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A fashionista doesn't follow trends, she creates them
Fashion designers and editors, as
well as the women who wear their products are fashionistas. The word
"fashionista" first popped up in the very early 1990s.
A fashionista loves fashion, especially that
which is high fashion, cutting edge and unique, but is not a slave to it.
Rather she is the master of her own style. Carrie Bradshaw definitely
qualifies. Who else wears a tutu for street wear and is able to
pull if off?
When considering the question, "what is a fashionista," one answer is that a true fashionista is not a
trend follower; she is a trend setter. Consider the impact that actress Sienna
Miller (the sometimes other half of actor Jude Law) made when she started
sporting ensembles that were quickly labeled boho chic and copied across the
world.
Of course, not everyone is going to agree on what is a fashionista, who is a fashionista, and who is actually a fashion train wreck!
No one has the final say except for the late Mr. Richard Blackwell and
his worst dressed lists. Every year,
like clockwork, on the second Tuesday in January, Mr. Blackwell publicly
skewered fashion faux pas -- from Princess Di to Barbra Streisand.
Apparently, the trash of one man is the treasure of another. Take for example Lady Gaga. She has
trotted out some of the most bizarre ensembles imaginable. Some think she is
already a legendary fashion icon while others think she is a hot mess and outlandish
but whatever you think you have to give her points for ingenuity. Now whether
that qualifies her as a fashionista in good standing remains to be seen.
In real life, Sarah
Jessica Parker is no fashion slouch and is considered by many to be the poster girl of "what is a fashionista?" She wears fun, flirty dresses and definitely has a flair for funky
styles and elegant shoes.
First Lady Jacqueline
Kennedy was a fashionista long before the term was coined. She was a
style-setter, and not a trend follower by any stretch of the imagination. Her
style was not geared so as to shock anyone, as is that of Lady Gaga, but it was definitely a
novel look for its time. She was an extremely young First Lady and was not
having any part of the typically matronly clothing that was donned by Mamie
Eisenhower and other older, less fashion savvy First Ladies. The style of Jackie Kennedy Onassis has
endured and items from her wardrobe would be still every bit as appropriate as
they were 45 years ago.
Back in the 1980s,
Madonna made a splash with her corsets and fingerless gloves, which trickled
down to the masses and young girls all over the globe began emulating her. Over
the years, her style has become more mainstream, although never without her distinctive
edginess. Madonna was definitely a style-setter, ever evolving, pre-dating Lady
Gaga, who is similar to her in many respects. In the quest of "what is a fashionista?" thirteen-year-old
Lourdes Leon, the daughter of Madonna, is being hailed as the youngest fashionista ever.
On the other end of the
spectrum, we have actress Helena Bonham Carter, who refers to herself as the
fashion Antichrist, and most would agree, although there is certainly something
attention-grabbing about her idiosyncratic and rogue approach to dressing. At
least she is not boring. Of course, she has next to no chance of ever being
referred to as a fashionista and, obviously, could care less. The quirky
actress, however, did launch her own fashion line called Pantaloonies, designed
by Samantha Cole. The line features capes, bloomers and Victorian-style
camisoles with a modern day twist.
Kate Moss, one of the uber chic super models, made heroin chic fashionable but over the years has morphed into skin-baring, strapless dresses, vintage tees, skinny jeans and blazers and manages to look very cool regardless of what she is wearing. Kate is no flash in the pan. She definitely belongs in the fashionista hall of fame.