The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

Is It Just Me, Or Has Celebrity Style Reached an All-Time Low?

Celebrity style is intentionally ugly.
Lately I'm having the hardest time finding celebrity streetstyle photos that I would actually want to recreate on a real-girl budget (or any budget for that matter).

Maybe it's a sign I'm getting old, but the so-called trendsetters today seem absolutely clueless when it comes to fashion. The clothes are wearing them, not the other way around. I get the athleisure trend, I get the caring-not-caring trend, but why all the ill-fitting, unattractive, mixed-message mashups? Is this a reflection of the times we live in?

I can appreciate that fashion doesn't need to flatter. It doesn't need to be pretty. But at some point, are we allowed to say "that's just plain ugly"?

Take a look at some of the worst offenders on my radar this week and tell me if you disagree. Celebrity streetstyle stinks right now. But I'll keep up the hunt and hopefully be back with another inspiring outfit tomorrow!


Celebrity style has reached an all-time low.
Dove Cameron looks silly in a white sports bra and mesh blouse paired with cropped leggings and kitten heels. I'm so confused about the thought process that went into putting this outfit together. Is it meant to be sexy or ironic?

Photo Credit: STPR / PRPhotos.com



Celebrity style has reached an all-time low.
Model Suki Waterhouse is engulfed by some borrowed-from-the-boys active shorts and a sweatshirt in blinding red hues. The sneakers and backpack don't relate in any way.

Photo Credit: STPR / PRPhotos.com



Celebrity style has reached an all-time low.
Georgia May Jagger looks sloppy in a skeleton print bomber jacket and wide leg track pants paired with sneakers and a loose tee. The colors are muddled and the pink glitter sunglasses look like an afterthought.

Photo Credit: STPR / PRPhotos.com



Celebrity style has reached an all-time low.
Bella Hadid is a repeat offender for me, despite being a muse and darling to all designers. Yes, she has a flawless figure but there are a myriad of style sins going on in this look from the color palette to the Daisy Duke tie-front plaid top.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID



Celebrity style has reached an all-time low.
Hailey Baldwin's fashion choices always make me cringe, too. Again I'm going to sound like an old fart but why does such a gorgeous girl always hide behind such ugly clothes? How is a skintight red latex dress relevant or forward-thinking? Topped with the oversized leather jacket and the eighties accessories, it's a hot mess.

Photo Credit: Roger / BACKGRID



What do you guys think? Am I missing the point here? Which celebrities' styles do you like/want to see more of here on the blog?

Comments
We can't all be getting old! These outfits are terrible!
#1 Laurie on 2017-08-16 07:57 (Reply)
Quite agree! I've been cringing at your picks for a while now. Its not you, what is there is to choose from? Frankly, these young stars have no role models to which they can aspire. If in doubt about your style, look to Coco Chanel, may be old but still very chic. You are spot-0n about this Dianna!
#1.1 margot on 2017-08-16 12:47 (Reply)
Thanks Margot! I never take it personally...fashion is meant to elicit some emotional response and I always enjoy reading constructive criticism.
#1.1.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-27 07:55 (Reply)
Haha thanks Laurie!
#1.2 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-27 07:52 (Reply)
I agree 100%. I've thought this for a while now. I used to always get my inspiration from celebrity style but I realized I really only pay attention to style blogs these days. I'm no longer inspired by celebrity style.
#2 Kerri (Homepage) on 2017-08-16 08:44 (Reply)
Amen!
The trend basically is that you are so famous/rich/beautiful that you can wear ANYTHING. Or truly that these girls get such expensive ugly things and people tell them they look great that they have lost all perception. But generally to me it always strikes as "norm core". Which once again is basically 'I'm so gorgeous I can wear ugly clothes and still look great". And of course everyone is dressing like it's the 90's again.
#3 mary graham on 2017-08-16 09:11 (Reply)
thank you for being so real and telling what you really think. I agree with you, is it because they are all so young and experimenting?
#4 veronica on 2017-08-16 09:51 (Reply)
Agreed-these are physically painful.
#5 Jennifer (Homepage) on 2017-08-16 10:08 (Reply)
I could not agree more!! Try having teenage daughters who beg to buy these clothes, as in, Want me to actually put money toward these outfits. Then to prove they were serious, it's not a prank on Mom, they actually walk out of the house in these get-ups!! This current aesthetic is more than caring-not-caring. I think it's all sort of ironic "how edgy is it that I'm wearing the cheapest crap/style/FABRIC the 90s had to offer and to prove I'm doing it ironically, I'll wear it all at once. " ugh! Total affront to anyone with taste. When I try to explain that It's just bad taste, but I get the aforementioned irony they're going for, they look at me blankly . "No Mom, you so don't get it." Fine. I am getting old. But I' never would and never will not call this UGLY!!!
#6 Alexandra (Homepage) on 2017-08-16 10:38 (Reply)
I have to suspect that it is really just some inside joke or celebrity drinking game (how many bloggers can I get to be open about how awful my outfit is.;-) I can't see any other explanation for the total lack of fashion sense--especially when they are actually PAYING (?!?) people to dress them.
#7 BB on 2017-08-16 13:11 (Reply)
I enjoy some celebrity style.. Zoe Saldana,Solange,Joan Smalls,, Cate Blanchett,Kirsten Dunst, to name a few. I prefer magazines now and then but I cannot relate to the Hadid sisters or Kendall Jenner......
#8 Robin Hawkins (Homepage) on 2017-08-16 19:51 (Reply)
Thanks for these ideas Robin, I also love many of the celebs you've mentioned. The trouble is finding pictures of them! I've changed agencies twice in hopes of getting a better selection...I just spent an hour searching for Zoe, Solange, Joan, Cate and Kirsten and found very very little. It's always the Kardashians filling up my feed LOL. Maybe I have to switch to Getty...thanks for the suggestions!
#8.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-19 07:57 (Reply)
You know what happened? Joan Rivers died and nobody's around anymore to put the fear of God into Hollywood, so the "starlets" are backsliding, they're hiring idiots as stylists if any at all, and they dress like fugly super frumps. The ones who have great style are in their 30s-40s or even older.
#9 StrawberryGirl on 2017-08-16 21:33 (Reply)
Ha! You're right! Gosh she was always so much fun.

