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The Breakthrough Style Stars Who Owned the Red Carpet in 2013 (Photos)

The past year witnessed the emergence of a new set of fashion standouts. From Kerry Washington to Lupita Nyong’o, a look at who broke sartorial ground in 2013.

By Erin CunninghamDec 31, 2013

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/131230-breakthrough-fashion-intro_qkqxsx — The past year witnessed the emergence of a new set of fashion standouts. From Kerry Washington to Lupita Nyong’o, a look at who broke sartorial ground in 2013.

FilmMagic; Invision for Harper's Bazaar/AP; Getty; Getty For Burberry

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-nyongo3_twqnfx — In Miu Miu
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-nyongo2_ddapd5 — In Christopher Kane
Tim P. Whitby/Getty for BFI

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-williams1_cyvz6j — Actress Allison Williams came into her own this year. After a strong start in 2012 with the debut of Girls, as well as her first Met Ball and Emmy Awards, Williams strengthened her already strong fashion foundation in 2013. The starlet stole the sportlight in mostly muted hues of tan, white, and black, mixing couture designers including Valentino and Oscar de la Renta with contemporary lines such as Reed Krakoff and Peter Som.

In Nonoo
Mireya Acierto/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-williams2_wfpjuz — In Reed Krakoff
Cindy Ord/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-williams3_sgtpes — In Valentino
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-harris1_rnrcah — In Burberry Prorsum
John Shearer/Invision/AP

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-lawrence2_bltmg2 — Following her Oscar win in February—in that strapless Dior gown—Jennifer Lawrence has truly been a girl on fire. Her Dior tour for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has taken Lawrence leagues from her Katniss Everdeen wardrobe in a slew of gowns by the designer, each more elaborate than the next. Plus, fashion aside, she’s openly spoken out against fat-shaming women. No wonder she’s every girl’s dream BFF.

In Christian Dior
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/131230-breakthrough-bonas3_yioriy — Rex

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-washington2_wzjqne — In Halston Heritage
Kevin Winter/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-washington3_wxmkcz — In Alexander Wang
Craig Barritt/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-ora1_cfknit — While Rita Ora may have had her share of fashion mishaps this year, the singer-songwriter had her fair share of fashion accomplishments, too, scoring modeling contracts with DKNY and Material Girl, designing a collaboration with Adidas, and hanging out at the British Fashion Awards alongside Kate Moss. Plus, Ora has been cast in the highly anticipated 50 Shades of Grey adaptation, all on top of her budding music career. Amid all those accomplishments, Ora truly revolutionized her style in 2013, droping her messy off-duty model look in favor of flattering and chic high-end pieces.

In Ermanno Scervino
Jon Furniss/Invision for Harper's Bazaar/AP

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-kardashian2_zac0gh — We have to give Kimmy some credit—or maybe we have Kanye to thank?—but the reality star really stepped up her style, and overall look, in 2013. For the first half of the year, Kardashian donned the ever stylish baby bump. And while most of her pregnancy wardrobe choices were mishaps—that Givenchy Met Gala dress or the cinched-waist floral jacket at her divorce hearing—since little North West joined the world, Kardashian has been killing her post-pregnancy look. Most important, however, is that Kardashian may have finally received the fashion world acceptance she has always longed for. She’s been working with some of the industry’s biggest names, including Carine Roitfeld—who put Kardashian on the cover of her namesake magazine CR Fashion Book’s third issue—Bruce Weber, Karl Lagerfeld, Riccardo Tisci, and Nicola Formichetti.
Raymond Hall/FilmMagic

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-kardashian1_iqzu0k — Raymond Hall/FilmMagic

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-ciara3_cppc6q — Ciara has come quite a long way from her days singing 1, 2 Step. It seemed the singer was everywhere this year, from sitting front row at shows including Givenchy, Valentino, and Prabal Gurung to attending the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Dinner alongside jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher, all while wearing seriously sleek, and cool, ensembles. Ciara’s graphic tees, bomber jackets, and high-slit dresses were all signs of a major comeback.

In Givenchy
Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthrough-ciara2_gd5l2d — In Prabal Gurung
Craig Barritt/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthough-styles2_tmqnlx — In Ashley Williams
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthough-westbrook3_mzv4mn — Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthough-rocky3_ynoqkb — A$AP Rocky has “killa” style, it seems. In 2013, the rapper dropped countless designer names in his hit song “Fashion Killa,” collaborated with Jeremy Scott and Adidas, and scored himself one awesome accessory: his girlfriend, model Chanel Iman. Describing his style, A$AP Rocky told Forbes, “I think ghetto people don’t get the tastemaker side of me and I think hipsters don’t get the reckless side of me. And I’m both: I’m like a ghetto hipster. Fashion is all around us.”
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

galleries/2013/12/31/the-breakthrough-style-stars-who-owned-the-red-carpet-in-2013-photos/2013-breakthough-rocky2_vouzos — In Jeremy Scott
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty for Adidas

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