Fashion: A year of seriously stylish women

MEGHAN MARKLE : Definitely a contender for the Best Newcomer category, Meghan has made an assured and independent foray as a new Royal fashionista, wearing ripped jeans for the Invictus Games and then, for the official engagement photos, styling herself in a luxurious white wrap coat by Line, a brand from her most recent adopted home of Canada. The coat sold out within minutes, has already been renamed the Meghan in her honour, and will be back and available to buy from February. Shes all set to bring Hollywood gloss to British Royal style, and we look forward to next years looks. Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

British women have been setting the bar high this year for red carpet and special occasion dressing. Stylish, high-profile Brits tend not to set out for the red carpet groomed to unlikely perfection, all super-glossy and shiny, predictably and unremarkably coiffed and polished. They leave that to their American co-stars.

Instead, they present a more distinctive and elegant style, one that they own themselves, not a look dictated by the box office or a Hollywood stylist.

Whether in their 20s or their 80s, they show us all that, to shine, we don’t have to look like an identikit model/actress/whatever.

Here are the British women (and one adopted American newcomer) whose effortless style has impressed and inspired this year.