The 25 Most Stylish Celebrities of 2011

It's been a whirlwhind year for pop culture. The line between brands and the famous people that co-sign them has always been a pretty obvious relationship. Yet sometimes, celebrities manage to put together some great looks that show a true sense of style beyond what their stylists and publicists advise them to wear.

From athletes who are comfortable rocking tailored suits, rappers that toe the line between luxury collections and streetwear, leading men that are also fashion forward, and comedians that are funny but don't look funny, we've rounded up the The 25 Most Stylish Celebrities of 2011.

Detroit native Danny Brown has had a good year, the permed rapper released his acclaimed mixtape, XXX, and also signed with Fool's Gold Records. Performances at events like the Fool's Gold Block Party and Fader Fort further pushed him in the limelight, where his Brooklynesque style got people's attention. Cut-off denim vests? Jeremy Scott tiger stripe tuxedo track jackets? Gray acid-washed jeans with Jordan 3s? Love him or hate him, Danny Brown makes it work.

When Jonah Hill lost all that weight, we like to think he gave his local Americana blogger a call about how to upgrade his style. Side-part? Jean jackets? Slim-fit shirts? Wolverine 1000 Mile boots? Someone get this guy a vintage Ford truck, stat!

The Community actor who moonlights as Childish Gambino is no stranger to style. He's done a few stints as a lookbook model for California label Band of Outsiders. Like his rap moniker, his personal style is also decidedly not grown up. That isn't to say it's immature, but smart fitting hoodies, leather jackets, and solid outerwear show that he doesn't take himself too seriously, but definitely knows what he's doing.

As close as you can get to a male version of Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt stole the sartorial show in last year's Inception. This year, he's been busy filming roles in films like Premium Rush and next year's hotly-anticipated The Dark Knight Rises. Between that, he's been cleaning up well when he needs to — always looking sharp in a suit, but also seems to have mastered the art of looking dope without seeming like he really tries. By mixing casual plaid shirts with ties, and designer kicks with easy-wearing outerwear, comfortable tees, and dark jeans, it seems he's got personal style down pat.

Grammy-award winner Swizz Beatz isn't like most men. In a fashion feature we did with him this year, he claimed: "With clothes, I'm not scared of something different. I'm not scared of something that people might not understand." That's why we love how his style is his own yet not totally foreign. Only he could pull off coordinating the Versacé x H&M varsity jacket with the matching headband or an all-black ensemble that includes a silk-lapeled double-breasted blazer. That's swag.

OFWGKTA's de facto leader has always had a penchant for weird shit. Whether it's tye-dye T-shirts with cats or upside-down crosses, to covetable Supreme crewnecks and leopard-print five-panels, he's rocked it all with knee-high tube-socks and Vans. Combine that with his controversial lyrics and recent vandalism arrest, and it seems Tyler is poised to become the new face of teenage rebellion.

Ok, Weezy's had his fair share of slip-ups (leopard print jeggings, moon boots, and more recently — snowboard boots at a Lakers game), but he's also had his more stylish moments. Take his Grammy outfit for example: a cardigan, proper pants, and some killer footwear. He's also a big proponent of camo and all-over prints, and we can't fault him for that.

Justin Timberlake often comes off as the guy you want to hate, but really can't. Whether he was banging Mila Kunis on-screen in Friends With Benefits or going through the history of hip-hop (yet again) with Jimmy Fallon, he did it all with a coolness most guys aspire to. His vanilla style is consistently on-point without being too inaccessible (case in point: adidas Samoas), which enhances his natural charm. Looking good doesn't have to mean looking boring though, JT. How about in the new year you take a few more style risks?

D.C.'s own is known for his ill sneaker game, and this year he showed no signs of letting up. Releasing his anticipated second album, Ambition, it fared much better than his debut, showing his evolution as a rapper. The evolution of his style was also noteworthy — while other rappers were quick to hop on luxury brands that Kanye and Jay-Z were rocking, Wale opted for throwback jerseys and hats, and expensive leather backpacks from Louis Stewart.

Funnyman Aziz Ansari made our list of the 25 Most Stylish Asian-Americans earlier this year, and he's continued to look fresh. With appearances in the "Otis" video from Watch The Throne and a Complex cover under his belt, he's also been cracking us up on the regular as Tom Haverford on Parks & Recreation. Plus, we kind of want his life. If Kanye West and Jay-Z are the throne, Ansari has established himself as the court jester — and the only rule in this kingdom is that you must look awesome.

Now that he's back to work, it's nice to see LeBron back in his element. Surprisingly, he made a pretty solid transition into the fashion world during the brief time he didn't have to ball. A front-row appearance at Michael Bastian's fashion show revealed that King James is no stranger to looking royal outside of a pair of sneakers, and his new store UNKWN will carry some really great brands. It's nice to know that there are some celebrities willing to leave the designing to designers.

Pusha deserves an award for "most improved style of 2011." Despite running the Play Cloths label, the Virginia rapper has upped his taste level, likely due to influence from friends like Kanye West. Pusha put on some Givenchy and Neil Barrett gear, while his accessories got a boost from designers like Balenciaga. Riding high off the positive reviews of Fear of God II: Let Us Pray, and the 3rd anniversary of Play Cloths, he kept his street cred with a few extravagant pieces from Ben Baller (who brought us the 50 Greatest Chains in Hip-Hop): notably a Play Cloths chain and a diamond-encrusted set of keys.

