By Amy Wicks, Yahoo Trends Editor
Drake and RiRi’s on-again, off-again relationship, 1D’s breakup, athleisure or nude lips – what were this year’s top trends in pop culture, entertainment, fashion and beauty? We dove deep to reveal our community’s top searches in our third-annual “Best of Polyvore” report.
From America to Australia, we uncovered the buzziest celebrities, hottest fashion trends, splurge-worthy designer duds and best beauty finds of 2016.
Keeping Up With…Kylie
While the Balmain-clad Kardashian klan is hot, the one to keep up with this year is Kylie Jenner, Polyvore’s Top Female Fashion Icon of 2016. On social media, Kylie gives her fans an inside peek into the life of the world’s most glamorous teen. Her Lip Kits, Kyliner and nail polish collections constantly sell out within minutes. Plus, Kylie garnered 34% more interest this year than everyone’s favorite bad girl, Rihanna, who ranks #2 on our list.
Not to be outdone by the youngest Kardashian/Jenner sister, supermodel BFFs Kendall Jenner (3) and Gigi Hadid (4) give Kylie a run for her money. The always cool Selena Gomez (5) rounds out our top five. Honorable mentions go to Ariana Grande, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, and style chameleon Olivia Palermo.
Drake Worked for Your Searches (Work, Work, Work, Work, Work)
Disappointing “Beliebers” worldwide, Harry Styles tops Polyvore’s Top Male Fashion Icons list for the second year, beating out Justin Bieber (2) by 56%! Drake ranked third, thanks to his on-again, off-again bae, RiRi (#2 on our Top Female Fashion Icons list) – searches for him increased 31%! The year’s most surprising addition is the late David Bowie (4). Rounding out our Top Male Fashion Icons list is fellow 1D-er Niall Horan (5).
The Boy Band Game is still strong this year, as honorable mentions go to 5SOS star Michael Clifford, ex-1D bandmate Zayn Malik and Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun.
Dressing Down Is What’s Up
Step aside, stilettos! The Polyvore community went wild for athleisure for the second consecutive year – sneakers never looked so hot! Adidas Superstar is Polyvore’s hottest fashion must-have in 2016. Searches for footwear faves like Nike Air Max Thea spiked 71% and slip-on sneakers spiked 85% this year. Being comfortable is key, witness the fact that bomber jackets and mesh leggings are trending worldwide. Retro styles are also having a moment, as searches for throwback favorites like Adidas Superstar (+286%), Choker Necklaces (+150%) and Mini Backpacks (+68%) saw major spikes when compared to 2015.
Calling All Bag Ladies: Lux Is In!
Affordable fashion came out on top in 2014, but Polyvore’s Most Popular Designers are riding high-end this year. Luxury designers like Gucci (1), Chanel (2), Valentino (3), Fendi (4) and Givenchy (5) came out on top in 2016. First-ranked Gucci garnered 33% more searches than second-ranked Chanel. But what items topped the list? Handbags were the top-searched item for each designer save for Valentino and his swanky Rockstud sneakers.
Red Lips Are Out
On the beauty front, the Polyvore community paid homage to Top Female Fashion Icon, Kylie Jenner, and went wild for nude lipstick. Searches for the shade increased 553% and matte lipstick increased 267%, which further proves King Kylie’s massive influence.
Our Most Popular Beauty Brands list was a mixed makeup bag, with luxe lines like MAC (1), NARS (2) and Urban Decay (3) topping accessible brands like Bath & Body Works (4) and Clinique (5). Polyvore beauty gurus hoarded O.G. products this year, as searches for cult favorite products like Nars’ Orgasm Blush and Urban Decay’s Naked Palette had an edge over new launches.
Style Spotter - Who’s Shopping for What, Where?
One of the best parts about Polyvore’s fashion community is its ability to capture and embrace global trends, right in their backyards. On the homefront, high-neck swimwear was America’s top fashion trend, with 18 states slotting it as the most popular item. Local Polyvore searches by city put a spotlight on kicks. In fact, 14 major cities showed sneakers as the most popular fashion trend.
2016 proved that our community dared to go bare. Nude lipstick is having a major moment, with 28 U.S. states and 12 countries sporting the pale hue – further proof that Kylie Jenner’s best-selling Lip Kits are taking the world by storm.
When it comes to pop culture, fashion and beauty styles, Polyvore’s global community has a finger on the pulse of all that’s influential. What did you think of our “Best of Polyvore” report? Are you wondering where your favorite A-listers, fashion finds or beauty buys rank on our list? Share your thoughts by reaching out to @Polyvore on Twitter and using the hashtag #PolyData.