Why Everyone’s Watching the Sidewalk, Not the Red Carpet
Street style isn’t a sideshow anymore. It’s the main stage. What celebs wear when they’re grabbing coffee or dodging paparazzi has more influence on closets than any runway show. The reason? It feels real. Unfiltered. Achievable. Instead of dripping in couture, they’re layering oversized jackets over gym shorts or blending high end bags with thrifted denim. The result: looks that nail a sense of effortlessness without losing edge.
That tension between polish and ease is exactly what’s reshaping everyday fashion. Iconic style moments aren’t coming from gala step and repeats; they’re coming from airport lounges and sidewalk strolls. And with smartphone cameras tracking everything, even an off duty look becomes a statement.
Celebs like Bella Hadid, Tyler, The Creator, and Jodie Turner Smith are leading this charge. They blur the old lines pairing luxury with laid back in ways that redefine cool. In 2024, fashion is less about perfection and more about presence. And the sidewalk is where that presence lives.
Staples That Keep Showing Up
When it comes to celebrity street style, certain wardrobe staples continue to dominate the sidewalk scene season after season. These aren’t fleeting fads they’re foundational pieces that blend comfort, versatility, and serious fashion credibility.
Street Style Essentials to Watch
These recurring trends form the backbone of many iconic off duty celebrity looks:
Oversized Outerwear
From floor grazing trench coats to boxy bombers, stars are layering up in relaxed fit outerwear, often styled over basics for a powerful silhouette.
Crisp Sneakers
Clean, white (or statement colored) sneakers remain a universal fixture. They’re functional and fashionable the ultimate finishing touch for low key high style.
Layered Neutrals
Think beige, cream, charcoal, and olive all layered with purpose. Neutral tones let texture do the talking, giving outfits dimension without loud prints.
Comfort Comes First But Make It Cool
Athleisure isn’t disappearing it’s evolving. Celebrities have fully embraced comfort forward dressing while keeping their fashion edge. Key pieces include:
Joggers in luxe fabrics that feel polished when paired with structure up top
Oversized hoodies styled confidently with high end accessories or sleek outerwear
Slouchy denim, often baggy or low rise cuts, styled with tank tops or body hugging pieces for balance
Unexpected Accessories That Elevate
Outfits are made memorable through subtle (yet eye catching) finishing touches. Celebs are consistently reaching for add ons that lift a casual look:
Micro bags that are more style statement than storage solution
Retro sunglasses, like slim 90s frames or oversized bug eye shades, for a glance of vintage cool
Chunky jewelry, baseball caps, and visible socks to finish the look with personality
Celebrity street style may start with basics but it’s the precision in styling and the playfulness in accessories that turn these staples into something iconic.
Key Celeb Style Moments Worth Copying
Some outfits hit harder than runway looks and these five are playing on loop in fashion circles for a reason.
Hailey Bieber keeps doubling down on a sharp, no fuss combo: the tailored blazer and biker shorts. It’s half boardroom, half gym run, and somehow all style. It works because it hits that clean, polished line while staying totally wearable especially when anchored by sleek sneakers or chunky loafers.
Timothée Chalamet continues to be a walking art project. Gender fluid silhouettes, unpredictable layers, and color palettes that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. He’s made fluidity mainstream not by trying too hard, just by showing up in something bold and owning it.
Zendaya’s been in her creamy era warm whites, soft beiges, and textured neutrals that make minimalism look expensive. She’s proving that you don’t need a high octane color scheme to make impact. It’s all about tailoring and texture, styled with confidence.
Rihanna’s maternity style is in a lane of its own. Crop tops over baby bumps, body hugging dresses, and statement coats it’s fearless. She didn’t tone it down for pregnancy, she cranked it up. High fashion edge with zero apologies. That attitude? Untouchable.
And then A$AP Rocky, who makes chaos look curated. He’s mixing prep staples like varsity sweaters and polos with punk details ripped denim, safety pins, tartan skirts. Sounds messy. Looks intentional. Somehow he threads it all together with swagger.
These aren’t just outfits, they’re strategies. Copy the clothes if you want but if nothing else, copy the confidence.
Celebrity Looks You Can Actually Recreate
You don’t need a stylist on speed dial or a five figure budget to channel A list energy. The key? Mixing high low pieces that highlight your best features without blowing your rent. Think tailored trousers from Zara paired with a vintage tee, or a sleek H&M trench worn over classic sneakers. These combos work because they balance polish with personality they’re wearable, not watered down.
Hungry for the statement dress you saw on Zendaya or the layered look A$AP Rocky pulled off in Soho? Look for dupes. Fast fashion giants are cranking out solid replicas at a fraction of the designer price. And they’re not all landfill fodder choose strategically, read reviews, and stick to cuts that fit.
Ready to build the look? Target and Mango are goldmines for minimalist basics, while ASOS and Urban Outfitters serve up trendy extras fast. Nordstrom’s in house brands offer sharper tailoring with solid quality and Depop is still a go to for vintage gold. Just don’t overdo it. Pick one or two bold anchor pieces and let the rest breathe.
Explore more celebrity outfit ideas
What’s Driving the Trend
Scrolling through Instagram feels more like browsing a live lookbook than checking in on social updates. Stories, candid reels, and tagged paparazzi snaps now carry more cultural weight than most red carpet appearances. Why? Because they feel unscripted and that kind of authenticity hits hard in digital culture.
Celebrity stylists have also stepped out from the shadows, sharing raw dressing room shots and fit breakdowns before a look hits the street. These behind the scenes peeks fuel the myth and make the style feel more accessible even if the price tag still isn’t.
The platforms are leaning into it. Algorithms now reward realness: off the cuff selfies in baggy cargos are performing better than polished brand campaigns. The aesthetic has shifted from aspirational glamour to high effort nonchalance. The sidewalk is the new runway. And your phone? That’s front row seating.
Taking the Style to Your Street
Start by getting honest about what works for you your body, your skin tone, your local weather. A buttery leather trench looks great on Instagram, but if you live in Miami, it’s a sweat trap. Swap materials, not the vibe: go for flowy, lightweight layers with clean lines instead. Light neutrals can pop beautifully on darker skin tones, while richer colors like burgundy or hunter green might suit cooler months and cooler complexions better. Know your palette, and build from there.
Pulling from celebrity style doesn’t mean dressing like their clone. The best looks take cues and rework them. Like Zendaya’s monochromatic sweatsuits? Add a personal twist: swap her chunky designer sneakers for your go to platform Vans. Or borrow Chalamet’s love for oversized shirts, but layer them open with a fitted tee to balance your shape. It’s all about tension structure vs. ease, bold vs. simple.
At the core, fashion should amplify you, not erase you. If a celeb look speaks to you, great. But the point is to remix it into something that still feels like your voice, not just a copy and paste fit.
Fashion Trends Editor