The father to be may often be overshadowed by his flashier protegé, but that doesn't make him any less of a king. The Mufasa to Kanye West's Simba, Jay-Z's style is decidedly more regal than his younger counterpart. That means subtle luxury with accessories that show he never forgot the streets where he came from. Sure, he cleans up well in a suit, but his all-black ensembles are often accented by murdered-out Timberlands, and of course, a Yankees hat. That isn't to say he doesn't know extravagance, as he was recently spotted with a Cartier Panther ring.

The G.O.O.D. Music emcee came out a few years back and made a name for himself as one of the leaders of the hip-hop style zeitgeist. Fresh snapbacks, vintage denim jackets, slim worn-out jeans, and fresh sneakers make up the wardrobe of most rappers these days, but few do it with panache like Big Sean. Mix in piles of gold jewelry, bright colored blazers and some animal prints, he's cultivated one of the most mimicked styles on the street. 2011 was a big year for Big Sean, his album "Finally Famous" dropped in June, and his single "Dance (Ass)" is pretty much everywhere right now. Looks like he really is finally famous.

Rick Ross is simply one of the illest dudes in the game. His style screams Miami Drug Lord with Versace prints, silky shirts, and what looks like a whole swamp's worth of gators just to make that slick brown bomber jacket. B.M.F. has a new meaning: Blowing Money on Fashion.

Theophilus London has done his part to take up the mantle of "token rapper" during New York Fashion Week in Kanye West's stead. Infamous for his wide-brimmed hats and ability to make any Jordan Brand shoe suddenly fashionable, he's the epitome of streetwear-chic meets luxury fashion.

The New York Knicks power forward has also always been fashion-forward. First confessing his affinity for sports and fashion back in July, he even did a womens' capsule collection with designer Rachel Roy. Kicking it with fashion heavyweights like Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour on the regular means you can never look sloppy, even when you're going casual. Thankfully, Stoudemire is always on. Despite looking great in a suit, Stoudemire seems to have developed a thing for chunky cardigans, which he pulls off with aplomb. He doesn't look half-bad in a custom Nike Destroyer either.

Pharrell's love for Japan is no big secret. His Billionaire Boys Club label stemmed out of a friendship with Nigo from A Bathing Ape, after all. The history of his style is something we know very well. Once he was always rocking graphic tees and all-over print hoodies and shorts, then he learned the value of a well-fitting suit. This year it seems he's learned how to be stylish and versatile. Whether in a red leather jacket by Junya Watanabe or kitted out in head-to-toe Ralph Lauren, Skateboard P has mastered the art of dressing for the occasion. That means his casual game is always on point, but when it comes to dressing for the nines, he always shoots for a 10.

This newcomer to the game has been making waves ever since he dropped his first mixtape, LiveLoveA$AP. In it, not only did he present a promising debut, he also professed his love of designer labels. The young Harlem rapper has established himself as a fan of avant-garde designers like Raf Simons and Jeremy Scott, but still co-signs streetwear staples like cheeky beanies and Nike Destroyer Jackets. His down-to-earth casual style is a welcome respite from rappers in tailored gear and hardbottoms, we're glad he dresses his age. But if his rhymes are any indication, should he continue to blow up we're sure we'll see the "clothes get weirder" over time.

Of course Gosling makes the list. 2011 was definitely his year. Whether he was banging Eva Mendes, playing peacemaker in a tank top and baseball cap, or kicking ass in one of the silver screen's most covetable jackets, he looked damn good doing it. Ryan Gosling's style shows us a man who knows himself well enough that he can tell how to wear certain items of clothing or trends. Instead of bowing to cuffed jeans, loafers, and slim suits, he takes those kinds of style choices and does it in his own way — and that's the epitome of great personal style.

Kid Cudi's got the notion of a uniform down pat: leather jackets, skinny jeans, and lots and lots of hoodies. Although How to Make It in America just got cancelled, we're not too worried about the Cleveland emcee. After all, he had enough dough to cop 4 pairs of Air Mags, and rocked one pair to our party celebrating his Complex cover, plus he's already putting the finishing touches on his next album, WZRD. Did we mention he also came out with his own leather jacket in conjuction with French brand Surface To Air? Yeah, Cudi's definitely had a good year, and he's faced it in consistent style.

Duh. Were you expecting anyone else? Kanye West is the man that made the rottweiler tee more famous than Ricardo Tisci could. Besides teaching hip-hop about relevant luxury brands, Yeezy's been hard at work: putting out quite possibly the most anticipated album of the year, designing a womenswear collection for Paris Fashion Week, and then going on one of the most-hyped tours of 2011. Granted, the man spends most of his time performing in a leather skirt, but Yeezy knows how to keep his street cred in check: he stays rocking a fresh pair of Jordans with Balmain jeans, Givenchy bombers, and all sorts of luxury gear. We don't need to watch the throne, all eyes stay on the man sitting on it.