They watch the Oscars. Many women watch them not to see who wins but to see what everyone's wearing. Singers, performers are influences. I have tons of customers who want the kind of jean wash that Madonna wore. You don't have to be a current, or living, celebrity to make an impact on fashion, said wardrobe stylist Darrell Wilson of Jackson.
People go to women of style, whether they're from yesteryear or today.
Contemporary celebrities with fashion sway include Madonna, Julia Roberts, Halle Berry, Charlize Theron. And because they do, people remember them and want to emulate them. Certain TV series creep into our fashion psyches as well, said Howard Walker, manager of the women's department at JC Penney in Ridgeland. Designs on shirts with clever messages, something that tells you a little about the wearer, are big, maybe because people saw them on those shows. Something that distinguishes the wearer as an individual.