Fashion used to have gatekeepers. Editors decided what was cool, runways decided what you wore six months later, and the rest of us just followed. Then Gen Z fashion icons showed up, tossed the rulebook into the nearest vintage bin, and made the whole industry scramble to keep up. A change has occurred; we now live in a world where clothing does not make you appear impressive; instead, the purpose of clothing is to allow your personal voice to shine through. I don’t know about you but I’m loving what I see being worn!
At itismandystyle, we’ve always considered fashion to be about having a conversation (rather than competing with each other). So let’s take some time to explore the key figures who currently influence the direction of the global fashion discussion.
The New Definition of a Fashion Icon
A Gen Z fashion icon is not someone who wears the most expensive thing in the room. It’ someone who has an effortless style/feel about them in that when you see them, you can see exactly who they were, what they stood for, and maybe a little bit that you want to duplicate that whole vibe off of them.
There are so many variables in this current generation compared to those that have gone before them — such as; they grew up with Depop in one hand, a camera/cell phone in the other; they don’t view thrifting as just a budget option, but rather as a philosophy; they don’t see mixing eras as something that may happen by accident, but rather the point of the outfit; and they don’t see sustainability as a “trend,” it is simply the baseline expectation.
Why This Generation Sets the Standard
Today, Generation Z has reached over 25% of the total global fashion spending market, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. Fashion brands, fashion stylists and virtually every high-end fashion house exhibiting at Paris and Milan Fashion weeks understands this fact. The fashion runway has changed as a source of fashion trend creation. A simple 10-second video on Instagram, or a spontaneous candid photograph taken of a person’s street style will influence the development of an entire fashion look in less than 24 hours. This is what is referred to as “the Gen Z Effect.”
Jenna Ortega: Dark Glamour Done Right
If you haven’t been following Jenna Ortega’s fashion journey, now is the perfect time to start. Her wardrobe isn’t just filled with Wednesday Addams vibes — it consists of a distinct and cohesive vision that she developed in collaboration with her stylist for years, Enrique Melendez. She has created a beautiful look inspired by goth culture that feels truly like high-end fashion as opposed to something for Halloween or something she’s just trying too hard to pull off.
Jenna’s press run for Wednesday Season 2 in 2025 was nothing less than extraordinary. She wore an Ashi Studio snakeskin latex dress, a Vivienne Westwood gown in Paris and an Ann Demeulemeester suit during the brand’s very own Paris Fashion Week show. She sat front row at the Dior Spring/Summer 2026 show, looking as though she owned the whole building. Jenna understands that dark fashion can be elegant, and that has made her one of the most referenced Gen Z fashion icons among people who actually care about clothes.
The Lesson Here
You do not need to pick between edgy and polished. Jenna proves you can sit at the intersection of both and look completely at ease.
Bella Hadid: Effortless Is a Practice
The majority of 2025 was spent by Bella Hadid away from the public eye while focusing on getting her health and well-being back in line; therefore, good job on your part! So when she reappeared again — walking through SoHo in an all-black outfit with Saint Laurent designer sunglasses and a leather funnel-shaped coat — the internet lost its mind about it. That’s just Bella creating low-effort-looking like the fine-art of design! What makes her appealing isn’t about wearing the most over the top thing humanly possible as much as it is about fully being herself so much so it appears to be something you want to have. When you look at her thrifted find down to just how each individual piece layers and then looks to make up the whole outfit just works out to so much more than just the total value of those items combined together. The thing that connects with this generation is about being real instead of just putting on an act.
Olivia Rodrigo: Punk Meets Red Carpet
Olivia Rodrigo has been a total powerhouse, and not just literally with how she has displayed herself on stage. At Glastonbury 2025, the clothes she wore during her performance were punky, but also very much un-repentant. Then she did the Grammy Awards performance in a glamorous, two-piece ensemble which was entirely outside of what she wore in Glastonbury and completely and totally representative of who/what Olivia has to offer.
That is the thing about Olivia as a Gen Z fashion icon — she does not pick a lane. Plaid skirts from the sour era have become replaced by Gut’s pop (guts) era’s maximalism style. As of 2026 Gut’s continues to change and grow in time with her musical creation. The style that Gut’s reflects through her music has been a reflection of her raw energy with a focus on the inner and outer emotional expressions of one’s self or their being, both within and without; and continues to do so.
