Who will be the It girl of 2027? Our early watchlist

Who will be the It girl of 2027? Our early emerging-name pick is Apple Martin, while JENNIE and Dua Lipa belong on a separate watchlist of established fashion figures. Those are different propositions: a breakthrough to follow and existing influence that may continue. None is a prediction that can be settled by one front-row photograph.

The more interesting question is what someone makes us want to do with clothes. A good fashion reference changes how we wear an ordinary shirt, pair colours or carry a familiar bag. A famous name attached to a look is only the beginning.

Apple Martin: an emerging name to watch

Who What Wear reports that Apple Martin made her runway debut at Chloé’s Spring/Summer 2027 show. That gives our pick a specific starting point. A prominent debut creates visibility; the next test is whether a recognisable personal wardrobe develops beyond the runway assignment. We would watch for repeated outfit ideas across different occasions, rather than treat a single appearance as proof of lasting influence.

JENNIE and Dua Lipa: established references

CHANEL’s earlier CHANEL 25 campaign features JENNIE and Dua Lipa. That documented relationship places them in the conversation about fashion visibility; it is not an announcement about their 2027 plans.

For our watchlist, they pose a useful question: how does an accessory keep its identity when different people wear it? Looking at two interpretations of the same object is more instructive than assembling a shopping list from one person’s entire outfit. Notice what changes around the bag: the amount of exposed neckline, the looseness of the clothes and where the bag sits against the body. This is a way to read campaign imagery, not a claim about either artist’s private wardrobe.

Our 2027 style forecast: ordinary pieces, deliberate friction

Miu Miu’s official Spring/Summer 2027 collection notes describe bringing refinement to everyday clothes. The show also introduces a New Balance collaboration based on the RC150 racing sneaker. Those are documented collection details. Our interpretation is that the productive tension between dressed-up and everyday pieces will remain worth exploring.

We would translate that idea into one surprising relationship at a time: a precise skirt with a practical shoe, a plain knit with a conspicuously polished bag, or a soft blouse against clean trousers. The interest comes from the contrast. Adding every possible statement piece at once makes it harder to see the decision that holds the outfit together.

This is an editorial proposal for a 2027 wardrobe, not a claim that every designer has adopted the same look. A season contains competing ideas, and your best reference may be the one that fits your actual week.

Three outfit studies to try now

01 / The everyday piece, made intentional

Start with your most ordinary grey knit. Add an ivory skirt or tailored trousers, then a dark bag with a clearly defined outline. Keep jewellery small. Compare the result with a soft canvas tote: the clothes have not changed, but the accessory changes how formally you read them. Use what is already in your wardrobe before looking for anything new.

02 / Softness with one firm edge

Pair a fluid blouse with straight trousers. Leave the fabric loose where it needs to move; use one crisp detail, such as a cuff, belt or structured bag, to give the look a stopping point. If the outfit feels too busy, remove that detail and compare. There is no requirement to cinch your waist or create a particular body shape.

03 / A small colour interruption

Build an outfit in chocolate, navy or charcoal, then introduce a narrow area of pale blue: a collar, scarf or visible sock. Repeat the blue only if the first version feels disconnected. Our chocolate and ice-blue colour study explains how proportion changes the pairing. This combination is a styling suggestion, not an official 2027 colour of the year.

How to spot influence beyond a viral image

Keep a small visual notebook rather than a list of people you are supposed to resemble. For each look that interests you, write down the date, the original source and one specific idea you could explain without mentioning the wearer’s name. “Short jacket over a long skirt” is useful. “Looks expensive” is much harder to work with.

Then ask whether you have seen the idea on different occasions or merely seen the same photograph reposted. A campaign, a runway assignment and an independently chosen outfit tell different stories. Our guide to a trend versus a repeated image offers a practical way to separate them.

The strongest test comes at home: can you make an outfit you enjoy using that idea twice, with different clothes? If yes, the reference has done something valuable even if the person never becomes the year’s dominant fashion name.

So who gets our early vote?

Apple Martin is our emerging-name watch; JENNIE and Dua Lipa are established figures to keep observing. The uncertainty is part of the story. For your own wardrobe, the useful takeaway is a method: choose a familiar base, introduce one deliberate contrast, and repeat the details that feel like you. Pair this forecast with our 2027 It-bag watchlist to explore the accessory side of that equation.

Continue with the style notes guides, or read our editorial policy.