From meat dresses to dramatic gowns, 2010 was undoubtedly the year of the fashion statement. Stars like Lady Gaga and Rihanna pushed the envelope with awe-inspiring looks, while others like Taylor Swift, Emma Watson and Lea Michele seriously upped the glam factor. We dissected the best and worst styles throughout the year, but with 2011 fast approaching we thought it was time to give some due credit to those stars who shined brightest. Keep reading to find out which red carpet ladies made the 2010 fashion cut.
Most Talked About Style: Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is known for her outlandish taste (and her affinity for pants-less outfits), but the star went above and beyond when she hit the 2010 Video Music Awards red carpet in a dress made of out meat (accessories included!). Whether you loved it or hated it (and according to our poll, the majority of you weren't fans), there's no denying that Gaga's meat dress had everyone talking for weeks on end.
Most Promising Fashionista: Emma Watson
She might only be 20 years old, but Emma Watson is already proving she's got what it takes to become a fashion darling. Emma captured our attention early on this year when she arrived at the Met Ball in a stunning one-shoulder, silk gown by Burberry. Then she showed us she's not one to play it safe by chopping off her cute locks for an edgier, cleaner look. We're looking forward to seeing her fashion evolve in the new year.
Prettiest In Pink: Nina Dobrev
Nina Dobrev's been making a splash all over red carpets this year thanks to the huge success of "The Vampire Diaries," and she has yet to disappoint in the fashion department. Her best appearance though was at the Emmys in a pinkish-peach, one-shoulder Zuhair Murad dress that was absolute perfection from head to toe.
Queen of Romance: Taylor Swift
From her sweeping gowns to her delicate up-dos, it's no surprise that the princess of true-to-life love songs (and current coffee-grabbing girlfriend of Jake Gyllenhaal!) had the most romantic looks throughout the year. Our favorite thus far was from the Country Music Awards red carpet where she wore a red, strapless dress by Monique Lhuillier.
Best Use of Sheer Material: Rihanna
It's not easy to pull off a see-through dress with class, but Rihanna managed to do it flawlessly at the American Music Awards, where she wore a sheer, long-sleeved Elie Saab Couture dress that covered her in all the right places.
Best Dressed Reality Star: Whitney Port
Whitney Port faced tough competition in this category from contenders Kim Kardashian and Lauren Conrad, but at the end of the day, Whit's yellow Yigal Azrouel dress from the MTV Movie Awards reigned supreme.
Best Modern Day "Little Mermaid": Diane Kruger
There were plenty of mermaid style gowns on the red carpet this year, but none impressed us like Diane Kruger's Jason Wu dress at the Screen Actors Guild awards. We loved the striking color and the gorgeous train, but our favorite part had to be the fit (which is undoubtedly the key to pulling off a mermaid-style gown).
Best Fashion Breakthrough: Kristen Stewart
We'll be the first to admit that we've had a love/hate relationship with Kristen Stewart's closet over the past year, but we were totally smitten when she stepped out for the L.A. premiere of "The Runaways" in a trendy, pink number by Doo.Ri. KStew appeared totally comfortable in the look (which seemed to reflect her personal style much better than some of the other outfits she's worn this past year), and we'd love to see her in more things like this in 2011!
Best Age Appropriate Look: Selena Gomez
All too often, young celebs hit the red carpet wearing outfits that are way too mature for their age. But 18-year-old Selena Gomez managed to hit the perfect note at the MTV Video Music Awards, where she rocked a strapless metallic dress. The ensemble was edgy (it had a slit!), without being too risque.
Best Use Of Color: Lea Michele And Sarah Jessica Parker
We know, we know...only one lady is supposed to get the honors for each category, but we just could not chose between Lea Michele's green Catherine Malandrino gown at the SAG awards and Sarah Jessica Parker's stunning yellow ensemble at the premiere of "Sex and The City 2," so we're giving them both a shoutout.
Best Evolution: Katy Perry
Katy started the year in a blue wig at the MTV Movie Awards and topped it off in a dreamy lilac gown by Elie Saab. We're not sure what caused the style transformation (perhaps wedded bliss is to credit?), we're just happy it happened.
Who were your style standouts from the past year? Tell us in the comments and on Twitter!
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