
With social media exploding the careers of fashionistas who would otherwise have been unknown had the internet not happened, I often ask myself what makes someone a fashion icon? Is it them being true to their personal style or simply donning the luxurious brands that the mere working class can only dream of owning?
Especially since the dawn of social media, people have become obsessed with the fantasy lives of the rich and famous – Instagram is a platform that I think has exaggerated this and has led to the likes of Kylie & Kendall Jenner becoming global icons. But other than a rich family to pay for their luxuries and a family name made big during a high profile murder trial – what makes them any different to you or I? Well for one they have an enormous platform to influence their followers!
However, this is kind of beside the point of this post – What I’m basically trying to say is, is there such thing as a fashion icon anymore? Or has the term been lost since the dawn of social media?
In my mind, a fashion icon is somebody who has changed the way we as a society view fashion – their style is timeless and no matter how much time has passed, their style shines through the ages. Think of people like Audrey Hepburn or Brigitte Bardot – timeless style icons that could still look as fabulous today as they did 30 or 40 years ago.
However, if you were to Google the definition of a fashion icon, it’s simple;
“A person or thing that is very well known as being highly fashionable”
I think the term has been lost in recent years – people strive to be a fashion icon when a true one doesn’t need to. They don’t need to acknowledge that they’re the definition of style and just wear their style because it’s what they like.
You’ll always have your trend setters, but a fashion icon only comes once every decade or so.
I’ll never be an icon and do you know what? I’m quite comfortable with that – I can barely put an outfit together everyday despite what my Instagram feed might tell you 😉
Let me know what you think a fashion icon is and if you agree that the term has been lost in recent years.
Audrey HepburnbloggerBrigitte Bardotclothesfashionfashion blogfashion bloggerfashion iconfashion inspirationfashion trendsfbloggericonKendall JennerKylie Jennerthe Kardashianstrends
I agree that someone who really changes things, truly iconic, comes along very infrequently!
https://damngirlgetyourshittogether.com/
100%! 🙌🏻
Ah I agree with this 100%, a fashion icon isn’t really an icon if they have to force their way there! I guess the original meaning of a style icon has gotten lost over the past years, now that we have “style influencers” and the line between these two has blurred despite them being very different things. I love that you wrote about this, and I have to say your blog layout is super cute as well! 🙂 x
Ahh thank you! And definitely! There isn’t a defined line between the two! X