By Melissa Mason

Bella Hadid’s Style Evolution: From Grandpa Core to Model On- and Off-Duty

She *is* the moment.

Not all top international models will influence the masses beyond the runway, but Bella Hadid is certainly at the forefront of fashion – whether she’s walking for Versace or walking out her front door in Ugg boots.

Hadid began her modelling career at 16-years-old, but it wasn’t until she signed with IMG two years later that she really skyrocketed, featuring in LOVE magazine’s famous Love Advent Calendar that very same year.

Although she shot to global fame rapidly as both a model and a person of influence in the fashion world, Hadid has said that she has a disconnect from her public persona. Talking to Vogue about her momentous 2016, she reflected, “It’s just, again, doesn’t feel so much like me, and I think that this was the start of the ‘Bella’ persona that everyone sees of me. That’s my alter ego. That’s Belinda.”

Still, it’s undeniable that Hadid’s personal style sharply influences fashion (even if she would say it’s “Belinda”). Here, we take a look back at some of Bella Hadid’s best fashion moments over the years.

2016

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PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 30: Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid attend the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after party at Le Grand Palais on November 30, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

One of her earliest red carpet appearances, Bella posed alongside sister Gigi Hadid for the 2016 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show after-party. Similar to how Kylie and Kendall Jenner were first styled for events, the Hadid sisters often wore complementary outfits during their early years in the industry.

Bella Hadid
Image: Getty

The dress that arguably launched Bella Hadid as a fashion icon beyond Fashion Week runways, the model has a complicated relationship with this Alexandra Gauthiere look (worn to the Cannes Film Festival premiere of The Unknown Girl).

Hadid told Vogue she still feels “embarrassed” by this red carpet moment. “I was nervous in this dress. I look very sexual and all these things,” she told the publication. “I was still nervous about cameras and nervous about having a lot of makeup on.”

She explained that while she still finds the dress “gorgeous”, this is an example of iconic fashion moments she’s had that she doesn’t feel represent her.

Bella Hadid
Credit: Getty

Because of her meteoric rise as a supermodel, Bella Hadid started to garner attention from the paparazzi in New York City. This led to plenty of off duty, street style fashion from Hadid – who from the outset was dictating trends, not conforming to them.

2017

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Credit: Getty Images

For the Bulgari Autumn/Winter 17/18 collection in Milan, Hadid dripped in crystals, attending with friend (and fellow fashion royalty) Lottie Moss.

Bella Hadid
Credit: Getty

Attending the 2017 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show After Party, Bella Hadid again chose Alexandre Vauthier.

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Bella Hadid in Paris on September 27, 2017 for Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer. Getty Images

Now a regular on the Fashion Month runways, Bella Hadid was often snapped running between shows or spending downtime in Paris and Milan. It’s clear the model was honing her personal style in 2017 – here, she isn’t just off duty, but consciously so.

2018

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NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Bella Hadid attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter)

Bella Hadid has been a mainstay on the Met Gala red carpet for years. Here, for the ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination’ 2018 theme, Hadid wore Chrome Hearts x Gareth Pugh, a look that featured clashes of material with a latex corset, velvet skirt and tulle veil accented with heavy chain.

Bella Hadid
Credit: Getty

After teaming this Dior vest with a tulle skirt for day, Hadid proved her fashion intel wasn’t reserved for modelling, adapting the outfit for the Dior Backstage launch party by tucking it into 90s denim.

Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid at Harper’s Bazaar Icons event on September 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jackson Lee/GC Images)

Another Bella Hadid fashion look that has gone down in history, this Mugler bodysuit (custom made by creative director Casey Cadwallader) cemented Hadid as the darling of the fashion industry. “For me this project was about how to make the most beautiful body in the world, look the best it ever has,” Cadwallader told Harper’s Bazaar. “Using a newly developed organza stretch jersey, we can now make a sheer second skin that shapes, smoothes, and compresses the body… I love the idea of being fully nude and going all the way and I’m honoured that Bella chose to dare it with Mugler.”

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 09: Bella Hadid is seen in NoHo on September 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

2018 saw Bella Hadid snapped more and more in New York by paparazzi keen to sell her daring fashion looks to publications – like this parachute set over a white turtleneck bodysuit, teamed with white ankle boots.

Bella Hadid
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 18: Model Bella Hadid is seen on September 18, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

While she has always loved a dramatic fashion moment, Hadid also mixes it up with low-key looks – and even then, sets trends. This 90s-inspired combination of faded denim and a cardigan had a major impact on trans-seasonal dressing into 2019.

2019

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 22: Bella Hadid attends Gigi Hadid’s 24th Birthday at L’Avenue in Midtown on April 22, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

For sister Gigi Hadid’s 24th birthday celebrations, Hadid wore the Canadian tuxedo to end all Canadian tuxedos (well, besides Britney and Justin’s iconic couple dressing back in the day). To clarify, the birthday theme was denim. But honestly, we could imagine Hadid wearing this just to head out of an afternoon.

Bella Hadid
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 06: Bella Hadid attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR)

Possibly our favourite Met Gala fashion moment from Bella Hadid, this Moschino gown by Jeremy Scott for ‘Camp: Notes On Fashion’ was a masterpiece.

