Elements of Style: Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid is something of a modern-day Helen of Troy. While her face would undoubtedly launch a thousand ships, her outfits have also launched a thousand trends. In the decade-plus since she began her modeling career, Hadid has been at the forefront of naked dressing, the return of capris, geek-chic glasses, and other major moments both fleeting and long-lasting.

We’ve seen the model through many phases of her own life, too, and witnessed how her style has changed as a result. Since moving to Texas, for instance, Hadid—a lifelong horse girl—has incorporated cowgirl fashion into her wardrobe. While she tends to source her boots from more local outlets, she remains a fashion girl at heart: vintage Dolce & Gabbana heels, Roberto Cavalli corsets, and Valentino bags are all par for the course.

In Elements of Style, we’re distilling a celebrity’s fashion sense into its most basic components. Here, we break down the five key pieces in Bella Hadid’s closet.

Skin Is In

Naked dressing, crop tops, and mini hemlines are all on the table for the model. Be it her sheer Saint Laurent knotted pantyhose dress at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival or her tighty-whities-as-pants, Hadid is never afraid to show some skin.

What: Saint Laurent, ME+EM, Rokh, Gucci, Alaïa, With Jéan

Where: The Cannes Film Festival, the Met Gala, New York City, West Hollywood, fashion week

Wear it with: Capris, Proenza Schouler x Sorel clogs, knee-high socks, chore coat, kitten heels

Cowgirl Style

Though she is a lifelong horse girl, Hadid’s relocation to Texas injected a real yeehaw flair into her wardrobe, mainly via cowboy boots, hats, and belts. Even if she isn’t dressed for the rodeo, she usually manages to incorporate at least one element of Westernwear into her outfit.

What: Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Guess Jeans, Kemo Sabe, Roberto Cavalli, M L Leddys

Where: A Kemo Sabe pop-up, a friend’s baby shower, Chicken Shop Date

Wear it with: Microshorts, denim midi skirts, a graphic tee, a leather jacket, a summer dress

Prize Vintage

While accessible brands make up a large part of her wardrobe (think: With Jéan, For Love & Lemons, Mango, and Guizio), Hadid knows better than anyone how to pull out a showstopper. A surefire hit? A piece of jaw-dropping vintage. Be it John Galliano Dior or Tom Ford Gucci, she’s worn it.