Daughter of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose grew up between two worlds: Hollywood and Paris. On one side, her parents' fame; on the other, a relationship with fashion that began very early. In 2015, at just sixteen years old, she became the face of Chanel's eyewear campaign, a house her mother had already been tied to.
While posing for Karl Lagerfeld, however, she presented an image on social media that was vastly different from her ad campaigns. Mirror selfies, photos with friends, late-night shots, unconventional close-ups. Her Instagram captured a teenager who frequented an exclusive world, yet spoke the visual language of her peers.
It was this exact contrast that made her so intriguing: ambassador for one of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world and, simultaneously, a teenager posting photos without worrying too much about the framing.
The charm of the effortless girl
Loose, slightly tousled hair, defined lips, eyeliner, basic tops, and a wardrobe that alternated between casual pieces and designer clothes. Lily-Rose Depp already had a distinct aesthetic identity long before TikTok began cataloging every style with a name.
There is a lot of her mother, Vanessa Paradis, in this look: the French allure, understated sensuality, and the ability to wear a major gown without looking overly done-up. But there is also the culture of 2010s Californian teenagers—made of selfies, flash photography, and improvised outfits.
It's the ultimate "cool girl" formula: someone who seems to put zero effort into being interesting. An image that Lily-Rose embodied with apparent ease, certainly aided by her beauty, fame, and privileged access to the fashion world.
From Gone Girl to Instagram
The term "cool girl" didn't originate on social media. In the 2012 novel Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn used it as a critical descriptor for a female persona constructed to please men: pretty, easygoing, spontaneous, and effortlessly relaxed.
On Instagram during those same years, the term took on a broader aesthetic meaning. The cool girl is someone who doesn't seem to care about pleasing everyone, posts imperfect photos, and wears clothes without flaunting the styling.
Lily-Rose Depp became one of the key points of reference for this aesthetic. Not because she invented the blurry selfie or smudged makeup, but because her profile brought together many of the codes that are being unearthed today in mood boards dedicated to the 2014–2016 era.
When Instagram wasn't a perfect storefront yet
In 2015, Instagram worked differently. The feed was chronological, sponsored content was less prevalent, and the figure of the influencer had not yet reached today's level of professionalization.
In March 2016, the platform announced its shift to an algorithm-driven feed based on content relevance. It was one of the pivotal changes accompanying Instagram's transformation: over time came meticulously curated profiles, coordinated color palettes, professional photography, and calculated strategies to gain visibility.
Celebrity imagery changed, too. Social media became an increasingly important promotional tool, while the line between private life and professional communication blurred.
Looking back at Lily-Rose Depp’s old photos today also means rediscovering a less uniform visual language. The shots weren't necessarily more authentic, but they felt less dictated by the need to curate a cohesive feed.
Gen Z rediscovers Lily-Rose Depp
Why do those photos appeal so much today? Partly due to the comeback of 2010s trends, and partly due to the fascination with an era of social media that younger girls didn't experience as teenagers.
It's a form of nostalgia for a past known primarily through images. John Koenig, in his Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, coined the word "anemoia" specifically to describe nostalgia for a time you've never known.
Lily-Rose Depp perfectly embodies this phenomenon. Her old selfies have become references for makeup, hairstyles, poses, and even camera angles. Her image as a 2010s teen is being retrieved and reinterpreted by a generation accustomed to a vastly different Instagram.
From cool teen to style icon
In the meantime, Lily-Rose has grown up. She has built an acting career, solidified her bond with Chanel, and developed a more mature public image spanning red carpets, cinema, and fashion campaigns. Yet, many of the traits that made her recognizable at sixteen remain: lip-defining makeup, undone hair, and a knack for pairing minimalist pieces with sophisticated creations.
The difference is that today, that style is observed, analyzed, and replicated. Her old photos, which started as simple personal posts, have become mood board material.
There's a subtle irony in all of this: Gen Z is attempting to meticulously recreate an aesthetic that was captivating precisely because it seemed accidental. Meanwhile, Lily-Rose Depp remains a fashion landmark—thanks in no small part to those selfies from ten years ago, when she was sixteen and Instagram was a very different place.
Photography
PHOTO: Lily-Rose Depp's Instagram
