2020 and 2021 were rough years for fashion. There were little opportunities for everybody to flex their style choices, unless they were flexing to themselves or to their families in the comfort of their own home. Many of us didn’t do that, but some celebrities, like Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, and Zendaya still managed to look incredible and put-together, despite being home-bound themselves.
At-home upkeep requires a few things: leisurely, stylish clothing, hair maintenance in the form of gels, hairsprays, and color-depositing conditioners, a good skincare regimen, a workout regime, and light makeup. It is difficult to always be ‘on’, which is why these celebrity style icons are applauded for their ability to keep themselves sharp, despite gyms, personal care services, and shopping centers being closed for so long.
The Criteria
These celebs have all had their moments of looking good in different contexts, from couch surfing to stepping out for a jog. However, it would be arbitrary for us to comment on each celebrity’s style without an idea of what makes their style iconic. For this reason, we evaluated them on the following criteria:
- You have a unique selling point: This can be anything from wearing exclusively cow print to hiding your face in all of your public photos. In essence, a unique selling point is just something that makes you iconic.
- You kept up with trends: Regardless of where you are, you are always sporting something on-trend. You are current and relevant in the world of fashion.
- You aren’t afraid to explore controversial or bold trends: Lil Nas X basically broke the internet with his videos and style over the past year because he was unashamedly himself. He wore eccentric, yet stylish clothes that were daring and seductive.
- You did something amazing in the world of fashion: This can mean anything from starting a movement, building a charity, or beginning a trend.
- You are consistent with your efforts: These celebs weren’t caught slacking! They consistently showed up for themselves and others, never failing to serve looks.
Top Celebrity Style Icons 2022
Rihanna
Rihanna is no stranger to the spotlight when it comes to jaw-dropping fashion moments. Remember, she wore the translucent Swarovski crystal dress on the red carpet of the 2014 CFDA Awards, showing all kinds of womanly curves. 2022 did not see Rihanna stumble on her iconic style, thanks to her fantastic taste and stylist Jahleel Weaver, who is actually Fenty’s style director.
Rihanna served us a summer look while promoting Fenty Body Oil in May 2021. She wore a crochet style, cream-coloured mini halter dress with matching Bottega Veneta mesh gladiator heels. She decorated her wrists and fingers with several bracelets of various metal finishes, and topped it off with dark, vampy nails.
Then, the script was flipped when she gave us an entirely different aesthetic while out grocery shopping in March 2021, when she wore an open button-down Hawaiian shirt with a denim mini skirt, Amina Muaddi heels, checkerboard sunglasses, and a vibrant green facemask. This was an awesome play on colors, proving that grocery shopping garb does not have to be drab.
Harry Styles
Harry Styles has had so many fashion moments over the past few years. He is known for several iconic garments and accessories, notably his colorful sweater, which TikTokers worldwide tried recreating to the point that it became a massive trend, and his pearl necklace habit. He wore both pieces to a performance in February 2020.
His stylist, Harry Lambert, has never feared to help him tread into the territory of eccentricity and color. One of his most recent iconic looks was worn at the BRIT Awards in May 2021. He wore a double-breasted Gucci Aria wool and silk jacket and pants with brown, orange, and beige macro framed sequence print, low-top sneakers with oval enamel detail and a brown leather bag with a bamboo handle.
Then, in April 2021, for the Gucci Beloved campaign, the musician wore a Gucci spring look that included a massive faux fur coat, a floral print top, and wide leg jeans. He accessorized with the Gucci Jackie 1961 small shoulder bag, creating a look that was a modern twist on traditional vintage style.
Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi is an American actress, model, activist, and celebrity style icon. She started to gain popularity for her roles in the sitcoms Black-ish and Grown-ish, but maintained the spotlight with her style and personality, thanks to her stylist Jason Bolden, the creative director and co-founder of JSN Studio.
In an iconic formalwear moment during the Critics Choice Awards, Yara wore a haute couture ensemble designed by Dior that featured an embroidered top worn beneath a gauzy, bell-sleeved blouse. The coolest thing about this outfit was the tarot card embroidery on the bib of the blouse, which brought an element of spirituality to the look.
