Chanel Princess; Mischa Barton

Best known for her iconic style and her role as Marissa on the OC, Mischa is still recognized today as one of the most influential celebrity stars of the 2000s. 

Spotted constantly in countless Chanel bags and accessories, Mischa was essentially a walking advertisement, (A chic one at that).

When going out in public, her stylist often paired her designer bags with more casual clothing, adding significantly to the effortlessness of her look. Low rise jeans, baker boy caps and mini skirts were all things she often wore, specifically in patterns/fabrics like plaid, tweed and eyelet. These outfits were also paired with chunky boots, ballet flats and kitten heels. As for her acting, Mischa has starred in many film classics such as Notting Hill, The Sixth Sense and Lost and Delirious. (although her most famous tv role was Marissa on The OC). Her role on the show is also a prime example of her style as the things she wore on the show are similar to what she wore on a day to day basis. 

Chanel was a big part of Misha’s whole branding and image as she is not only seen wearing it in real life, but also on tv. Most famously, she was pictured wearing a SS 2006 Chanel runway gown on The OC.

Marissa Coopers Prom dress on The Oc

Gemma Ward for Chanel SS2006

She was also seen wearing lots of bags from the Chanel cambon collection as well as various other classic CC purses and famous others like the Balenciaga City Bag and Chloe Paddington. Her influence is extremely evident as these 3 bags/collections are the top trending bags as of late. Not saying this is all thanks to Mischa, but she is definitely a trendsetter for early 2000s fashion comeback.

However, Mischas style isn't all that she is, as she admitted to struggling immensely with growing up in the spotlight, especially with being sexualized at such a young age. As young as thirteen, Mischa was portrayed sexually in the media and during The Oc felt pressured to have sex. Constantly being surrounded by people way older than her, often twice her age, the race to grow up felt extremely important.

Having all these intimate moments, and firsts in front of society wasn't fair. These "things" that were supposed to be special, felt more like checking items off of a to do list and the pressure to mature was insurmountable. It was way too much for any person to handle, let alone an eighteen year old.

The paparazzi didn't help either. From stalking her down the street to shooting their cameras directly into her house, Mischa had absolutely no privacy. She couldn't even leave her home in fear that the paparazzi would be there writing up new headlines on who she was, when they didn't know her at all. This all really took a toll on her mental health, which she states to Harpers Bazaar saying, "What happened to me gave me PTSD. In the years afterwards, cameras would bother me; any noises that sounded like a shutter would give me panic attacks and make me extremely paranoid", (Mischa Barton, Harpers Bazaar).

Overall, Mischa Barton has been a role model to many, not just with fashion but by encouraging other women to speak out about their struggles. Mischa hopes by sharing her story, it can prevent other young girls from going through the same things she did, and join the battle of fighting against exploitation in any form.

xoxo,

YouMag