This Week, the Best Dressed Stars Gave 2022 an Exuberant Start

2022 has only just begun, but the year’s fashion mood is already taking shape. As they partied their way into the new year, stars wanted all eyes on them, a goal they achieved by wearing bright colors, transparent fabrics, and hard-to-find pieces. Whether it was Dua Lipa exuding tropical glamour at Luisaviaroma’s Gala for UNICEF in an acid green, see-through Stella McCartney gown from the spring 2022 collection or Cardi B sitting courtside at the Chicago Bulls vs. Atlanta Hawks game in Gucci’s yet-to-be-released second collaboration with The North Face, the vibe was all about extroversion and exuberance.

During her raucous New Year’s Eve special with Pete Davidson, Miley Cyrus kept the energy high by changing outfits nearly a dozen times. Though she pulled out a barely-there barbed wire dress from Anna, a silver fringe Atelier Versace jumpsuit, and Dolce Gabbana’s rainbow boleros, Cyrus’s most rockstar-worthy piece came directly from Gucci s Love Parade collection. The silk chiffon dress with its feathered detailing was pure glam rock but Cyrus made it feel modern as she brought the house down with her performance.

The holiday spirit was everywhere. In Barbados, Rihanna rang in the year with boyfriend ASAP Rocky, an island-appropriate kaftan, and LBD from Ibiza-based swimwear brand Oséree. With its contemporary price point and transparent material, Rihanna’s one-shouldered “ring dress” was sexy and unexpected, especially when paired with a matching robe detailed with feathered plumage along each sleeve.

At CMG’s gala in Taizhou, Chinese pop diva Li Yuchun aka Chris Lee wore a wardrobe as festive and luxurious as Cyrus’s, though her performance looks skewed regal instead of rockstar. She sparkled in Gucci’s Aria collection during her musical number and changed into a Donatella design for the program’s grand finale. Dressed in red—the color of vitality and happiness—Li wore a ruffled Atelier Versace cape. The piece’s voluminous proportions and special texture made the petite star seem as though she was covered in rose petals from head to toe. Not a bad way to kickstart the year.