In February, she served spring hippie vibes with a puffed-sleeve Zimmerman top that featured a delicate floral print and light-wash, high-waisted jeans. She accessorized with minimalistic gold hoops and a delicate necklace, which was well shown off by her high pony.
Nicole Richie
If you have heard of Ms. Richie, then it was probably from her role in The Simple Life, a TV-show that aired for 5 seasons in which she co-starred with her friend and fellow socialite, Paris Hilton. If not from there, then you might know her as the wife of Joel Madden, lead vocalist for the pop-punk band Good Charlotte.
If none of that rings a bell, then you might know her through her fashion brand, House of Harlow. Named after her daughter, Harlow Madden, HoH is a lifestyle brand that has expanded into apparel, footwear, accessories and limited-edition specialty items. It boasts a large selection of vintage pieces that represent Nicole’s sophisticated, boho sense of style. One of the best selling items in her repertoire is the REVOLVE Mika Kimono Mini Dress, which retails on Revolve for $324.
The iconic style move made by Richie in 2021 was to announce a collaboration with her sister Sophia Richie, which they would call HoHxSOFIA. One of the items that we love from the collaboration is the House of Harlow 1960 x Sofia Richie Nicola Romper, a lightweight buckled design in a sage green colour.
Leslie Odom Jr.
Leslie Odom is an American actor best known for his role as Aaron Burr in the Broadway musical Hamilton. Since then, he has been grinding it out both in his field and as a fashion icon with the help of his stylist, Avo Yermagyan. Both Odom and Yermagyan create looks that are meant to shatter the expectations for leading men in Hollywood, trading in monochromatic looks for colorful expressions of personality.
At the 2021 BAFTA Awards, Odom won the night with not one, but two Versace suits. The first was a red printed suit from the 2021 fall collection, which he wore with a yellow button-up shirt and yellow socks. Then, he changed into a bright blue tailored suit from the brand’s spring line which he wore with a red trench coat and a checkered turtleneck.
The 2021 SAG Awards saw Odom in a technicolor suit with a matching turtleneck underneath. He wore shoes that had an oil-slick aesthetic, proving that you can really wear every color in the wheel and still look dapper as ever.
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Rhode Baldwin Bieber is an American model, media personality, and celebrity style icon that has been featured on ads for brands like Guess, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. The daughter of Stephen Baldwin, niece of Alec Baldwin, and wife of Justin Bieber has consistently shown up in the fashion world with credit due to her stylist, Maeve Reilly.
A recent look of Bieber’s that turned heads was an outfit she wore out and about with her hubby in Paris, in June 2021. The completely lilac-coloured ensemble featured a Raf Simmons knitted crop top, a Bottega Veneta pouch clutch, Attico skirt, and Chanel loafers. She accessorized with black sunglasses and a tight bun.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter is an American actor, singer, and style icon. A notable role of Porter’s was playing ‘Lola’ in Kinky Boots, which they won an award for in 2013. They are known for sporting eccentric, gender-bending styles that express their colorful and vibrant personality. Their outfits are true masterpieces, thanks to their stylist Sam Ratelle.
At the 2021 BRIT Awards, Porter stepped out in a black high-necked lace and satin gown with lace long-sleeved arms, which was paired with a wide-brimmed hat. They accessorized with platform heels higher than heaven itself that were made of black leather with angular metal at the toe. They captured the steampunk-meets-Victorian look with class and ease.
At the premier for the final season of Pose, Porter wore a colorful and artistic dress by designer Robert Wun. The ensemble featured multi-colored layers of pleated fabric, and it was worn with a white pleated hanging hat. The actor also wore 6-inch platform boots from Rick Owens to complete the look.
Dua Lipa
Everybody – or nearly everybody – has heard Dua Lipa’s music, if not spent a few moments jamming out to it. She has a unique voice, a killer body, and some seriously wicked style, which is coordinated well by her stylist Lorenzo Posocco. The London-based stylist, editor and consultant also worked with other notable stars, including Troye Sivan.
