Bella Hadid, the Prettiest Weird Girl
What does it mean to be fashion’s "prettiest weird girl"?
In a world where style icons are often defined by their perfection, Bella Hadid is breaking the mold by embracing the unexpected—and we’re here for it. From office siren chic to quirky streetwear, Bella isn’t afraid to take risks that leave everyone questioning the rules of fashion.
In this captivating piece, Divina explores how Hadid has turned eccentricity into style statements, proving that fashion is as much about self-expression as it is about looking good.
Editor’s Note: Divina is a participant in Fashion Talk's Summer 2024 Student Writing Program. Aligned with our mission to uplift young voices in the fashion industry, I’m excited to share her fresh and insightful perspective with our community.
Happy reading,
Amarissa
Editor-in-Chief, Fashion Talk
It’s safe to say that every era has its very own style icon. The ’60s had Twiggy with her doll-like features, The ’80s had Madonna with her feline abrasiveness, and American sweetheart Britney Spears putting the “cunt” in country in the 2000s, both on and off the stage. Britney may even be considered a current style icon, paving the way for the Y2K lovers of today with her jaw-dropping stage outfits.
All these figures inadvertently became pillars within the fashion community for their trailblazing ideas. With all that said, it’s time for the torch to be passed on to another. But who truly embodies the unique stylistic morals of the 2020s while also bringing something new to the table?
The Bell of the Hadids
She’s a Victoria’s Secret Angel, the face of Dior, but also unapologetically pairing chunky Moto boots with a flowy handkerchief skirt.
Bella Hadid is a household name that is nowhere near foreign. Of course, everyone’s trying to get a piece of her for runway shows or red-carpet events. Yet ironically, she’s also gained notoriety for her lack of participation in fashion events.
She is no stranger to being vulnerable on the internet. In 2023, Hadid took to Instagram to open up about her 6-month mark of sobriety, and later that year, announced her unofficial hiatus from the industry for mental health reasons. During her vacancy, she would break her silence only to bring light to current events. These are key aspects that draw Gen-Z users. But there’s something else that makes her so relatable–her rather interesting style.
The more I look at her, the more she resembles a girl playing dress up in her closet, but in the best way possible. Putting together outfits that have a sort of “randomness” to them. One could say that’s what makes her style so appealing. With this power she possesses, some of the pieces she’s been seen wearing have become items everyone is reaching for on shelves.
In September 2022, Hadid was spotted wearing a bomber jacket with blue detailing, a white baby tee, white shorts, and the Ultra Mini Ugg Platform. A strange combination, yet when this outfit first made an appearance, the shoes skyrocketed in popularity.
There are many reasons why this outfit is atypical: the shorts and small length of the shoe make the outfit look a bit empty, significantly elongating the legs. We associate certain clothing with specific occasions and appropriateness, but Hadid mixes and matches and becomes a rule breaker.
Take away her beautiful features, and Bella Hadid is a weird girl. Truthfully, she’s the prettiest and most daring of our time.
How Weird is a Weird Girl?
When you think about it, what really makes a girl, or anyone for that matter, weird? In short, weird girls are misunderstood. They don’t adhere to social norms and are rebellious in their own way. YouTube channel, The Take, was able to conceptualize the phenomenon into five different tropes: the goth, the smart-ass, the basket case, the space cadet, and the awkward misfit.
Yet the thing with Hadid is, she’s created her own category.
The Risk Taker
Without a doubt, the fashion industry is cutthroat. Although a creative outlet, the “beauty being in the eye of the beholder” mindset doesn’t hold much weight. In lamest terms, there’s no room for peculiars.
Growing up, my perception of high fashion was limited to what appeared on the runway and what models wore off it. Besides the damaging beauty standards that were reinforced with these walking pinnacles of beauty, I always perceived fashion as something one-tracked. There isn’t room to be experimental, and if you do, you have to do it in an “appealing” way.
With Hadid’s position in the modeling world, it would make sense for her to be wearing the most ornate pieces. Don’t get me wrong, she has some stunning outfits that are handcrafted by the fashion gods themselves. However, the outfits that she has a hand in putting together have a more exploratory feel to them.
