The year started badly for Cheryl, with some very public marital issues. But look at her now: everybody’s favourite Saturday night pocket venus is reborn in skintight Herve Leger and eyepopping pink lipgloss Photograph: Richard Williams/FilmMagic.com
For proving that clothes can look far better on a 42-year-old athletically built woman (note: Power Plate and hiking, apparently) than they do on scrawny teenagers. We missed you, lady. Welcome back! Photograph: Barry Brecheisen/Getty
Rocking a cute pixie crop way before VB cottoned on. Also an impressively early adopter of 2008’s Statement Earring. Any popsicle fashion-forward enough to choose a frilly, wonky dress on the red carpet gets our vote Photograph: Kevin Mazur/Getty
For coordinating her bossy personality with a similarly strict style. Has proved that being over 40 does not mean a woman has to reach for the Hampstead Bazaar. A woman who knows the value of an unexpected shoe Photograph: Jonathan Hordle/Rex Features
Anyone who can steal the limelight from Paris Hilton at her own London party courtesy of a dashing white satin suit is OK by us. That he keeps dressing like this pretty much every day is an added bonus Photograph: John Furniss/Getty
This year, Lilo ditched the bubblegum-trash, minis-and-sunglasses, cookie-cutter LA look in favour of on-trend leggings, a to-die-for collection of ankle boots and the sharpest jackets west of Paris Vogue. Coming out clearly suits her Photograph: Donato Sardella/Getty
The Chung formula (subverted posh classics, vintage touches, scruffy hair and a lotta leg) is easy to identify but hard to clone. Here’s to the undisputed queen of this year’s Sexy Tomboy look Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features
The editor of French Vogue, along with her fashion director Emmanuelle Alt, influenced our wardrobes in 2008 by way of Zara and Topshop. Their fierce brand of Gallic haute-rock chic looks set to dominate next year too Photograph: Dominique Charriau/Getty
Jason, Gary, Howard, Mark. Four thirtysomething born-again style gurus who are currently helping M&S through the recession. Surprisingly, a swing tag saying “as worn by Gary Barlow” is no longer a sartorial curse Photograph: Rex Features
If Obama knows how to work foreign and domestic policy half as well as these ladies work their coordinated dresses and ballet pumps, we're going to be OK Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP
