Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

She may not be British by birth, but since becoming Duchess of Sussex, Meghan has become a leading light on the UK fashion scene. In 2019, she went from displaying one of the chicest maternity wardrobes we've ever seen, to settling into her groove as a new mum with a chic wardrobe of shirt dresses [5], blazers, and delicate jewellery at her disposal. Highlights included the soft draped dresses she wore on the royal tour of Morocco, her royal engagement go-to of the statement coat and Aquazzura heels [6], and the pretty Jason Wu LBD she wore to the premiere of The Lion King [7].

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Emilia Clarke

The mother of dragons waved goodbye to Game of Thrones this year, and she did so in serious style. Emilia Clarke's always had an adventurous streak, and this year it came out with a succession of red carpet gowns that ran the gamut from romantic, full-skirted tulle confections, to sexier, slinkier numbers. Who could forget the Valentino gown she chose for the final Game of Thrones red carpet, which had the secret message "Leave your door open for me I might sleepwalk into your dreams." written on it? Emilia also stunned at the Time 100 gala in a red ballet-inspired dress, and looked incredible at the British Fashion Awards in a neon Schiaparelli gown with a feathered cape.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke

Ella Balinska

If the year belongs to anyone when it comes to fashion, it's Ella Balinska: the up-and-coming actress made her big red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, before attending the Met Gala on the arm of none other than British Vogue's Edward Enninful. If that isn't an indication of her fashion prowess, what is? Ella has a fashion pedigree, as the daughter of model-turned-chef Lorraine Pascale, but she needed no help from mum when it came to making a red carpet statement this year. From her space-age Tory Burch at the Met Gala, to the backless black gown she chose for the UK premiere of Charlie's Angels [8], she's epitomising the phrase "one to watch."

Ella Balinska

Ella Balinska

Lucy Boynton

Bohemian Rhapsody was the film everyone was talking about at the beginning of the year, and Lucy Boynton became one of the movie's break-out stars, not just for her performance on screen, but for her flawless red carpet moments during award season (and yes, it helped that she was on the arm of Rami Malek [9]). Her glistening Golden Globes gown caught our eye, as did her cutesy turn in Chanel later in the year, but it was her ethereal Met Gala look, complete with pale blue hair to match her ombre Prada gown, that really made us do a double-take.

Lucy Boynton

Lucy Boynton

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's most memorable look might be part of the wardrobe from her show Fleabag, but this star has given us so many more "wow" moments than just that jumpsuit [10]. On the red carpet she has a laid-back air that means she looks just as comfortable in a red sequin-covered gown as she does a slouchy green trouser suit. And can we talk about that flawless duck egg blue A. Teodoro gown at the TV BAFTAs? We bow down to a Queen.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Thandie Newton

From shimmering disco queen to frou-frou ballet princess, Thandie Newton remains one of the coolest and most unpredictable British stars on the red carpet. She started out on a high in 2019 with her fun cutout Michael Kors gown, before appearing at the BAFTAs in a textured ballgown by Valentino that was completely different to anything we'd seen her in before. The Valentino ruffles continued later in the year when she chose a one-shouldered red gown for the NAACP Image awards, and ruled the red carpet one more time.

Thandie Newton

Thandie Newton

Dua Lipa

When it comes to being fearless on the red carpet, Dua Lipa definitely ticks all the boxes. She experiments with colours, silhouettes, and textures, and is never afraid of showing a bit of skin. It's no surprise she's the darling of the fashion industry right now. She was able to pick her Christopher Kane dress straight off the runway for the Brit Awards [11], and at the Met Gala she was unforgettable in a bright Atelier Versace look that definitely lived up to the night's "camp" theme. During the Summer, she also proved she can do classic glamour, when she hit Cannes in a red hot tiered Valentino gown.

