Style Icons.
- samanthalomax
- Feb 10, 2018
- 6 min read
What is a style icon? How can you truly define a style icon when fashion is interpreted in so many different ways. Does it mean someone who keeps up with the recent trends? Someone who gets a lot of likes on Instagram? Someone who dresses well for their body?
According to the Collins dictionary a style/fashion icon is:
“A person or thing that is very well known as being highly fashionable”
I’m not going to lie, this still doesn't really tell me who is a style icon and with magazines publishing the 50 best dressed lists it leaves the term 'style icon' open to interpretation...
My definition is a style icon is:
Someone who has an IDGAF attitude about fashion, someone who isn't afraid to look bold and stand out, someone who feels confident in what they are wearing and someone who dresses for themselves (and if it happens to be 'in Vogue' that is a Brucie Bonus!)
So who are my style icons I hear you ask? Keep reading to see who they are and some memorable fashion moments that they have had (IMO of course).
Carrie Bradshaw
Enough said right? Carrie Bradshaw (Patricia Field's her stylist) inspired a whole generation and still inspires me today. Why though? Surely people look at Carrie Bradshaw and just don't understand the appeal of her fashion choices. But I look at her and just think GOALS. It genuinely is on my bucket list for someone to turn to me and say I look like Carrie Bradshaw 😂🙈. She showed me that to go shopping you don't have to just wear jeans. She showed me that fashion is fun and she showed me how to be confident in the things that I wear. For me you can't really sum up Carrie's fashion with one word like preppy, boho or punk. Field's didn't want to put Carrie in a box. It is clear that Field's has a love for fashion and a true talent to create beautiful juxtaposing looks. Carrie is known for her love of (expensive) shoes that she struts down the pavements of New York in- which I am incredibly jealous of! I can’t even walk in converse without going A over T. Even when she stumbles she makes sure her outfits are FLAWLESS. I will always be in awe of her effortless ensembles and how she isn't afraid to push the envelope. She dresses for her mood, the occasion and most importantly herself. She knows that she is most attractive when she feels confident and she doesn't have to show EVERYTHING.
*tonights plans are going to be binge watch Sex and The City and trawl through ASOS marketplace, Etsy and vintage websites so I can channel my inner Bradshaw.
Blair Waldorf
Everyone has a certain type of style whether it's Boho, Preppy or Sporty. Mine is probably quirky but I am a wannabe preppy and for me Blair Waldorf is not just the Queen of Constance, she is the Queen of Preppy. What that girl could do with a headband and a pair of tights is truly outstanding. Eric Daman (who got his break on Sex and The City) is a sartorial genius. Unlike Carrie, Blair has a true style POV. She knows the type of message that she wants to send out into the world; She is a strong, independent Queen and she likes to let the world know with her strong sharp tailoring. She shows her softer side by decorating her wardrobe with beautiful florals, bold colours and pastel hues. Blair commands your attention when she walks into the room. Another icon who tends to shy away from pants in the earlier seasons- which is a reason why me and my rugby player thighs love her style. Her style is timeless and whilst I don't have her bank balance you could wear Waldorf's wardrobe again and again. The fact that hair accessories are having another moment just goes to show that WWBWD (what would Blair Waldorf do) is making a come back.
xoxo gossip girl.
Blake Lively
Blake Lively can do no wrong. Blake Lively is not human. Blake Lively has no stylist. Two of those sentences are true and as far as I'm aware she is definitely human. Yep that's right as far as I'm aware Blake Lively doesn't actually have her own stylist which in my eyes makes her even more perfect. I believe that your outfits can reveal so much about a person and when I look at Blake I see funny, confident, smart and gorgeous (obviously) She is my definition of an 'it girl' she always looks so put together in a I just threw this on way. Which is so damn hard to achieve. She's cool and she beautifully switches up her style depending on where she's going. She is by definition a trend setter and whether it is her red carpet outfits or her street style she is always on point. This girl dresses for herself and wears what she feels comfortable and looks good in which is pretty badass. In the age of social media it is so very easy to become concerned with what looks good but Blake stays true to herself and is also the first to roast herself on instagram. She is not afraid to play with hemlines, colours and styles and she oozes elegance and style. Her maternity style is dreamy she always remained trendy and appropriate showcasing her beautiful bump. So Blake if you're reading this and always wanted to dress a 24 year old girl from North West England you can slide into my DM's.
Audrey Hepburn
Close your eyes and think of an iconic 'Old Hollywood' movie star. Were they fashionable? Were they elegant? Were they chic? If you answered yes to all of those questions you were probably thinking of Audrey Hepburn. Well I was anyway. The pioneer for the LBD and having fun with fashion. For me Audrey Hepburn is a style icon. Probably most famous for Breakfast at Tiffany's but if you want a true fashion treat watch her in the musical Funny Face. Wow just Wow. She believed that you could wear what you wanted as long as you feel confident you will always look beautiful. She had a love affair with fashion and whilst she often portrayed the glamorous main lady on the big screen her street style opted for a more casual approach that was always oozed coolness. Hepburn has been style icon for many including Hubert de Givenchy; her classic styles still have a huge impact on todays fashion world. You often hear on programmes like America's Next Top Model 'you need to wear the clothes, don't let the clothes wear you' Hepburn with her tiny frame definitely did not let her clothes wear her. Even in her later years she was still a major style icon and any Hepburn inspired outfits are guaranteed to win the approval of fashions elite.
My Mum.
Hands up who's mum is incredibly stylish? Me Me Me! Biased or not my mum has got style. Nope I've not done anything wrong and I’m not using this as my chance to get back in her good books. My mum is one truly stylish lady. She has an effortless aura about her that screams cool girl. (I just wish she would let me take photo's of her outfits every day!) I'm constantly lusting over all of her new purchases and I'm enviable over her creativity to put beautiful outfits together. From her cool everyday wear (quite often paired with a gorgeous blazer) to her stunning night out outfits (teamed with a killer heel) in my opinion she is a fashion Queen. Although her style is completely different from mine (hers is more preppy and cool where mines more quirky and try hard 😂) her opinion means the world to me and I know if she tells me I look good I must (cause she will read you if you don't) She is the perfect shopping partner because she was blessed with the ability to not only see what looks good on her but she can quickly find you an outfit that will leave you smiling like the Cheshire Cat. She's not embarrassing with how she dresses and her fashion sense could have you confused with thinking she's younger than she is (with out looking like mutton!) Mum if you are reading this I know that if I have inherited even a third of your natural style I'll never be arrested by the fashion police!
Honourable Mentions
After writing about five of my style icons I am starting to realise why magazines release their best dressed lists because I feel like I'm cheating on some of my style crushes by not listing them so flick through the gallery to see other peoples styles I admire...
xoxo