For someone with the title of 'Supermodel,' it undoubtedly comes with pressure. Pressure to hold yourself together. Pressure to mind your words. And overall, pressure to look good in general. With some of Hadid’s outfits, it resembles someone who is just exploring their style and combining things in their closet that others simply wouldn’t get. There’s a certain charm to that.
In August 2021, Hadid was spotted wearing a black dress with a criss-cross neckline paired with plaid slacks and black kitten heels to New York Fashion Week. Before fashionistas all over America started exploring the Y2K era, Bella Hadid became the bridge between the past and present with her bold dress-over-pants combination.
We’ve seen this style portrayed by teenage icons such as Lizzie McGuire and Hannah Montana, but before Bella, it was still a fashion sin. Take Ashley Tisdale’s poofy dress over jeans on the red carpet for instance. For Hadid to be seen wearing a slowly reviving style before the crowd to such an important event such as NYFW, while also giving a post-modern twist on the style, we can agree that it was a risk.
Of course, she dressed it up to match the occasion with slacks that are used in professional spaces as well as kitten heels to give it a more elevated look, but the concept is quite bold. When I first saw this outfit, I said, “What in the world is she wearing?” Then I stopped and snapped. I realized that if I didn’t get it, the outfit wasn’t for me, and that’s a message she conveys with all her appearances.
There is a difference between how her stylist dresses her and how Hadid dresses herself. The thing about Hadid’s image is that she invokes the effortlessly pretty ideal while also exhibiting the features of a very put-together and serious woman. Yes, there’s the way that she speaks and carries herself that gives off this warm, sultry, put-together vibe but the fabrics do a lot of the talking. She is seen wearing these corporate-esque outfits (which we will dive into later) no matter the occasion but sometimes, in contrast to that, she has a funky way of expression.
Here, Bella is seen wearing a denim pleated mini skirt, with a floral lining underneath it to go with what I dub her “two-typed striped cardigan.” She has colorful nails, a black and yellow checkered purse, silver jewelry, and a pair of rectangular sunglasses. Like night and day, she has displayed what her brand is and who she is via dramatically apparent ironic styling. Perhaps she’s breaking out of a persona curated for her—or maybe this is what she genuinely enjoys. Or maybe, she just wants to have fun and doesn’t want every piece of her outfit to be hyper-fixated on and I should stop overthinking it. The point is, she looks good no matter what vibe she’s going for.
Hadid’s maximalism pays tribute to the bold and colorful chaos of “kid core”—the pathway for many into fashion maximalism, where layering wasn’t revered but instead celebrated.
We talked a lot about Hadid regarding different outfits, but what about her role in different trends?
From Nerds and Geeks to Office Chic
The office siren micro-trend has been extremely popular as of late and it stems from a whole number of things: the economy being in recession, the minimum wage not being enough to keep up with inflation, college students slowly entering the workforce, and the existential dread that comes with working a typical 9-5.
To keep it brief, let’s focus on a few points that relate not only to Hadid but to weirdos everywhere.
First things first, "office sirens" are an homage to the original weirdos: geeks and nerds. Their uniform—khakis, button-downs, square glasses, loafers, suspenders, and mismatched socks—once symbolized outcasts in academic settings. Today, fashionistas reimagine these looks, turning "nerdy" into something chic and fashionable. It's a transmutation of the original geeks, now grown up and successful, into style icons.
We have the nerdy side figured out but what made the siren run from the ocean and into a cubical? Starting with men’s wear, they had their work attire figured out. They were equipped with suits, ties, and briefcases to take on the day. With everyone wearing the same thing, it left little room for confusion. “We were all the same way,” James F. Bere, former chief executive of Borg-Warner Corp, told a reporter. “We all wore the same white shirt with our suits… The symbolism of the tie had some elitism in it. It told the world that you were a manager. The suit was mandatory. It never even entered my mind to challenge that.”
During this era, times were changing. Women were slowly being indoctrinated into the corporate world. This was quite progressive but that led to one looming question:
“What the hell do I, as a woman, wear?”
