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Sheena Khemaney

Contributing Editor, Style by SCMP and Post magazine


Andre Neveling

These A-list models, actors and singers came to define their era thanks to the clothes they wore and the designers who designed them. As 2023 draws to a close, we take the long view and salute these standard bearers of style …
1. Victoria Beckham made her Met Gala debut

She may be one of the fashion world’s most famous designers, but back in 2003, Victoria Beckham was “just” a former Spice Girl turned short-lived solo singer, and a budding socialite trying to crack the fashion scene. To say she’s worked her way up the ladder would certainly be an understatement. April 28 marked the 20th anniversary of Beckham’s first outing to New York’s prestigious Met Gala, where she mingled with designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce, and clung fiercely to Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista. While the noughties were a confusing time for fashion, we doubt the Beckham we know and love today would approve of the Dolce & Gabbana number she wore to the goddess-themed event.
What happened to the Beckhams in 2023? From Netflix docus to wedding lawsuits
2. Michelle Yeoh and Donatella Versace teamed up for Amfar at Cannes

She’s been one of the names on everybody’s lips this year, thanks to her historic best actress Oscar win, but there is more to Michelle Yeoh than just blockbuster films. Before all the Everything Everywhere All at Once hoopla, the Malaysian actress might have been best known for starring in classics like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Tomorrow Never Dies. But Yeoh also holds a passion for philanthropy, and serves as an ambassador for the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, Live to Love, The Brain & Spine Institute, Aids Concern and Amfar – the Foundation for Aids Research, a cause that she has supported around the world. Yeoh’s stand-out appearance, however, was undoubtedly on May 21, 2009 when, alongside Donatella Versace, she introduced an auction in an Atelier Versace gown for Amfar’s Cinema Against Aids Gala during the Cannes Film Festival. Looking back, Yeoh’s timeless style, big heart and Academy Award-winning talents were as clear then as they are now.
3. Anita Mui made her final appearance at Paris Fashion Week

Dubbed the “Madonna of the East”, Hong Kong icon Anita Mui’s influence on fashion, music and pop culture transcended boundaries. As a fan of all things Dior, she quickly gained the attention of John Galliano, the brand’s creative director from 1996 to 2010, and the fashion label went on to create haute couture for Mui’s Fantasy Gig tour in 2002. Galliano personally selected pieces for the Cantopop diva to wear right up to her famous final concert, just months before her untimely death, at age 40 in December 2003. The pair were papped together for the last time six months earlier, when Mui attended Dior’s ready-to-wear autumn/winter 2004 fashion show in Paris. She may have been known as the “daughter of Hong Kong”, but 20 years on, Mui’s legacy is still celebrated internationally.
5 times Sam Smith made a splash with their fashion choices in 2023
4. Jean Paul Gaultier dressed Leslie Cheung

It’s hard to believe this year marked the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong losing one of its brightest stars – actor and singer Leslie Cheung. Before his tragic death in 2003, Cheung was not only a Cantopop star and Hong Kong movie icon, but a trailblazer of Asian representation, loved and celebrated internationally. For his 2000 Passion Tour, sought-after French fashion guru Jean Paul Gaultier even agreed to design his concert costumes – the first time the mastermind behind Madonna’s cone bra agreed to design for an Asian artist. Through a variety of gender-bending and flamboyant stage costumes, Gaultier challenged Asia’s social norms and allowed Cheung to explore his sexuality more publicly than never before.
5. Versace owned the 90s

If the internet had been a thing back in September 1991, Gianni Versace would have undoubtedly broken it with his autumn/winter collection at Milan Fashion Week. Crucially, it saw Versace break away from the classic formula of sending a single model down the runway, and instead he presented his glamour girls in groups. This led to one of the most iconic moments in runway history, when 90s supermodels Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista strutted out lip-synching to George Michael’s “Freedom! ‘90”. And just like that, an era-defining moment was born. In September, Apple TV debuted a new four-part documentary, The Super Models, spotlighting the remarkable careers of Campbell, Crawford, Evangelista and Turlington, and the moment that turned the fashion world on its head.
How Princess Diana went from frumpy dresser to 90s fashion icon
6. Diane Keaton cemented her status as a style icon in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall

By starring in romcom/drama mash-up Annie Hall, Diane Keaton managed to single-handedly influence a generation of women. The Hollywood icon famously stated in her 2011 memoir Then Again that her quirky character’s inimitable fashion sense was inspired by the “cool-looking women on the streets of New York ”. Director and co-star Woody Allen gave Keaton creative freedom to wear whatever she wanted for the award-winning role, and as a result, the titular character’s wardrobe overflowed with timeless tailored separates (think slouchy suits and wide-brim hats) that Keaton herself wears to this day. Although we’ve seen our fair share of menswear-inspired styles on the red carpet, one thing is for sure, no one can quite pull it off the way that Annie does.
7. The Olsen twins went from adorable child stars to masters of quiet luxury

