From Rihanna to Kate Middleton, Vote for Your Favorite Red Carpet Dress of 2015

Taking a long look back at the year, there were a lot of major style moments on the red carpet. Some were sublimely beautiful, a few monumental for what they stood for, and others packed more wow-factor than we ever thought possible. Here, in no particular order, the gowns and dresses that had us talking this year. After your spin down memory lane, be sure to vote on which you think is the top attention-grabber of the year.

1. Lupita Nyong’o’s pearl-covered Calvin Klein gown, worn at this year’s Academy Awards

Even if the pearly beauty left fashion watchers divided, the dress caused a big media storm when it went missing. Valued at $150,000, it got police attention…and was later found in a bathroom at the hotel where the actress was staying.

2. Amal Clooney’s tiered Maison Margiela dress, worn at this year’s Met Gala

The new Mrs. Clooney made a stylish stir whenever she stepped out this year, but it was her red carpet style we were most excited to finally see. At the Met Gala, the fashion world’s biggest red carpet, she picked a strapless Maison Margiela couture dress by John Galliano with tiered ruffles that extended from her waist to the floor.

3. Rihanna’s yellow Guo Pei gown, worn at this year’s Met Gala

We knew Rihanna would wear something major the event, and the cascading, canary yellow gown she wore did not disappoint. It was by Chinese couturier Guo Pei; after the fact we learned that the designer didn’t really think RiRi should wear this one, calling it “too heavy and too hot.”

4. Kim Kardashian West’s sheer Roberto Cavalli by Peter Dundas gown, worn at this year’s Met Gala

The other Met Gala dress the Internet couldn’t stop buzzing over belonged to Kardashian West, who hopped on the sheer, feather-trimmed bandwagon with this ethereal dress. It was super glam, and, per KKW’s Instagram, inspired by a dress worn by Cher at the first-ever Met.

5. Lily James’ sparkly Elie Saab gown, worn at the Los Angeles premiere of Cinderella

Has there ever been a premiere dress more fitting than this? James’ tour for the live-action flick was supremely stylish, but it was this Cinderella-like gown that made all of our jaws drop. She kept the theme going all the way down to her toes too, shod by he of the modern-day glass slipper Christian Louboutin.

6. Caitlyn Jenner’s white Atelier Versace gown, worn at this year’s ESPY Awards

There was a near fever pitch to see what Jenner would wear to her first red carpet, and this striking Versace gown didn’t disappoint. The dress had similarities to one Angelina Jolie wore for a film premiere years prior, a not-so-surprising fact when Jenner revealed she sought out Jolie’s stylist because she admired the actress’ red-carpet vibe. The dress was custom-made for Jenner.

7. Kate Middleton’s flowing Jenny Packham dress, worn at the London premiere of Spectre

Unlike most of our favorite Hollywood types, Kate Middleton rarely makes proper red-carpet appearances. Tons of official obligations that offer up workwear inspiration, yes, but not always super-glam evening events. When she and Prince William attended the U.K. premiere of the latest James Bond flick, the world sighed over this fluid Jenny Packham gown.

8. Naomi Watts’ feathered Elie Saab gown, worn at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

The red carpet at Cannes is reliably stunning, but it was this voluminous, steel gray feather-skirted dress that topped our best-dressed list.

9. Dakota Johnson’s silver Chanel dress, worn at this year’s Golden Globes

Thanks to a little something called Fifty Shades of Grey, this was Johnson’s big red-carpet debut year. She skipped voluminous ballgowns, showing a penchant for simple shapes and solids instead; her sparkliest moment came at the Globes thanks to high-wattage silver.

10. Taylor Swift’s high-low Elie Saab gown, worn at this year’s Grammy Awards

Swift showed off her stems in this party-in-the-front pick. From the side and back the teal gown looked like something fit for a princess, but a frontal shot reveals a cheeky miniskirt moment that no royal would dare. Yup—it takes an American princess to pull this one off.

11. Allison Williams’ high-volume Giambattista Valli gown, worn at this year’s Met Gala

The year’s red carpets had lots of striking, romantic moments for Miss Williams—practice for her big wedding day moment, perhaps?

12. Jennifer Lopez’s beige Elie Saab gown, worn at this year’s Academy Awards

We’ve spent serious time tracking just how much J.Lo loves a sheer dress moment, but she went a bit different for this year’s Academy Awards (though still just as sexy, natch). Aside from a seductively low neckline, this gown kept things covered up with a full skirt that kept her dancer’s legs hidden.

13. Vanessa Hudgens’ floral-print Naeem Khan gown, worn at this year’s Tony Awards

After making her Broadway debut in Gigi, Hudgens was ready to play the part of budding starlet again, making this feminine number so on-point.

14. Nicki Minaj’s black Tom Ford dress, worn at this year’s Grammy Awards

While the rapper’s given us some boundary-pushing looks over the year, it’s these pared-back looks that really shine. Her Grammy choice was supremely sexy, but elegant too, with a fringed skirt made of light-catching sequins.

15. Charlize Theron’s bright yellow Dior gown, worn at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

As the star of this year’s Mad Max reboot, it only made sense for Theron to seriously stand out. She did so in a strapless, sunshine-yellow gown with a train that extended feet behind her.

16. Diane Kruger’s caped Prada dress, worn at this year’s Venice Film Festival

Forever polished, it’s no surprise to see Kruger with a handful of red carpet wins. This year was no exception, though it’s this retro-inspired stunner that made us gasp the most. It’s a study in contrasts of sorts, with a color that’s hard to pin down between pale pink, icy silver, and pure white. And while the shape and caped back look plucked from a vintage collection, the exposed skin at her side feels decidedly of this century.

17. Jennifer Lawrence’s sheer Schiaparelli gown, worn at the New York City premiere of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2

It’s the last time we’ll see Lawrence promote The Hunger Games, and she went out with a bang, wearing gorgeous dress after gorgeous dress. It was one of her latest that really grabbed us: How pretty-sexy is this long-sleeve, sheer Schiaparelli dress?

18. Rihanna’s voluminous Giambattista Valli gown, worn at this year’s Grammy Awards

Because how could you not nominate Rihanna twice with this fabulously frothy creation? The pop star said it piqued her attention from the moment she first spotted it on the Internet—amazing.

19. Keira Knightly in romantic Valentino, worn at this year’s Academy Awards

The new mom approached maternity style with lots a dreamy touch, skipping skin-tight dresses in favor of pieces that positively floated. Her standout moment came at the Oscars, where she positively glowed in embroidered Valentino.

What was the most memorable red-carpet dress of 2015?

If we were covering red-carpet moments from 10 years ago, you know we’d be seeing plenty of bandage dresses. Come brush up on the history of the world’s first body-con dress.