Here at Fashionista, our music tastes differ greatly — the best day of Tyler’s year was when One Direction’s new album dropped and the worst day of mine was when I found out I missed seeing Diplo deejay at two parties during New York Fashion Week — but we all generally agree that certain industry talents are far more stylish than others. This year was a particularly good one for women in pop music, with the likes of Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande putting out hit after hit — and videos to go along with them that were as much a feast for the eyes as they were for the ears.
In the spirit of the year coming to a close, we’ve rounded up the most fashionable music videos we saw in 2014, complete with model cameos, couture gowns, “Clueless” references and the kind of batshit crazy imagery that only fashion obsessives can truly appreciate. Read on to watch all of our picks in full. Enjoy!
TAYLOR SWIFT – “BLANK SPACE”
Let’s start with the most obvious, shall we? This beautiful video, filmed at Oheka Castle in Long Island, primarily features Swift running around with male model Sean O’Pry while wearing gowns by Oscar de la Renta, Elie Saab, Dolce & Gabbana and more. Things go way, way south in the end, but hey, at least everyone involved looks really pretty the whole time.
IGGY AZALEA FT. CHARLI XCX – “FANCY”
Iggy Azalea is without a doubt the most ubiquitous artist of the year, and her single “Fancy” is what really catapulted her to the top. The “Clueless”-inspired video that she and Charli XCX created to go along with the song is the perfect homage to every fashion girl’s cult-favorite ’90s flick, complete with a rotating closet, a plaid yellow skirt suit, a hopping Val party and knee socks galore. Did you really think this wouldn’t end up on our list? As if!
JENNY LEWIS – “JUST ONE OF THE GUYS”
Jenny Lewis (and her pastel rainbow suit) wrangled three of Hollywood’s most talented young actresses to dress up in dude drag, making it one of the most charming and hilarious music videos we’ve seen in a very long time. Kristen Stewart, Brie Larson and Anne Hathaway — along with drummer Tennessee Thomas — also double as Lewis’s bandmates in the video, all dressed in very chic, retro white suits.
HAIM – “IF I COULD CHANGE YOUR MIND”
his video from the Haim sisters looks like it’s from another era, which is primarily what we love about it. Este, Danielle and Alana each have a very distinct sense of style — from short shorts to Saint Laurent boots and leather jackets — and they’re all showcased perfectly in this simple (yet extremely well choreographed) clip.
BEYONCÉ – “7/11”
This video from Beyoncé was sneakily released in late November and the Internet went wild. It basically depicts Queen B and her friends having a rowdy hotel slumber party and they look damn good while doing it. Not that should come as a surprise to anyone.
BROOKE CANDY – “OPULENCE”
So, this one’s a little nuts. Brooke Candy is already an icon in the more fashion-y corners of the Internet (think VFiles), and this Steven Klein-directed music video is a good demonstration of why. The fashion direction by Nicola Formichetti is predictably out there, with plenty of leather pieces by Diesel (of which he is creative director) and a handful of cult-favorite designers like Gareth Pugh, Delfina Delettrez and Vivienne Westwood. Also, so. many. crystals.
FKA TWIGS – “TWO WEEKS”
FKA Twigs has gotten plenty of love from the fashion community over the last couple of years, and this stunning video not only proves that she has incredible vocal talent, but that she also has a knack for visual imagery as well. Stills from this video could easily double as a fashion editorial.
DIE ANTWOORD – “UGLY BOY”
OK, I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t really “get” Die Antwoord, but I really appreciate the pair’s commitment to their craft. Their consistent weirdness has won the South African rap duo plenty of love from fashion insiders — they can always be spotted front row at Alexander Wang’s Fashion Week shows — and their style is really like nothing else out there right now. This video for “Ugly Boy” is a great example of their goth-meets-urban-meets-raver aesthetic, and although it’s captivating, it’s very strange. Also, keep your eyes peeled for cameos from Cara Delevingne, Charlotte Free and Dita Von Teese.
LADY GAGA – “G.U.Y”
Lady Gaga might be a full-on jazz artist at this point, but in the beginning of the year she released this gloriously campy music video of cinematic proportions (the original version has an 11-minute run time). Shot at Hearst Castle, the short film is heavily inspired by Greek mythology, and Gaga has a very Donatella Versace look about her throughout. It also features appearances from a number of the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” all decked out in matching pink dresses.
AZEALIA BANKS – “CHASING TIME”
From a PR standpoint, rapper Azealia Banks hasn’t had the best year (she should probably keep the Twitter rants and off-color slurs to a minimum in 2015), but this recently released video proves that she does have talent underneath all that attitude. In the black-and-white clip for “Chasing Time” — which recalls classic music videos like Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” and Jay Z’s “On to the Next One” — Banks appears in a number of striking, futuristic outfits, one of which includes a very sparkly nipple pasty.
BANKS – “DROWNING”
Fashion people love Banks and couldn’t get enough of the young songstress when she hit the festival circuit earlier this year. She seemed to be playing to the style set from the beginning with her sultry voice and sophisticated aesthetic, and this video for her single “Drowning” is a good place to start if you’re just beginning to dig in to her music.
