Generation Z are copying one of Australia’s most famous stars
Gen Z think they’ve created a whole new fashion genre – but people are forgetting it was the signature look of Australia’s most iconic star.
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OPINION
If there’s one thing people love to talk about, it is Generation Z and their wacky style.
But none of them have anything on the icon that is Rebecca June Hewitt.
All the upcoming ‘it’ girls are strutting around in trucker hats, singlets and jeans. They love sunglasses, headbands and co-ordinating outfits that make no sense.
We are all a little scandalised by this.
They are turning their backs on the outrageous, sexy dressing Kim Kardashian made so famous, opting for more quirky instead.
I’m sure they are feeling very original, edgy and cool, but they don’t realise they are copying one woman, and that is Australia’s own Bec Hewitt.
Do you know who wore headbands first? Bec.
Do you know who wore mesh T-shirts first? Bec.
Bec’s fabulousness gets overlooked because she married Tennis player Lleyton Hewitt and probably has enough superannuation that she hasn’t had to appear on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
She’s chosen to retreat from public life and not in the same way Lara Bingle has, where she’s revamped her image and married a movie star, and is still spotted at the most exclusive events.
Bec’s had three kids and stays mostly out of the public eye.
She hasn’t reinvented herself as a fashion icon. She hasn’t done a tonne of magazine covers explaining how she feels sexier at 40 than she did at 30.
She has also stayed with Lleyton, and that is lovely … but she has deprived us of her having some exciting and complicated dating life.
I’m sad to report there’s been no drama involving someone barefoot in Noosa Park shouting about cheating.
I’m beginning to become genuinely concerned people have forgotten that Bec Hewitt was and is fashion.
In fact, the fashion world has suffered because of her choice to live a private life.
Things have been so dire not even Guy Sebestian and his love of statement fedoras has been able to fill the fashion void.
Way before Lleyton was in the picture, Bec was a big deal. She was on the long-running acclaimed drama (okay, fine), soap opera Home And Away.
She also won Dancing With The Stars, back when half of Australia was actually watching, and she was just considered an all-round cool girl.
You know, she’d be profiled in Dolly and Girlfriend, and we all loved Bec. She came across as likeable and relatable. She was a golden girl.
When she hooked up with Lleyton around 2005, she was suddenly everywhere.
It was the golden era of fashion, let me tell you that now.
Bec was spotted in spaghetti strap singlet tops, trucker hats, and ridiculously oversized sunglasses, and it was everything. She’d turn up to the tennis to support Lleyton looking so random. It was the best thing ever.
She was often slammed for her outfits by clearly very jealous people, but she never changed her style.
Nothing stopped this woman from wearing visors and spaghetti-strap tops; that alone is pretty incredible.
She wore long shorts to The Melbourne Cup!!!
I cannot stress this enough: Bec made her own fashion rules and it was incredible.
Gen Zers might think they are original, but they really just owe Bec Hewitt a loud “thank you”.
Originally published as Generation Z are copying one of Australia’s most famous stars
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