32 best fashion quotes from designers & icons to inspire and transform your style

It can be hard to put immaculate style into words, and sometimes only the best fashion quotes from the experts will do. Celebrity style and the latest fashion trends are written and talked about daily. There is much to say about the world of style, and the best in the business is not known for holding back. 

The best fashion quotes are a mix of sound style advice, critique, and levity and come from the biggest names in the fashion industry. Whether you're looking to talk about the latest fashion trends, discuss the finer points of a capsule wardrobe, or make a well-rounded comment on wardrobe essentials, quoting a style expert is an ideal way to get your point across and express yourself eloquently. 

Luckily, a lot of fashion commentary is available, with designers, stylists, celebrities, and even film characters. With fashion being a topic that is so subjective, there are often plenty of opposing positions, too, making for lots of debate. Whether you're posting photos of one of the best designer bags on Instagram and need a killer caption, we've got them, alongside pearls of wisdom from fashion icons, including the best Coco Chanel quotes, Karl Lagerfeld's wise words, and even fictional fashion characters such as Cher Horowitz, and plenty more besides.

32 best fashion quotes of all time for every occasion

1. The power of fashion

"What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language," said Miuccia Prada, the head designer of Prada. 

"Vain trifles as they seem, clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world's view of us." These are the wise words of Virginia Woolf. 

Need more fashion quotes to convince someone of the real power of fashion? Coco Chanel's words are ones to remember, "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

2. Fashion quotes on bringing an outfit to life

"Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them," said Marc Jacobs. Similarly, Coco Chanel once said, "It's not fashion if no one has seen it." But other fashion designers have spoken about what someone's fashion says about a person and their life. "Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life, so you bought some sweatpants," said Karl Lagerfeld.

3. On how to wear clothes

If there is ever any fashion quote to remember and live by, it's that you wear the clothes, you don't let them wear you. "The fashionable woman wears clothes. The clothes don't wear her," said British fashion designer Mary Quant. "I want people to see the dress, but focus on the woman," said Vera Wang.

4. Fashion quotes on how to wear colour

Colour trends change every season, but black and white shades never go out of style. "Black, like white, is the best colour. They both look great with added colour touches like red," are the wise words of Karl Lagerfeld. But it's always best to change it up; you only need to follow colour trends if you feel comfortable in them and they fit the rest of your wardrobe. 

5. Fashion quotes from Sex & The City

Sex and the City has us hooked years later for one fundamental reason - Carrie Bradshaw's wardrobe. While we wish we had her closest, we can live by Carrie's words, "I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet." Because investment pieces are always worth it, right? 

6. Fashion quotes on florals

"Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking," we hear Miranda Priestly's words from The Devil Wears Prada every time Spring comes around. Springtime is the best season to get out all your florals, but darker, oversized florals work all year round - they are nature's best pattern. 

7. Fashion quotes on being poorly dressed

What makes a fashion film memorable? The ones with an offhand comment from a fashion icon on someone else's poor choice of clothing. "Do you prefer 'fashion victim' or 'ensembly challenged'?" Cher Horowitz said in Clueless. If you've ever had anyone say something negative about your outfit, this is the fashion quote to come back with. 

8. Fashion quotes on style and elegance

Fashion trends come and go and make revivals, but style endures. In the words of Yves Saint Laurent, "Fashions fade, style is eternal". How to be elegant in your style? "Elegance is not standing out but being remembered," said Giorgio Armani, and we agree.

9. Fashion is more than just clothes

Ever had someone call the items in your wardrobe 'just a pile of clothes'? Remind them of these designers' words. "I don't design clothes. I design dreams," said Ralph Lauren. And remember, "Clothes aren't going to change the world. The women who wear them are," said trailblazing designer Anne Klein.

10. Fashion quotes on the importance of accessories

A new accessory is the fastest way to add a seasonal refresh when updating an outfit. Whether you've invested in one of the best Chanel bags, a box-fresh pair of the best white trainers, or you managed to snap up a discounted Louis Vuitton handbag, these items will give the most basic outfit a new lease of life, and the fashion world certainly agrees about the importance of accessorising. "I've always thought of accessories as the exclamation point of a woman's outfit," said Michael Kors, and that is a fashion quote to live by.

