The best beauty and style looks of the year

Forget the dragon, 2012 was year of the feline! Ladies embraced the cat eye trend full force this year. Zoe Saldana donned the winged eyeliner look quite a bit, and dare we say, she purrfected it.

This year, neon hasn't just been limited to fashion. Bright colors, like this magenta shade on Lea Michele, made their way onto the makeup palettes of many. Electric and hot, this was one of the boldest looks of 2012.

Va-va-vroom! The moto jacket was huge this year—going from the runway to retail outlets. And no wonder this look is so popular—it's both easy and instantly chic.

Heels, flats, laces, slip-ons—no matter what the style, ankle boots have been staking their fashion claim all year long. Booties make the list for one big reason: they can instantly take an outfit from frumpy to fierce.

Color blocking isn't an easy undertaking. But done right, contrasting colors can make an outfit delightfully fun and oh-so-hip. We loved seeing this daring trend all year long.

Lean, cropped jeans have been in style for a while now, but this year they got some personality. Celebs have been donning their denim in all colors of the rainbow. We especially love the bright blue hues, like this turquoise number on former Real Housewives star Kelly Bensimon.

Skinny jeans, you've had your turn. Flared and wide-legged jeans made quite the comeback this year.  The always-stylish Katie Holmes seems to have perfected the trend, pairing it with our favorite accessory—caffeine!

Why wear regular leggings when you can wear rock-star leggings? The cozy trend got a fancy fashion update this year with variations of the leather legging showing up everywhere. Go for faux-leather for a more affordable and animal-friendly option.

With all of the makeup trends this year, there was one that was positively refreshing: no makeup at all. This year more than ever, celebs and non-celebs alike have been sharing pictures of their barefaced, makeup-free looks.

Stars like Zooey Deschanel and Katy Perry loved showing off their peppy pointers all year long. This year, the rest of the world followed suit, getting crafty and creative with the nail-art trend. We loved looking at all your masterpieces.