CHAMELEON COIFFURES
Today's trendsetter: Japanese queen of pop Ayumi Hamasaki, 30
This Lolita-like singer sparked the Asian bottle blonde trend in the late 1990s with her golden tresses that have since been cropped, curled, braided and further bleached. When she went back to black in 2006, local papers reported on the "case of the vanishing blondes" on the streets of Japan.
In 2004, the International Herald Tribune called her "a barometer of what's hot and what's not in the hair world'.
Yesteryear trendsetter: Hong Kong singer Anita Mui
A decade before Ayumi, there was Anita. The singer, who died of cervical cancer in 2003, was hailed in the mid-1980s as the Mando-pop world's answer to Madonna for her chameleon-like image.
Her many hairstyles ranged from wavy black tresses to an androgynous bob to a platinum blonde mohawk.
BODACIOUS BODYSUITS
Today's trendsetter: Dance diva Lady GaGa, 22
Since bursting onto the scene with her debut album The Fame last year, this New Yorker with a burlesque background has turned heads with her fashion choices such as bodysuits.
Born Joanne Stefani Germanotta, GaGa, who is in the running for Best Dance Recording at this year's Grammys, has even been snapped in her bodysuits on the streets of wintry London.
The Donatella Versace lookalike is having the last laugh - this season, the likes of Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney sent the slinky one-piece garment down their catwalks.
Yesteryear trendsetter: Pop-star mother Madonna, 50
While recent thigh-baring photos prompted jibes of "mutton dressed as lamb", the Material Girl popularised the innerwear as outerwear look in the 1980s.
FEDORAS AND FINE FLANNEL
Today's trendsetter: American pop star Justin Timberlake, 28
The pretty boy brought sexy back in 2002 when he sheared off his curly locks and swopped muscle tees and cargo pants for slim-fit suits made funky with a fedora. Since then, blazers and brimmed hats have become staples in high-street stores such as Topman.
In 2006, Timberlake, who has a nomination at this year's Grammys for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for singing on 4 Minutes with Madonna and Timbaland, started his own fashion label William Rast.
Yesteryear trendsetter: American 1940s jazz crooner Frank Sinatra
Always in a bespoke suit and his signature fedora, Ol' Blue Eyes is said to be the style icon of fashion mogul and rapper P. Diddy.
SHOW SOME THIGH
Today's trendsetter: American R&B songstress Beyonce Knowles, 27
Called "thigh-slappingly fabulous" by American entertainment website Sky Showbiz, this curvy songbird has helped raise hemlines without raising eyebrows.
With her toned thighs and soft spot for luxurious fabrics such as silk and satin, this year's Grammy nominee for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance has shown it is possible to be skimpy without looking trashy.
No wonder she was crowned Best Dressed Celebrity by People magazine in 2007.
Yesteryear trendsetter: American R&B diva Tina Turner, 69
With possibly the best legs in the business - even at her age, which she proved on her European tour that kicked off last month - this 1980s diva started the daring thigh-baring look.
OTHERWORLDLY STYLE
Today's trendsetter: Karen Orzolek, 30, frontwoman of American art rock band The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
You know you are a trendsetter when you have a loyal bunch of fashion followers named after you. This half-Korean, half-Polish rock chick has "Karenabes" who sport the same jet-black bowl haircut, torn stockings, custom-made tee and single glove.
Those more daring attempt her metallic and neon skin-tight silhouettes, over-the-top accessories and face paint.
Yesteryear trendsetter: British glam rock icon David Bowie, 62
This cross-dressing crooner has inspired fashion houses including Gucci with his Ziggy Stardust get-up of sequined jumpsuits, clashing prints and madcap make-up.
GEEK CHIC
Today's trendsetter: London-based indie pop singer Lightspeed Champion, aka Devonte Hynes, 22
Hynes, whose debut album Falling Off The Lavender Bridge was released last year, takes geek chic to new levels of hipness with his shaggy mop, black-rimmed glasses and tucked-in shirt. British paper The Times called him "an unlikely new champion of indie cool". He also made it to uber-hip fashion blog Fashhh's top 10 list of best-dressed rockers.
Yesteryear trendsetter: 1950s rocker Buddy Holly
Holly, who died in a plane crash in 1959, is frozen in time as the original poster boy for geek chic with his black-rimmed glasses, cardigan and boyish grin.
BEEHIVES AND WINGTIPS
Today's trendsetter: British jazz singer Amy Winehouse, 25
Winehouse is famous for her fabulous, smoky voice. Oh, and there is her drugs-and-drinks lifestyle. What is even more fascinating are her signature beehive bouffant and exaggerated wingtip eye make-up.
Her beauty style has been copied by everyone from club-going teens to Karl Lagerfeld for his Chanel show in 2007.
Little surprise that Marie Claire UK magazine reported online last year that Winehouse may launch her own cosmetics line including - what else - hairspray and liquid eyeliner.
Yesteryear trendsetters: American 1960s girl group The Supremes
These Motown gals went for maximum impact with big beehives and lined lids.
GLAM PUNK
Today's trendsetter: British rapper-cum-songstress Maya Arulpragasam, 31, better known by her stage name M.I.A
The world of nu-rave had never shone so brightly until the arrival of this former visual artist with her neon and metallic coloured tees, tights and tight dresses in 2005. Her album Paper Planes is in the running for Record of the Year at this year's Grammys.
Her style was dubbed "aerobic instructor chic" on fashion community Style Hive for its trash-meets-clash-meets-flashdance factor. Fluorescent logo tees and clashing prints quickly found their way to Topshop shelves and British designer Henry Holland's collections.
Yesteryear trendsetter: Deborah Harry, 63, frontwoman of American new wave pioneers Blondie
This punk fashion icon was already donning the fluorescent headbands, mini dresses and spandex with a rock 'n' roll attitude in the 1960s.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Feb 6, 2009.
