HOW TO BE A FASHION ICON

The word “iconic” is thrown around a lot online to describe everything from TikTok trends to the careers of pop stars that have released a grand total of two albums. But, while we can all have our own personal ideas of what iconic (and fashion) means, there are some people who are considered inspirations to many across class, generation, race, and any other distinction you can think of. But why? What makes these so-called “icons” special, especially in a landscape full of plenty of people with money and stylists and access to cool clothes? You know I have thoughts. 

I believe there are three kinds of fashion icons. They’re not all born from the same elements: some have looks, some have a look, and others cracked the code to influencing an entire generation, if not multiple. Sometimes, while you work on finding your own personal style, it can pay to think about what sort of image you want to project, and how you want your style to live on in the minds of the people close to you (or who follow you on Instagram). Anyone can be an icon, the question is, how? 

The Looks 

You can’t be a fashion icon without looks, and boy, have we fashion lovers been eating good, lately. From young starlets like Zendaya and Anya Taylor-Joy to some of my own favorite content creators like Carla Rockmore and Sara Camposarcone to artists like Doja Cat and Rihanna and even famous offspring like Iris Law and Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin), we have plenty of contenders for this era’s next Big Fashion Icon. There’s a lot to be said about (and that I will say about) the sort of icon who can inspire others to follow their lead and who influence entire fashion movements, but, the first sort of icon I want to talk about is inimitable. Whether it’s a lack of fearlessness or accessibility on our parts, or just a lack of vision, these are the ones whose style can’t be borrowed or tried on because it’s simultaneously impossible to describe but also undeniably them. They are the Chameleons.