Art of Fashion: Examining the Style and Influence of 6 Iconic Fashion Figures

To be considered a fashion icon, your style must either create cultural conversation, have trend-worthy appeal, or most commonly, outlive you. If you have all three, you become a fashion triple threat, soon to be encapsulated in Pinterest boards, rewarded with retweets for eternities to come, and perhaps even discovered through an unexpected encounter on omegle chat. There’s no fast-track to this prestigious position, but what it boils down to is consistency the ability to serve a look at a moment’s notice. Below, we’ve rounded up the 20 most influential fashion icons who are quite literally bursting at the seams with style.

The Greatest Trendsetters of All Time

1. Princess Diana

Princess Diana was the original monarch who ruled the art of royal dressing. She seamlessly embraced royal etiquette, all the while setting her own fashion rules, like not wearing gloves on official visits and single-handedly making the Dior Lady Di bag one of the most coveted in the world.

In the mid to late '80s, as Diana's love of fashion and her confidence grew, she began to make some bolder fashion choices. The exhibition curator of Diana: Her Fashion Story, Lynn, commented, "We see her growing in confidence throughout her life, increasingly taking control of how she was represented, and intelligently communicating through her clothes."

2. Rihanna

She’s been named a “fashion icon” by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, had fashion collaborations with the likes of Armani and Puma, been a brand ambassador for fashion houses like Dior, and launched her own fashion and beauty lines, including Savage x Fenty lingerie and athletic wear, and her now-paused luxury offering, Fenty, an LVMH-backed brand that was the first luxury line at the fashion conglomerate to be headed up by a Black woman.

3. Zendaya

With a major award and a new Valentino partnership, Zendaya's status as a veritable fashion icon is undeniable – and it's been this way for a while. The multi-hyphenate has us accustomed to daringly experimental looks that she always seems to somehow look killer in — no matter how elaborate or over-the-top they may be. From the array of hairstyles she's tried out over the last few years to her well-documented penchant for epic suits, there's nothing Z can't pull off.

4. Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn’s style is one of the most emulated and admired in the world. She managed to balance simplicity, comfort and elegance to create a timeless, singularly European sophistication that came to define her persona.

Audrey Hepburn’s allure was about subtlety and effortless gracefulness rather than the flagrant sex appeal that was supposed to personify contemporary stars of the silver screen. Unlike so many other icons of the period, Hepburn’s style was not manufactured by a studio, but was instead entirely idiosyncratic. It called upon both the understated elegance of her upbringing, and the many years of ballet that influenced her physical bearing.

5. Harry Styles

Singer-songwriter Harry Styles, who is taking his acting game seriously, is pushing the envelope with his fashion too. Ruffled shirts, pastel feather boas, gender-defying outfits. Styles is leaning on blurring the boundaries, with the help of his stylist, Harry Lambert. At the Toronto International Film Festival, Harry decided to go all green for the premiere of his film, My Policeman. He turned up in an emerald green double-breasted suit jacket with an oversized satin floral pin and lime green trousers.

6. Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy was known for her impeccable sense of style and her ability to set fashion trends. She was often photographed in elegant, timeless attire and was admired for her classic and sophisticated looks. As First Lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy was known for her iconic fashion choices, including her love of the pillbox hat, which she popularized during her husband's presidency. She was also known for her love of French fashion and designers, such as Chanel, Dior, and Givenchy, and was often seen wearing their designs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, becoming a fashion icon requires creating cultural conversation, trend-worthy appeal, and outliving oneself. The most influential fashion icons embody these qualities and have made a lasting impact on the fashion industry. Princess Diana, Rihanna, Zendaya, Audrey Hepburn, Harry Styles, and Jackie Kennedy are among the most prominent icons who have captured the world's attention with their distinct styles. Their unique sense of fashion and confidence in their personal style have inspired countless individuals and have solidified their places in fashion history. These icons serve as a reminder that fashion is not just about clothes, but it is also about individuality, self-expression, and pushing boundaries.