Celebrity Style Icons and Fashion Victims

By Sharmin Musca, Personal Stylist on July 22, 2014 in Other

By now, I’m you’ve heard about or seen Rihanna’s latest headline grabbing outfit (or lack thereof) – all glittering nipples and derrière and shimmering headscarf at a US fashion awards ceremony. If you can move past the shock value of said nude outfit, you might agree with US Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who described Rihanna as a style icon as she handed her a fashion gong.

“I’m here to talk about the way Rihanna communicates through fashion because, of course, that is what style icons do. They tell captivating stories about the world they live in through clothes,” Wintour gushed.

This got me thinking about a truth that I have accepted as universal. The decisions we make when we get dressed in the morning tell a great deal about who we are beneath the clothes. Even those who reject fashion altogether are still saying something by virtue of doing so.

If you trawl through Kim and Kanye West’s stunning snaps of their completely over-the-top wedding, you’ll probably say their story was one of trying too hard. Pre-Kanye, Kim Kardashian’s outfits were more like her clothing line, Kardashian Kollection – high street rather than high end. Since Kanye came onto the scene they have been courting designers of serious fashion houses, culminating in said photographs of her dressed in eye-wateringly expensive pieces (like a million dollar Givenchy wedding dress).

It’s unfortunate that no matter how beautiful Kim looks in the couture gowns and designer outfits you can’t help noticing that everything is styled to within an inch of its life and, thus, lacks personality – like the clothes are wearing her rather than the other way around. Style icons enjoy the chance for self-expression through their clothing choices rather than dressing for the photo opportunity. They look chic and reveal who they are without trying too hard.

On the streets I found:

Name | Bonny
Occupation | Design/retail
Lives | Coogee
Fave Item This Season | A Helmut Lang shearling vest.
Street Style | Bonny wears a Dries Van Noten top and skirt, shoes by ACNE, a bag by Jil Sander and The Row sunglasses, all from The Frock Exchange in Clovelly.

Name | Summer
Occupation | Owner of myaupair.com.au
Lives | Clovelly
Fave Item This Season | Alexander Wang cross shoulder bag.
Street Style | Summer wears an Equipment top, leather leggings by Faith Connexion, strappy sandals by Alaia and Tom Ford sunglasses, all from The Frock Exchange in Clovelly.