Fashion is an ever-changing industry that has evolved through the decades. From powdered hair and cardigan sweaters to yoga pants and high-fashion streetwear, the evolution of the fashion industry has been nothing short of remarkable.

This incredible evolution of Fashion is the result of several once-in-a-lifetime looks and garments that celebrities of different eras brought forth. Let’s now look at 21 such celebs (in no particular order) who changed fashion forever.

 

1. Marilyn Monroe 

Glamourous. Lavish. Iconic. Probably one of the first names that comes to mind when you think of fashion is Marilyn Monroe, an icon of femininity and sexuality that embraced her seductive figure fashionable. Her flowing skirt from the movie “The Seven Year Itch” is a legendary dress that still influences the world of fashion even after 65+ years.

2. Rihanna 

Everyone’s favourite bad gal!! A fashion muse, a trailblazer, and always iconic. When it comes to style, she’s in a league of her own. Rihanna has always understood the power of fashion to shape perception and express individuality. Fearless and versatile, she has the talent to express and reinvent herself with strikingly bold silhouettes at every appearance. From her bold MET gala looks to her edgy Bottega Veneta pieces, Rihanna has proven she’s the ultimate fashion powerhouse. While pregnant, she once again pushed fashion boundaries and opened up new conversations about style. 

3. Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid is one of the most daring fashion favourites and the ultimate fashion icon of the modern era. She’s able to embody a vision and bring to life creative imagination by using her body as art to display the most iconic fashion trends.  

Her influence is undeniable- bringing back retro 2000s fashion such as micro-sunglasses, Y2K graphic tees and bucket hats making her one of the most-watched street-style stars worldwide. By bringing cutting-edge fashion trends to the red carpet, she’s pushing boundaries and stepping outside the box every time. Through her style, she’s sending a powerful yet essential message to women worldwide: don’t listen or follow the stereotypical rules of the fashion world. 

4. Zendaya

Is it even a red carpet if Zendaya isn’t there? 

Zendaya’s fashion transformation since her Disney days has always been bold and NEVER boring. Whether in archival fashion or fresh-off-the-runway looks, she has consistently kept her fans on their toes. She’s the moment with her striking red-carpet looks and high fashion shoots, proving that she isn’t afraid to experiment. With her versatility, she can do a playful and casual look one minute, then turn around and pull off high glamour the next, all while turning heads. 

5. Harry Styles

From a teenage heartthrob to a fashion powerhouse, Harry Styles expresses his unique vision and flamboyant personality through fashion and beauty. Through his style, he’s making a powerful statement: be whoever you want to be and don’t worry about what others think. His eye-catching, gender-fluid, and unconventional fashion taste have inspired people worldwide that they should be able to wear whatever they wish without any fear of judgement, making him one of the most influential celebrities in the fashion world. 

6. Madonna

Madonna’s influence as a fashion leader has been consistent since she first appeared on MTV. Her trend-settling style created a signature eighties look and launched a strong attitude among women. With her eccentric and fierce choice of clothing, she uses fashion as a form of rebellion and expression. During the 80s, when the world wasn’t as open and accepting as today, she exuded power, boldness, and fearlessness, inspiring a whole generation of women to show up as their genuine selves. She said just because you are strong doesn’t make you a bitch or slut, and if people call you that, so what? Who says it is always a bad thing? 

7. Audrey Hepburn

The first thing that comes to most people’s minds when we mention Audrey Hepburn’s name is, of course, the little black dress. Hepburn’s simple yet powerful look from Breakfast At Tiffany’s inspired a new generation of women who broke the shackles and started expressing themselves freely with ultimate class and sophistication.

8. Lady Gaga

Weird, Outrageous, Amazing, Unbelievable! These are not the most common words when describing a fashion icon. With her various outfits through the years, Lady Gaga has taken the fashion world by storm and opened the doors for today’s youth to express themselves through their fashion without fear.

