A Year In Style
The best and worst from the world of style and celebrity in 2016
PERSON WE WILL MISS MOST MICHELLE OBAMA
Michelle for 2020.
ROMANCE OF THE YEAR KATHRYN THOMAS
KT got engaged to long-term boyfriend Padraig McLoughlin and we couldn’t be happier for them.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR WINONA RYDER
In Netflix’s Stranger Things, she proved herself still capable of putting to shame all the wannabe kooky copies. Honorary mention should go to Micheal Martin.
PERSON WE WOULD MOST LIKE TO SEE UPDATE THEIR LOOK CLAUDINE KEANE
Even Paris Hilton isn’t rocking this style anymore. 2006 called, it wants its look back.
LOUISE DUFFY & PAUL GALVIN
Talented, hard-working, well-dressed, modest, not attention-seeking. What’s not to like?
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR
Drew Barrymore losing all that weight recently, but admitting to a stringent diet that saw her crying over pizza. We know she’s talking tongue-in-cheek, but there’s something dispiriting about one of Hollywood’s more real stars jumping on the self-denial wagon.
BREAK-UP OF THE YEAR ROZ AND BRESSIE
None of us saw it coming — we were so busy anticipating the engagement.
SURPRISE OF THE YEAR GEORGIA SALPA’S TWINS
Slowly making the odd shy little appearance on Instagram, these two are surely set to be the best-dressed celeb cuties.
WEDDING OF THE YEAR JOHN AND AOIBHIIN
Actress Aoibhin Garrihy married her long-term love John Burke, at home in Clare, in his family’s hotel, with the bride wearing Irish designer Manley.
COUPLE OF THE YEAR THE O’GARAS
Posing for their first ever LIFE cover shoot together, the O’Gara’s proved themselves to be eminently likeable and down-to-earth.
BEST-DRESSED OF THE YEAR CASSIE STOKES
In a world of over-the-top glamour and grooming, Xpose’s new presenter, left, has her own style, and she always stands out. Special mention also goes to top model Teodora Sutra, for out Swedish-ing the Swedish at their own style.
CELEBRITY SAGA WE COULDN’T GET ENOUGH OF BRAD AND ANG
We could have warned him. Heck, anyone could have warned him. When it all fell apart, it did not disappoint. Accusations of drunkenness, messy behaviour, legal battles. The dissolution of Brangelina was as gripping as we’d anticipated.
SHE WORE IT WELL HILLARY CLINTON
Those Ralph Lauren pantsuits for each debate. Even Beyonce was copying her.
PERSON WE’D LIKE TO HEAR MORE OF LOUISE DUFFY
Our favourite female voice on the radio; it’s baffling why she was moved from her afternoon slot. She launched her website, womenswearstory.com, this year. A TV career should beckon.
TRENDS WE’LL BE HAPPY TO SEE THE BACK OF
The Calvin Klein logo jumper. Ripped jeans. Satin bomber jackets. Throwing a leather biker jacket over everything. The 1970s trend. White runners. 1990s slip dresses. High-def brows. Fleece-lined denim jackets. Pleated skirts. Everyone launching a lifestyle website. Athleisure. Dungarees. Everyone having hair extensions.
MOST COMFORTABLE IN HER OWN SKIN SAMANTHA MUMBA
Clearly loving motherhood, a burgeoning TV career on the go, and predicted to be one of the stars of Celebrity MasterChef next month — all with the air of a woman with nothing to prove.
BREAKTHOUGH OF THE YEAR ANGELA SCANLON
She’s been the ‘next big thing’ for several years now, but this was the year that An-Scan officially became a huge big thing, and was properly embraced by the BBC. About time.
PERSON WE WILL MISS MOST
Where to start? Ali, Bowie, Cohen, Rickman.
HAVING THE LAST LAUGH CONOR MCGREGOR
Can anyone really blame him for smugness?
REINVENTION OF THE YEAR ROSANNA DAVISON
With her second best-selling book, Rosanna Davison, below, firmly established herself as a nutritional force to be reckoned with.
CELEBRITY VIST OF THE YEAR ELLE MACPHERSON
She came to our shores recently to launch her new lingerie line in Brown Thomas. Fifty-two and fabulous.
CUTEST CELEB CHILD
Princess Char, obviously.
DAMP SQUIBS OF THE YEAR THE OLYMPICS
Sort of too embarrassing to even talk about. Let’s move on to Conor McGregor and the Euros. Also: Irish water. With the election not far behind it.
SHOWING THEM HOW IT’S SARTORIALLY DONE THERESA MAY
Exhibiting a quirky take on the usual block-colour dressing we see from female politicians. And managing to pull off trainers, jeans and a blazer for weekend wear.
GLASS-CEILING BREAKERS OF THE YEAR
OK, so it wasn’t Hill’s year, but still, we had Angela Merkel socking it to Donald, as did Nicola Sturgeon; Theresa May socking it to Boris in some way, and Mary Mitchell O’Connor, right, not letting them grind her down.
COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR HUBRIDGE
When the Hube designed for the Newb.
THING WE’D LIKE TO SEE LESS OF THIGH-HIGH BOOTS
We’re still not convinced.
UNEXPECTED SIDE OF THE YEAR AL PORTER
The passionate and hilarious contributions of Comedian Al Porter, right, to RTE’s Cutting Edge showed a new side to this rising star.
REAR OF THE YEAR AMANDA BYRAM
As she proved on her recent honeymoon, by way of Instagram.
PERSON WE NEED TO STOP KNOCKING MELANIA TRUMP
The mere fact that she’s married to The Donald, and all that entails (the sex, the gold-plated home, the general constant proximity) should be enough to engender our sympathy. It’s pretty obvious to all that Melania never wanted any of this Presidentialrace stuff, and was happy in her life as a wife and mother. Characterising her as a cross between a dumb animal and a hooker, just because she married money and is happy to stay at home, is on a par with positing Hillary as corrupt schemer because she has ambition.
PERSON WE’LL BE HAPPY TO SEE NOTHING OF MICHAELLA McCOLLUM
Seedy and tawdry doesn’t quite cover it.
FOOD TREND WE ARE MOST SICK OF CLEAN EATING
The new dietary stick to beat ourselves with, dressed up as a form of harmless healthy eating.
OVERRATED OF THE YEAR ALICIA KEYS
For practically achieving sainthood because she no longer wears make-up. Really? That’s what we’ve come to. Is it really that big of a deal?
HERO OF THE YEAR ASHLING THOMPSON
GAA star Ashling Thompson, for inspiring young girls everywhere to get fit. The new Katie Taylor.
PERSON WE WERE MOST SORRY TO SEE GO IVAN YATES
Mornings are simply not the same without Ivan, left. Thank God we still have G Hook.
PERSON WE’D LIKE TO SEE MORE OF MIRIAM O’CALLAGHAN
Specifically in the throes of a Presidential campaign.
VOGUE WILLIAMS
For managing to be a non-annoying TV presenter, for not taking herself too seriously, and for her always-eclectic sense of style.
MILLENNIAL OF THE YEAR
It’s a toss-up between Sophie White, left, author of Recipes For A Nervous
Breakdown, and Stefanie Preissner, below left, the writer of TV show Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope.
BAD HAIRSTYLE OF THE YEAR THE FLOATER
Boris Johnson, obviously. Followed closely by his American version, Donald Trump.