan Saunders as her successor. Bouchra Jarrar filled Alber Elbaz's vacant Lanvin spot. Massimiliano Giornetti left Salvatore Ferragamo, clearing the way for Paul Andrew. Danielle Sherman stepped down at Edun, Alessandra Facchinetti at Tod's. Peter Copping left Oscar de la Renta behind, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia filled his shoes. The oddest designer appointment of the year? Zayn Malik (temporarily) at Versus Versace. And the beat goes on.
Image: @calvinklein
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Fashion Greats We're Leaving Behind
A moment of silence for the legendary fashion figures who left us in 2016. Designers Sonia Rykiel and Richard Nicoll, pioneering supermodel China Machado, David Bowie and Prince (they need no explanation), iconic street style photographer Bill Cunningham and, most recently, Vogue Italia Editor-in-Chief Franca Sozzani. RIP.
Image: Richard Bord/WireImage
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Beyoncé Blesses the World With Lemonade
In April, Queen Bey dropped her tour de force of a visual album, Lemonade. It brought the genre of music videos to new artistic heights, helped
Becky with the good hairRachel Roy become the most googled designer of the year and was so chock-full of incredible fashion moments, it's impossible to pick a favorite. Bey's visionary ensemble (put together by Marni Senofonte, among others) sealed the deal on her Fashion Icon status.Image: @beyonce
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Victoria's Secret Heeds the Diversity Call
This year, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show owned the news cycle for weeks (or was it only days?). The event made headlines thanks to its buzzy locale, Instagirl-filled lineup and efforts toward diversity. Angels flaunted their natural hair on the runway and — for the first time in nine years — a model of color wore the Fantasy Bra.
Image: @jastookes
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Lip Kit Mania Reaches New Heights
In 2016, we reached peak Lip Kit mania. Makeup mogul Kylie Jenner expanded her cosmetics empire to include Kyshadow palettes and Kyliner, which, of course, continually sold out. (Though, after a wake-up call from the Better Business Bureau, the 19-year-old has cleaned up her operations and gotten better about restocking.) Anxious to get in on the action, counterfeiters started making fake Lip Kits containing everything from glue to gasoline. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Image: @kyliecosmetics
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Tommy x Gigi Front the Collaboration Movement
Fashion's begun a new, more collaborative era. Nowadays, brands are practically required to sign on well-followed figures to help not only market, but design their wares. (And by design, we mean give the OK on mock-up designs by in-house designers.) In 2017, Selena Gomez x Coach is sure to throw one helluva launch party, but in 2016, no duo celebrated their union quite like Tommy x Gigi, whose fun- and sweat-filled fashion carnival was among the highlights of New York Fashion Week. (And BTW, Tommy so did not call her fat.)
Image: Imaxtree
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Inhumane Modeling Conditions at Yeezy Season 4
Speaking of designer crossovers, Kanye West's Yeezy Season 4 presentation was a — to borrow the rapper's term — "lowlight" of New York Fashion Week. First, Kanye drew the ire of fans of all races with his call for "multiracial" models only. Then he and Vanessa Beecroft positioned said models under the flaming hot sun and had them stand stock-still for three hours. Unsurprisingly, more than one collapsed in the heat. And all for the sake of a collection that looked almost the same as Season 3.
Image: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Yeezy Season 4
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Will They or Won't They?: The Melania Trump Edition
First, the fashion world debated whether Melania Trump intended to shade her husband by wearing a Gucci pussy-bow blouse to the second presidential debate, given his views on, well, you know. Post-election, talk turned to whether or not designers' political views would prevent them dressing the soon-to-be first lady. Designers cast their chips. The verdict? Over the next four years, you may see Melania in Altuzarra, Thom Browne, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger, Cynthia Rowley, Diane von Furstenberg, Rag & Bone, Vera Wang and Calvin Klein. You will decidedly not see her in (free) Derek Lam, Marc Jacobs, Sophie Theallet, Kenzo, Opening Ceremony or Phillip Lim. Nor in Tom Ford, but not for political reasons — "I was asked to dress her [Melania Trump] quite a few years ago and I declined. She’s not necessarily my image.” Never change, Tom.