In March of 2021, the singer posted a look to her instagram that had everyone convinced that more color equals more style. Her OOTD featured pink cutout biker shorts with a green checkerboard crop top, which she paired with a plush pink purse that had bead accents on it. She completed the look with a long braid and some Jimmy Choo heels. Her entire look came from Marshall Columbia.
Zendaya
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is an American actress and singer who, before stepping into the spotlight, started out as a backup dancer and child model. After gaining major popularity with her role as Rocky Blue on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up, she has since starred in several shows and movies. Her longtime stylist, Law Roach, has been by her side since her days as a Disney actress.
One of the most awe-inducing moments for this style icon in 2021 was her outfit at the BET Awards. She stole the spotlight in the vintage Versace dress Beyonce wore when she performed her hit single Crazy in Love in 2003.
She wowed again at the 2021 Oscars by wearing a custom canary yellow cutout Valentino dress, which she paired with Jimmy Choo heels and the most lavish Bulgari jewels. Her jewellery for this look alone cost over $6 million.
Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle has always been on the scene, first as an American actress who appeared on shows like Suits, then as a member of the British royal family in virtue of her marriage to Prince Harry. Although the couple exited the castle, Markle has furiously maintained her class and style.
One of the cutest photos we have seen in 2021 is a snap of Markle and her hubby holding their infant son Archie. She is wearing a 100% silk La Ligne maxi dress, which is offered in two colorways: red and green. She didn’t accessorize the look, leaving her hair down and opting to go barefoot for the photo, proving that there is magic in simplicity.
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, or Kid Cudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and record executive. If you’ve ever jammed to the song Day n’ Nite or Pursuit of Happiness, then you’ve heard his pipes. His stylist, Julia Ragolia, is known for injecting a bit of feminine appeal into menswear, exploring a gray area wherein gender is fluid and moldable.
We cannot talk about Kid Cudi’s biggest fashion moments and leave out the night that he wore a dress to pay tribute to Kurt Cobain during a performance on Saturday Night Live. The white, floral print dress was custom designed by the CEO of Off White, Virgil Abloh, specifically for the tribute.
While the event generally garnered a positive response and was seen as an iconic, touching moment, some members of the LGBTQ+ community thought of it as a double standard, given that members of the community who would do the same would get ridiculed for it.
Victoria Beckham
Mrs. Beckham is known for her sultry sophistication and seductive smize. That must be how she won over her hubby, soccer star David Beckham. Outfits she wears on a regular basis include upscale business wear, wide leg jeans and oversized sweaters. She’s a versatile woman with an eye for a good look, which is exactly what drove her to start her own line in 2008.
Beckham’s brand began with slim-fitting dresses, but has since expanded to sell ready-to-wear fashion, footwear, and accessories, as well as activewear thanks to a long-term partnership with Reebok. Her entire range is meant to be reflective of her evolving style, which has never failed to land her a place on a list of best dressed women.
Timothée Chalamet
This was a big year for Mr. Chalamet and it will get even bigger, as he has been asked to co-chair this year’s Met Gala in September. This is unsurprising, given his ability to rock anything from bright colours to chunky stomping boots.
Though what is surprising and impressive is that he doesn’t use a stylist: he gets red carpet ready and serves us all kinds of fierce looks himself. That said, he does have a collaborator that he is quite close to, French fashion designer Haider Ackermann.
Regardless of where he is, he is always making waves. He was pictured in March 2020 going for a little isolation walk wearing a Prada Re-Nylon jacket, Prada brown slacks, white New Balance sneakers, and a Chelsea FC cap. He loves to be comfortable, yet chic, which was also seen in late 2019 when he sported a Swarovski embellished hoodie to the premier of The King.
Sarah Jessica Parker
It is no surprise that SJP is a celeb style icon either. The Sex and the City star’s eponymous footwear brand boasts a large selection of pieces that can be worn everyday and out to formal events. There is also no doubt that she has had some iconic fashion moments in the past couple of years, which is why she has landed on this list.