Well today I put the spotlight on a fashion diva who's 49... you're right on.
#9.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-17 08:44 (Reply)
I agree! I still fall into the "millennial" category i.e the target group for these trends and normally I love a good throwback but I don't get this style. It's not just celebrities dressing like this- it's what you primarily see in the stores now too. I'm all for people doing their own thing but I can't get behind this trend and I'm kinda hoping it'll blow over soon.
#10 Lily (Homepage) on 2017-08-17 13:43 (Reply)
Meee too!
#10.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-19 07:54 (Reply)
Yes yes yes! I've been thinking this for weeks now. It's just all so boring. Sweats, Adidas, and cut up crop top hoodies, that make absolutely no sense. Then it all gets paired with the now "iconic" pieces from the 90's, like really tiny sunglasses, and it makes the outfit look ironic, like they're wearing it because they know it's ugly. I get wanting to be comfortable, and throwing away the old "has to be feminine if you're a girl" kind of thought, but at the same time, how do people call this fashion?

I'm 24, so I'm about the age of all the new "It girls," but I just don't understand it. It's not fun. It's not attractive. Of course, people can dress however they want! I'm not trying to police that. But it's completely uninspiring, and I'm having the HARDEST time trying to find ANY inspiration nowadays. Actually, my biggest style inspiration was Taylor Swift, but she's kind of dropped off the face of the Earth right now.

Like others have said, I love seeing pictures of Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone, Selena Gomez, Zendaya, Shay Mitchell (sometimes), and Emma Watson, because to me, that's fashion. Yes, a lot of the looks are paired down, but there's still SOMETHING to them. Layering. A nice fit. Pieces that actually work together.

When the athleisure trend hit, I thought it was primarily because the new It girls, like the Hadids, and Kendall, for instance, wore leggings and sneakers on the streets, because as models, they liked going lowkey on their days off. Unfortunately, it skyrocketed in popularity, and now it looks like it'll be the defining "fashion" of this era. It makes me sad, actually, because you see all these great things that fashion houses recycle, like the current western and 70's styles for the fall, but you won't actually see any of that on the streets! You'll have to comb Instagram.

I'm just so happy that you posted this. I thought I was the only one of my generation to think like this! I'm so glad to see others do as well.
#11 Kelsey on 2017-08-17 19:28 (Reply)
You make a lot of good points. I get more inspo from Instagram, too. I think style bloggers eclipsed celebs a long time ago as far as fashion is concerned!
#11.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-19 07:54 (Reply)
So so happy I'm not the only one that's been thinking this! Most of the time when I see outfits like this I think "Maybe I just don't get it because I'm not fashion forward?". Absolutely agree, so glad you posted this!
#12 Hannah White on 2017-08-17 20:30 (Reply)
Thanks for the feedback!
#12.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-19 07:52 (Reply)
I actually kind of like Bella's and Hailey's outfits. They're not something I would wear as is, but everyone has their own aesthetic. I don't think this is all THAT new, non-mainstream style has kind of been on this track for a while. Also you chose some outfits where they're clearly in a dgaf kind of setting. Do you really expect a human being to be perfect at the airport?
#13 Lisa on 2017-08-18 11:20 (Reply)
Every top fashion site has a section devoted to celebrity airport style - some might argue that part of the job of models and actresses is to look good or at least eyecatching while traveling, especially since they know the paparazzi will be waiting. It's a huge part of the business.

You might enjoy this read - they talk about the evolution of airport style and how as travel has gone from exotic and exciting to commonplace and stressful, the clothes that celebrities wear has followed suit - from a runway moment to sweats and a tee:

https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/bjzw4z/why-celebrity-airport-style-is-a-fascinating-sign-of-the-times

Thanks for the comment!
#13.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-21 08:16 (Reply)
Agreed. I feel like celebrities think that because they are famous, they can throw together bunch of random clothing pieces and everyone would think it's fashionable.
#14 Kim on 2017-08-19 14:51 (Reply)
I've been feeling the same way about searching for celebrity inspiration for my blog too. This generation's 20-somethings are doing something uninspiring (minus Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Zendaya, to name a few). There's this 90s wave that's hit street style (if you can call it that) & it makes me wonder if it's me... or them (& I'm certainly not in my 20s). Glad to read that I'm not alone! I do love your blog.
#15 Alissa (Homepage) on 2017-08-21 10:28 (Reply)
Just stopped by your blog - it's amazing! I could spend hours reading! I feel like I'm all caught up on my fashion news now. Thanks for the comment, Alissa!
#15.1 The Budget Babe on 2017-08-24 06:40 (Reply)
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