We’ve heard the jury on the most popular luxury brands of the year. Now there’s a verdict on the most fashionable celebrities of 2020 – spanning a K-pop artist to a politician and royalty (both figurative and literal).
Fashion search engine Lyst revealed its Year in Review 2020 last week, consolidating data from over 100 million shoppers through searches, views and sales metrics on the platform. Based on their data, these 10 celebrities were responsible for the “biggest spikes in searches, sales, news coverage and social media mentions over the last 12 months”.
Harry Styles
Making history as the first male celebrity to top Lyst’s Power Dressers list, Harry Styles has made many headlines with his gender-defying wardrobe choices, vintage-looking aesthetic and a signature pearl necklace. Within 24 hours of the release of his single, “Golden”, page views for blue and turquoise blazers allegedly increased 52% on Lyst, whilst searches for yellow bucket hats increased 92%. Additionally, his JW Anderson cardigan sparked a viral #HarryStylesCardigan challenge on TikTok, with searches for the product spiking 166% during the last week of June.
Beyonce
Queen Bey is no stranger in fashion, but 2020 proved a big year for her style influence. Her “Black Is King” key outfit of a Marine Serre catsuit, which features a crescent moon print, created such as buzz that searches for the French brand spiked 426% within 48 hours of its debut. Over 3,000 consumers continued the search for a “crescent moon top” in the next few days. A separate Instagram post in September which shows her wearing an Alessandra Rich suit also drew attention, with searches for the brand rising 78% week-on-week.
Kim Namjoon (RM) of BTS
With the largest fanbase of any boy band in 2020, anything any member of K-pop group BTS does is bound to be a hit. Perhaps more so for its leader Kim Namjoon, or fondly called RM. After the group visited New York in February, RM’s white turtleneck and jacket getup led to a 67% increase in searches for similar menswear pieces. Following the 2020 MTV VMAs, where he donned full Gucci looks, searches for Gucci ties and three-piece suits rose 28% and 12 % respectively within 24 hours.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)
In case you’re unfamiliar with the name or face, Alexandria is an American politician and US Representative in New York’s 14th congressional district. A video of her speech condemning sexism within the U.S. Congress went viral internationally in July, trickling into searches for red suits (like the one she was wearing in the video) – which rose by 76% in the next five days. Subsequently, when she endorsed Telfar’s signature Shopping Bags on Instagram, searches for the brand spiked 163% that same week. Who says politicians can’t be fashion influencers?
Travis Scott
This American rapper could very well be the king of collaborations for 2020, having partnered with Nike, Epic Games, McDonald’s and more this year. After the first Nike drop in January, searches for the sportwear label rose 128% month-on-month. Meanwhile, “Travis Scott x Nike” spiked 168% within 24 hours of the release of the Nike Air Max 270 sneaker. Outside of fashion, his McDonald’s collab on a special Cactus Jack meal caused both burger shortages and a boost in the fast food franchise’s quarterly sales.
Paul Mescal
Famed for his breakout role on 2020 miniseries “Normal People”, Irish actor Paul Mescal stole the spotlight for wearing “short shorts” on numerous occasions over summer. Following his lead, searches for the menswear item surged 51% month-on-month since July. He also wore Louis Vuitton for the Emmys in September – in which he received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor – subsequently causing a 44% rise for the Maison’s menswear week-on-week.
Lizzo
After being named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2019, Lizzo has gone on to earn a fair share of buzz for her style too. When the singer made an appearance in the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2, searches for blue lingerie spiked by 96%. Likewise, after appearing in a neon bodysuit for her Grammys performance, searches for the item rose 37% within 24 hours.
Charli D’ Amelio
TikTok influencers are on the rise, with Charli D’ Amelio among the leaders of the pack. Following her posts with a pink Prada bag while attending the brand’s show in Milan, searches for the accessory spiked 90% within 24 hours. In a separate video to celebrate her reaching 72 million followers, in which she wore a tie-dye cropped tee, searches for the top jumped 73% within 48 hours.
Kate Middleton
The women of the British Royal family have always been a fashion influence and the Duchess of Cambridge is certainly one. Less than one day after she was seen wearing a floral face mask in early August, searches for the style surged 185% in the UK. During a BBC interview in April, her striped breton top led searches for the shirt to rise by 36% in 24 hours.
