That is so 2012: A look back at this year's fads

That is so 2012: A look back at this year’s fads

Hollywood stars also played peekaboo by wearing gowns with sheer panels and cutouts, none more so than Kristen Stewart, who turned heads at the L.A. premiere of "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2" in a sheer corseted Zuhair Murad gown and wore several more nearly nude looks while promoting the film in the following weeks. The sheer trend has translated to the street in more subtle forms, among them sheer chiffon shirts and sleeves.

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 30, 2012 12 AM PT

IT’S ALMOST 2013 — which means it’s time to take a look back at the sartorial standouts (Gwyneth Paltrow on the Oscars red carpet) and fashion faux pas (Paul Ryan on the campaign trail) of the previous 12 months.

Though the world didn’t end, as a flurry of Internet chatter had predicted, some in the fashion industry might have thought it had when Neiman Marcus teamed with Target on a holiday collection or when Nicolas Ghesquière announced he was leaving Balenciaga, the French fashion house he helped rebuild.

We’ve recapped those moments and many more that shaped the year in fashion — as it intersected with the world of celebrity (Lady Gaga’s perfume launch), in the media (Helen Gurley Brown’s death), in stores (Marni for H&M;), on the runway (Raf Simons’ ready-to-wear debut at Dior), on the world stage (the London Olympics). And we’re not forgetting what we actually wore (neon and prints).

All told, it was a very good year. Au revoir, 2012!

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Runway news: Such eye-catchers

Fashion teams up with pop culture

Sizzling hot looks: Fashion fads of 2012

2012 fashion and style around the globe

Celebrity wardrobe hits and misses of 2012