4 Times Celebrities Channeled '60s Model Edie Sedgwick's Signature Style
Best known as an alternative trendsetter in the '60s, socialite and model Edie Sedgwick's signature style continues to influence fashion today, with celebrities recreating some of her most iconic looks. But before we get into that, we need to understand her style.
Before indie sleaze became an aesthetic, there were Sedgwick's night-out outfits. The model embraced a factory-girl style that saw her wear bold designs and avant-garde ensembles. Sedgwick was rarely seen without her heavy dark eyeliner, false eyelashes, and signature silvery-blond pixie cut, which remains the perfect inspo for a punk pixie cut decades later. Statement chandelier earrings, fishnet tights, and leotards were also key elements of her personal style, but she wasn't afraid to incorporate different textures into her staple wardrobe, either. From her "no-pants" looks and her striking leopard-print jackets to her penchant for stripes, Sedgwick's wardrobe captured a range of styles.
The resurgence of indie-sleaze styles has paved the way for celebrities to effortlessly adopt Sedgwick's iconic look. That said, channeling Sedgwick's style is nothing new, as celebrities have been drawing inspiration from her outfits for years. These icons have shown the world exactly how to blend mod and grunge trends for a cool modern aesthetic by embracing Sedgwick's signature style.
Sienna Miller's embrace of Edie Sedgwick's signature style was strikingly chic
Actor Sienna Miller is arguably the celebrity who has been most capable of reviving Edie Sedgwick's classic look. After all, she played her in "Factory Girl," a 2006 biographical film that followed the model's life. She seems to have learned some lessons from it, too. A decade later, Miller was spotted in London wearing a leopard-print fur coat reminiscent of Sedgwick's own collection. Her coat was layered over a black T-shirt, fitted black trousers, and a chunky silver-and-black belt. Like Sedgwick's outfits in the '60s, Miller's ensemble combined contrasting textures and prints. She accessorized with a snakeskin-style belt and a striking Gucci bag designed by Alessandro Michele.
In a 2007 interview with Blackfilm, Miller seemed sure that Sedgwick's influence on fashion will inspire future generations. "People are still inspired by her and the way that she dressed and the way that she danced and she was this figure that was so intriguing and to last that long obviously there is something going on," she explained. Later, the actor was asked how it felt to embrace Sedgwick's style in the film, to which she replied, "I honestly loved absolutely every single item of clothing." We would, too.
Alexa Chung and Edie Sedgwick have the same sartorial eye
In 2017, model Alexa Chung was photographed attending a private party during New York Fashion Week wearing an Edie Sedgwick-inspired look featuring skinny leather pants, a red knit sweater, and a leopard-print fur jacket. Chung's combination of vibrant colors, different textures, and leopard print echoed some of Sedgwick's favorite pieces. Chung completed her look with pointed black heels, another detail that could have been plucked from Sedgwick's wardrobe.
This wasn't the first time Chung's style had drawn comparisons to Sedgwick's. In a 2013 interview with Teen Vogue, Chung discussed her personal taste. "I've never had an idol in that sense," she said, after being asked about the influence of Sedgwick's grunge-inspired '60s looks. "That's the point, isn't it—there's no one that I want to copy because I do my own things," Chung added. Intentional or not, Chung's outfits bear a remarkable resemblance to Sedgwick's.
Cara Delevingne took Edie Sedgwick's love of stripes to the next level
In 2018, supermodel Cara Delevingne channeled Edie Sedgwick's signature '60s style at the Toronto Film Festival by wearing a daring sequin-encrusted minidress with bold shoulder pads. The dress also featured eccentric sheer and metallic stripes, a recurring feature in some of Sedgwick's most iconic looks. Like Delevingne, Sedgwick experimented with her grunge style by wearing sparkles to high-profile events in the mid-'60s.
The high neckline also echoed the smock and tent-dress silhouettes popular among '60s it-girls, while her cropped hairstyle was remarkably similar to Sedgwick's staple silvery-blond pixie cut. Delevingne's hair was spiked in different directions, lending her otherwise structured ensemble an imperfect edge and reinforcing her party-girl appeal. Wearing knee-high boots is generally a great way to revive Sedgwick's signature aesthetic, but Delevingne went the extra mile with thigh-high black boots with pointed toes.
Zendaya put a luxury spin on Edie Sedgwick's grunge look
In 2026, Zendaya also emphasized Edie Sedgwick's lasting influence on fashion when she donned a satin gray minidress to Louis Vuitton's Resort 2027 show at New York's Frick Collection. Styled by Law Roach, Zendaya's look featured a relaxed, off-the-shoulder neckline that extended into flowing bell sleeves. She completed the look with pointed silver stilettos and encrusted, chain-inspired earrings by Tiffany & Co.
Roach confirmed Sedgwick as the look's muse on Instagram, writing, "The essence of Edie..." Given Sedgwick's appreciation of minidresses and avant-garde silhouettes, she likely would've appreciated the dress' risqué cut and bold sleeves. Although Zendaya's cropped hairstyle was more sculpted, throwback photos of Edie Sedgwick show that the model occasionally donned a deep side part during photo shoots, too. The actor's elongated drop earrings would also have blended seamlessly with Sedgwick's striking earring collection.
