Dust off your tiara: Tatler’s annual celebration of the best gowns of the year is here.
Debutantes? Check. Drama? Check. Divas in tiaras and suites of ice-white diamonds? Double-check. See below the doyennes who dazzled in 2025’s most desirable dresses…
JANUARY
Jordan Roth in Miss Sohee at Paris Couture Week
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Princess Maria Carolina and Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon Two-Sicilies in Georges Chakra at Pairs Couture Week
Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images
Starting off 2025 gowns of the year strong, Paris Couture Week returned to the City of Love with a cascade of glittering collections. On hand to witness their debuts were the most fabulous of the fashion world glitterati. Jordan Roth was spotted in embroidered decadence courtesy of Miss Sohee, while a royal sister act of chic – Princesses Maria Carolina and Maria Chiara of Bourbon Two-Sicilies opted for gilded designs from Georges Chakra.
FEBRUARY
The Marchioness of Bath in Clio Peppiatt at the BAFTA Rising Stars party
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Millie Bobby Brown dons an Annie’s Ibiza gown at the world premiere of Netflix’s Electric State
JB Lacroix
It was a constellation of glittering gowns for a starry February. The Marchioness of Bath slipped into a shimmering moon and orb-adorned Clio Peppiatt number at the BAFTA Rising Star party, and Millie Bobby Brown oozed with gem-encrusted grandeur from Annie’s Ibiza at the Electric State premier.
MARCH
Princess Alexandra of Hanover dons a Giambattista Valli creation at the Monaco Rose Ball
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Lou Doillon wears Gucci at Le Grand Dîner du Louvre held at Musée du Louvre
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The annual Monaco Rose Ball once again proved its prowess as a leading destination of gown glory. The best dressed at the euro royal-packed event? Princess Alexandra of Hanover, who looked delightfully regal in a voluminous powder-pink silhouette from Giambattista Valli. Over in Paris, queen of cool-girl glamour and daughter of Jane Birkin, Lou Doillon, garnered much fanfare in her thigh-high split Gucci dress at a glitzy gala at the Louvre.
APRIL
Jean Shafiroff in a piece by Victor de Souza at a New York Women’s Foundation event the philanthropist hosted
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Florence Pugh in Elie Saab for the Thunderbolts UK premiere
Karwai Tang
New York’s Upper East Side was a rendezvous of elegance in April when American society doyenne Jean Shafiroff hosted an event for the city’s Women’s Foundation and wowed in a bow-bedecked Victor de Souza gown. Back here in Old Blighty, Florence Pugh opted for gothic glamour in an Elie Saab look at the Thunderbolts premiere.
MAY
Natasha Poonawalla wears Manish Malhotra at the Met Gala
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Lady Victoria Hervey opts for Loretti by Loralilova at Cannes Film Festival
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On the first Monday of May, the Met Gala returned in all its lavish splendour. Couture-collecting style idol Natasha Poonawalla made an opulent appearance in Manish Malhotra. Meanwhile at the Cannes Film Festival, Lady Victoria Hervey took to the red carpet in a sumptuous caped design from Loretti by Loralilova.
JUNE
Zara Tindall wears Laura Green at Royal Ascot
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Princess Beatrice of York in Beulah London at Royal Ascot
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All eyes were on Ascot in June as the best dressed revellers from the Royal Enclosure showcased this year’s most entrancing racetrack-ready regalia. Zara Tindall was a monochromatic maven in a black and white piece from Laura Green, while Princess Beatrice joined the gingham gang in a belted look from Beulah London.
JULY
Lady Kitty Spencer wears Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda at the house’s Alta Moda celebrations in Rome
Ernesto Ruscio
Countess Lara Cosima Henckel von Donnersmark wears Breadon Burrell at the Bal D’Ete at the Musée Des Arts Décoratifs
Arnold Jerocki
Over in Rome, Dolce & Gabbana presented their dazzling days-long affair for a new season of the house’s Alta Moda collections – the house’s Italian answer to haute couture. Lady Kitty Spencer paired elegance with edge in a see-through corseted gown. In Paris, Countess Lara Cosima became a goddess of glamour at the Bal D’Ete in a glimmering piece from Breadon Burrell that featured a regal mantua covered in layers of ecru lace.
AUGUST
Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton at the Venice Film Festival
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Tish Weinstock in Tom Ford at the Tom Ford Black Orchid Reserve party at Palazzo Contarini Polignac
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At the Venice Film Festival, Emma Stone made a statuesque appearance in a peplum waisted piece from Louis Vuitton. At the Palazzo Contarini Polagnac, Tish Weinstock toasted Tom Ford in a black lace number for a party hosted by the celebrated designer.
SEPTEMBER
Princess Catharina-Amalia of Orange dons a Taller Marmo dress at the opening of the Netherlands’ parliament
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Amanda Seyfried opts for a Prada gown at the Venice Film Festival
JB Lacroix
When it came time for the Netherlands to officially open parliament for another year, Princess Catharina-Amalia of Orange was the picture of royal refinement in a asymmetric ensemble from Taller Marmo. And for Amanda Seyfreid, a bow-adorned Prada piece was the ultimate power move during Venice Film Festival.
OCTOBER
Paris Hilton in Vivienne Westwood during Paris Fashion Week
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Sabine Getty wears Dior for the American Ballet Theatre Fall Gala
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At September’s Paris Fashion Week, hotel heiress and eternal style muse Paris Hilton was a pink princess at the Vivienne Westwood show. At New York’s American Ballet Theatre Gala, Sabine Getty was an icy vision in a column gown from Dior.
NOVEMBER
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Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill wears archive Giorgio Armani at Le Bal
Hubert Cecil
Carolina Lansing in a Wes Gordon gown at Le Bal
Is there anywhere better for scions of chic to shine than at Le Bal des Debutantes? At the Shangri-La, former Tatler cover star, Lady Araminta Spencer-Churchill bought life and luxury back to an archival Giorgio Armani number. And Carolina Herrera’s granddaughter, Carolina Lansing, wore a creation by her grandmother’s eponymous label – a dreamscape of polka-dot ruffles for her society debut.
DECEMBER
The Princess of Wales in a Jenny Packham design at the banquet dinner for the German state visit at Windsor Castle
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Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece wears Brunello Cucinelli at the Brunello, Il Visionario Garbato premiere
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As the twinkling lights of the festive season began to burn brighter, two princesses delivered us suitably sparkling ensembles. Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece was a fringed delight in Brunello Cucinelli, and the Princess of Wales put on a midnight-hued deluge of glitter in a Jenny Packham show-stopper at a state dinner hosted in honour of Germany’s presidential visit at Windsor Castle.