Have you ever wondered why you can easily pick out certain celebrities from a lineup, even when their faces are blurred? That’s because some of them have their own signature aesthetic. While this seems like an easy feat, becoming a fashion legend that everyone else aspires to be is quite the challenge, and only a select few can pull it off. Whether they’re an Old Hollywood A-lister or one of today’s biggest stars, they all have one thing in common: they’re recognizable at just one glance. In this list, we’ll be walking you through 32 of the world’s biggest style icons who helped shape and continue to influence fashion as we know it today.
#21 Cher
Between her bohemian looks and disco diva glam, Cher truly rocked the fashion world in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and her influence didn’t end there. With the help of costume designer Bob Macke in the 1980s and 1990s, she turned wearing futuristic outfits and sheer bodysuits into a much-loved trend. Today, Cher’s style continues to influence designers and celebrities alike.
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11points
#22 Lady Gaga
Nobody makes as many audacious fashion choices as Lady Gaga. From avant-garde costumes to dresses made out of meat, her looks not only shock and provoke, but also tell stories and perfectly merge fashion with art. While working with top brand houses like Alexander McQueen and Versace, Gaga has firmly established herself as not just an amazing performer but also an all-time fashion icon.
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10points
#23 Rihanna
Rihanna’s influence isn’t just limited to music, but also extends into the fashion world; she’s basically a trendsetter. The singer-turned-business mogul effortlessly switches up her look, constantly pushing boundaries by combining couture with streetwear and other unexpected styling choices. Between her edgy style and headline-grabbing red carpet looks, it’s no surprise that she’s earned the title of pop and fashion legend.
7points
#24 Elle Macpherson
Best known for her classic elegance and versatile style, Ella Macpherson is widely recognized as a style icon. Between her tailored outfits, sophisticated color palette, and laid-back glamor, it doesn’t come as a surprise that she received the Elle Style Icon award in 2006, further nailing down her reputation as a fashion legend.
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6points
#25 Bianca Jagger
With blazers, fur-trimmed coats, and wide-leg trousers as some of her go-to pieces, Bianca Jagger undeniably brought the ‘70s to life with her distinctive style. Throughout her decades-long career as a socialite and human rights activist, she has been a long-time muse for many designers and artists like Yves Saint Laurent and Andy Warhol.
5points
#26 Cindy Crawford
Cindy Crawford is undoubtedly one of the most popular supermodels of the ‘80s and ‘90s, but her influence didn’t just end there. Naturally, she also took the fashion scene by storm. Between her fitted Red Carpet looks and effortless off-duty pairings of simple T-shirts with high-waisted jeans, it’s pretty expected that her sexy and feminine signature style made waves in the industry.
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5points
#27 Anna Wintour
If you’ve ever watched the Met Gala red carpet, then you’re probably familiar with Anna Wintour, the driving force behind fashion’s biggest night. As former editor-in-chief of US Vogue, she helped shape the fashion industry as we know it today, pretty much locking in her status as a major style expert. In addition to all her impressive accolades, she’s also recognized for her signature pageboy bob, dark sunglasses, and tailored outfits.
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5points
#28 Sarah Jessica Parker
There’s a good chance that most of us immediately picture Carrie Bradshaw whenever anyone mentions Sarah Jessica Parker, and this is largely because of the character’s significant influence on fashion. But what most people probably don’t know is that Parker is a style icon in her own right. Now at 61 years old, she’s known for her refined, sophisticated look, which is a far cry from the eclectic and daring style we associate with Bradshaw onscreen.
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3points
#29 Kelly Rutherford
Kelly Rutherford will forever be associated with her Gossip Girl character Lily van der Woodsen, which isn’t surprising since her elegant style on the show was pretty memorable. Much like her character, Rutherford’s own style is sophisticated, tasteful, and attainable, but still quite exciting. Currently gaining attention as a fashion icon, she regularly pairs classic brands like Chanel with more contemporary ones like Sézane.
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3points
#30 Victoria Beckham
As part of the biggest girl group in the ‘90s, Victoria Beckham certainly made latex look cool. Fast forward to today, she’s ditched the ultra-tight stage costumes and body-con outfits for clean tailoring, polished suits, and sleek dresses. As a well-respected designer and creative director of her own label, Beckham has become one of the 21st century’s most influential trendsetters.
2points
#31 Kate Moss
Very few people could pull off the waifish look quite like Kate Moss in the ‘90s. She popularized size zero fashion and defined the laid-back, ultra-slim aesthetic of the era. Thanks to her iconic Calvin Klein Campaigns and her signature off-runway look, which was a mix of skinny jeans, vintage tees, and ankle boots, she became a popular fashion icon at the time.
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1point
#32 Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman has never been one to shy away from daring styling, and in recent years, her risk-taking approach to fashion has made dressing her a designer’s dream. Often spotted in cutouts, dramatic colors, and unusual patterns, she has set the bar high for Red Carpet dressing and even been described as one of fashion’s biggest risk-takers.
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1point