“He is obviously the king of camp,” the model said of Scott in an interview with Vogue at the time. “He decided to put us all in the looks that fit us best, and I think this one fit me the best. A lot of diamonds, a lot of skin. … Camp is extravagant, camp is fun, camp is everything fun about fashion that we love. It’s such a regal event, the Met Gala, so to be able to come here and really show off our fun side and wear things we wouldn’t usually wear, it’s just fun.”

Bella Hadid
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 09: Bella Hadid is seen in Chinatown on October 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Did Bella Hadid single-handedly make knee-high socks and lug-soles a trend? The jury is out on that one, but she certainly contributed in 2019.

Bella Hadid
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 25: Bella Hadid is seen in NoHo on October 25, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Bella Hadid’s love for Y2K dressing peaked across 2019 and 2020. Here, she wears her favourite Prada Monolith boots with low slung trousers in NYC.

2020

Bella Hadid
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 16: Bella Hadid is seen arriving at Tatras fashion show during Paris Fashion Week – Menswear F/W 2020-2021 on January 16, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jacopo Raule/GC Images )

2020 was the year Hadid leaned into the Y2K trend (that she spearheaded), adopting some of the most cringe elements, like gelled front strands, and making them undeniably desirable again.

Bella Hadid
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 14: Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner seen out and about in Manhattan on February 14, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Robert Kamau/GC Images)

Another famous Bella Hadid fashion moment was this tough-feminine hybrid look. The 00s beanie-hat! The tinted sunglasses! The contrast lip liner! It all worked.

Bella Hadid
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 22: Bella Hadid is seen, outside the Jean-Paul Gaultier show, during Paris Fashion Week – Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2020, on January 22, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/GC Images )

Heading out from the Jean-Paul Gaultier show at Paris Fashion Week, Bella Hadid wore all-denim once again.

2021

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 05: Bella Hadid is seen in Greenwich Village on June 05, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)This oversized Stussy set paired with underwear-as-outerwear is a perfect example of Bella Hadid’s love of athleisure and streetwear.

Bella Hadid
CANNES, FRANCE – JULY 06: Bella Hadid attends the “Annette” screening and opening ceremony during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 6, 2021 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)

Cannes Film Festival 2021 was a series of jaw-dropping moments for Bella Hadid, starting with this modern-romantic Jean-Paul Gaultier gown circa 2002 (and once worn by Naomi Campbell) for the screening of Annette.

Bella Hadid Cannes
CANNES, FRANCE – JULY 11: Model Bella Hadid attends the “Tre Piani (Three Floors)” screening during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 11, 2021 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic)

But it was this Schiaparelli gown that drew the most headlines. For the premiere of Tre Piani (Three Floors), Hadid wore the Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2021/22 collection piece, which featured a chest-covering necklace shaped to imitate the bronchi passageway of the lungs.

Bella Hadid
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 01: Bella Hadid is seen in Tribeca on August 01, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Another Y2K look for Bella Hadid, this time emulating the gauzy feminine fashion era of the early 2000s.

2022

PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 5: Bella Hadid is seen leaving her hotel on March 5 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images)

The past few years have seen a new confidence from Bella Hadid, who now regularly steps out in eclectic fashion choices that soon become coveted by the masses.

The Enduring Appeal Of The Crisp White Shirt
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 11: Bella Hadid departing Central Hall Westminster after walking the Burberry A/W 2023 Womenswear Collection Presentation on March 11, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford / Ricky Vigil M/GC Images)

Heading out after walking the Burberry A/W 2023 show in London, Hadid a print suit from the fashion house, styled to reflect her own taste.

NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 13: Model Bella Hadid is seen walking in SoHo on April 13, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)

One of our favourite off duty street style fashion moments from Bella Hadid is this 1990s inspired combination of high-rise leather pants, chunky gold belt and a brown knit vest. With a half-ponytail and chunky gold earrings, it was a blend of grandpacore and emulating Julia Roberts in her romantic comedy era.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 23: Bella Hadid arrives at Gigi Hadid’s 27th birthday party at Zero Bond on April 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Gotham/GC Images)

Once again making a once-cringe trend powerful again, for Gigi Hadid’s 27th birthday Bella wore a zig-zag headband (remember those?) and hip-skimming micro mini.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 02: Bella Hadid attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

For the 2022 Met Gala Bella Hadid wore Riccardo Tisci for Burberry, an all-black fashion look using contrasting materials of leather, tulle and lace.

Bella Hadid
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 24: Bella Hadid attends the 75th Anniversary celebration screening of “The Innocent (L’Innocent)” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 24, 2022 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Again, Bella Hadid made headlines at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for impeccable fashion choices. For the screening of The Innocent (L’Innocent), Hadid wore vintage Versace, embodying Hollywood glamour of the 80s in a dress designed by Gianni Versace himself, originally worn by Austrian opera singer Helga Dernesch in 1987.

Bella Hadid
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 26: US model Bella Hadid arrives for the screening of the film Broker at the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Proving she is the ultimate style chameleon, Hadid later went completely minimalist, wearing another vintage piece – this time Tom Ford for Gucci, circa 1996.

2023

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 18: Bella Hadid arrives at the grand opening of Stanton Social Prime at Caesars Palace on March 18, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)

For the opening of Stanton Social Prime in Las Vegas, Hadid wore Egyptian designer Amy Shehab – a form-fitting jersey midi paired with strappy heels and beach waves.

NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 13: Bella Hadid is seen on December 13, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Ignat/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.