17 Comments
Aug 18, 2022Liked by Amy Odell

Interesting debate. Zendaya is a young woman who seems to be an "icon" to me. Through her work and her image, she has captured the essence of a generation. While I like Hailey, I don't see her accomplishing much more than being a celebrity and top model - well done, but not iconic. Linda Evangelista who covers British Vogue's September issue is truly an icon - a ground breaker with longetivity. I feel that Bazaar throws around the term "icon" loosely because it suits their coverline.

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I can't help but think that the ranking that goes into these lists are tangled up with ad $ / brand partnerships etc. Am I jaded or it is just another fashion "authority" stunt? It disappoints me that Bieber was on Samira Nasr's List... that's if it is HER list? Just also pointing out, Bieber is still in a name stealing court case with Rhode Resort. Haven't checked the status lately with that.

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Surely icons should have some degree of charisma and Hailey Bieber... doesn't. At all.

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I think a lot of the time we idolize their bodies and the fashion is an afterthought. I'm not saying that's good or bad, I'm a huge fan of Kim and Hailey, but there's clearly a reason curve models or plus actresses are usually omitted from the Fashion Icon conversation.

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The word icon gets thrown around way too much these days it’s lost it’s meaning. Not everyone and everything can be an icon/iconic. This is mostly a collection of young talent who have projects to promote. Bad Bunny is the closest to icon status since he was the most streamed artist worldwide in 2020/2021.

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Aug 17, 2022·edited Aug 17, 2022

Unpopular opinion but I think she is an icon, even if we don't like to admit that. The grip she has on girls and young women, the amount of fan accounts tracking her style... And it has been going on for years. I also don't like the narrative that young people can't be icons. Who says what an icon is? And Harper's talks about new icons so obviously all people covered will be young. It's similar to 30 under 30 - can you be mad about it? Sure, but why and what's the point?

Editing to add that I think it's weird to assume that if we don't like someone, they are not an icon. Kim Kardashian is an icon in the same way Cate Blanchett is, even if for different reasons and styles. Also, I can't believe I just put Kim and Cate in the same sentence :D

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She's gorgeous but not an icon. Someone that reached icon status in their twenties would be a Kate Moss or someone with originality. She'll have a stylist which is fair enough but doesn't make you an icon. Huuuuge stretch & surprised at Harpers.

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I think the "next" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. But, it used to bother me when fashion magazines (or celebrity magazines) used the word "icon" to describe anyone with a modicum of fame or notoriety. Now, I kind of realize there's this hyperbolic way of writing — a breathless, excited quality — in fashion, celebrity and tabloid publications, and personally I think it's kind of fun to embrace it. Plus fashion magazines in particular are *supposed* to anoint the next icons, it girls/boys, etc. I think it should all be taken with a grain of salt. (Also, Rachel's writing is so fun and delicious because it revels in these hyperbolic maybe overused or cliched terms but deploys them with such exuberance and wit and originality and enthusiasm that they make these overused words and phrases fresh and real again!)

As far as if someone could be an icon in their 20s ... I don't know ... look at Edie Sedgwick, who achieved icon status in her 20s (but likely maintained it because she died so tragically before the age of 30 and her legend and allure has only grown since then). But her look was certainly FAR more original than Hailey Bieber's. But like Hailey Bieber, she is someone whose IMAGE, whose STYLE is what has made her an "icon" or at least an "influencer" ... not really anything outside of that. In fact, Hailey Bieber kind of fascinates me because she seems to have *no* personality ... just vibes, I guess.

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She is attractive but to me she doesn’t meet the definition of an icon. An icon would be Amal Clooney or Cate Blanchett and there has to be some depth to the person that isn’t yet possible at 25.

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I do think she's beautiful and I do think she has good taste... But is that enough to be considered an icon? I'm not so sure...

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It’s hard to get my head around the very young models who basically have spent their working life being fashionably dressed by professionals, being considered icons this early on.. But, what do I know.. .. I just saw the Vogue cover of Linda Evangelista (stunning). The Daily Mail just reported that Linda said “This is not my jaw and neck in real life”. Her face was TAPED BACK for the Vogue cover. Too funny! Who knew that instead of all the pricey products, all I needed was tape from the hardware store. I’m over 60 so I’ll go straight for Duck Tape. Fashion news keeps me smiling. Please keep writing.

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Not iconic in the least. She's a shallow 20 year old who is mainly famous because of her partner. I see nothing unusual or creative in her fashion sense, plus she usually looks depressed and pissed off. What about her character and personality? I don't see any. Someone who is called an icon should have more to them than impeccable hair, nails and skin and 'seek out new designers'. Btw, Kim isn't an icon to me either. I like woman with personality and character not narcissistic instagrammers.

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If only magazines could take a marketing course and specialize in differentiation. Joking! But in all seriousness, has beauty taken over fashion or is it just a really dewy moment? I don't think its very risky as far as fashion - I don't know how many times I have seen a look à la Parisienne for early fall - an oversized tuxedo jacket with a red lip. My issue is that this cover doesn't re-invent anything or breaks any rules. It's part of sellout culture. I haven't read the credits but I hope the brands were upcycled or low-brow for the inner-fashion spy. Harper's Bazaar used to be about the statement suede hats and skinny jeans with a little wooden heel. I agree with Hanan, I am not sure what has has made Hailey Bieber iconic, aside being a serial print model. If this cover could get her on a runway, perhaps Bazaar, or should I say the market, would have been a good investment. I think Pitbull is a bigger icon than Bad Bunny and frankly, more vulgarized. And to be fair, isn't the bull on Wall Street iconic? In that regard, I would say the Kardashians with good and bad news have been made iconic with a camera.

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