Actresses-turned-fashion designers Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were pioneers of quiet luxury before it was even a thing. The logo-free aesthetic, which turned out to be one of this year’s hottest trends, refers to wearing expensive pieces that are understatedly elegant – to those in the know. Since founding their successful label The Row – a New York-based brand that is a go-to for wardrobe staples and minimalist dressing – in 2006, the sisters have carved out their own chic style, all the while evading the paparazzi and tabloids. Their outfit of choice? Not-so-basic basics (the classics they rocked back then are comparable to their designs for The Row) accompanied by oversized black shades and designer handbags. If that doesn’t scream stealth wealth, then we don’t know what does.
11 of the most successful twins in the world, from the Olsens to the Sprouses
8. Michelle Yeoh made her Hollywood debut as a Bond girl

Over in Tinseltown, it’s been a banner year for Michelle Yeoh. The 61-year-old Malaysian superstar grabbed headlines around the world (and scored some major luxury collabs) when she became the first Asian to win best actress at the Oscars. But that was just one of many firsts she has accomplished throughout her stellar career.
Back in 1997, Yeoh earned movie star status and widespread praise for her portrayal of a fiery secret agent, opposite Pierce Brosnan’s 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies. Her character, Wai Lin, was the first “Bond girl” of Chinese descent to appear in the spy franchise. Only time will tell what this inspiring female trailblazer will achieve next.


Hong Kong Gen Z jewellery maker quit her finance job, then built a million-dollar brand

How Hong Kong designer Kinyan Lam’s slow fashion label puts Chinese ethnic artisans first

From punk to Gothic: how Singapore’s Ask & Embla built a global jewellery brand

Milan Fashion Week: Gucci’s Demna builds a massive store for star-studded show

Fashion

8 of the most iconic moments in fashion history: remembering when Victoria Beckham, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Diane Keaton and Michelle Yeoh made us all stop and take notice

Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington at a Versace show in Milan in September 1991. Photo: Handout

Victoria Beckham’s first Met Gala appearance, with designers Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce, and supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista. Photo: Handout

Donatella Versace and Michelle Yeoh at the Amfar Cinema Against Aids 2009 dinner during the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009. Photo: Getty Images

Anita Mui Yim-fong with Dior’s former creative director John Galliano at Paris Fashion Week in 2003. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong singer and actor Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing performing on his Passion Tour in 2000. Photo: Handout

Designer Gianni Versace walks the runway at the finale of the show, with models Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista. Photo: Getty Images

Diane Keaton in Annie Hall (1977). Photo: United Artists

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at the Chanel show in Paris, in February 2008. Photo: Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Pierce Brosnan starred as 007 opposite Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997. Photo: Getty Images

5 times Brad Pitt copped his partner’s style for matching couple looks – from dark and moody with Angelina Jolie and 90s fashion with Jennifer Aniston, to twinning blond hair with Gwyneth Paltrow

Whether out and about with his former partners Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie or Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt has made a habit of mimicking the style of the woman he’s married to or dating at the time. Photos: Getty Images

Christina Applegate is said to have ditched Brad Pitt in favour of Canadian rocker Sebastian Bach

Juliette Lewis met Pitt, then 27, when she was just 17, on the set of Too Young to Die

After meeting Gwyneth Paltrow on the set of Seven, Pitt and the actress ended up getting nearly identical hairstyles

At the peak of her Friends fame when she began dating Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston’s style visibly rubbed off on the actor

Brad Pitt went through a phase of wearing darker clothes – and even sported darker hair followed by lighter hair again – in line with the style choices of then-partner Angelina Jolie

12 of the most tattoo-obsessed celebrities, from David Beckham, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber, to Rihanna, Billie Eilish and Angelina Jolie – but who has over 100 on their body?

Tattoos are an important part of David Beckham, Angelina Jolie and Ed Sheeran’s lives. Photos: @_Beckham_75, @thequeenangiejolie, @sheerangalway/Instagram

Toulouse is the name of Ariana Grande’s family dog. Photo: @awianahq/Instagram

Billie Eilish showed off her Chinese dragon tattoo in an Instagram post and recently got a massive, futuristic tattoo on her back. Photos: @billieeilish/Instagram

Angelina Jolie’s Billy Bob tattoo took five attempts to remove – but she still has one of Brad Pitt on her back several years later. Photos: @90s.violet; @thequeenangiejolie/Instagram

Justin Bieber’s chest began with a cross tattoo, which has since been crowded out by several others. Photo: @justinbieber/Instagram 

