Even if celebs who should make the best dressed list can't be agreed upon 100 percent of the time, there are some celebrities that have an undeniable fashion presence in the tabloids, on TV and just about everywhere else. It turns out these stars are also capitalizing on their style know-how by designing their own clothes, perfumes and accessories — go figure. Here are SPM’s picks for this generation's fashion icons — take it or leave it.
Paris Hilton
"I hate her, but I love her look," says broadcast senior Jacqui Denker, a sentiment SPM can agree with as we also included Ms. Hilton in our worst-dressed collection. She chooses only the most standout prints, brightest colors and barest of silhouettes, then accessorizes with sky-high stilettos and glam jewelry. Like everything else Ms. Hilton does in her life, she goes all out.
Kanye West
His cocky swagger may be off putting, but his fresh fashions keep him on top-of-the-game. “Icons in the movie and music business have extremely powerful [style] influences,” says ASU music performance student Evan Pyles. “A perfect example is those silly glasses from Kanye West's Daft-Punk video … Almost the day after [the music video] premiered, half the 14 to 26-year-olds I saw seemed to be wearing them.”
Gwen Stefani
From her grunge-rock No Doubt days to her currently glammed-out, Japanese-inspired motif, Gwen Stefani is a grab bag of fashion inspiration. Stefani started out by creating her own outfits for on-stage, and now she's a regular fashion mogul with her L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers clothing and perfume lines.
Justin Timberlake
"He made the fedora popular again, that's for sure," says ASU senior Alex Layman. "He definitely brought sexy back." His look is sophisticated and classic. He even designed his own denim line, William Rast, which includes top of the line, highly coveted jeans. “Currently, most emphasis is being placed on iconic female figures,” says Pyles. “But that is slowly changing as it is finally becoming more acceptable for men to display their good taste when it comes to fashion as well.”
Sarah Jessica Parker
Whether looking at Sarah Jessica Parker or Carrie Bradshaw, her character from Sex and the City, Parker’s choices are always inspiring. "I think she always dresses for her age and looks well put together," says Laymen. SJP is known for her quirky elegance on “Sex in the City,” and her head-turning assembles on the red carpet. The Council of Fashion Designers of America honored SJP with the Style Icon award back in 2004, and even now in 2009 she continues to amaze. "She always chooses colors that complement her, like light pinks,” Laymen says. “And her red carpet looks are always tasteful.”
Reach the reporter at michelle.masek@asu.edu.
Additional reporting by Lana Burke.
