Fashion Inspiration: One Direction

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One Direction
Photo: Pacific Coast News

Boy bands are back, and this time around, they hail from across the pond. Formed by Simon Cowell for the 2010 season of the UK X Factor, One Direction consists of five guys: Niall, Louis, Zayn, Liam, and Harry. The guys entered the competition as solo acts and left as a group, coming in third on the show.

The British and Irish boys are making girls all over the globe swoon, and they’ve got talent to back it up! You might have heard their catchy single “What Makes You Beautiful” on the radio, or maybe even seen the song’s music video, which is currently number one in the U.S. iTunes store. Their first album Up All Night debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard chart, setting a new record for any British band. After a short tour co-headlining with Big Time Rush, the boys are scheduled to perform this summer in a full tour across America.

In true boy band fashion, these five guys always dress to impress – each member has his own flair and unique fashion sense. Because of their individual styles, the guys of One Direction are a perfect source of fashion inspiration. Below, I’ve created a series of female-wearable outfits inspired by each of the boys. Scroll down to view them all!

Harry Styles

Update! We did an entire post on Harry Styles outfits in 2021 here. Check that out for the most up to date looks.

Harry Styles from One Direction
Photo: Pacific Coast News
harry-outfit

Tee, Blazer, Jeans, Sneakers, Bow Clips

Harry’s got style! This curly-haired cutie knows how to carve out a signature look. Known for his blazer and bow tie combos, he’s definitely super preppy but his trademark messy hair gives him an edge.

Steal his classic aesthetic by wearing a plain white tee under a navy blazer. Put on a pair of skinny jeans and white Converse sneakers for a simple but stylish look. To tie off the ensemble, wear bow clips in your hair to pay tribute to his signature bow ties.

Niall Horan

Niall Horan from One Direction
Photo: Pacific Coast News
niall-outfit

Polo, Cardigan, Shorts, Sneakers, Ring

Niall is like the Irish Justin Bieber: he plays the guitar, is always laughing, and not to mention, is super adorable! Niall’s style is a little more relaxed than those of his band mates, consisting mostly of polos or zip-up hoodies and jeans or khakis.

Snag Niall’s chill vibe with a red polo worn under a white cardigan, with a pair of khaki shorts. Slip on a pair of black sneakers and wear a four-leaf clover ring as a wink to Niall’s Irish background!

Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik from One Direction
Photo: Pacific Coast News
zayn-outfit

Tee, Jacket, Shorts, Shoes

Zayn is the mysterious bad-boy of the group with a more sporty style. True to his love of athletics, he’s always wearing old-school varsity jackets, especially on stage.

To channel Zayn’s look in a feminine way, wear a brightly colored tee under a varsity-style jacket with a pair of denim shorts. Trendy high-heeled sneaker weges add a bit of flair to this sporty outfit!

Louis Tomlinson

Louis Tomlinson from One Direction
Photo: Pacific Coast News
louis-outfit

Top, Capris, TOMs, Belt

Just because Louis is the oldest doesn’t mean he’s the most mature: He’s actually a bit of a prankster. Although he’s pretty well known for his random silly outbursts on stage, he’s also known to dress as if he were on a boat…at all times. That’s right. It’s nautical to a whole new level with Lou, which calls for stripes, stripes, and more stripes!

Catch Louis’s sailor drift in a horizontal striped boatneck tee with a pair of bright red capris and a wide woven belt. Not surprisingly, Tomlinson also loves wearing TOMs, so grab a pair to complete the look!

Liam Payne

Liam Payne from One Direction
Photo: Pacific Coast News
liam-outfit

Shirt, Skirt, Flats, Headband

Liam doesn’t get the nickname “Daddy Direction” for nothing! He’s apparently the most responsible one of the group, but he’s also very sweet and innocent.

Though he’s pictured in a vest (one of his signatures), Liam tends to wear lots of plaid button-up shirts as a part of his individual style. Dress his look up a bit with a plaid shirt tucked into a light denim skirt. Add a pair of neutral-colored flats and a simple headband to finish off the outfit.

What do you think?

Are you a fan of One Direction and their music? Are you going to catch them on tour this year? Would you wear any of the looks above? Which one is your favorite? Would you like to see more One Direction-inspired outfits in future posts? Let me know in the comments!

51 thoughts on “Fashion Inspiration: One Direction”

  1. I love how you girls at Collegefashion manage to turn the male outfits into female-wearable outfits. I personally find it difficult to do that without looking masculine, but you seem to make it look feminine without effort!

    Reply
  2. when i first saw “what makes you beautiful” music video i honestly cringed. being a fan of westlife for a long time i felt this boy band was too “younger teen” for me. imagine my surprise when i found out they were a year or two older than me!
    they have grown so much after that single, that i must admit i am a little taken with them!

    the styles were so amazing and spot on!
    im totally going to try out outfits incorporatiog zayn, harry and niall’s style. 🙂

    Reply
  3. This is fantastic haha. I’m completely hooked on them. I thought they were a bit bubblegum for me, but I love their looks, style, and personalities. And their songs are undeniably catchy too! 😀 I love this post. It was dead on!

    Reply
  4. This is a great post! I work with a group of middle-school girls who are OBSESSED with One Direction! Their songs are a little simplistic and poppy for my taste, but “What Makes You Beautiful” is one of the anthems for our body-image themed afterschool group! The girls fight over who is the cutest haha it’s great. And the outfits in this post are spot-on to the boys’ images!

    Reply
  5. I love this!!! I love One Direction! I love the fashion! And I love love love the outfits! But your Forever 21 links don’t work… please fix them I can’t find the pieces and I need them!

    Reply
  6. Finally! A post on one direction! I am a total directioner! I love Harry’s styles the most, its kinda like me! I am OBSSESSED with blazers. That post was very helpful!

    Reply
  7. The noise I made when I saw this post was definitely not human. I’ve been waiting for this post for so long, I just, I can’t handle it right now.

    Reply
  8. There’s a lot of hate for One Direction (mainly because they’re ALWAYS trending on Twitter) but I don’t mind them. Their songs are annoyingly catchy…and they do know how to dress!

    Reply
  9. Not a One Direction fan, but I loved how the looks were presented. I want to try out the clothes inspired by Niall, Louis and Liam.

    Reply
  10. yes, finally! I submitted this request a while ago and I’m so glad to see it here! not only are they truly talented, but they really do have good style.

    Reply
  11. i find it funny ppl think they are fake or manufactured.. lol, watch them in interviews- nothing like that.
    they actually are just normal lads

    Reply

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