11. The power of a good pair of shoes

Not that we need any excuses to add another pair of shoes to our repertoire, but these shoe quotes are too good to pass up. "Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world," said Marilyn Monroe. "Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally," said Christian Louboutin, and the French fashion designer sure knows about the power of heels. Need more fashion quotes on the power of a good shoe? "Shoes are the quickest way for women to achieve instant metamorphosis," said designer Manolo Blahnik. "I firmly believe that with the right footwear, one can rule the world," noted Bette Midler.

12. Fashion quotes on heels

Victoria Beckham once said, "I can't concentrate in flats," we've never seen her in flats since. But there is one fashion quote on heels to remember next time you're getting dressed for an evening out. "How can you live the high life if you do not wear the high heels?" said French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel. 

13. Fashion quotes on handbags

The best handbag isn't always a designer handbag, but one that can fit all the essentials and pull together an outfit simultaneously. A key part of any outfit, even men have noticed a bag's importance. "When it comes to getting dressed, men are a little bit more important than handbags but less important than shoes," said actor Ashton Kutcher. "A woman's mind is as complex as the contents of her handbag; even when you get to the bottom of it, there is ALWAYS something at the bottom to surprise you!" said Billy Connolly.

14. Fashion quotes for when you don't know what to wear

In the words of American fashion designer Bill Blass, "When in doubt, wear red". We know about the power of red lipstick and red nail polish, but remember the influence of red clothing whenever you need a mood boost or to feel powerful for the day. 

15. Fashion quotes on elegance

There comes a point in life where elegance is of the utmost importance, and Coco Chanel knew how to do elegance. Her top tip? "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off." Designer Cristóbal Balenciaga agrees: "Elegance is elimination." It seems that less really is more. 

16. Fashion quotes on power dressing

"Dress like you are going to meet your worst enemy today," almost everyone has heard Coco Chanel's iconic words. We know about the power of fashion and the colour red, but in the words of Anna Wintour, "If you can't be better than your competition, just dress better." And we've lived by those words ever since. 

17. On dressing for yourself

"Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves and, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys, they'd just walk around naked at all times," said American fashion designer Betsey Johnson. "I like being a woman, even in a man's world. After all, men can't wear dresses, but we can wear the pants," said Whitney Houston.

18. Fashion quotes on being well-dressed

Oscar de la Renta may make expensive designer clothing, but his words on fashion tell us that being well-dressed doesn't depend on having good clothes. "Being well dressed hasn't much to do with having good clothes. It's a question of good balance and good common sense," he said. "Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life." These are the words of photographer Bill Cunningham.

19. On dressing for who you want to be

Dressing for the life you want or the new job you want has been trending on social media over the past couple of years as a way of manifestation. But More Than A Woman writer and journalist Caitlin Moran said it first. "When a woman says, 'I have nothing to wear!', what she really means is, 'There's nothing here for who I'm supposed to be today." 

20. On the joy of fashion

Ever wonder where fashion designers get their inspiration from? It can be as simple as bringing joy to the lives of those who wear their clothes. "When I design and wonder what the point is, I think of someone having a bad time in their life. Maybe they are sad and they wake up and put on something I have made and it makes them feel just a bit better. So, in that sense, fashion is a little help in the life of a person. But only a little," once said designer Miuccia Prada. 

21. Fashion quotes on the power of a fabulous dress

If there is one item of clothing you can never have enough of in your wardrobe, it's dresses. The right dress can be transformative and deserves some serious fashion credit. A great dress makes you feel instantly put together, whatever the occasion. Need a fashion quote to remind you of the power of a good dress or an excuse to buy a new one? Consider designer Rachel Roy's words, "A great dress can make you remember what is beautiful about life."

