Fictional Style Icon: Astrid Teo

You have to have seen Crazy Rich Asians by now. (And, if you haven’t, shut this down and run to the nearest movie theater. I can promise you that it will be the most fun you’ve had all summer.) And if you have, you probably became as obsessed with Astrid Teo as quickly as I did. Aside from actress Gemma Chan literally being the most beautiful person I’ve ever set eyes on, Astrid became an instant but unexpected favorite. (Seriously, I did not believe a double heiress decked out head-to-toe in couture would genuinely seem as “down-to-earth” as described. I was wrong, everybody.)

I quickly realized why Rachel said she “always wanted to be her”, but even faster than that, I realized she deserved a spot on this blog. One of the very first things she’s described as is a “fashion icon”, after all.

A modern-day Audrey Hepburn

When Astrid Teo was first introduced in a pink, sleeveless Dior dress, that was the only thing I could think of. It was obvious that she’s a woman who embodies elegance, sophistication, and femininity. She strolls into a jeweler looking like she just came straight from a Vogue cover shoot, then drops over a million dollars on a pair of flashy earrings. If that’s not absolute GOALS, then what is?

Designer labels galore

Throughout the film, we see Astrid dressed in everything from DvF to Alexander McQueen, shown above. Obviously, the McQueen dress she chose for the wedding was a head-turner and she wore the hell out of it. There have been plenty of characters in fictional fashion history that rocked designer labels, but too often, they look like walking advertisements, or as if the clothes are wearing them. Astrid Teo, queen of everything, clearly does not have that problem.

Chic and simple

What I love most about Astrid’s ensembles is that, despite all of that, they’re never too over the top. “Simple yet refined,” was how Crazy Rich Asians costume designer Mary Vogt described Astrid’s looks and I think it’s safe to say they embody that perfectly.

Need more fictional fashion in your life? Check out last week’s style icon, Grace Hanson.