EXCLUSIVE: Embodying a ‘British sense of style’ and ‘a playful experimentation with clothes’ there’s no stopping the high fashion powerhouse that is Harry Styles – he just keeps getting better!
Cast your mind back to Saturday evening, ITV, 2010 and you’ll remember an innocent 16 year old boy, arriving for his X Factor audition in crisp white Converse, head-to-to in Topman classics and with a chestnut brown side fringe so sweeping it swept young girls watching at home off their feet.
That charming, if not stereotypically dressed boy was Harry Styles, but in true nature to his namesake, his style and fashion prowess was just about to begin.
Throughout the years that followed in his musical and acting career, Harry played about with different looks from comfortable ‘typical teen’ comfort to sharp, smart suits, before moving into his truly authentic fashion era. A time that brought us pearl necklaces, dangling earrings, clutch handbags and plunging jumpsuit necklines.
Harry Styles has evolved his fashion choices from an innocently dressed teenager to a star of interest in high fashion circles (Image: Sara Jaye/REX/Shutterstock)
Bold, brave and truly himself, Harry Styles has found a way to make fashion his own (Image: Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
“Harry embodies a very British sense of style that has evolved through a process of self-expression and creativity as we’ve grown up with him,” Selfridges’ director of menswear, Bosse Myhr, tells OK!.
“His playful experimentation with clothes is his fashion superpower. It goes without saying he isn’t afraid to try something radical.”
As far back as 2013, Teen Vogue claimed that Harry had “stolen the show” at that year’s London Fashion Week. Sitting front row at the Burberry show that September, he appeared to shed his preppy image once and for all in ripped skinny jeans, pointed Chelsea boots, a tailored Burberry coat and a daring leopard-print T-shirt.
Accolades soon followed when he was named British Style Icon at the prestigious British Fashion Awards in the December.
The influence of Harry’s first meet with fashion stylist Harry Lambert was iconic and one that stayed with him. When Harry returned to the Fashion Awards in 2014, he turned heads in a bold red and black striped suit by Lanvin, paired with stacked-heel boots.
Fashion stylist Harry Lambert influenced Harry’s fashion choices resulting in this chic striped Lanvin suit (Image: WireImage)
Speaking about Harry Lambert in 2020, Harry said: “He just has fun with clothing and that’s kind of where I’ve got it from.” He also revealed that during their first meeting, the stylist suggested he try some flares. “I was like, ‘Flares? That’s f***ing crazy!'”
And the rest is history. We’ve seen Harry strike a close friendship with Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele and turn to New Romantic tailoring soon afterwards. We’ve watched him usher in a well-received air of androgyny with the star admitting that if he is told something is for ladies it “doesn’t make me want to wear it less.”
We’ve also witnessed his celebration of British eccentricity from regal ruffles to bold 70s-inspired colour and pattern.
He told Vogue in 2020: “You can never be overdressed,” noting that David Bowie and Freddie Mercury were some of his fashion icons. “I think if you get something that you feel amazing in, it’s like a superhero outfit.”
Never one to shy away from a fashion, Harry Styles made it clear that if something was meant for the ladies, it wouldn’t put him off wearing it (Image: Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Selfridges’ director of menswear, Bosse Myhr believes Harry’s ‘playful experimentation with clothes is his fashion superpower’ (Image: Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Harry’s Love On Tour world tour, which kicked off in 2021 and ran until 2023, charted his rising confidence with his own style once and for all. In earlier shows, he took to the stage in his signature suits, but evolved to later own the spotlight in opulent stage costumes and a kaleidoscope of colour.
But just as fans had become accustomed to Harry’s flair for the avant garde, he seemed to reinvent himself once again late last year, when he shaved off his signature curls.
Officially debuting the new look at the launch of his Pleasing fragrance, Harry appeared stripped back in a simple knitted jumper – causing fans to question whether we were seeing the start of a whole new style era.
“There’s no denying that Harry has a strong future in fashion,” style analyst and author of Look At The Labels Jennifer Walderdorff said. “Whether he decides to take a break from music at some stage or not, he’s made his mark with his style. I know we have many more exciting years of fashion to come with Harry.
“He’s only 30, yet he’s managed to achieve so much. And I know we’re just getting started.”