22. Fashion quotes on stepping out of your comfort zone

Have a capsule wardrobe that you live by but want to try something more adventurous? The best fashion designers have a quote for that. "Fashion is like eating, you shouldn't stick to the same menu." These are the words of Kenzo founder Kenzo Takada. And don't forget, "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different," said the wise Coco Chanel.

23. Fashion quotes on the Little Black Dress

The LBD has solidified its cult status as one of the best dresses for its simplicity and versatility. "One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a Little Black Dress," says Karl Lagerfeld. Even the most straightforward little black dress can do wonders. "Over the years, I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it," the perceptive words of Yves Saint Laurent.

24. On the importance of tailoring

"The dress must follow the body of a woman, not the body following the shape of the dress," Hubert de Givenchy once said. While it may often feel nearly impossible to find a dress that is immediately the perfect fit, this reminds us of the power of a great tailor or seamstress and that getting your clothes tailored will make them look more expensive and elegant. 

25. Fashion quotes to live by

When it comes to words to remember when you're struggling with what to wear or what to add to your French capsule wardrobe, these are the fashion quotes to live by. "Style is a simple way of saying complicated things," French poet Jean Cocteau said. In the words of Audrey Hepburn, "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades." What does Karl Lagerfeld say about being chic? "You cannot fake chic, but you can be chic and fake fur."

26. Fashion quotes on the beauty of simplicity

Sometimes, less is more—for every fashion peacock practising the art of dopamine dressing in bright colour clothes, there is an equally chic outfit composed of the most straightforward style essentials, as these quotes confirm. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," said Leonardo da Vinci. "Make it simple, but significant" are the words of Don Draper in Mad Men.

27. Fashion quotes on shopping

"I shop, therefore I am." Barbara Kruger's famous 1987 artwork may have been borrowed from French Philosopher Rene Descartes, but she was absolutely right about our passion for shopping. That feeling of a bag swinging giddily from our hands—whether it contains a purchase from the latest excellent Scandinavian clothing brand or new socks—brings all the endorphins. 

28. Fashion quotes on shopping from films

Fashion and fiction go hand in hand. When it comes to the best fashion quotes, film and television are a source for some of the most memorable sayings. Extremely influential, the characters from our favourite fashion shows have impacted our language long after they went off the air. Who could forget Miranda Priestley's cutting words in The Devil Wears Prada? These are some of film and TV's best (and the most sassy) fashion quotes. 

"You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well, that's what it's like when I see a store. Only it's better."—Becky Bloomwood, Confessions of a Shopaholic. 

"It calms me down right away, the quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there, not with those kind men in their nice suits, and that lovely smell of silver and alligator wallets. If I could find a real-life place that made me feel like Tiffany's, then I'd buy some furniture and give the cat a name."—Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany's.

29. Fashion quotes on style

While fashion is constantly changing with new seasons and trends, true style is said to be timeless. From designers and their muses to actresses and directors, the following fashion quotes about style may make you think twice about trying the latest shoe trends. "Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn", said actor Orson Welles. "Style is something each of us already has, all we need to do is find it," is the style wisdom from Belgian fashion designer, Diane von Furstenberg. 

30. On the difference between fashion and style

What is the difference between fashion and style? Yves Saint Laurent says it best, "Fashions fade, style is eternal. Model and actress Lauren Hutton explains the difference, "Fashion is what you're offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose." Still trying to figure it out? These fashion quotes on the difference between fashion and style remind us that style is something you create for yourself. "The difference between style and fashion is quality," said Giorgio Armani. "Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess," the words of Editor Edna Woolman Chase. 

31. Fashion quotes on trends

Already up to date with the latest fashion trends? You may want to skip a couple that doesn't match your style. "Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live," the wise words of Gianni Versace. 

32. Fashion quotes on living life with style

We all want to possess style, but why? "You gotta have style. It helps you get down the stairs. It helps you get up in the morning. It's a way of life. Without it, you're nobody," said the late Fashion Editor Diana Vreeland. "Real style is never right or wrong. It's a matter of being yourself on purpose," said journalist G. Bruce Boyer.