Critically acclaimed market bro John Molloy wrote a manual titled, The Women’s Dress for Success in 1977 where he instructed women to wear the following:
Main-tailored blouse
Slightly below the knee length skirt
Natural colored pantyhose
Simple pumps
Feminine fedoras
Shoulder-length hair
Attaché leather case
Contrasting scarf (if you want a pop of color)
Unfortunately, these choices that were made to be comfortable in said spaces, left small cracks for sexual desires involving their attire. Working women became a fantasy and became subjected to fetishization. Of course, there are some negatives to it. But for Gen Z dressers who just want a break from the dreadful reality that inches for them, re-discovering this schema became a profound change of pace.
Hadid is no stranger to dressing up in tailored two-piece suits on a daily run. Her looks would’ve been something even Yves Saint Laurent would be proud to witness. She always had this corporate esc look to her with some of her looks featuring tailored sartorial pieces, button-ups, and pencil skirts. It’s always been part of her character, especially in the earlier years of her career. While there was nothing overtly weird with the styling, you could say that there’s something a bit weird about the timing of the outfits.
Hadid’s Running Shoes are YSL Heels
Tailored suits, slick back bun, leather gloves, and a fierce look are all Hadid needs to have heads turning.
While most would assume she’s off to a charity gala or a front-row fashion show, she’s often just enjoying a museum or strolling the streets. Where others would opt for casual leisurewear, Hadid always goes the extra mile. Even before the office chic trend blew up, she was spotted at the National Library of Doha in 2022, rocking a brown and tan ensemble with a bold statement tie.
While she has the typical articles that can be connected to the working-class woman, a tie, a suit vest, and tailored pants, she has a way of putting a post-modern twist to it. That’s exactly what we need with resurfacing and rebranding trends, tastemakers who just get it.
In her own unique space, she’s earned the title "queen of the office siren trend." But what sets her apart from office siren icons like Nintendo’s Umbra Witch Bayonetta or TV figures like Super Nanny’s Jo Frost is that Hadid redefines the office aesthetic in real life. Her palette may draw from corporate staples like gray and burgundy, but her ability to push the envelope keeps her at the forefront of fashion. Of course, these are just characters, but you get the point.
Hadid has a creative spin on the trend. The color palette for office sirens is usually the gray, burgundy, black, and white, things that go along with the corporate world. Hadid, however, pushes the envelope and puts a fashionable twist that would make her the hot topic in the office.
Humanitarian Couture
Bella Hadid is a proud Palestinian woman, often displaying her culture within her clothing.
While tensions surrounding Palestine have reached new heights globally, leading many to hide their identity, Hadid proudly showcases hers.
As a Palestinian woman constantly in the spotlight, she’s expected to remain neutral, yet in May 2024, she wore a bold red and white keffiyeh dress by designers Michael and Hushi– who by the way, were also responsible for making a black and white variation for Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City– sending a powerful message. At a time when celebrities opt for subtle activism, Hadid goes all in, refusing to silence her beliefs, even if it makes her a target.
At a time when celebrities would opt for something subtle like a pin that you would most likely have to squint at, Hadid went above and beyond. This move was a clear sign that you don't have to be silent, even at the cost of alienation. If it makes you weird for doing it loud and proud, then wear that weirdo badge with honor.
In July 2024, Hadid also relinquished her partnership with Adidas after learning about its controversial campaign tied to the 1972 Munich Olympics. Though she’s faced islamophobia, she stood firm against antisemitism, showing that doing what’s right matters more than career gains. That’s what defines Hadid—staying true to herself and her values, no matter the cost.
That’s the thing about weird girls—they will do everything in their power to do what’s right, even if that means if they miss out on a couple of opportunities
Bella Hadid is many things: a supermodel, the face of office sirens, a stylistic goddess, and an activist, but above all, she is fearlessly herself, passing that message on to her young fans. Bella, the weirdo, we salute you.
Contributing edits by our summer ‘24 program volunteer Lauren Corcoran, with final oversight & edits by Amarissa Imoukhuede, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Fashion Talk.
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