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Not all top international models will influence the masses beyond the runway, but Bella Hadid is certainly at the forefront of fashion – whether she’s walking for Versace or walking out her front door in Ugg boots.
Hadid began her modelling career at 16-years-old, but it wasn’t until she signed with IMG two years later that she really skyrocketed, featuring in LOVE magazine’s famous Love Advent Calendar that very same year.
Although she shot to global fame rapidly as both a model and a person of influence in the fashion world, Hadid has said that she has a disconnect from her public persona. Talking to Vogue about her momentous 2016, she reflected, “It’s just, again, doesn’t feel so much like me, and I think that this was the start of the ‘Bella’ persona that everyone sees of me. That’s my alter ego. That’s Belinda.”
Still, it’s undeniable that Hadid’s personal style sharply influences fashion (even if she would say it’s “Belinda”). Here, we take a look back at some of Bella Hadid’s best fashion moments over the years.
2016
One of her earliest red carpet appearances, Bella posed alongside sister Gigi Hadid for the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after party. Similar to how Kylie and Kendall Jenner were first styled for events, the Hadid sisters often wore complementary outfits during their early years in the industry.
The dress that arguably launched Bella Hadid as a fashion icon beyond Fashion Week runways, the model has a complicated relationship with this Alexandra Gauthiere look (worn to the Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Unknown Girl).
Hadid told Vogue she still feels “embarrassed” by this red carpet moment. “I was nervous in this dress. I look very sexual and all these things,” she told the publication. “I was still nervous about cameras and nervous about having a lot of makeup on.”
She explained that while she still finds the dress “gorgeous”, this is an example of iconic fashion moments she’s had that she doesn’t feel represent her.
Because of her meteoric rise as a supermodel, Bella Hadid started to garner attention from the paparazzi in New York City. This led to plenty of off duty, street style fashion from Hadid – who from the outset was dictating trends, not conforming to them.
2017
For the Bulgari Autumn/Winter 17/18 collection in Milan, Hadid dripped in crystals, attending with friend (and fellow fashion royalty) Lottie Moss.
Attending the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show After Party, Bella Hadid again chose Alexandre Vauthier.
Now a regular on the Fashion Month runways, Bella Hadid was often snapped running between shows or spending downtime in Paris and Milan. It’s clear the model was honing her personal style in 2017 – here, she isn’t just off duty, but consciously so.
2018
Bella Hadid has been a mainstay on the Met Gala red carpet for years. Here, for the ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination’ 2018 theme, Hadid wore Chrome Hearts x Gareth Pugh, a look that featured clashes of material with a latex corset, velvet skirt and tulle veil accented with heavy chain.
After teaming this Dior vest with a tulle skirt for day, Hadid proved her fashion intel wasn’t reserved for modelling, adapting the outfit for the Dior Backstage launch party by tucking it into 90s denim.
Another Bella Hadid fashion look that has gone down in history, this Mugler bodysuit (custom made by creative director Casey Cadwallader) cemented Hadid as the darling of the fashion industry. “For me this project was about how to make the most beautiful body in the world, look the best it ever has,” Cadwallader told Harper’s Bazaar. “Using a newly developed organza stretch jersey, we can now make a sheer second skin that shapes, smoothes, and compresses the body… I love the idea of being fully nude and going all the way and I’m honoured that Bella chose to dare it with Mugler.”
2018 saw Bella Hadid snapped more and more in New York by paparazzi keen to sell her daring fashion looks to publications – like this parachute set over a white turtleneck bodysuit, teamed with white ankle boots.
While she has always loved a dramatic fashion moment, Hadid also mixes it up with low-key looks – and even then, sets trends. This 90s-inspired combination of faded denim and a cardigan had a major impact on trans-seasonal dressing into 2019.
2019
For sister Gigi Hadid’s 24th birthday celebrations, Hadid wore the Canadian tuxedo to end all Canadian tuxedos (well, besides Britney and Justin’s iconic couple dressing back in the day). To clarify, the birthday theme was denim. But honestly, we could imagine Hadid wearing this just to head out of an afternoon.
Possibly our favourite Met Gala fashion moment from Bella Hadid, this Moschino gown by Jeremy Scott for ‘Camp: Notes On Fashion’ was a masterpiece.
“He is obviously the king of camp,” the model said of Scott in an interview with Vogue at the time. “He decided to put us all in the looks that fit us best, and I think this one fit me the best. A lot of diamonds, a lot of skin. … Camp is extravagant, camp is fun, camp is everything fun about fashion that we love. It’s such a regal event, the Met Gala, so to be able to come here and really show off our fun side and wear things we wouldn’t usually wear, it’s just fun.”
Did Bella Hadid single-handedly make knee-high socks and lug-soles a trend? The jury is out on that one, but she certainly contributed in 2019.
Bella Hadid’s love for Y2K dressing peaked across 2019 and 2020. Here, she wears her favourite Prada Monolith boots with low slung trousers in NYC.
2020
2020 was the year Hadid leaned into the Y2K trend (that she spearheaded), adopting some of the most cringe elements, like gelled front strands, and making them undeniably desirable again.
Another famous Bella Hadid fashion moment was this tough-feminine hybrid look. The 00s beanie-hat! The tinted sunglasses! The contrast lip liner! It all worked.
Heading out from the Jean-Paul Gaultier show at Paris Fashion Week, Bella Hadid wore all-denim once again.
2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 05: Bella Hadid is seen in Greenwich Village on June 05, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)This oversized Stussy set paired with underwear-as-outerwear is a perfect example of Bella Hadid’s love of athleisure and streetwear.
Cannes Film Festival 2021 was a series of jaw-dropping moments for Bella Hadid, starting with this modern-romantic Jean-Paul Gaultier gown circa 2002 (and once worn by Naomi Campbell) for the screening of Annette.
But it was this Schiaparelli gown that drew the most headlines. For the premiere of Tre Piani (Three Floors), Hadid wore the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2021/22 collection piece, which featured a chest-covering necklace shaped to imitate the bronchi passageway of the lungs.
Another Y2K look for Bella Hadid, this time emulating the gauzy feminine fashion era of the early 2000s.
2022
The past few years have seen a new confidence from Bella Hadid, who now regularly steps out in eclectic fashion choices that soon become coveted by the masses.
Heading out after walking the Burberry A/W 2023 show in London, Hadid a print suit from the fashion house, styled to reflect her own taste.
One of our favourite off duty street style fashion moments from Bella Hadid is this 1990s inspired combination of high-rise leather pants, chunky gold belt and a brown knit vest. With a half-ponytail and chunky gold earrings, it was a blend of grandpacore and emulating Julia Roberts in her romantic comedy era.
Once again making a once-cringe trend powerful again, for Gigi Hadid’s 27th birthday Bella wore a zig-zag headband (remember those?) and hip-skimming micro mini.
For the 2022 Met Gala Bella Hadid wore Riccardo Tisci for Burberry, an all-black fashion look using contrasting materials of leather, tulle and lace.
Again, Bella Hadid made headlines at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for impeccable fashion choices. For the screening of The Innocent (L’Innocent), Hadid wore vintage Versace, embodying Hollywood glamour of the 80s in a dress designed by Gianni Versace himself, originally worn by Austrian opera singer Helga Dernesch in 1987.
Proving she is the ultimate style chameleon, Hadid later went completely minimalist, wearing another vintage piece – this time Tom Ford for Gucci, circa 1996.
2023
For the opening of Stanton Social Prime in Las Vegas, Hadid wore Egyptian designer Amy Shehab – a form-fitting jersey midi paired with strappy heels and beach waves.
