When you step into Los Angeles, your first thought is to step into Hollywood to remember what iconic stars once stepped foot there. While many people see them for their work in film and television, tons of Zoomers are inspired by their fashion sense and do not only admire them, but also revitalize their own fashion sense.

In the 1940s-60s, elegance and beauty were in the air, and many icons in the film industry took it to their advantage. They wore bedazzled dresses, sleek hairstyles, fantastic makeup, etc. Having a unique fashion sense that would garner attention in Old Hollywood would require not just money but also a separation from traditional feminine fashion looks and a modern sense to increase the likelihood of feminism being embraced by women everywhere. These seven women did exactly that.

1. Marilyn Monroe

Image Credit: New York Sunday News from Wikimedia Commons

Marilyn Monroe is mostly known for her strong fashion style, aura, and easing the unrealistic 1950s gender norms that were imposed on women in the film industry. While she was faced with the uncontrollable (and very atrocious) lust of men in the 50s, she still held her head strong and proved to individuals that she didn’t need a man to become a worldwide symbol. She was also a proud feminist and advocated for feminism outside of Hollywood.

Her signature figure, which is platinum blonde hair, red lipstick, and an hourglass body, became a symbol of old Hollywood glamour and beauty. She did not only inspire the whole world watching her work, but every single fashion designer, beauty artists, and celebrities such as Madonna, Anna Nicole Smith, Gwen Stefani, Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, etc.

Take the Quiz: Which ’90s Movie Character Are You?

Are you ready to travel back to the iconic ’90s and discover which unforgettable movie character matches your personality? Take this quiz to find out!

2. Elizabeth Taylor

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios from Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth Taylor was the star of the 1963 film Cleopatra, and every scene that she was in became a huge hit for the fashion industry. Known for her small waist, brunette wave hairstyle, and her rare shade of deep blue eyes that appeared purple, Taylor proved that nobody is ugly or dirty; they just needed a crisp fashion style. Watch Cleopatra after reading this article, and you won’t be disappointed.

Did you also know that in 1987, she debuted her first perfume called Passion? Since then, she has released a myriad of fragrances, including the magnificent White Diamonds perfume in 1991.

3. Audrey Hepburn

Image Credit: Hans Gerber from Wikimedia Commons

Audrey Hepburn established her name in the film industry in the late 1940s and has been a prominent figure in the film and fashion industry since then. Due to her lifelong partnership and friendship with Hubert de Givenchy, who is the founder of Givenchy, she wore his work extensively in her personal life and movies, including the little black dress in the jaw-dropping 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. She also cultivated a minimalistic fashion look that inspired millions of people into developing elegant, colorful, and Parisian styles that will last for eternity.

4. Katharine Hepburn

Image Credit: MGM from Wikimedia Commons

Reminder: she is not related to Audrey Hepburn.

Katharine Hepburn became the star of the 20th century due to her incredible talent for acting, but what about her fashion sense? Katharine didn’t adopt a fashion sense like most women due to her dislike of skirts and dresses but instead opted for menswear and sportswear fashion such as loose-fitting trousers, collared shirts and blazers, t-shirts, loafers, etc.

She was seen as an icon challenging the traditional feminine look and a symbol of modern American sportswear and menswear aesthetics. In fact, her style was so groundbreaking that she won an award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 1986 for her menswear fashion sense.

5. Grace Kelly

Image Credit: Hans Peters from Wikimedia Commons

Grace Kelly, the actress that became the Princess of Monaco had a timeless fashion style that was suitable for both the film industry and her royal duties.

In her films and public appearances, her fashion style was seen as versatile and incredible due to her likeness of beautiful dresses, clean suits, and casual elegance. She was also draped in accessories such as brooches, hats, gloves, etc. She maintained a non-flashy look and instead went for a simpler fashion appeal to prove that you don’t need million-dollar bracelets to get a second look.

6. Hedy Lamarr

Image Credit: Employee(s) of MGM from Wikimedia Commons

Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the true definition of beauty and brains, Hedy Lamarr.

Lamarr had an IQ of 140, which means that only 1-2% of the population is smarter than her (and that 98-99% of the population is less intelligent than her). She was known for being one of the inventors of frequency hopping, which is a wireless communication designed to transmit radio signals by changing the carrier frequency to prevent interference from other signals and eavesdropping. This was used during World War II in 1942 and is also used for many wireless communications we have today, such as Bluetooth, UAS drones, etc. In short, no, she did not invent Wi-Fi.

Besides her inventions, she adopted a luxurious satin and velvet fashion look with elegant shoulder pads, turbans, stunning matte skin, and timeless black hair. In fact, her hairstyle was so good that many women have resorted to dyeing their hair black or brunette and fixing their hair to make it look like her signature hairstyle, which was soft and crisp wavy hair with a center part. It can be done with articulated hair styling using pin curls and finger waves. The famous photo of the Star Dress has me hooked on her unique style.

7. Brigitte Bardot

Image Credit: Comet Photo AG (Zürich) from Wikimedia Commons

Brigitte Bardot held such an incredible fashion influence during her time as an actress in the 1950s and 1960s. Although she is no longer an actress due to her occupation as an animal rights activist that started back in 1973, her fashion choices and her classic French style shaped the future of Generation Z and Millennial fashion.

Why do I say that? Because she is the creator of the Bardot neckline, which is an off-the-shoulder fashion style that exposes the shoulders and collarbone. It can be worn by anyone by wearing dresses and/or tops with the design. The style has been adopted by many celebrities and luxury brands such as Scarlett Johansson, Meghan Markle, Bella Hadid, Zendaya, Vivienne Westwood, Chanel, Dior, etc.

Conclusion

These seven women did magnificent work in revolutionizing the fashion industry and separating it away from the traditional values that controlled women before they came. Although fashion styles change decade to decade, I pray that future generations respect and maintain the legacy of Old Hollywood fashion.