9. Princess Diana

A global fashion icon that’s gone but never forgotten. The memory of Princess Diana and her iconic fashion choices will forever live on in photos. Whether the head-turning John Travolta dress or the unforgettable revenge dress, each outfit has a story behind it and stands out as an important pop culture moment.

10. Elizabeth Taylor 

Although some may have considered her outfits outrageous at the time, Elizabeth Taylor certainly paved the way for the fashion industry to evolve significantly. Her larger-than-life dresses paired with dazzling diamonds made her a force to reckon with.

11. Vivien Leigh

 A woman of great style and taste. Vivien Leigh’s extravagant dresses in the movie, Gone With the Wind (1939), were memorable and timeless. They made displays of pomp and wealth more fashionable.

12. Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy popularised the collegiate look in the early 60s. After becoming the first lady, her influence on fashion grew even more, with each public appearance of hers evoking a sense of awe in the media for her remarkable fashion sense.

13. Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson’s fashion influence is quite literally unparalleled. With an eccentric, creative and sparkling sense of style, he was the first pop star to define fashion on his terms. A fashion pioneer, every spell-binding costume he put on became a part of his legendary legacy. Her most iconic accessory is his now-legendary single white glove.No matter what Jackson wore before or after he introduced the white glove to his aesthetic, it would be the defining fashion moment in his career full of groundbreaking style.

14. Humphrey Bogart

Confidence, body language and being cozy in your skin are essential for pulling off any look. Fashion is not just about what you wear but also how you wear it.  Humphrey Bogart managed to exude confidence even with the simplest of looks.

15. Pierce Brosnan

Although Sean Connery may have been the first James Bond, Pierce Brosnan’s clean-shaven, slightly ruffled but tidy hairstyle combined with bold coloured ties and classy watches certainly made him stand out as the most stylish James Bond ever. He certainly changed fashion forever.

16. Jennifer Aniston

No list of revolutionary fashion icons will be complete without Jennifer Aniston. Her “Rachel Look” is the craze of millions of women. Her look, demeanour and especially the hairstyle from the show Friends were so iconic that the hairstyle was even named ‘The Rachel’ in honour of Jennifer Aniston’s character.

17. Charlie Chaplin

Not many would think of Charlie Chaplin as a fashion icon. However, he certainly brought new meaning to the old 19th Century look with his trademark bowler hat and stick. Almost a century later, the mere sight of the hat and stick brings the image of the iconic comedian to everyone’s mind. Revolutionary, indeed!

18. Clark Gable

Not mentioning one of the greatest fashion icons of the early 20th Century in this list would be a grave sin indeed. Clark Gable epitomized the True Gentleman look that many strive to imitate even today!

19. Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood’s looks as the man with no name in the classic Wild West movies of the 60s are truly notable in the world of fashion. He single-handedly made looking rugged fashionable for men all over the world!

20. Kanye West 

Love or hate him, Kanye West is a visionary who made a name for himself as an artist, designer, and trendsetter. There’s no doubt Kanye’s footprint is strong wherever he plants it. Looking back at Kanye’s style moments, it’s clear he doesn’t play by anyone’s rules, nor does he ever conform to societal norms. Along with his friend Virgil Abloh, Kanye West successfully paved the way for streetwear to become a part of high fashion.

 

 

21. Kim Kardashian

Last but certainly not least, Kim Kardashian is certainly the most influential fashion icon today. Her glam is inspiring millions in this smartphone and social media era of instant fashion!

 

What did you think about our choices? Did we miss any that you had in mind? Feel free to share your icons with us in the comments section below.

 

Post Credits

Co-Written by: Yachna Atthi & Mohan Raj

Mohan Raj is a Senior Editor at Swag Swami, an online portal and blog for fashionable printed t-shirts in India. An avid gamer who spends his free time logged into Steam. He also practices Yoga and meditation regularly and teaches Yoga at the Cosmopolitan Centre in India.