Can we take a moment to appreciate Harry Styles' style revolution, please?

Hailing from Birmingham, UK, Harry Styles was once a high school-going, day-job-at-the-bakery boy—until he wasn’t. Etched in my memory is Styles’ audition on the X Factor (UK) stage, wearing a white t-shirt and grey cardigan, singing Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. He’s had my heart since. And between the hits What Makes You Beautiful and Watermelon Sugar, our favourite from the former band One Direction has grown up to be a singer, songwriter, and actor, and looked nothing short of gorgeous while doing it all. Over the years, his fashion choices have evolved to reflect his personality, passions, and aesthetic. Coco Chanel once said, “I don’t do fashion, I am fashion.” And Harry embodies it—whether on the red carpet, on awards night, in concert arenas, or in his music videos. 

Styles has served stunning looks in floral suits, sheer tops, and even full-length skirts. He’s received high praise for attempting to blur gender boundaries when it comes to fashion, and couldn’t be bothered with the trolls (as it should be). He moved away from leather jackets and typical frat boy looks, striving to break the mould as an artist in 2013, and even became a recipient of the British Fashion Awards for his personal style that year. And it’s been one head-turner outfit after the other. 

To celebrate 29 fabulous years of this icon, we decided to take a look back and see how his style has evolved, and how he has been able to carve out a niche for himself—to be able to express exactly who he is through his choice of clothing. 

You’ve got that one thing—2010 Harry Styles 

The 2010 frat boy era was truly memorable. When the five-member boy band, One Direction, was formed, Harry Styles, like the other boys, would dress in white tees paired with low-waist denims and a scarf. The other looks from this era included occasional tuxedos, tees and beanies, cardigans, trench coats and, of course, the unforgettable leather jacket. 

He broke away from the mould at the One Direction: This is Us premier in 2013 

It was the first look of the Harry Styles-aesthetic that we didn’t know we needed. Styles arrived at the premier in a black shirt with printed white hearts printed. He paired it with a smart black sports jacket. We have to admit, the look was true to his ever-adorable and charming personality. The experimentation with clothes continued through his journey—from the skinny scarf and black sheer shirt at the 2013 British Fashion Awards, to the leopard print t-shirt and black coat at Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2014 show. 

The night it all changed (see what we did there)—The 2015 American Music Awards 

The band attended one of their last awards together in 2015—the American Music Awards—and Harry looked beyond stunning. The Steal My Girl singer arrived on the red carpet in a floral white suit with matching flared pants and a black shirt. Not only did the look break the Internet, but it was after this appearance that Styles became one of the first people to take Alessandro Michele‘s designs to the red carpet. 

He was the Sign of the Times—Harry Styles’ solo era 

In May 2017, Harry Styles released his first single, Sign of the Times. Of course, we loved everything about the song, but when he stepped into the concert arena for his first ever solo concert wearing a Gucci floral suit, he had our hearts like never before. That same year, Styles decided to be bolder and (more beautiful) with his retro look at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, where he wore wide-legged printed pants, a matching suit, and a large bow for that extra frill. His printed suit trend continued on his Sign of the Times tour, including a classic red satin suit with a floral twist, reflecting his itch for breaking boundaries in fashion. 

We don’t know if we could go without—Harry Styles at the Met Gala in 2019 

The 2019 theme of the Met Gala was ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion’. The New York Times retraced the history of the concept and quoted Susan Sontag, who defined camp as an aesthetic sensibility with a certain intentional over-the-topness. Styles showed up at the Met wearing a sheer top, puffy sleeves and frills, paired with classic tuxedo trousers— a perfect combination of feminine and masculine sensibilities. The attempt to blur gender norms and stereotypes was well received. That same year, he aced the Canadian tuxedo, adding his own aesthetic: lots of sparkles and shimmer! 

He showed up at the 2021 Grammys in a purple feather boa

One hit after the other, Styles’ music, dances and fashion became increasingly popular. And his nonchalant, quirky, and fun personality definitely passed the vibe check. It was this high energy that reflected in his look at the Grammy Awards, where he wore a salmon pink knit sweater, tweed blazer, wide-legged corduroy pants and a purple feather boa. The bold and dramatic look was definitely a sight for sore eyes. At the BRIT Awards that same year, Styles wore co-ord pant suit in tones of orange and brown, and carried a leather bag, too. 

Never as it was—2022 Harry Styles was more eccentric and vibrant than ever 

When Styles headlined Coachella in 2022, he went all out and wore a rainbow coloured bedazzled jumpsuit. It shone and how. The colours, quirky patterns, and unconventional looks continued thereon—from the bell-sleeved jumpsuit that screamed retro, to the flared pants, scarf and white pinstripe suit that he wore at the Venice Film Festival for his film, Don’t Worry Darling.