Cardi B had her colourful peacock thigh tattoo freshened up in 2020. Photo: @iamcardib/Instagram

Rihanna’s playful, ethereal tattoos include one of the goddess Iris below her bra line. Photos: @yesfenty/Instagram; @badgalriri/Instagram

Post Malone is the original extreme tattoo poster boy. Photo: @postmalone/Instagram

Travis Barker has quite literally inked every inch of his body. Photo: @travisbarker/Instagram

Joe Jonas has a number of small, graphic tattoos, including one dedicated to his late dog Waldo. Photos: @sophxjoe/, @joejonas/Instagram

What these celebrity couples would look like if they never split: AI pics show exes Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, and Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez as happy families

AI art reveals how iconic celebrity exes like Taylor Swift and Harry Styles, and Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s families could’ve looked like today had they stayed together. Photos: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

“Jelena” with children, a hypothetical image of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez’s family had they stayed together. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

Australian graphic designer and AI artist Jeremy Pomeroy. Photo: Total Web Design

AI art reveals how iconic celebrity exes Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s family could look like today had they stayed together. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

Australian AI artist Jeremy Pomeroy’s series Celebrity What Ifs featured Harry Styles and Taylor Swift’s imaginary family. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

Macaulay Culkin and Mila Kunis’ imaginary family. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder’s imaginary family portrayed in Victorian clothes. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

The Notebook co-stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ imaginary family portrayed in a post-war era. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

AI-generated image of A Star is Born co-stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s imaginary family. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

Fans wished for Titanic’s Rose and Jack, played by Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio to be together. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

Jeremy Pomeroy turned Friends’ beloved characters Ross and Rachel into a couple with children. Photo: @mrpomeroyj_ai/Instagram

5 times Cecilia Cheung stunned in luxury fashion looks, from the Hong Kong star’s take on Audrey Hepburn’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s LBD at PFW, to Louis Vuitton, Celine and Barbie-pink Balenciaga

Cecilia Cheung knows how to rock luxury fashion with flair. Photo: Weibo

Cecilia Cheung is a Hong Kong film star. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Cecilia Cheung in the 2001 film Failan, over 20 years ago. Photo: Tube Entertainment

In 2021, Cheung appeared in the second season of the Chinese reality competition show Sisters Who Make Waves. Photo: Weibo

Cecilia Cheung’s take on Audrey Hepburn’s LBD from the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Photo: Weibo

Cecilia Cheung looking glam in Paris. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Cecilia Cheung rocking Valentino’s StudSign handbag. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Cecilia Cheung looking youthful in this sporty Celine ‘fit. Photo: Xiaohongshu

Cecilia Cheung proving herself as a style maven in this Balenciaga number. Photo: Xiaohongshu

7 celebrities owning the exposed bra trend on red carpets in 2023: from Scarlett Johansson’s pink Prada gown and Lily James’ Miu Miu look to Zoë Kravitz’s YSL top and Elsa Hosk’s Viktor & Rolf dress

Elsa Hosk, Scarlett Johansson, Zoë Kravitz and Lily James are all embracing the exposed bra trend. Photos: Getty Images, DPA, @lilyjamesofficial/Instagram

Lily James promoting What’s Love Got to Do with it? at Corinthia Hotel London, in February. Photo: @lilyjamesofficial/Instagram

Charlize Theron at The Colosseum in Rome, promoting Fast X in May. Photo: @charlizeafrica/Instagram

Zoë Kravitz turned heads at the Tiffany & Co. NYC Flagship store reopening in a sparkly bra. Photo: Getty Images

Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney wore a bra that was a deeper shade over her powder-blue, silky dress at Cannes Film Festival on May 21. Photo: Getty Images

Scarlett Johansson expertly combined the 2023 exposed bra trend with the ever-popular bubblegum-pink hue on the red carpet at Cannes. Photo: Getty Images

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley poses at the 76th Cannes Film Festival’s screening of the film Asteroid City in competition in Cannes, France, on May 23. Photo: Reuters

Swedish model Elsa Hosk arrives to attend the premiere for La Passion de Dodin Bouffant during the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 24, in Cannes, France. Photo: DPA

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Versace owned the 90s – and made household names of Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington – and who can forget when Victoria Beckham made her solo Met Gala debut in Dolce & Gabbana?
Style also takes a moment to celebrate Cantopop’s overlooked influence in high fashion, from Anita Mui’s long-standing creative relationship with Dior’s John Galliano, to when Jean Paul Gaultier dressed the legendary Leslie Cheung


From Versace’s reigning supermodels of the 90s and Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, to Cantopop stars Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung’s lasting impact on the world of style, we celebrate 8 moments that shaped fashion forevermore
