Pope Leo XIV has been named to Vogue’s 2025 “Best Dressed People” list, with praise for his marked turn from the “humble tastes” of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and his odes to iconic American looks.
The annual unranked list was released by the magazine on Dec. 11, including pictures of several notable ensembles from the first American pontiff, and the first pope to be so honored by the New York-based magazine. Among the features in their profile is their pick for his best outfit of the year.
“His first appearance as pope, on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica,” they wrote, “in a red satin mozzetta cape and wine-red, gold-embroidered stole paired with a cross pendant on a gold silk cord.”
Who was best dressed? It’s a question we ask every week, and after any major red carpet—but with the end of the year upon us, we wanted the answer to feel more definitive. Here, discover what star's made #VoguesBestDressed list: https://t.co/Cxqjhaass6 pic.twitter.com/eJVBI53NxK
— Vogue Magazine (@voguemagazine) December 11, 2025
The honor for the Chicago-area native comes alongside a number of Americans for 2025, including actors, designers, models, athletes, and other artists and entertainers. Leo, born Robert Prevost in Illinois, is among the oldest on this year's list.
The 70-year-old Augustinian was noted by Vogue for his signature vestment-based garb, as well as a notable departure from the norms in June when he donned a Chicago White Sox baseball cap with his daily white cassock. Other highlighted appearances included a purple Advent vestment from earlier this month, a cream-colored chasuble worn during his inauguration, and a textured green flourish seen at a Laudato Si Mass in July.
The magazine also spotlighted the Holy Father’s apparent penchant for star power, including his invitation to the Vatican of several movie stars in November, ahead of sharing his list of favorite films.
Perhaps due to the Vatican-based prelate not being popularly known as a fashion icon, Vogue did not directly mention any designers in his “Best Dressed People” bio, though the publication did link to its spring profile of Filippo Sorcinelli, the Italian designer behind Pope Francis’ vestments—and who has also styled Leo in the months since the 2025 conclave.
Leo was one of several diasporic honorees on this year’s Vogue list, being a descendant of mixed-race Black Creoles from Louisiana. A fellow Catholic-raised Creole—the Houston-born singer and creative Solange Knowles—also made this year’s list, ahead of her 2027 gig as a scholar-in-residence at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music. She is currently busy at work with her Saint Heron studio.
“Nobody wears Maximilian Davis’s Ferragamo with the same flair as Solange,” Vogue wrote. “We’ve got to give it to the leather two-piece she wore to the brand’s Milan Fashion Week show in September.”
Another designer with Catholic roots, New York’s Andre Walker, was also deemed best-dressed, with simpler looks that the magazine says amount to praiseworthy “stylish irreverence." Over the years, he has collaborated with a number of major names in the fashion world, including Marc Jacobs, Kim Jones, and the late Virgil Abloh. His best outfit of the year?
“The Fruit of the Loom undershirt, Lucas Ossendrijver-era Lanvin jacket, and Andre Walker-designed tie-dye pants he wore when he accepted the Board of Directors’ Tribute at the CFDA Awards.”
In addition to the online feature for Vogue’s 2025 list, readers can also find the compilation of the world’s top dressers in limited edition print issues for December, out now in stores and for purchase online.
Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.
