Heartbreak hurts – but looking good while surviving it? That’s power. Whether it’s having a style refresh or making a statement with a bold new outfit, clothes can be a vessel of resilience, a declaration of self-worth, and sometimes, the perfect revenge.
Sian Clarke, founder of Styled by Sian, a London-based personal styling business, helps women rediscover themselves through what they wear. With a background in fashion styling, magazine editorials, and collaborations with brands like Pinterest, eBay, and Nike, she has seen firsthand how fashion can be used to navigate life’s biggest shifts.
“People come to me because of change,” Clarke says. “A lot of that change is divorce or heartbreak. Many of my clients have completely lost themselves in their relationships – they’ve forgotten who they are. Now, they’re figuring it out on their own.”
For Clarke, helping people rediscover their style isn’t just about clothes – it’s about healing. She believes that finding what suits them and what makes them feel good represents a step toward reclaiming identity.
As celebrities have shown, fashion has forever been a tool for demonstrating confidence and reinvention, as well as a way to reclaim self-worth. And it’s not just for the red carpet.
Fashion goes beyond making a statement – it can be a method of self-care. “Style is a language we all speak,” Clarke says. “When you go through seasons of change, like a breakup, you can completely lose who you are. Once you’ve processed the trauma, fashion is a brilliant way to reconnect with yourself again.”
Clarke suggests that the best way to reclaim confidence is to start with the basics – what she calls style foundations. She compares it to renovating a house: if you move into a place that needs a complete overhaul but have no idea what colours you like, how to furnish it, or what makes a home feel good to you, it won’t feel like a safe or welcoming space. The same applies to personal style.
Her advice is to go back to square one. Rebuild a wardrobe that reflects who you are now, not who you were in a past relationship. That starts with identifying what suits you, what you love, and how to style it in a way that feels empowering. Clarke also encourages a wardrobe cleanse – clearing out clothes that carry emotional baggage and remind you of your past life. “A cleanse can be just as powerful as a revenge dress,” she says. “Getting rid of old things, identifying gaps, and breathing new life into what you already own can be really cathartic.”
She also exhorts the playful side of reinvention. Experimenting with different outfits, creating fresh combinations from existing pieces, and even shopping for something new can all serve as both a distraction and a dopamine hit. “At the end of the day, it’s about rediscovering yourself,” Clarke says. “And sometimes, a little reinvention is exactly what you need to move forward.”
It’s not just everyday people who turn to fashion as a means of reinvention. Time and time again, we’ve seen celebrities take to the red carpet to showcase a head turning look in the wake of heartbreak. Here are some of the most unforgettable examples:
Princess Diana’s “Revenge Dress” – 1994
Arguably the most iconic revenge dress of all time, Princess Diana’s black, off-the-shoulder Christina Stambolian gown was more than just a fashion choice – it was a statement. With its sleek, pleated bodice and draped chiffon skirt, the dress radiated confidence and independence. Diana wore it to the 1994 Serpentine Gallery event, on the very same night Prince Charles publicly admitted to his affair with Camilla. The message? I can do better. And she did. We’ll forever love Lady Di for this one.
Jennifer Aniston – 2005 premiere of Derailed
Fresh off her split from Hollywood’s golden boy Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston proved that true glow-ups come from within. Just weeks after finalising her divorce, she stepped onto the red carpet in a dazzling Chanel dress, shimmering with effortless elegance. Radiant, confident, and utterly luminous – not even Brad Pitt could dull her sparkle.
Rihanna at the 2014 CFDA Awards
In what felt like a subtle nod to her breakup with Drake, Rihanna arrived at the 2014 CFDA Awards dripping in pure confidence – literally. She stunned in a custom Adam Selman fishnet gown, adorned with over 216,000 Swarovski crystals, leaving little to the imagination. If there was ever proof that Rihanna is worth her weight in diamonds, this was it.
Miley Cyrus – “Flowers” (2023)
As if dropping Flowers on her ex-fiancé Liam Hemsworth’s birthday wasn’t iconic enough, Miley Cyrus took things up a notch with her wardrobe. In the music video, she struts in a gold gown strikingly similar to the one Jennifer Lawrence wore in The Hunger Games – the very co-star Hemsworth was rumoured to have had a fling with back in 2012. A subtle coincidence? Unlikely. A masterclass in sartorial storytelling? Absolutely.
Bella Hadid – 2017 Met Gala
If seeing your ex debut a new relationship on the red carpet is awkward, Bella Hadid sure didn’t show it. As The Weeknd and Selena Gomez made their couple debut at the 2017 Met Gala, Bella had her own headline moment – in a custom Alexander Wang glittering catsuit. With a plunging back and sheer lace detailing, she exuded confidence, grace, and pure main character energy. If this was a power move, it was executed to perfection.