5 Style Icons From Hollywood to Inspire Stylists

(image: The Huffington Post)

Celebrities don’t achieve their immaculate looks that they exhibit on the red carpet all by themselves. As the fashion industry expands its reach and people have more access through social media, another person is taking the spotlight: the stylist.

While many of the stars’ fashion choices are reflective of the their personal style, they are helped by the stylist to pick from a bevy of couture choices. This is an important process, as celebrities need to maintain a certain image, showing the crucial role of stylists.

In addition to having an eye for design, it takes very particular skills to create the most stylish looks. Many of these are learned from training and certification courses. For instance, we featured the ’LA Stylist and Personal Shopper Training’ in a past article, which focused on celebrity styling. If you aspire to take on this fabulous but daunting task, here are 5 current style icons to serve as templates to show what it takes to dress up a star.

1. Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker’s Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw paved the way for women, both on and off screen, to be more daring and out-of-the-box with their wardrobe. Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw became such a template for fashion that Patricia Fields, the show’s stylist, called the character an “unintentional supermodel”.

(image: Glee Wiki)

The character also allowed Parker herself to reinvent her personal style. Her style icon status is so strong that she has had over 6 Vogue covers shot by the likes of Patrick Demarchelier and Mario Testino. One of her most daring fashion moments in the past few years occurred during the punk-themed 2013 Met Gala. She appeared in thigh-high boots and a feathered-mohawk.

2. Cate Blanchett

Another prominent fashion risk-taker is Cate Blanchett. While she is a bit more toned down than Sarah Jessica Parker, she is usually one of the most anticipated stars to grace any event, primarily because she often does not look like anyone else.

 (image: Harper’s Bazaar)

In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Blanchett’s stylist Elizabeth Stewart talked about how she is able to dress up one of the most strong-minded women in Hollywood. Fittings with the movie star are often held just days or even hours before the actual event. “She arrived that morning and tried on her dress for the first time, and then wore it. She’s really decisive,” Stewart relayed, pertaining to the Dries van Noten dress Blanchett wore in the 2008 Oscars.

3. Natalie Portman

(image: Instyle)

Natalie Portman is considered by many as the modern-day Audrey Hepburn due to their similarities in features and sophistication. Instyle magazine interviewed Kate Young, Portman’s stylist, about what she considers as the top red carpet moments for the thespian. “Her choices are classic, but when you look closer, there’s always a twist or something more complex about them too,” Young told the magazine. She identified a Grecian-style Lanvin and a polka-dotted Dior as two of the actress’ finest red carpet looks. They were worn in the 2005 and 2011 Oscars, respectively.

4. Heather Graham

Known for her striking blue eyes and delicate features, Graham has been a beauty and style icon for as long she’s been in the industry. Her exceptional looks have garnered her multiple magazine covers and recently, she was chosen as the main endorser for online gaming site Foxy Bingo. The A-lister was cast because of her charm and looks that are pleasing to a wide range of audiences. And she can be seen in a purple Paul Smith suit on the homepage of the popular British gaming community.

(image: The New York Times)

Graham told the New York Times that her style is often playful and cute. She’s not that much of a risk-taker as other women in this list but she still loves eye-catching dresses. “You know when you wear a dress that’s so remarkable you feel like the best version of yourself? Well, it was that kind of dress.” she remarked over a Stella McCartney piece she wore for the Cinema Society premiere of her film At Any Price.

5. Lupita Nyong’o

Hollywood glamor is no longer just the fair-skinned women’s game. Case in point: Lupita Nyong’o who set a new standard for women in terms of beauty. Vanity Fair recounts the actress’s triumphant 2014 red carpet season and asked her stylist, Micaela Erlanger, about the star’s elegant image.

(image: Glamour)

Erlanger explained, “She loves color and bold choices; it’s about being super playful.” Among the actress’s iconic looks from that year were the crimson caped dress from Ralph Lauren at the Golden Globes and the sky blue Prada at the Academy Awards.

Fashion no longer has a singular standard when it comes to Hollywood. Celebrities are more eclectic than ever before, and they like to have their own personal stamp on how they present themselves. Thankfully, intelligent and talented stylists are behind them to bring out their best looks.