8 Style Obsessions We Can Thank Harry Styles For
The Harry Styles songs “Watermelon Sugar” and “Golden” became a lockdown soundtrack in 2020, but the mood-boosting videos that accompanied each tune made an even bigger impact.
Naturally, the fashion aficionado modelled an arsenal of show-stopping looks in both videos, courtesy of his right-hand man, super stylist Harry Lambert. The wardrobe for “Golden” drew considerable interest: searches for “yellow bucket hats” spiked 92 per cent according to Lyst, and page views for Bode, the vintage-inspired American label behind Harry’s breezy shirt in the video, were up 31 per cent. As for his wanderlust-inducing video for “Watermelon Sugar”? Search traffic for the fruit (yes, you read that correctly) rose by 11 per cent in the 24 hours after the video dropped.
And Harry’s influence is only set to grow. He kickstarted 2021 with the release of his single “Treat People With Kindness,” along with a glamorous video featuring none other than Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Harry sent stats soaring once again, with increased searches for “white wide-leg trousers” (up 40 per cent), and Gucci (demand rose by 23 per cent compared to the previous week). The stylish pair also sparked a rush on sequins – Lyst reported a whopping 426 per cent rise in searches shortly after the song’s debut.
Below, British Vogue highlights eight trends that Harry has had a hand in.
Instagram / @harry_lambert1/8Buzzy bucket hats
Instagram / @harry_lambert2/8Fruitful endeavour
Trust Styles to get a fruit trending. His viral hit was responsible for an 11 per cent rise in searches for “watermelons”, making them the way to get your five-a-day in 2020.
JNI/Star Max3/8Homespun knits
Harry raised the #CottageCore game when he took to the stage in a rainbow crochet cardigan last summer. London Fashion Week veteran Jonathan Anderson masterminded the star’s colourful knit, which became a TikTok sensation after fans attempted to recreate his look. Anderson even shared the pattern for the cardi online, ensuring still more social media mileage for the #HarryStylesCardigan hashtag.
Dia Dipasupil4/8Pearly king
Paul Mescal’s silver chain in Normal People wasn’t the only sought-after jewellery item of last year. Along with Billy Porter, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell, Styles popularised pearl necklaces, and at one point caused a 31 per cent spike in searches. The Miami-based independent brand Éliou is behind Harry’s favourite pieces.
Instagram / @harrystyles5/8Sprightly tailoring
It’s no secret that Harry is a fan of suiting. The Gucci muse called upon his trusted collaborator Alessandro Michele to create a custom double-breasted jacket for “Golden”. A sepia behind-the-scenes shot of Harry removing one of his crochet driving gloves with his teeth didn’t just whip his fans into a frenzy, it also prompted a 52 per cent spike in searches for “turquoise blue blazers”.
Instagram / @harrystyles6/8Hawaiian hype
Dressing like your dad has never been cooler. Harry made Hawaiian shirts hip in 2020 (searches were up 16 per cent), and various floral styles made it into “Watermelon Sugar,” as did a similarly eccentric pair of vintage blue shades from The Contemporary Wardrobe.
Instagram / @harrystyles7/8Sequins on sequins
The star rang in the new year in style with a glittering video for his latest track, “Treat People With Kindness,” which saw him and Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge don matching outfits. A certain embellished argyle vest from Gucci stole the show, generating a 426 per cent surge in searches for “sequins”.
8/8Crisp palazzo pants
It wasn’t just Styles and Waller-Bridge’s dancing that won over fans in “Treat People With Kindness” – page views for “white wide-leg trousers” across menswear and womenswear skyrocketed after the release.
