Style is a characteristic often viewed as something you either have or don't. And it seems that to have *iconic* style, you need endless creativity, time, and of course, money. 

At Indyx, we don't buy that idea. We believe that being stylish is not just for celebrities, fashionistas, or people who can afford to have a big name stylist dressing them every day.

Anyone can have an iconic style, and we'll show you how.

The TL;DR? It’s all about repeition and consistency. Style icons are almost never caught up the latest trend - they understand their true personal style, and they stick to it. In other words: they’re just a glowed-up version of what we normies typically call “outfit repeaters”!

What Makes Someone Iconic?

A fashion icon is someone whose style is unique, can be easily recognized, and makes an impact. People with iconic style are so distinctly recognizable that when you see items that they would wear, you think of them.

Style icons also often symbolize values that others aspire to embody. When you see a photo of Audrey Hepburn, what comes to mind? Class, confidence, and femininity. She represents these and other similar ideals, and that, by definition, makes her iconic.

While icons can represent profoundly abstract ideals, iconic style is not all that out-of-reach. Let’s break down the common factors:

Repetition

For something to be iconic, it needs to be repeated. The thing being repeated can be a specific item, color, or even fit. If there is a particular silhouette that flatters you but you only wear it a few times, you might get a few compliments, but it will hardly make an impression. The more you repeat something in your outfits, the more you will be remembered for it.

Recognizability

As you create patterns within your style and people get used to seeing you repeat them, your style will become more recognizable. You will create an automatic association between you and your style in people’s minds.

Resonance

As you repeat specific elements in your style and become more easily recognized for it, the final stage is to achieve resonance with the people you know - and, for celebrities, the general public. This is more likely to happen especially if your style represents you and your personality in a greater sense.

For example, if you are passionate about empowerment and your outfits reflect that idea, your impact will naturally be stronger. Your style can borrow power from the aspirational value it represents.

One of the most beautiful things about style icons is that, many times, they emerge organically. When people express themselves, what they stand for, and what they have to say through clothes with unapologetic confidence, others cannot help but pay attention to their example.

Examples of Iconic Style

As you curate your own iconic style, it may be helpful to observe and learn from established style icons.

p.s.: While our list is composed of big household names, remember that having iconic style does not depend on being rich or famous. Think of the stylish people in your life. What items, silhouettes, or colors do they wear over and over? How do their personalities shine through their outfit choices?

Michelle Obama

In her autobiography, Becoming, Michelle Obama makes clear that during her time in the White House, she was much more concerned with creating policies that help people than with the fashion ramifications of being the First Lady.

Nevertheless, Obama’s effortless class earned her the status of fashion icon. After the White House, her style remained a source of inspiration for many as she evolved into outfits with more color, bling, and boldness - but always maintaining that special touch of elegance she is known for.

We also cannot fail to mention her iconic sleeveless dresses, which became a symbol against the double standard in dress codes for women. Even though her outfits with bare arms stirred controversy, with critics calling her looks too casual and irreverent, Obama stood up for her belief that women should be able to wear what they feel comfortable in.

Want to dress like Michelle Obama? Look up inspiration with the following keywords: classic, chic, elegant, timeless

Britney Spears

The pop princess dominated teenage magazines in the 2000s, and for good reason. Britney Spears’ youthful and wholesome style served as reference for thousands of young teenagers, who were themselves navigating what it meant to become a woman. When you think pigtails, tube tops, and pleated skirts, you think “Baby, One More Time,” and you think Britney.

The singer’s iconic style represents values like youth and femininity. As she transitioned into womanhood under the eyes of the entire world, her outfits continued to reflect every woman’s experience of trying to find her place in a society where your gender comes with a heavy set of expectations.

Want to dress like Britney? Look up inspiration with the following keywords: feminine, youthful, Y2K

Princess Diana

If there is a rulebook out there on how to be a style icon, Princess Diana wrote it. Through outfits full of contrasting elements, Diana embodied her role as a royal with classic silhouettes and structured, tailored pieces while still letting her fun, audacious personality shine through.

Princess Diana’s iconic style represents simplicity and class. Her outfit choices also expressed the challenges she faced as a member of the royal family, in which she often struggled to conciliate the pressure to always be perfectly presentable with her desire for freedom—the freedom to just be herself.

And, for a deeper dive into why we at Indyx consider Diana’s style iconic…

Harry Styles

Reminiscent of Freddie Mercury, and David Bowie, Harry Styles has become a fashion icon for his androgynous style choices. His iconic style is flashy, paradoxical, and fluid. With plunging square necklines, pearl necklaces, feathers, and enough sequin to outshine the sun, Styles routinely breaks stereotypes of what masculinity looks like.

Want to dress like Harry? Look up inspiration with the following keywords: retro, fluid, androgynous

Vera Wang

Vera Wang is mostly known for her iconic wedding dresses, but her personal style deserves recognition as well. 

