Paris Hilton’s a Secret Trendsetter

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie will never live down The Simple Life. The former BFFs are largely held responsible for igniting the worst trends of the aughts: Von Dutch trucker hats, Juicy Couture tracksuits, too-short denim skirts, and multicolored hair extensions. And while Richie has redeemed herself with a successful fashion line and trendy makeover in the intervening years, Hilton has never reached fashion icon status again. Yet, despite her reputation, it seems that the heiress has been secretly dictating what’s hot all along.

Just look at the evidence from this week alone: On Wednesday, the Duchess of Cambridge attended the premiere of A Street Cat Named Bob wearing a white Self-Portrait gown. Who wore it first? Paris, of course. Then there’s Kendall Jenner’s $9,000 supermini dress, custom-designed for her birthday, based on a look Hilton wore to celebrate her own 21st. Lastly, at the CMA Awards, one of Carrie Underwood’s many outfit changes was a replica of one worn by Paris months before. And that’s just in the past seven days. Click through for even more examples over the past few years.

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