It’s been a wild year for gay pop culture, and a great year for some very well dressed queers. While this is objectively great, style and taste are subjectively determined; that’s how we got to this very subjective but deeply felt top 10 11 as based on an internal Autostraddle staff survey.
11. Hayley Kiyoko
Honestly we were gonna do top 10 but voting led us here and we CANNOT close #20GAYTEEN without honoring the one who started it all. Our lord and savior lesbian Jesus, gifted us look after look, video after video of endless fits, color, pattern, and boldness; inspired style thiefs and bras as tops. Hayley’s style is vast, and mutable and she moves in that spectrum because she owns it like no one else.
10. Amandla Stendberg
Literally what can Amandla not pull off? That Sagittarius moon was shining all through 2018! From calculated and elegant pieces carefully put together to carefree and dynamic fits showing color and boldness — Amandla’s style really showed her growing more and more into herself this year and that makes me so excited for what they’ll bring in the future.
9. Indya Moore
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjv8_mWAKgf/
What a breakout year it’s been for Indya Moore. From her amazing fits as Angel on Pose (we all remember that pink fuzzy jacket?) to her radiant IRL looks on the red carpet PLUS cute selfies on Twitter, Indya’s style is brilliant and real.
8. Kiersey Clemons
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlQzeKxnm-v/
You know when people are like “no one wakes up like that?” I really, truly believe Kiersey does. From hats and tshirts to elegant gowns back to sports bras and sweatpants, she is literally never out of style and I’m ABSOLUTELY still not over this look, THANKS.
7. Janet Mock
I just wanna say that Writer looked really good on Janet Mock to begin with but she continues to out-style herself, because Director and Producer look REALLY fucking good also. She blessed us with some serious business mommi this year and I cannot wait to see what 2019 brings.
6. Jasika Nicole
She not only continues to wear cute (handmade!) dresses and knows perfectly how to combine colors and keep it fresh but consistent; she also conquers the perfect balance between soft vintage motifs AND slick and modern aesthetics. And did you miss that she also makes a lot of these clothes? I am CONVINCED absolutely NO ONE looked better in a jumpsuit or wide leg pant in 2018 than Jasika Nicole, thank you for coming to my TED talk.
5. Samira Wiley
I mean, she breaks everyone’s heart no matter what she wears, and truth is everything she wears is on point. From understanding color and CUT to pull off red carpet looks one after another to the boyish California edge of a simple tee and snapback, Samira killed it in 2018 just like she did every year prior.
4. Tessa Thompson
Tessa, the gift that keeps on giving — what a busy year she’s had! She didn’t just like serve looks in the 55 movies she did in 2018, she also did IRL and on the red carpet. If Jasika won best jumpsuit/wide leg pant award, absolutely no one looked better in green in 2018 than Tessa Thompson. Honorary mention to her role/look in the PYNK video with same-frequency pal Janelle Monáe. Loved this journey for them.
3. Sara Ramirez
THRILLED Sara made it to the top three. The Latinx style icon we all deserve, she blessed us every week with her Kate Sandoval style posts, particularly killing it in the boot and sock department (in my humble opinion). Later in the year because she clearly didn’t think that was enough and started serving some woke bae looks while never being caught with an off-week haircut. Excited for where the boot collection takes us next year.
2. Lena Waithe
How do I even begin to speak about Lena Waithe? It took me a WHILE to pick a photo for this because the thing is just endless you know what i mean? Hair on point, shoes, on point, fit on point, no one looks better in a hoodie, no one looks better with a snapback, and I SURE KNOW no one looks better in a rainbow fucking cape. When Lena’s cover for Vanity fair came out I went around the whole damn city to find a copy. When she buzzed her hair, I buzzed my hair. Lena Waithe is my personal Regina George, kinder but equally iconic. If she punched me in the face I would for sure be grateful. Lena Waithe wasn’t just one of the best dressed celebs of the year, she’s crowned herself as a style icon and she made sure WE ALL KNEW IT.
1. Janelle Monáe
https://www.instagram.com/p/BinEaCbBJnU/
Let’s not act like we didn’t see this coming. Anybody who didn’t see this coming is BLIND. As resident fire sign I am SO happy and GRATEFUL the crown for best dressed celeb of the year is given to a Sagittarius. Janelle represents the best of the sign; her style is just another avenue where she explores her endless creativity and imagination. Honoring both the past and the present, her arrow always looking ahead. Her style this year showed more than ever that perfect balance between the spontaneity and youth of her boldness and the carefulness, intentionality and heart of her soul. Janelle has always been a style icon, and this year she established herself even more. Whether it was her red carpet looks or video visions inspiring us to dress up for her concerts, she’s been a style icon all of 2018. I cannot wait to see what ride she will take us next year, because she’s never going to stop surprising us.
Lo! The end (of 20gayteen) is nigh!
#therapture
#eleventhheaven
🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌
Seeing Janelle Monae live was my fashion highlight for the year. The fashion in the audience was INSANE. People were wearing clothes made of actual gemstones and metal. The whole atmosphere was genderqueer and stylish as fuck.
Same! So many incredible looks, it was brilliant.
This was so true of when I saw her too! I just cried, it was so good. So, so, so good. And such joy and relaxed owning it.
this is the brownest best dressed list ever!!! i’m obsessed!! qtpoc have THE best style god bless and amen
Nice drip! As a black gay with style this is very affirming lol.
I would like to see where Lena with locs ranks compared to Lena without.
Post-haircut Lena Waithe is the new paradigm. Her haircut had my mom thinking she was “a little gay”.
😂😂😂
@noodlesforever I’m nominating you for a comment award.
I loved Locked Lena and when she cut them off, I wept a little bit, but the new style has really grown on me (no pun intended).
I AM FILLED WITH JOY.
Damn this is one of the most beautiful lists I have ever seen!
THANK YOU MIKA FOR THIS BLESSING
Eveyone on this list is a gift. Also, that image of Indya just solidified my crush on her more. 🧨
Yes janelle!! She is amazing
This was excellent! Every person on this list, besides being a QPOC also gives me pride in my own femme black clotheshorse self, the dapper butch sista I managed to snag this year who unlike any ex (cis-het male) really sees what I’m trying to do and just the fact that this site came through with this list and the inspiration it keeps giving! Thanks Mika!
Yessss! I’m glad you found somebody who gets your look. I just got to that point. I got basically Lena’s old hairstyle but shorter. I should’ve cut my hair like this 15 years ago. After my cut, a stylish stud gave me a nod and I felt like I had been knighted.
I’m literally shaking from Amandla Stendberg’s picture.
Janelle Monae is always the best dressed the way water is wet.
I say that as someone who enjoys water very much and is thrilled every time I submerse my self it it.
Water is magical.
I’m legit crying. Look at this reminder that there was good in 2018. I was getting misty by the time Sara Ramirez’s jumpsuit rolled up, then the cape to end all capes, and then just a puddle of tears and emotion and love and gratitude for our dirty computer archandroid and a release of everything terrible this year has been.
weeping
love love love all this fashion! Everyone on this list is amazing!