25 Fashion Quotes From Industry Icons

In the 2006 dramedy The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) taught the masses that fashion plays a role in every person’s life. Though the saying goes that clothes make the individual, getting dressed can be a daunting task, be it for a special occasion or the day at the office, particularly if you are lacking style inspiration. It’s in these style ruts that invoking the messages of the fashion industry’s greatest icons can prove most transformative.

There are countless authorities in the fashion realm with words of wisdom that might just elicit the style spark you need. From stylists to designers, models to cultural idols, we’ve rounded up some of the best soundbites to bookmark for the next time you’re standing in front of your closet in need of ingenuity.

Karl Lagerfield

“Improvise. Become more creative. Not because you have to, but because you want to. Evolution is the secret for the next step.”

 Linda Evangelista

“Fashion faux pas should be celebrated. I enjoy them because it means we're not all clones.

Law Roach

“Learn every single piece of the industry, because it's not for the faint of heart.”

Donatella Versace

“Fashion is a weapon that you can use when you need it.”

Jenna Lyons

“As far as I’m concerned, leopard is a neutral.” 

Virgil Abloh

"People, when they say 'streetwear,' they miss the central component, which is that it's real people; it's clothes that are worn on the street."

Grace Coddington

"Always keep your eyes open. Keep watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you."

Jason Wu

"We all want to be a little glamorous, a little playful, and a little mischievous at times."

Stella McCartney

"Be mindful of your consumption. I think the one thing we've forgotten is that we make the choices. I think it's really important to know what you're consuming, to ask questions..."

Yves Saint Laurent

“Fashions fade, style is eternal."

Vera Wang

“A woman is never sexier than when she is comfortable in her clothes.”

Carolina Herrera

“We always know better than anybody else what looks best on us. Even if people are complimenting you, if you think, 'I hate what I have on, it's not right.”

Marc Jacobs

“The ultimate customer is stylish, not fashionable. To be fashionable all you need is money.”

Aurora James

“People will do whatever they can to try to discredit fashion and the power that fashion has.”

Vivienne Westwood

"I just use fashion as an excuse to talk about politics. Because I'm a fashion designer, it gives me a voice, which is really good."

June Ambrose

"Fashion is mute, style gives it voice."

Calvin Klein

“Fashion is about change. It’s fun to keep changing and to change the silhouettes, to change the fabrics, and change the color.”

Oscar de la Renta

"Being well-dressed hasn't much to do with having good clothes. It's a question of good balance and good common sense."

Iman

"In a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic."

Coco Chanel

"A woman is closest to being naked when she is well dressed.”

Issey Miyake

"From the beginning, I thought about working with the body in movement, the space between the body and clothes, I wanted the clothes to move when people moved."

Alessandro Michele

Go against the idea that you need fashion rules. Do something that belongs to you."

Victoria Beckham

“Sunglasses always hide a multitude of sins. Sunglasses and a great pair of heels can turn most outfits around."

Anna Sui

"To me, fashion is like a mirror. It's a reflection of the times. And if it doesn't reflect the times, it's not fashion."

Miuccia Prada

"Ugly is attractive, ugly is exciting. Maybe because it is newer."