What a year it's been. From the election and Brat summer to the Olympics and the never-ending Eras Tour, 2024 was nothing short of a doozy. But for MC's community of powerful, purposeful, and stylish women, it was a year marked by finding inspiration in the everyday.
The humble worker's barn jacket became the jacket trend of the year. The simple act of sandwiching shirts changed how we dressed. Applying Vaseline before perfume was the beauty hack we didn't know (how much) our readers needed.
It was also a year when readers couldn't get enough raw female talent. From Kirsten Dunst and her big return to the silver screen to WNBA darling A’ja Wilson and Industry-rising star Myha’la, our features on female A-listers were some of our most clicked, shared, and read of the year.
In the era of micro-trends and TikTok, defining the year in a few moments is nearly impossible. That said, we did our best to capture 2024 through a look back at the stories that most captured Marie Claire readers' attention.
TV’s Newest It Girl: Myha’la
Industry filled our appointment television void this year and became more of a cultural phenomenon than ever. So did its star Myha’la, a style icon on the rise that we loved featuring in our September issue.
The Story That Took You Inside a War Zone: Gaza Midwives
Procedures performed with kitchen scissors. Makeshift medical tents with no pain medication, clean water, or electricity. In this feature story, Marie Claire went inside one of the most dangerous places in the world to be pregnant.
The Styling Trick You Stole From Fashion Insiders: Shirt Sandwiching
Leandra Medine Cohen introduced the world to "shirt sandwiches"—and you couldn't get enough. The recipe of two shirts (typically a knit layer and button-down) with a third shirt "sandwiched" on top helped satisfy when your style felt stale this spring.
The "Anti-Aging" Product That Finally Has Options for Everyone: Sunscreen
With over 50 (and counting) new products launched in the sunscreen category this year, there’s no longer any excuse to forgo daily SPF. It is, without a doubt, the most effective skincare product to minimize signs of premature aging that money can buy. No wonder so many of you shopped our comprehensive list—which features vetted, expert-approved products—to find your next favorite sunscreen.
The Broadway Revival That Had Fans Abuzz: 'Romeo + Juliet'
One of the most highly anticipated shows on Broadway this year: the Gen Z take on Romeo and Juliet. Featuring a cast of rising stars, we were particularly captivated by Tommy Dorfman in her dual role as Tybalt and the Nurse and thrilled to profile her amid her big onstage moment.
The Unexpected Roommate Trend That Got You Talking: Roomates Over 50
We explored how sharing space with a housemate can be a welcome salve during middle age: a time of career shifts, empty nests, and relationship transformations.
Your Fictional Style Icon: Joanne from 'Nobody Wants This'
Forget the red carpet: Everyone wanted a piece of Joanne's wardrobe from Nobody Wants This. Her lineup of Reformation skirts, Favorite Daughter suiting, and Sézane bags were all fit for a modern-day rom-com heroine—and for us all to dress like main characters IRL.
The Industry Secret We All Wanted for a Longer-Lasting Perfume: Add Vaseline
Hundreds of thousands of you learned to apply your perfume like a professional this year, a.k.a. prime your wrists with Vaseline (a cult-favorite occlusive product) to help the scent linger, longer. And while there’s no science-driven evidence that proves you can doctor your perfume for 8+ hours of wear, this quick tip is one of the easiest, and cheapest, ways to get the most out of your favorite fragrance.
The Trend Everyone Bought Into: The Barn Jacket
In 2024, amid a popularity surge in the fashion and celeb crowd, the barn coat became an arbiter of good taste and personal style. It was hands-down the coat of the year, spanning time zones and tax brackets.
The Hollywood Darling You Really, Really Missed: Kirsten Dunst
At the time of publication, actress Kristen Dunst hadn’t given an interview in two years. Her comments on sexism, her relationship, motherhood, and her work, made for one of our most-read profiles to date.
The Movie That Haunted You After You Left the Theater: 'The Substance'
The Substance made waves for several reasons—from Demi Moore’s comeback to its use of feminist horror to examine harmful beauty standards. How filmmaker Coralie Fargeat executed the film’s body horror was clearly at the top of movie-goers’ minds, leading them to our breakdown interview with its prosthetics and makeup team and turn it into one of our most popular film stories of the year.
The Shoe No One Wanted To Take Off: Alaïa’s Ballet Flat
Fashion may be notorious for its fleeting taste, but you voted in Alaïa’s ballerina flat for another trend season. Whether they’re an overhyped trend or a classic style is still debated.
The Music You Had on Repeat: TWICE
K-pop continues to be a dominant cultural force in the U.S., and one of the genre’s biggest groups this year was TWICE. When their EP STRATEGY dropped this fall, they opened up to us in our “Listen Up” series about their favorite music—much to the excitement of their fandom, known as ONCE, who shared it across social media.
The Wellness Trend We All Embraced in 2024: Digital Soundbaths
Is there anyone who doesn’t want to feel calmer or more relaxed, or have more focus in their day-to-day life? That’s the energy we’re bringing into 2025, especially now we know how to enjoy a soundbath anywhere, any time. With digital-first options growing more popular and plentiful by the day, we’re confident you'll have the type of prosperous, record-breaking year you deserve.
The Cause That Inspired You to Donate: Abortion Pilots
During a year when we heard a lot about reproductive health rights, we took you on one woman’s 700-mile journey to get an abortion.
The Athlete You Became Obsessed With: A’ja Wilson
It was the year of women’s sports (about time!) and Las Vegas Aces’ basketball player A’ja Wilson was one of the driving forces behind the sports’ popularity. We traveled to the desert to talk to her about the history of women’s basketball and the role she’s playing in it.
The High-Tech Beauty Trend That’s Forever Changed Your Manicure: NFC Nails
Beauty and technology are still finding new and innovative combinations to explore (a trend we predict will continue throughout 2025) and this year, the microchip manicure is one of the buzziest options to pique your interest. NFC nails are harnessing Bluetooth technology to share contact information, pay for your morning coffee, and even unlock your car, all with the tap of one perfectly manicured finger. If that doesn’t feel like the future of beauty, we’re not sure what does.