Who were the style icons we looked up to? The BAZAAR team reflect on our early years and talk about the It Girls who had the most impact on our fashion sense.
The last decade of fashion has felt like a century. We are inundated with the constant churn of collection after collection by mega corporations. This generates an unceasing stream of content on every social media platform: Instagram, Threads, TikTok, X, Little Red Book, YouTube, Pinterest, and more. I am in awe of those growing up in this era of fashion; they have the world at their fingertips and painstakingly wade through all this online content themselves to figure out their own personal style. From instantaneous reactions to collection breakdowns and styling tips, fashion literacy is at an all time high. Every individual can be a tastemaker; they are their own It Girl.
Back in the day, things were a little different. In the late 2000s and 2010s, before the proliferation of social media, the access to fashion–luxury or otherwise–was limited; consumed by the general public only through the select few who had connections to that world by way of industry, celebrity or wealth. It Girls were few and far between. But they were everywhere, from magazine covers and red carpets to the hottest clubs and parties. These handful of women had an undisputed impact on how we, the Harper’s BAZAAR Malaysia team, developed our sense of style.
Vanessa Hudgens in Los Angeles, 2016 (Photo: HIGHFIVE/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
We look back on our favourite It Girls who helped us become the stylish women we are today.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen at The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
“I grew up with the Olsen twins—from having a collection of their book series to religiously watching their films, you can say I was a huge fan. But what shocked me in the best possible way was their dip into the fashion world. Not only did their unique style inspire my curation of building a capsule wardrobe over the years, but it also showed me a true understanding of fashion versatility. Through their love for oversized silhouettes and a neutral colour palette, whether it’s through mixing high and low pieces or embracing my own style with no hesitation, their authenticity resonated with me. And I still look to them as my source of inspiration.”
Eva Chen
Eva Chen at New York Fashion Week Spring 2017 in New York City. (Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
“Growing up, Eva Chen was the woman I looked to for both style and direction. There was something so effortless about the way she dressed—she always struck that perfect balance between polished, playful and comfortable, making fashion feel accessible rather than intimidating. Watching her carve out her own space as a journalist and editor, especially in the early days of Instagram, gave me a glimpse of the world I wanted to be part of. I’d check her feed constantly for inspiration, and over time, her presence definitely played a part in the path I eventually chose into the magazine world.”
– Alisha Azuddin, Beauty Director
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung at Glastonbury festival in 2017 (Photo: David M Benett/Getty Images)
“I first came across Alexa Chung because she was all over Tumblr. At the time, she was dating The Alex Turner and he had written a love letter to her that went viral. As a teen, it was one of the most romantic things I had ever read. By association, she was part of the British cultural invasion during the late 2000s–as Arctic Monkeys, Adele, and Amy Winehouse were blowing up. An originator of what TikTok would call ‘soft grunge’ now, her wardrobe was authentic to her personality. She was always sporting leather jackets with oversized shirts and ripped tights. She would be spotted around London with smudged eyeliner, running around the city’s pubs, music venues, and high fashion parties. It has also been nice to watch her style evolution over the years; her tastes are more refined and she has been deservedly tapped to curate collections with fashion brands like Madewell.”
– Zue Wei Leong, Associate Fashion Editor
Vanessa Hudgens
Vanessa Hudgens at the 2012 Coachella Music Festival in California (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella)
“I always admired the High School Musical actress’s indie aesthetic. Her style was effortless–a pair of flared jeans or denim shorts with layered tops. I loved seeing her Coachella outfits. When I was at university, I used to try to copy her style. I wore flowy, boho blouses with jeans. It’s not how I dress anymore but I loved that style chapter!”
– Khairani Ramli, Art Director
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess Of Wales at the Windsor Guards Polo Club in 1988 (Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
“Princess Diana’s style evolution can only be described as legendary. I loved how she can switch gears—preppy princess to sporty chic and new romantics. What made her so captivating wasn’t just what she wore, but how authentically she inhabited each look. Her versatility was unmatched—she taught me: you can wear anything, embrace any style, as long as you feel confident in it. So, I’ll always look up to her for style inspiration.”
– Syameen Salehaldin, Lifestyle Director
