Entertainment
14 New Style Stars to Watch in 2014
With a new year comes a new "rising" class of cool kids to keep our eye on. And if this was the year of Jennifer Lawrence completely solidifying her status as the girl you most want to be/be with/be BFFs with, then this next set of stylish stars has big shoes to fill. It shouldn't be too hard though.
With Dakota Johnson starring as the naive Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey, 'Blurred Lines' model Emily Ratajkowski nabbing a role in Ben Affleck's Gone Girl, and Theo James moonlighting as Four in Divergent, the "new" Hollywood guard is bound to impress with upcoming promo tours, red carpet appearances, and everything in between. Here's hoping.
Lorde
Most Famous For: New Zealand singer-songwriter Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O’Connor, aka Lorde, is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s only 17 years old. Her addictive single “Royals” made it to the top spot of Billboard’s Hot 100 list and on iTunes, and her debut album, Pure Heroine, is still climbing the charts.
What’s Next: Considering she’s still in high school, there’s ample time to see how Lorde’s sound evolves. Plus, there are more tour dates on deck to promote Pure Heroine.
Lupita Nyong'o
Most Famous For: The Kenyan actress and filmmaker knocked it out of the park with her portrayal of Patsey in 12 Years a Slave.
What’s Next: With all of the Oscar buzz around 12 Years a Slave, this is clearly just the beginning of Nyong’o’s red carpet reign. Not to mention, the Yale School of Drama grad will star alongside Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson in the 2014 film Non-Stop.
Emily Ratajkowski
Most Famous For: You might recognize model Emily Ratajkowski better without her top on. No, seriously. Does Robin Thicke’s controversial ‘Blurred Lines’ music video ring a bell? See here (NSFW).
What’s Next: The stunning brunette has just been cast as Nick Dunne’s college-age girlfriend in next year’s book-to-film, Gone Girl, alongside Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. And since this won’t be last time you’ll be confronted with her last name, here’s how you pronounce it.
Dakota Johnson
Most Famous For: The 24-year-old Los Angeles native is the offspring of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, and up until this year, that has been her primary claim to fame.
What’s Next: Johnson will star as Anastasia Steele in the much-anticipated Fifty Shades of Grey movie. Wonder what her parents think about that?
Jamie Dornan
Most Famous For: First, he gained attention as Keira Knightley’s boyfriend. But let’s be honest. The 31-year-old Irishman posed in just his briefs for Calvin Klein campaigns like this, and that’s what we most identify with.
What’s Next: After some back and forth (er, hello Charlie Hunnam), Dornan scored the role of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey. Soon, women all over the world will know him as a BDSM enthusiast.
Kilo Kish
Most Famous For: The 23-year-old Florida-native-turned-Brooklyn-resident is a Renaissance woman. She’s a DJ, vocalist, songwriter, painter, designer, and model to start.
What’s Next: She just released her new mixtape, K+, on her website, she answers questions from fans on her Tumblr, and we have a hunch she’ll be promoting her work well into 2014.
Margot Robbie
Most Famous For: The Australian actress starred in the short-lived show, Pan Am, and had a supporting role in the latest Rachel McAdams’ rom-com, About Time.
What’s Next: Looks like Martin Scorcese approves of the 23-year-old — she’s the female lead in The Wolf of Wall Street. Suffice it to say, 2014 will start on a high note. Did we mention she’s also starring in a film called Focus with Will Smith? Yeah.
Theo James
Most Famous For: The 29-year-old British actor stole the hearts of many when he starred as the very dashing, very rakish, and now very dead Mr. Kemal Pamuk in Downton Abbey.
What’s Next: You may have heard of a little film called Divergent? The blockbuster, which hits theaters in March, also stars another actress du jour, Shailene Woodley. Consider this the last time Theo James isn’t on your radar.
Adelaide Kane
Most Famous For: The 23-year-old Australian actress got her start in MTV’s Teen Wolf and now plays Mary, Queen of Scots in The CW’s Reign.
What’s Next: Reign hasn’t been renewed for a second season yet, but nine more episodes have been ordered. Fingers crossed, Kane gets to continue working her magic as the doomed queen.
Adèle Exarchopoulos
Most Famous For: The French actress caught the attention of many with her role in this year’s film, Blue Is the Warmest Color.
What’s Next: Blue Is the Warmest Color won the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, and there’s buzz swirling about what other awards this French film might accrue. Stay tuned for more Exarchopoulos red-carpet moments and adorable interviews like this (start at 11:29).
Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano of JOHNNYSWIM
Most Famous For: This ridiculously talented musical duo are also the chicest married couple. To date, they’ve made the late-night show rounds, performed at Bonnaroo this year, and their single, ‘Heart Beats,’ is featured in a Fiat commercial. Fun fact: Sudano’s mom is Donna Summer and her dad is composer Bruce Sudano.
What’s Next: Nothing has been officially announced, but we’re guessing there will be more tour dates, more awesome music, and more enviable style on display.
Hannah Bronfman
Most Famous For: The daughter of American businessman Edgar Bronfman, Jr. is an NYC girl-about-town — she DJs, she’s an entrepreneur, she even acts.
What’s Next: Not only is she working the decks at some of the most exclusive fashion parties, she also just launched an app called Beautified and co-founded an “eco multi-media company” called GreenOwl Records. With her cool-girl style and start-up attitude, it’s pretty much a guarantee we’ll be seeing much more of Bronfman in 2014.
Cressida Bonas
Most Famous For: The 24-year-old Brit is rumored to be Prince Harry’s serious girlfriend. Rumors are swirling that Harry might propose over the holidays.
What’s Next: No one can really predict the course of a relationship, but given our collective obsession with following Kate Middleton’s every style move, let’s just say, Bonas isn’t off-limits either.
Michael B. Jordan
Most Famous For: The 26-year-old actor impressed critics and audiences alike with his breakthrough performance in Fruitvale Station, but also know him from his roles as a teenage drug dealer in The Wire and as quarterback in Friday Night Lights.
What’s Next: The dapper dresser will continue to show us his acting in 2014 when he stars alongside Zac Efron in the comedy, That Awkward Moment.
