If there’s one thing we know for sure about 2018, it’s that fashion and beauty news will be dominated by romance. From high-profile celebrity dates to infamous reality show mishaps, 2018 was the year of the celebrity couple.
As 2019 looms, the list of celebrity crushes and romances just gets longer. From Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin to Hilarie Burton and Ben Affleck, here’s a rundown of the most anticipated celebrity couples of the year.
Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs
When it comes to celebrity couples, few are as iconic as the Twilight saga’s iconic couple, Robert Pattinson and FKA Twigs. The pair met in the middle of 2017 and became an immediate sensation, with fans taking to social media to lament and celebrate their romance. The two have since been spotted on countless happy occasions, from walking the red carpet together to celebrating Christmas with family.
While it was always destined to be a celebrity couple and they both deserve credit for playing their roles to the hilt, there’s one area where they clearly diverged: style. FKA Twigs isn’t exactly known for her conservative choices. In fact, 2017 was arguably her year in fashion, as she sported daring options such as lingerie and bodycon dresses that frequently featured her famous cats motifs. In 2018, she continued to defy gravity as she posed in a series of revealing outfits that left nothing to the imagination. Whether she was wearing a plunging neckline, a plunging necktie, a tiny babydoll dress or even full bodysuits, FKA Twigs always managed to shock.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin
Another couple who defied the odds this year were Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. The superstar couple first sparked romance rumors in 2016 when they were photographed holding hands while vacationing in Italy. They kept fans guessing as to whether or not they’d eventually tie the knot as they spent much of their time apart engaging in a war of words that saw Chris publicly call out Gwyneth for being “unsure of her values and confused about what’s important to her.” Fans were more than familiar with Gwyneth’s fashion choices as she’s been known to buck trends with her unique take on style throughout her career. In 2018, as tensions eased, Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow were finally able to celebrate a Christmas together and have since been photographed many times clad in nothing but smiles.
Hilarie Burton and Ben Affleck
Another couple whose celebrity status increased this year were Hilarie Burton and Ben Affleck. The actress and the actor first sparked romance rumors in 2016 when they were spotted holding hands while walking their dogs in California. The following year, it was reported that Hilarie had turned down a role in a TV series because she was afraid it would hurt her relationship with Ben. (They have two children together, Arlo, 14, and Seraphina, 12.) Since then, Burton and Affleck have continued to be the subjects of tabloid headlines and speculation, with rumors surfacing that Affleck cheated on Burton with co-star Emily van der Burgh and that they’d like to keep their twinned celebrity status a secret. (While they’ve never confirmed or denied these rumors, they’ve certainly not hidden their relationship from the paparazzi.)
Carrie Fisher and Joe Pernia
Another couple whose relationship was front and center in 2018 were Carrie Fisher and Joe Pernia. The beloved comedian and actress was widowed in 2016 when her husband, comic legend Eddie Fisher, passed away. Just a few months later, in December 2017, Carrie revealed she’d started dating Joe, her co-star and costar from the 1991 TV movie Alice. They’ve since been photographed many times together, including at Comic-Con 2018 where they were spotted cosplaying as characters from Fisher’s blockbuster movie, The Shape of Water. Even their most casual interactions, from holding hands to sharing a kiss, have drawn praise from fans.
As Joe’s career has waned in recent years, Carrie has taken the reins as the star of the duo, turning up the heat with her fashion choices in an attempt to shock. She’s frequently been spotted in daring outfits, such as a tie-waist dress that left little to the imagination or a beaded dress that nearly exposed her bra.
Victoria Beckham and Joe Jonas
Another couple whose star status has risen this year were Victoria Beckham and Joe Jonas. The fashion powerhouse and her musician husband first sparked romance rumors when they were photographed holding hands while vacationing in St Barts in the summer of 2017. Since then, Victoria’s style choices have remained in the headlines, from her jaw-dropping Met Gala gowns to her stunning Victoria Beckham bags, and Joe too has found fame as the lead singer of the band DNCE. The twosome were photographed many times in the media, from partying it up at Cannes to spending a romantic evening at home. (In September, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at their romance when they held a viewing party for the new Victoria Beckham store in London.)
Katie Holmes and Alex Welch
Finally, let’s not forget about Katie Holmes and Alex Welch, the daughter of Tom Cruise and the late Pat Holmes. The pair first sparked romance rumors in 2018 after Alex posted a picture of himself shirtless with a mysterious blonde on his Instagram account. (He later revealed that the woman in question was, in fact, Katie.) Though the photo was taken earlier this year, Alex and Katie haven’t been quiet about their romance since, regularly sharing pictures of each other and talking about their desire to keep their relationship a secret. (And let’s be honest, with Katie’s track record for staying in the headlines, it wouldn’t be a scandal if she and Alex didn’t want to keep their romance a secret!)
It’s no wonder why so many celebrities were headlining in 2018. Not only are they frequently the subject of gossip and scandal, but they’re also famous for their unique fashion choices and desire to shock. Whether fans like it or not, it seems like the trend of the moment is the infamous ‘Whipsaw Dress’ and it’s not going anywhere.