Famous style icons, what made them so famous..
Some of the most influential Style Icons of all time!
Personal style is more than clothing and accessories. These women owned their personal style and expressed who they were to the world. Their style became their brand.
They remain a legacy and still impactful today. Whether its designers drawing inspiration for their new collections, or you and me when deciding what to wear, how we express ourselves, and how we choose to show up.
These are my top 6 favorite Style Icons and women I take inspiration from. There are many others – which are your favorites?
Princess Diana
Her style evolved. From the young shy fiancée to Prince Charles with ruffles and pastels, to the regal, elegant and confident woman wearing bold, sleek outfits that looked good on her and, she knew, suited her best.
Princess Diana was one of the most photographed women in the world. She used her apparel as a communication vehicle. For instance, colorful and cheerful to convey her kind spirited nature and openness, she didn’t wear gloves because she wanted to shake people’s hands, and she never wore hats to children’s hospitals because she couldn’t hug them with a hat on. These are just a few examples.
Her style became her brand, how she expressed herself and who she was – an admirable presence.
“I knew what my job was; it was to go out and meet the people and love them”- Princess Diana.
Audrey Hepburn
A British actress, best described personal style of casual elegance. Her slim figure, short hairstyle, thick eyebrows, and “gamine” looks that resonated with many women with that similar silhouette and wanting to mirror that style.
If you can remember her capri pants, ballet flats, oversized sunglasses and the little black dress, designed by Givenchy, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The little black dress was created by Coco Chanel in the 1920s.
“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I’m possible”- Audrey Hepburn.
Grace Kelly
An American actress turned fairytale Princess of Monaco. Soft bright features, “fresh faced look” with utmost elegance, cited as one of the “classic Hitchcock blondes”.
Always timeless, elegant, and simply chic in all she wore. She loved to match her jewelry with her outfits, and especially with her gorgeous iconic gowns.
The Kelly bag designed by Hermès was named after her as she would hide her pregnancy bump using her boxy crocodile Hermès bag as a shield when photographed by the paparazzi.
“I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds, and who was a kind and loving person. I would like to leave the memory of a human being with a correct attitude and who did her best to help others”- Grace Kelly.
Marilyn Monroe
An American actress, model and singer. Began her career as a pin up girl with her curvy and hourglass silhouette. Known as the “blonde bombshell” and one of the most popular sex symbols.
Elegant and glamorous with her famous billowing white halter neck dress, the pink satin strapless dress with long white gloves and the rhinestone, skin color dress she had to be sewn into when she sang “Happy Birthday” to JKF – all so memorable.
“Always, always, always believe in yourself. Because if you don’t then who will, sweetie?” – Marilyn Monroe.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis
She became a style icon during her husband’s presidency. She preferred to wear A-line dresses, three quarter sleeve jackets with mid-length skirts, clean cut suits and pillbox hats. Always classic and elegant, she owned an iconic pink Chanel suit and was coiffed with her bouffant hairstyle. She had a large collection of jewelry with a triple strand pearl necklace as her signature piece.
After the white house, years later, she changed her style completely. She wore silk Hermès scarves, wide leg pant suits, white jeans with black turtlenecks and jeans in general.
“We should all do something to right the wrongs that we see and not just complain about them” – Jackie Kennedy.
Elizabeth Taylor
A British-American actress, always very glamorous and elegant with her beautiful gowns, her jewelry with heaps of diamonds which she wrote a book about – “My Love Affair with Jewelry” and dramatic make-up.
Many famous costumes were designed for her leading lady movie roles, with her make-up in Cleopatra that began the “cat-eye” trend.
“You are who you are. All you can do in this world is help others to be who they are and better themselves” – Elizabeth Taylor.
