Nothing makes a person stop in their tracks quite like a Chanel outfit does. There's nothing basic about them. A Chanel outfit is instantly recognizable, and unlike some designer brands at its level, its looks are wearable right off the runway. That explains why it has such a strong celebrity following. Many of the Chanel brand ambassadors and celebrity friends of the brand have been so for years. Chanel never loses its magic.
I thought it would be fun to reminisce a bit, so I sifted through dozens and dozens of Chanel outfits from the past decade and a half and found the most iconic ones. Sure, it's subjective and nearly impossible to narrow it down, but when you see these looks, I don't think you'll disagree.
Scroll on to see the 13 best Chanel outfits of the past decade and a half and shop pieces that give the Chanel aesthetic (since you can't buy real Chanel online).
Rihanna's modern metallic-tweed look for its iconic supermarket runway show in 2014 included a matching belt bag and sneakers. Perfection.
Olivia Rodrigo visited the White House last fall in this vintage Chanel suit paired with sky-high platforms, and I may never forget it.
On the Golden Globes red carpet in 2015, Dakota Johnson wore the strapless dress by itself. She added the matching coat for the after-party, which magically made the already-exquisite look even better.
Brand ambassador Margot Robbie's Chanel trousers and bodysuit provided a breath of fresh air on the red carpet.
Kate Bosworth wore this beautiful dress for the superhero-themed year at the Met Gala. Zoom in to see how intricate it is.
Jennifer Lopez's flowy white jumpsuit is a '70s dream, and it's the most "J.Lo" Chanel look imaginable.
Another brand ambassador, Lily-Rose Depp routinely brings her youthful spin to her Chanel looks. Case in point.
Julianne Moore looks like an angel in this feathered Chanel gown.
I very much wish for Penelope Cruz's pink minidress to be mine.
Diane Kruger chose this look straight off the runway, but it almost looks like it was made for her. So good.
Tracee Ellis Ross's showstopping Chanel gown was surely at the top of every fashion person's best dressed list the night of the 2017 Emmys.
Margaret Qualley's angelic look was a standout at the most recent Met Gala. It suited her to a T.
Kristen Stewart has worn dozens of Chanel looks over the years as a longtime ambassador for the brand. This one from last month's cruise show is actually one of my favorites. It's sophisticated yet cool. It suited her perfectly.
Shop Pieces to Get the Chanel Aesthetic
Pro tip: Zara is a gold mine for tweed jackets—just search for "textured jackets."
The socks and loafers are all you need to add.
Chanel's hair bows cost hundreds—I highly suggest this one instead.
No explanation needed.
This is every Chanel lover's idea of the perfect summer outfit.
For adding a youthful spin to a Chanel (or Chanel-inspired) look.
Perfect for a party.
When in doubt, wear black and white.
Pearls are a Chanel signature, and this pair couldn't be better.
Nothing says Chanel like some tweed.
Chain-strap bags are the best bags.
Chain belts are synonymous with Chanel.
Simple, chic, and well reviewed.
One of the coolest things you can wear with Chanel is denim.
Reminder that several of the aforementioned looks feature sequins.
Very on-brand.
Next up, 12 Casual Chanel Outfits That Are Straight-Up Goals
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