‘I don’t think of myself as a style icon’: Harry Styles dons dresses and heels while discussing his new beauty brand as he covers Dazed magazine

• The singer, 27, made a style statement as he posed for the cover of Dazed magazine’s winter issue in a series of flamboyant dresses and accessories, including a pair of kitten heels
• He announced he is hoping to fill cabinets across the world with his new beauty brand, entitled Pleasing, where nail polish sets cost $65
• Yet he insisted that he ‘doesn’t see himself as a style icon’, despite pushing the boundaries with his genderfluid fashion, and appearing as US Vogue’s first ever male cover star to wear a dress last year

Harry Styles made a style statement as he posed for the cover of Dazed magazine’s winter issue in a series of flamboyant dresses and accessories, including a pair of kitten heels.

The singer, 27, announced he is hoping to fill cabinets across the world with his new beauty brand, entitled Pleasing, where nail polish sets cost $65.

Yet he insisted that he ‘doesn’t see himself as a style icon’, despite pushing the boundaries with his genderfluid fashion, and appearing as US Vogue’s first ever male cover star to wear a dress last year.

‘I don’t think of myself as a style icon’: Harry Styles made a style statement as he posed for the cover of Dazed magazine’s winter issue in a series of flamboyant dresses and accessories, including a pair of kitten heels

Pushing boundaries: Harry insisted that he ‘doesn’t see himself as a style icon’, despite pushing the boundaries with his genderfluid fashion

Putting on a show-stopping display in an oversized green wool sweater and a coordinating mini skirt, he sported a pair of black tights featuring white spots and a pair of onyx opera gloves.

Further shots showed the actor slipping his toned physique into a 14th century style cream corset, along with a black cutout vest which he teamed up with a pair of baggy purple trousers for the glamorous cover.

Harry told the publication: ‘It’s funny because I don’t think of myself that way [as a style icon]… but bringing people together is the thing I’m most proud of.

‘At shows I get kind of a front-row seat to see a bunch of people getting in a room together and just being themselves.’

Smouldering: Harry showcased his modelling skills as he posed on a motorbike in a black cutout vest and a pair of baggy purple trousers for the cover

The Adore You hitmaker, who sported Swarovski jewellery for the eye-popping shoot, went on to discuss his new business venture, noting: ‘It’s starting with nail polish, because that was kind of the birth of what it was for. 

‘Me seeing a colour on a flower or a wallpaper or something and thinking, “Oh, I wanna put that on my nails.” It was a fun little project, but during the pandemic, and when we eventually named it Pleasing, it felt like it was so much more than nail polish.

‘I’ve always found that the moments in my life which have brought me the most joy are the small ones, whether it be, you know, the end of the night under the stars or a bite of food, or sitting with your friends thinking, “Oh, I’m never gonna forget this.”‘

The Brit Award winner went on to add that those moments ‘have the longest-lasting effect’ on him in terms of ‘sparking something wonderful’, which he feels is the ‘essence’ of the brand. 

Wow! Harry said: ‘It’s funny because I don’t think of myself that way [as a style icon]… but bringing people together is the thing I’m most proud of’ 

Pose: In one look, he donned a bright yellow patterned bodysuit and black kitten heels while striking a very quirky pose

Discussing his new brand, Harry said he wants his products to help make people feel ‘beautiful’.

Asked when he feels at his most beautiful, Harry said: ‘I don’t think being beautiful or feeling beautiful is about looking good. When people are happy and glowing, they’re radiating. And that’s what I think the products do, it’s about helping you feel beautiful.’

‘He pauses thoughtfully, and repeats my question back to me, “Hmm, when do I feel my most beautiful?” I would say internally, when I’ve finished meditating or something… Or maybe when I’m asleep!’ 

Harry found fame at age 16 when he took part in The X Factor in 2010 and became one fifth of One Direction. 

The group achieved global success, with Harry admitting he previously worried he wouldn’t know who he was without being in the band.

History: Harry found fame at age 16 when he took part in The X Factor in 2010 and became one fifth of One Direction

Style: In one look, Harry donned a black long-sleeved dress along with polka dot tights

He admitted: ‘There was a time when I was younger, and I was in the band, when I would have been afraid for everything to have stopped. I didn’t necessarily know who I was if I wasn’t in the band. 

