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If I go to Pinterest and type the singular word “fashion” into the search bar, my results page becomes what the algorithm has defined as the 2022 fashion standard. Thousands of images of tailored trousers, oversized blazers and pointy heels fill the screen. If I go back and add the additional keywords “Hailey Bieber” before “Fashion”, my page refills. Pants, blazers and heels dominate again – and our girl rocks them all. Hailey Bieber is hands down the blueprint for today’s biggest fashion trends, and many are thinking about it Hailey Bieber a style icon – but would they say the same about Hailey Baldwin?
Before you accuse me of ignorance of pop culture I am aware that Bieber and Baldwin are the same person. But when her name changed, so did her sense of fashion.
Hailey Bieber’s style transformation can be traced back to a few factors, but before I dive into these, I think it’s important to point out that Justin Bieber’s personal fashion sense is not one of them. As you will see in the Style development Below, Justin has committed (for better or for worse) to the same look since he gave up the purple zipper and long locks of his youth.
If I am generous with my description, I would describe Justin’s style as sporty. If I’m honest with my description, I would call it lazy. His signature look these days consists of a Drew sweatshirt (his own brand), baggy pants or basketball shorts and a hat. And the occasional Crocs for a good measure!
On the flip side, there are some celebrity couples – like Kim and Kanye, may their relationship rest in peace – who clearly take inspiration from one another. Kim even has credited to Kanye for helping to change her personal style. While Hailey’s style certainly improved once she got serious about Justin, his direction cannot be lived up to. To quote the brilliant Avril Lavigne: “He was a punk, she did ballet. What more can I say?”.
I can actually say a lot more about Hailey’s ballet background when I discuss her style. Before becoming a supermodel, Hailey spent her free time doing intense ballet training and doing summer training at the American Ballet Theater. No wonder she loves to rock a pointy shoe! I followed Hailey on Instagram when I first downloaded the app in 2011 and can confirm that before her feed documented her pinpoint style, she posted pinpoint ballet pics.
While it’s easy to assume that a ballet background would translate into a girlish personal style, Haileys had just the opposite effect. In early paparazzi photos, Hailey can often be seen incredibly casual in oversized sportswear and sneakers. Her personal style was very similar to Justin’s today; they were a shirt-and-beanie match.
One of the reasons Hailey’s style is so popular and widespread these days is because she has managed to keep casual elements in her upscale looks – hence her wardrobe feels reasonably available. So how did Hailey wear a suit without looking like she was going to a business meeting? How did she make a completely neutral outfit look innovative? The answer was her stylist, Maeve Reilly.
Maeve stepped into the picture in 2016 when Hailey and Justin got serious and started walking in very public relationship. Maeve claims Hailey contacted her on Instagram during her growing paparazzi run-ins and sought help with her everyday wardrobe. While it’s unclear whether the duo will still work together, Maeve was certainly behind the craftsmanship of Hailey’s signature style today.
When Maeve and Hailey started working together, Hailey’s outfits began to become very trend-oriented (hello oversized outerwear) but it wasn’t until Hailey and Justin got married that their outfits got really sophisticated. Compared to other celebrities, Hailey dresses a little conservatively – she always looks hot, but rarely overtly sexual. It never feels like Hailey is posing for thirst traps or dressing for male attention (I mean, she’s got the biebs already, who else is she going to impress?)
Hailey’s current style manages to prioritize comfortable pieces that she can move into and you can tell she feels safe in them. Many of her outfits consist of neutral basics such as an oversized trench coat or blazer, paired with very specific, funny accessories such as an orange Bottega Veneta bag or a yellow fur hat. This combination ensures that her outfits always stay stylish, because most of what she wears are well-fitting basics that are accentuated by trendier details.
If the Hailey and Maeve breakup rumors are true, we should expect more elements of Hailey’s personality to shine through her wardrobe when she takes on the role of her own head stylist – or, hey, maybe she’s hiring someone else. While their starlet-stylist relationship didn’t last in Hollywood, I hope Hailey and Justin will.
Keep scrolling for a stroll through the memory lanes of Beaver Fever to see for yourself how much Hailey’s style has evolved.
The MEGA agency.
October 2021
The formula for a typical Hailey look, defined: gold jewelry, tiny sunglasses, a great shoulder bag and an oversized blazer.
The MEGA agency.
June 2021
Out and about in Paris, Hailey looks chic (but still comfortable) in a casual glitter dress and a Bottega bag. Meanwhile, Justin looks just comfortable in his Drew sweatshirt, jeans, and kicks.
The MEGA agency.
March 2021
Hailey proved her oversized blazer can go from day to night by showing off some leg and adding a heel. The zebra print Bottega clutch was a nice touch.
The MEGA agency.
February 2021
In a rare “couple outfit” moment, Hailey and Justin wore complementary monochrome looks during a trip to Paris. Hailey’s yellow booth studio look was courtesy of Maeve Reilly, of course.
The MEGA agency.
January 2021
Hailey started 2021 (and her Bottega phase) with Kelly Green details. This look is a great example of how Hailey enhances casual pieces – like sneakers and vests – with color-coordinated details.
The MEGA agency.
October 2020
Even Hailey’s casual sportswear has been put together more and more over the years. For this fitness outing, Hailey was dressed from mask to toe in accents of white and purple. It’s the attention to detail for me!
The MEGA agency.
February 2020
Hailey amazes in this full winter white look that still lives in my brain rent-free. This was the beginning of their more tonally focused ensembles, and I was all for it.
The MEGA agency.
December 2019
This photo was taken a few months after Hailey and Justin’s grand wedding ceremony – and it could be the last time we ever saw them at Skinnys. After the wedding, there was a clear change in Hailey’s everyday style, and we can see here how she started adding heels to more casual looks and treating everyday outings like photo ops.
The MEGA agency.
December 2019
Hailey established herself as a style icon by drawing a clear parallel to the late Princess Diana in a Vogue Paris shoot in 2019. She was spotted out for a coffee a few months later wearing this Diana-inspired sweatshirt and blazer combo.
The MEGA agency.
December 2019
Here you can see how much Hailey’s style changed in late 2019. She wears a typical “going out” look (TBH, nothing groundbreaking), while Justin Drew slippers (Shocker) with questionable pink socks and white slippers.
The MEGA agency.
May 2019
The origins of Hailey’s classic camel coat uniform can be traced back to May 2019. This outfit would still be a premium in 2022.
The MEGA agency.
January 2019
Hailey was still working on mastering her upscale but causal look in early 2019. She is pictured here at lunch, but her fitted suit looks like she’s ready for a business meeting. However, the pop of pink is cute!
The MEGA agency.
October 2018
Hailey and Justin succeeded in October 2018 after secretly getting married in court in September. Hailey kept her looks until she confirmed her new status as Mrs. Bieber. However, this picture confirms that she has always been a blazer girl at heart.
The MEGA agency.
August 2018
By this point, Hailey and Justin had rekindled their relationship (again after his brief stint with Selena Gomez) in the summer of 2018. Hailey still dressed very casually, maybe to give the girl-next-door vibes.
The MEGA agency.
December 2015
Hailey gave great Brandy Melville basic vibes with Kylie Jenner in Miami in 2015. Not a fan but it was cute for the time! I also respect the low white pants.
The MEGA agency.
June 2015
In a very early paparazzi photo from 2015, Hailey proves that the gold hoop has always been her trademark – though I can’t say the rest of the look has stood the test of time. Maybe she anticipated the lederhosen trend of 2022 with these liquid skinnies?