SJP was pictured outside her New York-based store in late 2020 wearing a stunning purple jumper-like dress with pink heels from her own brand. She was also pictured heading to the ballet in NYC in mid-2019 wearing the most voluminous Zac Posen gown in a bright fuschia. She pulled it off beautifully with a pair of golden heels and a sleek, high bun.
A$AP Rocky
Born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, A$AP Rocky is a well-known rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor from Manhattan. He is a valuable member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his stage name. He is always able to serve looks thanks to his talented stylist Matthew Hensen, who says that some of A$AP’s staple wardrobe items are a sleek jacket, well-fitting pants, and extremely rare footwear.
The biggest style move he made in 2021 (so far) was his outfit on the June/July cover of GQ Magazine. He was pictured wearing a vintage telnyashka shirt from Raggedy Threads that shows off his chiseled abs, a kilt by Vivienne Westwood, pants by Loewe, and the most buckled-up boots that we have ever seen by John Lobb.
Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Isabella Kravitz is an American actress, singer, and model. She is also the daughter of actor-musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet. She is always sporting unexpected styles in the best way possible, such as all-denim outfits, baggy tees, mini skirts, and oversized Hawaiian shirts worn as dresses. Andrew Mukamal, her stylist, describes her style as inherently bohemian with a hint of bourgeoisie.
Zoe Kravitz brought us an iconic look at the premier of Saint Laurent’s fall 2021 collection, from which she modelled pieces from. She wore a plunging black vest-style tank top with contrasting flowy white shorts and vaguely fishnet-textured tights. She accessorized with sleek silver-capped pumps that featured glitter buckles and straps around the heel and a massive earring and necklace set that seemed to be composed of black enamel clovers.
Naomi Campbell
Naomi Campbell is one of the biggest names in the fashion industry. The British model, actress, and businesswoman was the first Black woman to grace the covers of French and British Vogue, and the first Black woman to appear on the cover of Time Magazine. She has modelled for some of the most notable names in the industry, including Ralph Lauren and Francois Nars.
She recently celebrated her fiftieth birthday in May 2021, which led lots of media outlets to look back on some of her most iconic moments, one of them being her ensemble on Valentino’s spring 2019 couture runway. She closed the show wearing a transparent black gown with a ruffled skirt and puff sleeves. Her fantastic, slim body was showcased as she gracefully walked the runway.
Lakeith Stanfield
LaKeith Lee Stanfield is an American actor and musician. Along with being incredibly talented, he is also incredibly stylish, thanks to stylist Julia Ragolia, of course – Kid Cudi’s right hand girl.
Stanfield’s most iconic fashion moment of 2021 has to be the outfit he wore to the 2021 Oscars. He showed up sporting a Saint Laurent jumpsuit with a plunging v-neck and a pointy white collared shirt. The outfit also featured a belted waist and broad shoulders. He accessorized with a gold chain and black sunglasses.
The look was important for a few reasons, the most notable being what it did for the gender fluidity movement in men’s fashion. Ragolia said that she was inspired by Saint Laurent designer Anthony Vaccarello’s Spring 2021 women’s collection, so she decided to adapt a piece from the line to embody the seriousness of the times we are living in.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Joy Silberstein, known by her stage name Tracee Ellis Ross, is an American actress, singer, television host, producer, and director. She appears in notable shows such as Girlfriends and Black-ish, and she also owns her own hair care line for individuals that have curly hair. In the fashion and style world, she is known for rocking vibrant looks that showcase her fun and adventurous personality.
One of her iconic moments in 2021 occurred when posing for a photo for Pattern Beauty. In the picture she is wearing a two-tone yellow wrap blazer matched to a pair of split-tone trousers. In May of 2021, she was pictured in her backyard wearing a turquoise set from Maisie Wilen. This at-home look demonstrated that one can still break fashion barriers from the comfort of their own home.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s a lot easier to always appear stylish when you have the help of a professional, not to mention the means to access one. However, today’s celebrity style icons get the job done on their own for the most part, and they’ve never been afraid to show who they are. Here’s hoping that 2022 is better for all of us.
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