‘Now, the idea of people going, ‘We don’t like your music any more, go away’ doesn’t scare me. I think there was a time when it did.

‘It gives me the freedom to kind of go, ‘Great!’ I’m not working from a place of fear. I’m working from a place of wanting to work stuff out, and try different things.’ 

The Midnight Memories songsters went on an indefinite hiatus in 2016 and Harry released his debut self-titled album the following year which went to number one in the UK and the US.

His second album Fine Line was released in 2019 and was hailed by Rolling Stone as being one of the 500 greatest albums of all time last year.

Confident: He added: ‘Now, the idea of people going, “We don’t like your music any more, go away” doesn’t scare me. I think there was a time when it did’

He has also branched out into acting and will appear in the upcoming film My Policeman where he plays a gay police officer having a secret relationship with a man while married to a woman. 

Speaking about the turn in his career, Harry said: ‘I like to challenge myself and do something different and movies are definitely where I feel most out of my comfort zone.

‘I’m coming from music where I don’t think anyone really knows how it works, but I am somewhat in my comfort zone! But in movies, when I show up, I’m the new guy. 

‘I haven’t been [an actor] for a long time and that’s really cool, I feel like I’ve learned so much and life is about learning.’ 

Open book: Harry said: ‘There was a time when I was younger, and I was in the band, when I would have been afraid for everything to have stopped. I didn’t necessarily know who I was if I wasn’t in the band’

Discussing where his creativity comes from, Harry added: ‘I have unlocked an ability to be myself completely, unapologetically.

‘I started only listening to classical music because it felt like it gave me a blank canvas to work from. So I wasn’t hearing things I would then be referencing. 

‘I think that so much creativity comes from my boredom and giving myself the chance not to be distracted by things. I’m the most human I’ve felt in a long time, for sure.’  

Comments: Harry was the first man to wear a dress on the cover of Vogue magazine last year sparking backlash from US commentator Candace Owens

Harry is known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to his style, becoming the first man to wear a dress on the cover of Vogue magazine last year. 

His Vogue headlines sparked a debate when it was released, with right-wing commentator Candace Owens hitting headlines by blasting the styling and the ‘steady feminization of our men’.

Slam: His Vogue headlines sparked a debate when it was released, with right-wing commentator Candace Owens hitting headlines by blasting the styling and the ‘steady feminization of our men’ (pictured in 2019)

While the Grammy winner opted to shake things up with his sartorial choices, donning a ball gown and a custom Gucci jacket, the activist took umbrage to the singer’s shoot, writing: ‘There is no society that can survive without strong men … bring back manly men.’

In what she described as ‘the steady feminization of our men’, in a thread of tweets Candace addressed the controversy her comments since provoked and sought also to reiterate her stance on the matter.

‘Since I’m trending I’d like to clarify what I meant when I said ‘bring back manly men’,’ she wrote in response to the backlash at the time. ‘I meant: Bring back manly men.

‘Terms like ‘toxic masculinity’, were created by toxic females. Real women don’t do fake feminism,’ she continued. ‘Sorry I’m not sorry.’

In retort of one responder claiming she was ’50 years behind on culture and education’, insisting male artists – such as Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Kurt Cobain – have been ‘crossdressing’ for decades, Owens wrote: ‘PSA: Mining pictures on the internet of men in dresses is not going to suddenly make me attracted to men in dresses.

‘I’m impervious to woke culture,’ she said. ‘Showing me 50 examples of something won’t make it any less stupid. #BringBackManlyMen.’

Following the backlash, Harry poked fun at Candace’s tirade, with another feminine shoot in Variety magazine. Posting one of the shoot images to Instagram, he shared the tongue in cheek caption ‘bring back manly men’.  

Speaking in an interview accompanying the striking new images, Harry said: ‘To not wear [something] because it’s females’ clothing, you shut off a whole world of great clothes.

‘And I think what’s exciting about right now is you can wear what you like. It doesn’t have to be X or Y. Those lines are becoming more and more blurred.’ 

Read the full interview in Dazed magazine, out now.  

Clapping back: One responder claimed she was ’50 years behind on culture and education’, insisting male artists – such as Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Kurt Cobain – have been ‘crossdressing’ for decades

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