Hedonistic Fashion Icons: Celebrities Who Live for Pleasure
Four years into the post-pandemic world, is it finally time to hang-up our athleisure for good? These four hedonistic fashion icons certainly think so.
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For many, the post-COVID attitude towards fashion was to continue dressing for comfort and practicality - simple outfits elevated with slick-backed hair and gold-statement pieces that made WFH stylish. In 2024, the pandemic-hangover well and truly nursed, traditional hangovers (and along with them, the outfits in which they were created) are back in fashion. The last twelve months or so have seen a dramatic cultural turn, with debauchery at the forefront. Whether prompted by Emerald Fennel’s Saltburn and the subsequent indie-sleaze revival, the shenanigans of Brat summer, or the return to vintage as an answer to the modern sustainability crisis, 2024 screams: “clean-girl” is out, hedonism is in. Read on to discover the four celebrities putting pleasure at the forefront of the roaring 20s in a way even Gatsby would be proud of.
1 - Charli XCX
It wouldn’t be right to have a list of hedonistic fashion icons in 2024 and not include Brat Summer’s very own it-girl: Charli XCX. Charli’s attitude towards fashion reflects her 365 partygirl lifestyle - the singer is rarely spotted in an outfit she wouldn’t be caught doing the ‘Apple’ dance at the club in. Her bold embrace of techno-culture is characterised by statement wrap-around sunglasses and all-black ‘fits, made interesting through her playful approach to shape and texture - looking to a refined future of rebellion with a nod to her experience of teenage warehouse culture.
The very essence of “Brat green” is something pleasantly unexpected and refreshing, much like Charli’s embrace of sexuality. When not on stage or behind the decks, Charli sports gowns tailored to embrace her curves - such as her Met Gala 2024 Marni look or the Christopher John Rogers dress recently worn by the singer on SNL, described by Vogue as both “sexy” and “sweet”. Whether in a ballgown, or signature white tank top and sheer black tights, Charli embraces her sexuality in form-fitting outfits, almost always paired with her trademark oversized black eyeliner and perfectly unkempt long black curls, to bring an edge to every outfit. Nothing embodies hedonistic excess quite like mouthing the lyrics to Guess in knee-high boots and a mini skirt atop a mountain of bras and thongs.
2 - Abigail Morris
Though still relatively young in her career as a “fashion icon”, King’s’ alum Abigail Morris of The Last Dinner Party fame has well and truly solidified her spot amongst the best. Every aspect of Morris’ perfectly curated image (through her lyricism, instagram aesthetic, and personal style) is a pure embodiment of all things “hedonistic”. Her affinity with the term can be seen in her references to classical culture (from which the philosophy found its beginnings) in both reposts of renaissance images and her music (see: ‘Caesar on a TV Screen’).
For Abigail, fashion is a visible rebellion against how 21st century women are expected to present themselves - her style is a celebration of life through the embrace of both masculinity and hyper-femininity. Whether frolicking across the stage in ruffled vintage maxi dresses or embracing the wide-shouldered silhouettes of open-buttoned oversized suits, Abigail challenges the unassuming femininity expected of modern women by indulging in statement vintage pieces. Eye-catching accessories to accompany her outfits, like jewellery by designers such as Livia Wednesday, or drapery in the forms of strings of pearls, ribbons, and lace are what comprise Morris’ perfectly curated image - a celebration of life in all of its excess and opulence. Her love for all things aesthetically pleasing, and specifically her use of Catholic imagery subverted to draw attention to sexuality (in both her music and style) can be described as nothing short of debauched, in the best possible way.
3 - Lil Nas X
Much like Abigail Morris, Lil Nas X has also been known to draw influence from Catholic imagery and the classical world from which hedonism first arose, such as in the music video for ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’. Aside from his display of sexuality in his glowing recreation of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, or as a leather-clad pole dancer in thigh-high boots giving the devil a lap-dance, Lil Nas has earned his place as a hedonistic fashion icon for his playful approach to expressing sexuality and sensuality. Iconic outfits such as his Barbie pink bondage-inspired cowboy look by Versace for the 2020 GRAMMY Awards, or his bedazzled corset and latex gloves by The Row for Vogue Italia, display his experimentation with feminine excess and luxury.
Nas also plays with opulence and sexuality through hyper-masculine silhouettes and structured materials, such as his custom gold Versace suit of armour for the 2021 Met Gala. Lil Nas X rebels against societal norms through his embrace of both hyper-feminine and hyper-masculine styles, challenging not only what it means to be a man, but a gay man in the 21st century - redefining outdated notions of “camp” by celebrating elements of both femininity and masculinity in excess.
4 - Gabriette
This list of hedonistic fashion icons could easily have consisted solely of members of Charli XCX’s posse, and whilst that would be stating the obvious, it equally wouldn’t have been right to end this article without mentioning the icon that is Gabbriette Bechtel. The ultimate rockstar girlfriend (and indeed, rockstar of her own accord as lead singer of girlgroup Nasty Cherry) to Matty Healy of The 1975, Gabbriette was named “Girl Of the Moment” by British Vogue in August this year. Though her outfits are often somewhat minimalistic - the model is often seen in all black, “office siren” type low-waisted trousers and a tank top, or demi-sheer slip dresses - they radiate luxury and sensuality. The simplicity of her pieces are indeed what make them so luxurious - their form takes centre stage. High quality materials and clothes tailored exactly to her physique exude sensuality.
Although her outfits may be simple, it is her hair and makeup which have put Gabbriette on the map as having made “goth girls” cool again. 90’s inspired microscopic eyebrows, cool-toned eyeshadow, and long black (or more recently, platinum blonde) tresses rebel against everything the clean-girl era taught us.
Aside from her interest in high-fashion, Gabbriette is famous for whipping up indulgent recipes over on her Instagram, and is rarely seen without a skinny cigarette in her mouth. From fashion to food, Gabbriete’s every move is a lesson in pleasure-seeking and debauchery. In the words of best-friend Charli XCX: Gabbriette, we’re “so inspired”.
Written by Lucy Wragg for STRAND Magazine print edition March 2025: The Hedonism Issue.