Tracing the arc of Hollywood’s reigning gigantic suit BF and tasteful gown GF.
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Photographs: Getty Images; Collage: Gabe Conte
Opposites attract, especially in Hollywood fairytales. Justin and Hailey Bieber, who married in 2018, are one such romantic juxtaposition: frenetic pop megastar meets polished model-mogul. They appear to be very different people in many different ways—yet when these two wildly famous people get dressed to leave their house in the morning, there is harmony in the discord. And with an ever-present pool of paparazzi, we’ve had ample opportunity to get to know (sartorially speaking, at least) entertainment’s reigning gigantic suit BF and tasteful gown GF.
Karla Welch, Justin’s stylist of over a decade, has also occasionally dressed Hailey in recent years; her guiding hand has resulted in some of their gnarliest pairings. (A demonic Balenciaga suit and an ethereal Saint Laurent dress walk onto a Grammys red carpet…) These days, JB and HB can’t get enough of throwing some real head-scratchers our way. Their unbalanced-balanced dualism feels intentional, and we are probably all the better for it.
But what is their funky, “he was a punk, she did ballet” husband-and-wife styling trying to tell us? Before we get to the roots, let’s contemplate the leaves. Below is a survey of 34 of the Biebers’ most intriguing outfits over the last five years. Consider it a census report, or maybe a mirror: how much have they changed? How much have we?
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Gotham
Manhattan, July 2018
This is vintage Justin and Hailey—and the first of many times we would see the duo out and about while JB is wearing hotel slippers.
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Alessio Botticelli
Brooklyn, July 2018
How many people asked Justin for a piece of gum that day?
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BG024/Bauer-Griffin
Manhattan, July 2018
Scientists say that deep infatuation can lead to matching hairstyles.
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James Devaney
Brooklyn, July 2018
A monumental day for Frankel’s Delicatessen on the border of Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
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SMXRF/Star Max
Los Angeles, August 2018
JB and HB back on the West Coast, not long after they were purportedly spotted making a trip to the New York City Marriage Bureau.
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Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images
Manhattan, September 2018
These two outfits are, ultimately, a pretty good representation of what New York Fashion Week looks like.
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James Devaney
Brooklyn, September 2018
An impressive stack from JB: Fiorucci beanie, Kith long-sleeve, Advisory Board Crystals velvet sweats, and classic Vans.
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Gotham
Manhattan, September 2018
This is actually the correct way to pull up to a late-night Starbucks run.
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BG005/Bauer-Griffin
Los Angeles, October 2018
The couple continues their it-sneaker hot streak at Joan’s on Third.
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BG015/Bauer-Griffin
Los Angeles, October 2018
The city of angels is home base for the Biebers, their domain of cozy fits.
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Pierre Suu
Brooklyn, May 2019
A mind-boggling shoelace situation from Justin, while Hailey encapsulates Gen Z luxury.
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Robert Kamau
Manhattan, May 2019
Keep an eye out for the dichotomy between neutral tones and eye-popping brights…
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Say Cheese!
Manhattan, May 2019
…though sometimes, their roles reverse, as in the case of Hailey and her delectable baubled Raf Simons coat.
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Jean Baptiste Lacroix
Los Angeles, January 2020
At last, the Biebers make their red carpet debut, having gotten formally married in a South Carolina ceremony reportedly themed around the 2004 movie The Notebook. This is a perfect example of their style dynamic: Justin looks like a charming, well-funded skate-rat, while Hailey looks like an Instagram-ready goddess.
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Jackson Lee
Manhattan, February 2020
Now we’re really starting to get somewhere. Perhaps emboldened by matrimony, JB hits the “randomize” button on his entire wardrobe.
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Robert Kamau
New York City, February 2020
But this? This is a strong contender for my favorite look of theirs to date.
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MEGA
Los Angeles, September 2020
And to Nobu Malibu you shall return.
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MEGA
Los Angeles, September 2020
With the world still in deep quarantine, the Biebers provide ample inspiration for athleisure.
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Robert Kamau
Manhattan, October 2020
Just an unbelievable color palette.
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Marc Piasecki
Paris, February 2021
In that hazy window when “fashion is back,” the Biebers head to the shows in Paris. Here, they indulge in the time-tested romance of his-and-hers Air Force 1s.
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Hollywood To You/Star Max
Los Angeles, May 2021
Back to LA, back to absolute chaos.
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Pierre Suu
Paris, June 2021
A rare, though appropriate, moment of decorum—considering the Biebers are on their way to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron.
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Kevin Mazur/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images
Brooklyn, September 2021
They had each already had their big on-stage moments at the VMAs, so they both slip into something more comfortable (which, for Biebs, means a huge Fear of God blazer and even huger Balenciaga jeans).
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Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Manhattan, September 2021
Red carpets are when Justin and Hailey like to prank us most. For their first Met Gala together, JB’s longtime stylist Karla Welch dress them both: she is wearing Saint Laurent, and he is wearing a custom good bad suit from his own brand Drew House.
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Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Manhattan, September 2021
Another personal favorite: Stussy fisherman hat husband, Alessandra Rich sequin minidress wife.
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MEGA
Los Angeles, October 2021
Even on Halloween? Yes, even on Halloween.
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Backgrid
Los Angeles, November 2021
Welcome to Saturday brunch at the Hotel Bel-Air.
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Ricky Vigil M
London, December 2021
Big Amiri suit, little Acne dress.
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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Las Vegas, April 2022
The Grammys calls for another double-masterminded Karla Welch joint: Justin in a truly massive Balenciaga suit, Hailey in a truly minimal Saint Laurent column dress. They exist in different dimensions. It is perfect. (If a red carpet outfit can easily be recreated as a Halloween costume, then it has succeeded.)
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BG020/Bauer-Griffin
Los Angeles, August 2022
Ineffable slouch, unqualified polish.
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Gotham
Manhattan, December 2022
It is almost certain that Justin and Hailey are aware that every comment section of theirs is going to be an angry chorus of whats ⁉️, whys 😡, and hows 🙄—and frankly, if I were famous, I’d keep messing with us, too.
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Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin
Los Angeles, January 2023
Blanket for a sushi restaurant.
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Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin
Los Angeles, January 2023
How many shades of gray do you count?
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BG020/Bauer-Griffin
Los Angeles, January 2023
And when all’s said and done, let’s go Sixers, I guess.