The fashion mogul is known for the innovative use of sheer fabric and luxurious designs, and her day-to-day uniform is surprisingly simple. Her outfits usually juxtapose black and white or black on black items, which, combined with stiletto heels, create a sense of elevated sexy.

Want to dress like Vera? Look up inspiration with the following keywords: simple, minimalistic, edgy, elegant, elevated, clean, sexy, youthful

Zendaya

From Disney to the red carpet, Zendaya has always been bold and adaptive with her fashion choices. Her style can be described as sexy, glamourous, and tailored, and it combines masculine themes, like oversized blazers and pantsuits, with feminine silhouettes that emphasize her curves. Her day-to-day style is simple and comfortable, mix streetwear with chic.

Zendaya is the picture of elegance, but that doesn’t mean she doesn't have fun with her outfits. She likes to give a nod to movies and characters with different fabrics, colors, and accessories - a true fashion chameleon!

Want to dress like Zendaya? Look up inspiration with the following keywords: cool, edgy, poised

How You Can Have Iconic Style

While most fashion icons have thousands of dollars to spend on designer pieces, with stylists lining up to dress them for their next event, do not let that discourage you! You don’t need any of that to have iconic style. 

As we saw with our examples, the key piece to iconic style is repetition, rather than trends. All you have to do is establish your own “uniform” and stick to it. It truly is the best of both worlds: it makes getting dressed easy and releases the pressure of having to reinvent the wheel all the time, but it also establishes an iconic style that is truly you. You don’t have to choose between ease and style - in fact, as we’ve seen the most stylish women of all have both. 

Obviously, establishing your repeatable, iconic style might be easier said than done. It can feel overwhelming to know where to start, and so we’ll offer a few questions to get you focused:

What do you already love wearing?

The chances are that, even if you haven’t identified them yet, you already have specific style patterns. They may be expressed in a specific genre of clothes, type of item, or detail you usually go for. It could be athleisure, skorts, or bows—whatever it is for you, you can fill in the blank. Once you identify what you already love, you can more easily hone in, eliminating items that don’t fit the vibe you’re going for and further establishing your style patterns. 

When it comes to creating an iconic style, you will go much further by choosing a specific direction and spending all your energy there than being influenced by trends and being pulled in a hundred different directions.

What do you stand for?

By now, you already know that for something to be truly iconic, it needs to be a symbol. It should stand for something larger than just the clothes themselves. So, what do you stand for? What values do you hold that you want to communicate with how you dress? 

If this sounds a bit theoretical and academic, then honestly just start by following your gut. If you are using your clothes as a vehicle to express your inner self, then those values will naturally tumble out. 

For me personally, fashion is a way to celebrate that every single person is distinctly special in their own way. I like to iconize that by thrifting and styling unique pieces that I would not be able to find at the mall or a large chain store.

Your outfits can be an extension of yourself, expressing what you believe in before you even open your mouth. What do you want them to say?

How can you make those elements cohesive?

Once you’ve identified the elements of style that you really love and want to stand for, it is a good idea to give extra thought to how to bring those elements together. Many of us have been in the situation of having a closet full of “statement pieces”, but without the right basics to pull actual outfits together. But, you need the right quieter elements to translate your iconic style into cohesive outfits.

While identifying the loud parts can be easier, these quieter elements that pull it together can be a challenge - and so this is where the assistance of a professional could be really helpful. Booking an Indyx Lookbook for some 1:1 attention from a personal stylist is a great place to start.

How do you stand out from the crowd?

Although following trends can sometimes be fun, you likely will not be recognized for having iconic style by just doing what everyone else is doing. Style icons create their own fashion rules, and that often means going against the mainstream. 

Pursuing more originality with your fashion choices also allows you to break free from the constant stream of marketing in our culture. We are constantly being told what to buy - or, as of more recently with the rise of dupe culture and “de-influencing” on social media, what not to buy.

You can have iconic style by going against the current: giving your twist to an item you like that has been labeled "outdated," finding unique secondhand items in thrift stores, or simply refusing to buy something that every influencer thinks you need.

How do you stick with it?

Again, one of the most important stages of making something iconic is repetition. Once you know what you love wearing and what flatters your characteristics, keep doing it! It will make it easier for you to form outfits because you’ll be able to create your own uniform, but it will also get your creative juices going as you think of new ways to keep your uniform fresh.

We meant it! Whether you shop secondhand or invest in designer brands, create your own outfits or work with a stylist, iconic style is for everyone.

Isa is a communications specialist, writer, and content creator. In her free time, she likes reading, thrifting, and decorating her place to feel like a retro-modern Pinterest board. If you see her in public, she’ll likely be enjoying a few scoops of gelato and/or admiring strangers’ dogs.

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