Dua Lipa

Dua Lipa

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge experimented more than ever in 2019, and as a result gained a whole new legion of fashion followers. She relied less on the coat dresses and shifts of old, and experimented with new styles, like high-waisted sailor trousers, culottes, and skinny jeans in bold colours. Though there were occasions when the "old" duchess came out (like at Royal Ascot [12]), her look became more youthful and fun as the seasons wore on. When the time came to turn on the glamour, she relied on her go-to designers, like Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham, but upped the ante even more than ever before by adding new prints, scarves, and details. Her emerald green look from the royal tour of Pakistan was a real highlight (and not just because Prince William matched his jacket to the sparkling gown [13]). We also loved her high street picks, like a £39 Warehouse jumper [14] worn with olive green crops in Autumn.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Maya Jama

Presenter Maya Jama brought sex appeal to the red carpet so many times in 2019, we lost count. From her lacy gown slit right to the thighs at the BAFTA Awards, to the teal lace-fronted dress she wore for the Fashion for Relief event, Maya proved that there's no gown on the planet she can't pull off. She even tried something a little more romantic at the Brit Awards, when she wrapped herself up in yards of beige ruffles, and really stole the show.

Maya Jama

Maya Jama

Sophie Turner

Though her wedding dress [15] was arguably her most memorable look of 2019, Sophie Turner also served up some seriously gorgeous looks on the red carpet and on the publicity trail. Kicking things off in style at the Vanity Fair Oscars party, she wore a gold Louis Vuitton gown with ruffles. The dedication to Vuitton continued throughout the year, with many memorable moments in the label (which she is the face of) though she did make an exception at the premiere of the Jonas Brothers's Chasing Happiness when she wore a sexy Paco Rabanne chainmail gown [16]. Metallics became a mini-trademark for the Game of Thrones star, and we have to say, we love it.

Sophie Turner

Sophie Turner

Millie Bobby Brown

Although she's only 15 years old, Millie Bobby Brown is already making waves in the fashion world, thanks to her fun and fearless approach to red carpet style. She flip-flops between frilly and feminine looks and more androgynous styles, and already has top flight designers clamouring to dress her for big red carpet occasions. We adored her custom bubblegum pink Rodarté at the Stranger Things [17] season 3 premiere, and she looked incredible in a black and gold Oscar de la Renta gown at the premiere of Godzilla. Later in the year, her fun off-the-shoulder Givenchy dress for another Stranger Things event was another highlight [18].

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown

Adwoa Aboah

To say Adwoa Aboah has lit up the red carpet this year is an understatement. When it comes to fashion, she goes the extra mile, sourcing vintage pieces or picking up a pencil and taking part in the design process. When she arrived at the GQ Man of the Year Awards in a Tom Ford gown from 2004 sourced from WilliamVintage, it was one of the fashion moments of the year. The model and actress continued to dive into the archives at the British Fashion Awards, when she wore a Galliano gown from the designer's Autumn 2001 collection. And who can forget her Met Gala moment, wearing a dramatic off-the-shoulder leopard print DVF gown that she had a hand in designing?

Adwoa Aboah

Adwoa Aboah

Jameela Jamil

Jameela was a fixture on the UK party circuit for years during her years as a presenter, but her success across the pond in The Good Place has led to her becoming a real red carpet star, never afraid to experiment with a bold colour (like the seafoam green princess dress she wore to the Emmys [19]) or a sexy silhouette, like her shimmering American Music Awards gown by Pamella Roland. We also loved the layered-up lime green ensemble she wore for the CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund awards, which was designed by the 2019 winner, Christopher John Rogers.

Jameela Jamil

Jameela Jamil

Laura Carmichael

Downton Abbey's Laura Carmichael has really turned the dial up to 11 this year, ditching the more modest frocks in favour of sexy minidresses (like her Ralph and Russo look at the British Fashion Awards) and experimental styles. At the premiere of the Downton Abbey film, she put a sexy spin on the LBD in her Monse gown, which featured a rise-and-fall hemline and a dramatic train. But the real stand-out look for us was the unusual Oscar de la Renta ensemble she chose for the BAFTA Film Gala. Comprising a corset top with a giant bow worn over a pair of slim green trousers, it was the perfect modern red carpet choice.

Laura Carmichael

Laura Carmichael