Top 10 Fashion Trends Started By Celebrities

Somehow the fads of the early aughts are actually coming back into style, despite it being pretty universally acknowledged as a dark moment in fashion history. That and the fact that they were first worn by their namesakes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries make it quite the interesting item of clothing. One of the biggest culprits when it came to starting some of the 2000s’ biggest trends was, of course, pop princess Britney Spears. One of the most unlikely fads she popularized was the newsboy cap, which we’re pretty sure no one could have predicted becoming the it accessory for teen and tween girls. But hey, Britney managed to make them look good! They also came in a variety of fabrics and materials.

Let’s start by saying that Kim Kardashian by no means invented contouring. The practice had been around for decades, as early as the 1920s and 1930s - and there are even examples of it being used centuries before! Contouring is often used in the Drag community to create that perfectly snatched look. But when Kim K. made it part of her everyday beauty routine, the public took notice and decided they wanted their own sculpted cheekbones and shaded jawlines. Contouring had a major moment in the mid 2010s, but has lately been drifting out of style in favor of a more naturally bronzed look without any harsh lines or shadows.

Sometimes celebrities kick off fashion trends with their personal style, but other times it’s what they wear on screen that makes the biggest impact. In “Flashdance”, actress Jennifer Beals wears a few now-iconic accessories, including leg warmers during the final dance. She also memorably wears a sweatshirt that droops off one shoulder. The same grey top ended up on the movie’s poster, and in many ways has come to exemplify ‘80s fashion. In fact, the famous sweatshirt actually has a funny story behind it. The item of clothing actually belonged to Beales herself and it shrunk in the wash, forcing her to cut the neck hole open so it would fit comfortably. And thus a piece of fashion history was born!

In “Miami Vice”, Don Johnson played James “Sonny” Crockett while Philip Michael Thomas acted as Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs, both of whom are undercover Miami detectives. Their styles would go on to revolutionize ‘80s menswear and inspire young men everywhere to update their wardrobes. Their outfits were characterized by their sock-free loafers, their t-shirts under Armani blazers, and of course their Ray-Ban sunglasses. The look was hugely influential, with Macy's opening a “Miami Vice” section in their young men's department and Kenneth Cole creating a line of Crockett and Tubbs shoes. In 1984, the Model L2052, Ray-Ban Wayfarers that Crockett wore sold a whopping 720,000 units.

It’s not often that you can point to the specific moment in which a trend came to be, but in the case of the miniskirt, we can! The origins of the short skirt look can be traced to October 30th, 1965 at Melbourne, Australia’s Flemington Racecourse. English model Jean Shrimpton showed up to Derby Day wearing a white dress designed by her dressmaker Colin Rolfe. What made the look stand out was the fact that the hem fell four inches above her knee, which at the time was considered to be scandalously short. In fact, the entire thing happened by accident when Rolfe didn’t have the right amount of fabric to complete the intended design. But thanks to her minidress, the miniskirt was inadvertently presented to the world and rest is history!

Michael Jackson is a controversial figure, and there were plenty of issues in his personal life, but we can’t deny the major influence that the King of Pop had on the fashion industry during his time in the spotlight. The singer helped usher in a new era of menswear that involved a lot more flash, showing that dudes don’t have to stick to boring suits or jeans and t-shirts. One of the most memorable items he often wore was a moto-style leather jacket. He wore this style in many different iterations over the years, with chains and zippers, in different shades, and so on. While the look has gone in and out of fashion for decades, it is especially popular again these days in womenswear.

In 1977, Diane Keaton appeared in the titular role of the film “Annie Hall” sporting menswear styles that would come to become synonymous with her personal look. The fashion was reportedly based on Keaton’s own wardrobe, with on-set costumers initially doubting that the look would work for the romantic comedy. She wore vests, ties, high waisted trousers, and jaunty hats, resulting in an androgynous look that broke barriers in the ‘70s and still looks incredibly chic today. Even after decades of being in the public eye, Keaton remains a style icon and defying expectations for how women “should” dress.

The 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” has one of the most iconic opening scenes of all time: with Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly dressed to the nines in a black dress and pearls standing outside the famed jewelry store first thing in the morning. The Givenchy frock she wore popularized the concept of the little black dress. But this actually isn’t the only major trend that Hepburn can be credited for. She popularized wearing ballet flats with slim cut pants, as seen in 1954’s “Sabrina” as well as in other photos. She also paired cigarette trousers with loafers in the 1957 film “Funny Face”. It’s really saying something that many of these trends continue to be popular today.

If only we had the numbers on how many people asked their hairdressers for this haircut in the ‘90s...”Friends” became hugely popular shortly after it began airing, and Jennifer Aniston was one of the show’s breakout stars. In the second half of the first season, she debuted a haircut that quickly became known as “The Rachel”. It’s a heavily layered look that adds tons of volume and went well with Aniston’s highlights. It may come as no surprise that the actress herself is allegedly not a fan of the style, and doesn’t necessarily relish being constantly associated with it.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Peter Pan Collars, Alexa Chung
She Makes This Fussy Neckline Look Cool

Hammer Pants , MC Hammer
Hammer Time!

Leather & Eyeliner, Joan Jett
Her Badass Rocker Style Has Persisted for Decades

Boho Style, The Olsen Twins
They Made the Bag Lady Look Chic

Shutter Shades , Kanye West
Could He Even See?

It’s hard to think about velour tracksuits without conjuring up images of famed heiress Paris Hilton. “The Simple Life” star championed this trend, which was everywhere back in the early 2000s. And surprisingly enough, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sporty-yet-comfy outfit looks like it’s actually coming back in style—whether you like it or not! Paris Hilton was a fashion icon in other ways too, popularizing the trend of using a dog as an accessory. Back in the early and mid aughts, the socialite brought her chihuahua Tinkerbell with her everywhere, and continued to carry dogs around for years to come.