Chiara Ferragni
As the forerunner of Instagram influencers with 21.9 million followers and counting, Chiara Ferragni (aka The Blonde Salad) When her collaboration with Champion launched in April, searches for the athletic apparel label rose 108% that month. Throughout the quarantine period, her fashion diaries, which included a Versace bathrobe and Louis Vuitton fur slippers, also influenced global searches.
Harry Styles
Making history as the first male celebrity to top Lyst’s Power Dressers list, Harry Styles has made many headlines with his gender-defying wardrobe choices, vintage-looking aesthetic and a signature pearl necklace. Within 24 hours of the release of his single, “Golden”, page views for blue and turquoise blazers allegedly increased 52% on Lyst, whilst searches for yellow bucket hats increased 92%. Additionally, his JW Anderson cardigan sparked a viral #HarryStylesCardigan challenge on TikTok, with searches for the product spiking 166% during the last week of June.
Beyonce
Queen Bey is no stranger to fashion, but 2020 proved a big year for her style influence. Her “Black Is King” key outfit of a Marine Serre catsuit, which features a crescent moon print, created such as buzz that searches for the French brand spiked 426% within 48 hours of its debut. Over 3,000 consumers continued the search for a “crescent moon top” in the next few days. A separate Instagram post in September which shows her wearing an Alessandra Rich suit also drew attention, with searches for the brand rising 78% week-on-week.
Kim Namjoon (RM) of BTS
With the largest fanbase of any boy band in 2020, anything any member of K-pop group BTS does is bound to be a hit. Perhaps more so for its leader Kim Namjoon, or fondly called RM. After the group visited New York in February, RM’s white turtleneck and jacket getup led to a 67% increase in searches for similar menswear pieces. Following the 2020 MTV VMAs, where he donned full Gucci looks, searches for Gucci ties and three-piece suits rose 28% and 12 % respectively within 24 hours.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC)
In case you’re unfamiliar with the name or face, Alexandria is an American politician and US Representative in New York’s 14th congressional district. A video of her speech condemning sexism within the U.S. Congress went viral internationally in July, trickling into searches for red suits (like the one she was wearing in the video) – which rose by 76% in the next five days. Subsequently, when she endorsed Telfar’s signature Shopping Bags on Instagram, searches for the brand spiked 163% that same week. Who says politicians can’t be fashion influencers?
Travis Scott
This American rapper could very well be the king of collaborations for 2020, having partnered with Nike, Epic Games, McDonald’s and more this year. After the first Nike drop in January, searches for the sportwear label rose 128% month-on-month. Meanwhile, “Travis Scott x Nike” spiked 168% within 24 hours of the release of the Nike Air Max 270 sneaker. Outside of fashion, his McDonald’s collab on a special Cactus Jack meal caused both burger shortages and a boost in the fast food franchise’s quarterly sales.
Paul Mescal
Famed for his breakout role on 2020 miniseries “Normal People”, Irish actor Paul Mescal stole the spotlight for wearing “short shorts” on numerous occasions over summer. Following his lead, searches for the menswear item surged 51% month-on-month since July. He also wore Louis Vuitton for the Emmys in September – in which he received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor – subsequently causing a 44% rise for the Maison’s menswear week-on-week.
Lizzo
After being named TIME’s Entertainer of the Year 2019, Lizzo has gone on to earn a fair share of buzz for her style too. When the singer made an appearance in the Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2, searches for blue lingerie spiked by 96%. Likewise, after appearing in a neon bodysuit for her Grammys performance, searches for the item rose 37% within 24 hours.
Charli D’ Amelio
TikTok influencers are on the rise, with Charli D’ Amelio among the leaders of the pack. Following her posts with a pink Prada bag while attending the brand’s show in Milan, searches for the accessory spiked 90% within 24 hours. In a separate video to celebrate her reaching 72 million followers, in which she wore a tie-dye cropped tee, searches for the top jumped 73% within 48 hours.
Kate Middleton
The women of the British Royal family have always been a fashion influence and the Duchess of Cambridge is certainly one. Less than one day after she was seen wearing a floral face mask in early August, searches for the style surged 185% in the UK. During a BBC interview in April, her striped breton top led searches for the shirt to rise by 36% in 24 hours.
Chiara Ferragni
As the forerunner of Instagram influencers with 21.9 million followers and counting, Chiara Ferragni (aka The Blonde Salad) When her collaboration with Champion launched in April, searches for the athletic apparel label rose 108% that month. Throughout the quarantine period, her fashion diaries, which included a Versace bathrobe and Louis Vuitton fur slippers, also influenced global searches.
