The most influential celebrity stylist in 2026 is Law Roach, whose clients include Zendaya and Celine Dion and who returned to styling in April 2025. We ranked nine stylists by client reach, brand and media businesses, and defining red-carpet moments. This is our own editorial ranking, and it replaces the 2014 list.
| Rank | Stylist | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Law Roach | Zendaya, Celine Dion; returned 2025 |
| 2 | Harry Lambert | Harry Styles since 2014 |
| 3 | Mel Ottenberg | Rihanna; editor-in-chief of Interview |
| 4 | Rachel Zoe | Media and fashion brand |
| 5 | Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn | Jennifer Lopez, Super Bowl LIV |
| 6 | Jason Bolden | JSN Studio, Oscars 2023 |
| 7 | Micaela Erlanger | Lupita Nyong’o’s blue Prada Oscar gown |
| 8 | Ilaria Urbinati | Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper |
| 9 | Karla Welch | St. John Knits collaboration |
1. Law Roach
Law Roach grew up in Chicago, opened a vintage boutique and moved to Los Angeles, where Zendaya became his first major client. He has also styled Celine Dion, Ariana Grande, Tom Holland and Anya Taylor-Joy, and he styled ten people for the 2021 Met Gala.
He announced his retirement from styling in March 2023, kept working with Zendaya, and returned to styling in April 2025. In January 2026 he began styling Lauren Sanchez Bezos. He is also a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Project Runway.
Biggest name-brand reach among stylists today, plus a media career.
2. Harry Lambert
Born in 1986 and raised in Norwich, Lambert began working with Harry Styles in 2014. His clients also include Emma Corrin, Josh O’Connor, Alexander Skarsgard and Eddie Redmayne.
The University for the Creative Arts gave him an honorary master’s degree in 2026.
He shaped one of the most copied male style identities of the last decade.
3. Mel Ottenberg
Ottenberg was Rihanna’s stylist from 2011 to 2019 and styled several of her Met Gala looks, including her 2012 Tom Ford dress. He became creative director of Interview magazine in 2018 and editor-in-chief in 2021.
In 2024 he designed a unisex capsule collection with the denim brand RE/DONE.
A stylist who moved into running a magazine and designing product.
4. Rachel Zoe
Zoe became famous in the mid-2000s dressing stars including Nicole Richie, Anne Hathaway and Jennifer Lawrence. She starred in the Bravo series The Rachel Zoe Project from 2008 to 2013.
She turned styling into a business. The Zoe Report newsletter launched in 2009 and was acquired by Bustle Digital Group in 2019. Her QVC collection sold more than 260,000 units. In June 2025 she joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
The best example of a stylist who built a brand and media company.
5. Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn
The duo met at MTV and worked together from the Rihanna Umbrella video in 2007. They have styled Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell Williams, Beyonce, Gwen Stefani and Shakira.
They oversaw more than 200 looks, made with Versace, for Jennifer Lopez’s Super Bowl LIV halftime show. Zangardi also founded the Auter brand.
Their work reaches the biggest stages, such as the Super Bowl.
6. Jason Bolden
Bolden moved from pre-med to fashion, working at labels including Louis Vuitton and Gucci before launching his styling career in the early 2010s. In 2015 Rihanna’s agency Fr8me hired him, and in 2016 he released a sunglasses line under JSN Studio.
For the 2023 Academy Awards he styled Michael B. Jordan, Vanessa Hudgens and Jay Ellis for the ceremony, plus several others for the after-parties.
A tight roster of leading stars and a growing brand.
7. Micaela Erlanger
Erlanger styled Lupita Nyong’o in the blue Prada dress she wore at the 2014 Academy Awards, when Nyong’o won Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave. The gown went through five designs and is regarded as one of the most significant gowns in Hollywood history.
Her work shows how one red-carpet moment can define a stylist.
One of the clearest examples of a stylist making a career-defining gown.
8. Ilaria Urbinati
Urbinati is the stylist for Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper and Donald Glover, and Rami Malek’s stylist. She co-designed menswear suits with musician Albert Hammond Jr. and planned a boutique called Confederacy.
Her taste leans on classic references, including Alain Delon and Paul Newman.
The leading stylist for men’s red carpet looks.
9. Karla Welch
Karla Welch is described as a star stylist, and the fashion label St. John Knits worked closely with her during Enrico Chiarparin’s time as creative director from 2023.
She has also been credited as the stylist on the Mariah Carey album Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse.
Her brand collaborations show how stylists now influence labels directly.
Keep reading
- the strangest fashion trends: the other side of what stylists and designers dare to try
- this winter’s fashion trends: what stylists will be dressing clients in
FAQ
Who is the most influential celebrity stylist?
Law Roach tops our list. He works with Zendaya and Celine Dion, returned to styling in April 2025 and began styling Lauren Sanchez Bezos in January 2026.
What does a celebrity stylist do?
A stylist chooses and coordinates outfits for events, shoots and campaigns, and works with fashion houses to secure looks.
Which stylist works with Harry Styles?
Harry Lambert, who began working with Styles in 2014.
Why did the list change from 2014?
Most of the 2014 stylists are still working, but we rebuilt it around people we could verify from their recent work, brand ventures and media roles.
How did you rank the stylists?
We looked at client reach, brand and media businesses, and defining moments. The ranking is our own editorial view.
How we put this list together
We built this list from public career records, client rosters and high-profile awards-season looks. The order is our editorial judgment, and the list is not exhaustive.
Last updated: October 2026.
