The Fashion and Style Evolution of Celebrities

The Fashion and Style Evolution of Celebrities

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The Fashion and Style Evolution of Celebrities

Throughout time in popular culture, one of the best ways for celebrities to make a statement about who they are and to show their true personalities is through style and fashion. Over the years, celebrities have used the power of fashion to reflect their own personal character, maturity, and even beliefs. Others have used fashion as an outlet to show personal changes and growth. This is especially true for child celebrities. As they grow up, celebrities use their style as a way to show their newfound beliefs, to prove their masculinity/femininity or maturity. All child stars go through a fashion and style evolution; however, they do go about it differently. Some stars become more sexualized while others take a more conservative route in order to make a statement to the media to prove their maturity and as a way to be taken seriously. Overall, the use of style and fashion is a powerful way for former child celebrities to prove their masculinity or femininity as well as beliefs and maturity to the world; while some celebrities’ fashion evolves in a sexualized way, it is not necessary in order to be taken more seriously.

There are several examples of child celebrities whose style evolution have been a reflection on their growing up, including maturity, masculinity, and femininity. A few examples are Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner. All of these celebrities have used the power of fashion to help make a statement to the world over their years in the spotlight. However, each of these celebrities went about this in different ways. While Cyrus, Bieber, and Kylie Jenner’s styles have evolved in a more edgy way, Kendall Jenner and Swift’s style have evolved more conservatively. Cyrus, Bieber, Swift, and the Jenner sisters are all proof that both sexualized and more conservative looks can all make a statement and be taken seriously by the media and the world.

Miley Cyrus can be considered to have one of the most dramatic fashion evolutions in recent history (Lebsack). Her transformation has been nothing but controversial in recent years. From young, fresh-faced, Disney star to over-sexualized pop star, Cyrus’s fashion evolution grew as she did, representing who she “truly- is” (Toomey). Cyrus has used fashion and style over the years to represent herself in several different ways over the past decade.

Miley Cyrus began her career in 2006 at age 14 as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the hit Disney Channel show, Hannah Montanta. Cyrus drew millions of fans and became a role model to young girls everywhere (Savage 102). During the early stages of Hannah Montana, Cyrus had a clean, feminine, and innocent sense of style, which showed through several of her red carpet looks during that time (Lebsack). In 2006, during the Monster House premiere, Cyrus paired Bermuda jean shorts with cowboy boots and a long tank along with pink shimmer lip gloss (DelliCarprini). At the 2007 Teen Choice Awards, Miley wore a “mermaid-inspired” silver and blue knee-length sequin dress with kitten heels (DelliCarprini). Along with this Cyrus wore her hair in a long, curly pony tail and wore light, silver eye shadow to match her dress (Lindig). These are both examples of how Cyrus’s fashion made a statement about the Disney “good-girl” she was in the early years of her career.

In 2008, controversy first began to spark around Cyrus and the way she portrayed her self through style and fashion. The Disney actress posed for Vanity Fair being covered by nothing but a satin cloth (Savage 102). Many began to cruise the photo due to Cyrus’s “age and Disney-pure image” (Savage 102). This seemed to be the start of Cyrus’s “not so innocent” image (Savage 102). Cyrus later posted photos of herself on Myspace pulling down her tank top to reveal her green laced bra (Savage 102). During this time, “whether sexuality [was] projected on her or she [was] projecting her own sexuality, Cyrus found herself judged (Savage 103)”.

This controversial “sexualized” and mature image of Miley seemed to show through her fashion beginning in 2008. At the 2008 premiere of “Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds” Album, Cyrus worse a sequin mini skirt with a satin tank and black pumps (DelliCarpini). Cyrus also wore dark black makeup with her newly dyed black hair in sexy waves during this premier (DelliCarpini). Also in 2008, Cyrus wore a Marchesa dress showing off her chest at the American Music Awards (DelliCarprini). This look was criticized as not being “age appropriate” for the young pop star and actress (DelliCarprini). Throughout 2009, 2010, and 2011, Cyrus became more and more sexualized, which not only showed through her music, but her fashion sense. During these years, she still was a Disney Channel star, so this grown up look was criticized as too sexy and mature (DelliCarprini). These looks included low cut crop tops, booty shorts, “racy” high-heeled boots (DelliCarprini).

In 2012, after Hannah Montana, Cyrus’s fashion sense and style took a complete turn. In September 2012, “Cyrus debuted her new buzzed-and-bleached locks at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles (Lebsack)” Miley claimed she has “never felt more me” (Cyrus on Transformation). After this big change in her style, it seemed Cyrus began to distance herself more and more from her innocent Hannah Montana days (Cyrus on Transformation). Ever since 2012, Cyrus has worn countless controversial outfits on the red carpet and during her performances. These include her fishnet gown at the 2013 Met Gala and the teddy bear outfit at the 2013 VMA’s. Although facing constant criticism, Cyrus described her transformation as “good for the soul” (Cyrus on Transformation). In an interview with Billboard, Cyrus claimed, "People just evolve and that's all that's happened to me. But people think a mad scientist somehow cooked up this potion and turned me in to a different human, which it wasn't. All I did was get a haircut and buy some clothes and everyone thinks that I am made into a robot that changes with what's popular every 10 years.”

Today, Miley Cyrus still flaunts her overly-sexualized outfits with pride. She often makes political statements with her outfits as well, including her stance