The second annual WWD Style Awards officially launched the 2026 awards circuit, providing a glamorous, industry-focused prelude to Golden Globes weekend. Held on Friday, January 9, at the newly renovated Regent Santa Monica Beach, the event gathered Hollywood’s most influential figures, celebrating not only the stars who define red carpet moments but the creative architects who craft them. The evening successfully blended high-wattage celebrity presence—including Demi Moore, George Clooney, Kristen Stewart, Emily Blunt, and Cameron Diaz—with sharp, forward-looking commentary on the future of fashion and beauty.
The atmosphere was one of palpable excitement, setting an elevated tone for the season ahead. The guest list read like a definitive index of contemporary cultural influence, spanning generations of Hollywood royalty and digital innovators. Among the constellation of attendees were style legends Cindy Crawford and Carolyn Murphy, modern tastemakers like Hailey Bieber and Paris Hilton, and breakout stars such as Tyriq Withers and McKenna Grace. Each arrival underscored WWD’s commitment to recognizing style as a serious business, deserving of dedicated accolade.
Honoring a Legacy and Defining Iconography
The emotional centerpiece of the evening was the posthumous recognition of the late Giorgio Armani, who was awarded the Red Carpet Visionary honor. George Clooney, a longtime friend and champion of the designer, accepted the award, delivering a speech that mixed deep reverence with characteristic, self-deprecating wit.
Clooney, impeccably dressed in a tribute to the designer, spoke movingly about Armani’s unparalleled half-century contribution to fashion, noting that the designer had "left us far too soon" despite reaching the age of 91. He highlighted Armani’s transformative impact on cinematic style, particularly the pivotal moment when Richard Gere popularized the brand in American Gigolo.
"I would argue that if anyone should be up here talking about Giorgio, it should probably be Richard Gere. I think the two of them put each other on the map," Clooney quipped, before adding with a grin, "But since he couldn’t show up, f—k him." The tribute encapsulated the symbiotic relationship between Hollywood and high fashion that Armani so expertly defined, establishing the template for modern red carpet dressing.
Receiving the coveted Fashion Icon award was Demi Moore, whose recent style evolution has cemented her status as a red carpet powerhouse. Moore arrived in a stunning look—a bespoke Gucci gown, meticulously chosen by her longtime stylist, Brad Goreski. Moore used her acceptance speech to peel back the layers of her public image, admitting that left to her own devices, she’d often "dress like a 12-year-old boy."
However, she celebrated the red carpet as a profound creative outlet. "These are also versions of me," Moore explained. "That’s part of the beauty of the red carpet is I get to play. It’s a place to express, to tell stories in a different way." She stressed the rigorous effort required to achieve effortless glamour, acknowledging the collective work of her team, but ultimately emphasizing that her primary goal is "to make it a lot of fun."
Moore also treated the audience to a playful anecdote involving her globally famous dog, Pilaf. "I’m sorry I didn’t bring Pilaf tonight," she joked, noting she had missed a photo opportunity with her pet and Clooney. "We’re working on a book that is Pilaf and her leading men."
The New Faces of Influence: Beauty, Wellness, and Digital Style
The WWD Style Awards shone a light on how celebrity influence has diversified beyond acting and modeling, recognizing leaders in beauty, wellness, and digital trendsetting.
Pamela Anderson, awarded Beauty Icon, captured the room with her candid and humble acceptance speech. Known for her recent embrace of a minimalist, natural aesthetic, Anderson has become a symbol of authentic self-acceptance in the beauty space. "Who would have thought I’d be here?" she reflected. "This has been such a wild couple of years full of surprises, and I always say I never know what’s next and I’m okay with that." Her recognition was praised by beauty founder Diana Madison, who called Anderson a trailblazer who "singlehandedly started this minimal, no-makeup trend," positioning her at "the forefront of owning your skin and your beauty."
Hailey Bieber was honored as Style Trailblazer, a nod to her unparalleled influence on global street style and her successful transition into a beauty mogul with Rhode. Bieber acknowledged the crucial role of collaboration in crafting her image. "I know that everybody in this room would agree that we could never create the moments that we create without our amazing collaborators, from hair to makeup to styling," she said, before being playfully interrupted by legendary eyebrow artist Anastasia Soare, who shouted, "and eyebrows!"
Reflecting on her journey, Bieber wryly commented on the permanence of digital documentation. "Mine is really well documented, you know? Can’t delete off Google Images, unfortunately," she laughed. She defined a successful style moment not just by the outfit, but when "the hair, the makeup, the lighting, the outfit" all converge perfectly, allowing her to walk away "feeling great." Celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta, a close collaborator, affirmed her impact, calling her "a force to be reckoned with" across both fashion and beauty.
The Wellness Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Kourtney Kardashian Barker, acknowledging her business acumen in building the Poosh brand and shaping public dialogue around holistic living. Her speech was brief but powerful, directed at past critics: "I was once told that I don’t know what it takes to run a business that I’m passionate about. Turns out I do."
The Unsung Heroes: Styling and Aesthetics
The WWD Style Awards dedicated substantial recognition to the specialized professionals whose work often defines the public perception of celebrity. Erin Walsh was named Style Maker of the Year, while Jason Bolden took home Red Carpet Stylist of the Year. Adir Abergel was celebrated as Red Carpet Hair Stylist of the Year, and Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine earned Red Carpet Skin Savior of the Year. Omega was also honored for its rising presence on the step-and-repeat, winning Red Carpet Watch of the Year.
Jason Bolden, whose client roster includes Cynthia Erivo, Nicole Kidman, and Michael B. Jordan, delivered a profound acceptance speech. He admitted his preference for staying focused—"horse blinders on… don’t look left, don’t look right"—but used the platform to advocate for a broader societal shift. He urged the room, "pay attention. Be conscious, be conscious, because we have to be kind and be considerate and also turn the page."
Forecasting Trends and Embracing Drama
The evening concluded with sharp commentary from industry heavyweights on the shifting aesthetics of 2026. Cindy Crawford offered a timeless piece of advice on approaching fashion: "When you’re a little kid and you play dress up, you don’t care what other people think. You’re doing it for yourself. So, I think just encouraging people—if they like it, wear it. Don’t be too worried. It’s not that serious."
Model Chanel Iman embodied this spirit of fun, stepping out in a bold, chartreuse-green feathered coat and minidress. "I normally wouldn’t go for something with feathers and charms and things, but this is a new year, new me, and I said, why not?" she explained, signaling a willingness among stars to embrace high-risk, high-reward fashion.
This sentiment was echoed by fashion mogul Rachel Zoe, who spoke about the emotional resonance of glamour. "How you look on the outside very much affects how you feel on the inside, not in a superficial way, but in a very emotional way," Zoe asserted. She noted the industry’s current creative tension, loving "the return of drama and corsetry," but also appreciating the "late-’90s simplicity from the Kate Moss era."
TV personality Christine Chiu firmly placed her hopes on the return of maximalism, articulating what many in the room felt: "I’m happy that the quiet luxury era is quietly ushering itself away, and we can enjoy louder, more colorful creativity again." This forecast, coupled with Patrick Ta’s prediction of "bursts of color, brighter, more bold shades" in beauty, confirms that 2026 is poised to be a season defined by unapologetic, high-impact style.
The WWD Style Awards served as a vital reminder that style is a complex art form built on collaboration, creativity, and conscious decision-making. By honoring icons past and present, alongside the dedicated professionals behind the scenes, the event solidified its standing as an indispensable calendar date, readying the industry for the spectacle of the Golden Globes and the ensuing months of high-stakes glamour.