The Y2K Overlap
Gen Z Icons like Olivia are pivotal in Y2K aesthetic revival: vibrant crop tops, flared shapes & metallic handbags reminiscent of those Paris Hilton tolerated at the height of her popularity in 2003. They combine these styles into an everyday outfit through compassion for others by modifying their clothing for both functional purposes (e.g., the addition of belts) as well as fashion purposes (e.g., by wearing items purchased through thrift stores).
Addison Rae: The Rebrand Arc We Did Not Expect
People stop counting Addision Rae for a fashion icon but she turned up in a tutu and a bra at the VMA’s and months later, fashion writers are still talking about it – talk about style! The outfit was based on Madonna and the majority of Gen Z has saved it as a reference point for when they dress like that. The outfit also officially heralded the return of lingerie as outerwear or simply creating a full fashion fantasy when compared to years of muted colours and quiet lux. In 2026 Addision embodies something powerful for a new generation, the ability to grow and become what she represents, someone who grew from being a dancer on TikTok to being a true cultural icon, and her clothing has shown us that journey through time, albeit sometimes imperfect. Imperfection is the reason she has such a deep connection to this generation.
Laufey: Soft Power, Maximum Impact
You are missing out on one of the most cohesive styles in music today if you’re not paying attention to how Laufey has been styling herself. The Icelandic singer-songwriter made an appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards wearing a Miu Miu dress that has a very on-trend mermaid feel, as though it came straight out of a dream, and the response to her look was immediate and overwhelming from the public.
Her everyday outfit is just as well thought out; she thoughtfully puts together outfits using vintage-inspired pieces and layering techniques and finds items that look as though they belong to someone who has an incredible eye for fashion and style, as opposed to having to use a personal stylist. She is one of those Gen Z fashion icons who makes you want to rethink your whole relationship with getting dressed.
Zara Larsson: Maximalist Pop Femininity
The bold colours, brightness, and extreme fun in dressing that are found in one of Zara Larsson’s music eras highlight how people will have fun with fashion and style at this time (tip: create these moments as if they are going out of style when they are actually coming in). Bright pink, vibrant green, rhinestone miniskirts, and fabrics that shine are as unapologetic and maximalist as they can be; all of these elements exemplify the style of pop female artist Zara Larsson in 2026. Trend analysts report that the way Zara dresses has greatly influenced festival fashion trends in 2026. Fans of Zara Larsson are drawn to the playful, energetic way she dressed compared to the minimalistic “clean-girl” look that was seen throughout most of this decade’s earlier years. Girly fantasies and fairy tales can sometimes be fully experienced as well.
What These Icons Actually Have in Common
Here is what is interesting when you lay all of these Gen Z fashion icons side by side: While the outfits worn by Jenna, Bella, Olivia, Addison, Laufey, and Zara could not be more varied in terms of style (Jenna’s dark/structured against Bella’s minimal & real), the commonality shared by these women is their intention behind each outfit choice. Each woman has created an outfit that resembles an individual decision as opposed to a decision made based on a brand strategy. Authenticity resonates more strongly with the newer generation than any other luxury brand because they have been bombarded with images of manufactured perfection throughout their entire lives.
What This Means for You
At itismandystyle, we often remind you that your individual look is YOUR look only (not someone else’s). All of these people who inspire our looks do NOT want us to copy them; they want us to create our own unique looks by expressing who we are individually through whatever means we may choose to express ourselves – both from what we wear on the outside (i.e., clothing) to what we wear on the inside (i.e., personality). Therefore, everyone has the right to express themselves however they wish, be that through the dark academia trend or on a Tuesday afternoon while grocery shopping in rhinestones.
The year 2026 will see a shift in how generation Z dresses from structured to fluid as they mix and match references from both themselves and their peers based upon mood, community, and environment. The icons leading this charge are doing just that and providing all of the rest of us permission to do likewise.
This is ultimately what we want you to achieve. Dress like YOU and make sure everyone knows it, regardless of how you feel about your outfit. Lastly, if you’re unsure where to start, go hit up a thrift store and just go for it; you’ll figure the rest out as you go along!