Image: Scott Olson/Getty Images
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The Pantsuit Nation Rises
In an election that was marked by misogyny, Hillary Clinton's supporters turned to pantsuits as a sartorial f-you to those who would call outspoken females nasty women. Madame Secretary suited up in many expertly tailored, symbolically colored two-pieces throughout her campaign, but none resonated more loudly than the one she wore to give her concession speech. Its bright purple satin lapel, the color of bipartisanship and the women's suffrage movement, urged us to look ahead, even if we were feeling dark gray. News outlets applauded her class.
Image: Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images
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Michelle Obama, Fashion-Forward FLOTUS
In happier political news, first lady Michelle Obama's resplendent Atelier Versace dress, along with her Vogue and T Magazine covers, cemented her status as a fashion icon to rival Jackie O.
Image: Photo by Leigh Vogel/WireImage
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Kate Moss Embarks on a New Chapter
In late March, Kate Moss confirmed her split with her longtime agency Storm Models. In September, the 13th highest-paid model in the world revealed her next act — her own talent management firm, Kate Moss Agency. "It’s a dream!" she gushed to BoF. "It’s so weird. You know that film Gia? Faye Dunaway plays the agent. I could so do that! But I want to focus more on managing people’s careers than just [running] a modelling agency. I don’t really want pretty people, I want people that want to sing and dance and act — I want to create stars." Oh, and she joined Instagram.
Image: @katemossagency
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Rihanna and Her Creepers Win the Day
The 30th annual Footwear News Achievement Awards honored Rihanna's eternally sold out Fenty x Puma creeper. The multihypenate became the first woman to take home the Shoe of the Year award. Between her creepers, slides and inventive runway collections, Rihanna succeeded in putting Puma back on the map.
Image: @fentyxpuma
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Fashion (Sort of) Embraces Diversity
It was a hallmark year for the body-positive movement. New York's Spring 2017 presentations featured more plus-size models than ever before. Refinery29 launched its 67% Project. Ashley Graham shook up the plus-size debate and more than earned the title of supermodel, debuting groundbreaking covers for Sports Illustrated and Cosmopolitan.
Image: JP Yim/Getty Images for Chromat
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Gigi Takes No Prisoners
Gigi Hadid made her boxing coach, mom and us proud when reporter Vitalii Sediuk, notorious for pulling bizarre, celebrity-baiting stunts, grabbed her as she exited the Max Mara show during Milan Fashion Week. With a few expertly aimed elbow jabs, Gigi quickly broke free. And no, she did not backtrack on her decision to defend herself with force, social media haters be damned.
Image: @GiGiHadid
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Bella Wigs Out
In June, Bella Hadid abandoned her signature chestnut brown locks in favor of cotton candy-colored tresses. Just kidding, it was a wig. Because everyone knows you haven't truly made it until you've punk'd the internet with a false 'do.
Image: @bellahadid
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Transgender Visibility in Rio and Beyond
During what would become a hallmark year for transgender visibility, Givenchy campaign star Lea T made history as the first transgender person to feature prominently in the Olympics' opening ceremonies.
Image: @leacerezo
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Fashion Goes West
Calendar schmalendar. These days, fashion designers are free to do their own thing. For Spring 2017, Rebecca Minkoff, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren all showed see-now, buy-now collections. Soon thereafter, Tom, Rebecca and Tommy announced they'd be skipping town (town being New York) and showing in Los Angeles come February 2017.
Image: @rebeccaminkoff
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KenGi's Wonder Twin Powers Activate
Taylor Swift (kind of) fell off the radar in 2016 — blame our #squad fatigue or Kim Kardashian's GQ bombshell — but squad leader Gigi Hadid and her BFF Kendall Jenner more than kept their buzz alive. With 24 magazine covers between them, there's no question that this duo ruled 2016. And thus we'll leave you with one of their most memorable twinning moments (thanks to Kendall's affinity for see-through shirts).
Image: @kendalljenner
