Beyond the Wardrobe of Five Style Icons
Audrey Hepburn. Katharine Hepburn. Marilyn Monroe. Princess Diana of Wales. Brigitte Bardot.
Street style may have been all the rage for the past decade but the timeless sophistication of these vintage beauties, captured in iconic photographs, is unmatched. Hepburn and Monroe and the like are idolized, living on posters hung up on the walls of women who aspire to emulate their classic elegance. They are more than celebrities; these five women have become style icons in the decades since their appearance in the spotlight.
Though I am a firm believer in the idea that a woman can conquer the world in a well put-together outfit, the emphasis on items like Audrey’s iconic gloves or Princess Diana’s classic blazers can occasionally overshadow the work that these women were able to accomplish in their lifetimes. In an effort to showcase their humanitarian, philanthropic and educational accomplishments, let’s dive into some of the amazing things these women did - and the outfits they wore while doing them.
Marilyn Monroe
Talk about a girl who knew how to dress herself. Her red carpet style was bold and colorful: never one to shy away from a sparkle or a fur. Her classic 50’s pin curls are still imitated to this day. Her personal style shined through in casual dress, when the gowns were passed by in favor of capri pants and smart short-sleeved turtlenecks, red lipstick replaced by a softer shade. If you’re looking to emulate Marilyn’s bombshell style, look for off-the-shoulder silhouettes, gingham pants, black staple pieces, and, of course, red lipstick.
Beyond the Wardrobe
Marilyn Monroe was known for her generosity. Having grown up in and out of foster care, she made it a point to use her money to specifically benefit charities that focused on aiding children. She worked with March of Dimes, a USA-based nonprofit organization that fights to improve the health of mothers and babies, as well as The Milk Fund for Babies, providing free milk to those in poverty in New York City. Monroe left 25% of her will to be donated, and it went to the Anna Freud Children’s Clinic of London.
Audrey Hepburn
Breakfast at Tiffany’s - need I say more? The uber-chic actress was frequently photographed in classy all-black ensembles, usually wearing soft tops, cropped slim pants and feminine dresses. Her character, Holly Golightly, has been immortalized in one of the most iconic photographs of the 20th century, wearing a black dress, a diamond tiara, and a long cigarette holder. The boat neckline will forever belong to Audrey, as will the 50s style tea length dress. Focus on midi skirts and mod tailoring if you are trying to emulate her classic style.
Beyond the Wardrobe
Audrey Hepburn was an incredible humanitarian. She devoted the last five years of her life to traveling around the world as a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador, and is quoted as having said that “there is a moral obligation that those who have should give to those who don’t.” Audrey Hepburn was not approached by UNICEF but rather went directly to UNICEF herself, with a moral conviction to get her hands dirty and use her influence to help children in poverty around the world. A year after her death, the Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund was created by her children to honor her legacy and continue the work of a woman whose elegance extended far beyond the dresses that she wore.
Katharine Hepburn
Unrelated to Audrey Hepburn, this Old Hollywood darling and suffragette was known for her pants. Wide-leg trousers, custom-made trousers and trousers worn in the movie Bringing Up Baby were her uniform. Hepburn loved simple, neutral tones and sporting high-necked button-ups. She would occasionally don feminine skirts and dresses paired with blouses in airy fabrics, but was known for her unapologetically “mannish” trousers. Invest in a pantsuit that can be worn as a monochrome ensemble or as two separate pieces.
Beyond the Wardrobe
Hepburn was criticized heavily for the qualities that she is remembered for - an unwavering, unflinching desire to wear what she found to be comfortable. She wore jeans on set and rocked a high-waisted pant like no other, despite pushback from a society that questioned women who found themselves exploring styles that were less than feminine. In 1951, Hepburn was refused entry at Claridge’s hotel due to the fact that she was wearing trousers and was asked to use the back door because of her garb. She succeeded at her craft and was unapologetic about something that is normalized for women to wear today, thanks to her precedent.
Brigitte Bardot
French actress Brigitte Bardot was a cool girl like no other in shorter-than-short hemlines, bombshell silhouettes and off-the-shoulder necklines that she popularized so emphatically that we now refer to that particular cut as a “Bardot top.” She often wore a strong cat-eye makeup look and mussed hair in contrast with soft floaty sundresses and ballet flats that reflected her early training as a ballet dancer. On more casual days, Bardot was partial to cropped pants and pushing back her locks with a wide headband, an accessory that would later be adopted by it-girl Blaire Waldorf in Gossip Girl.
Beyond the Wardrobe
Though the still-alive Bardot is remembered most for her notoriety as a sex symbol and style icon of her time, she is also a passionate animal rights activist. Bardot founded the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals in 1986 and continues to this day to financially support organizations that protect endangered and stray animals alike, having donated millions of dollars to various causes. Bardot has recently stirred up some controversy for her work with PETA and her political statements.
Princess Diana
Though it’s been over two decades since her passing, the former Princess of Wales is still remembered for her bold style (and shoulder pads) to this day. Unafraid of statement colors and an off-the-shoulder aficionado, her evening style was glamorous and unlike what royals were expected to wear, especially in the 80s. Her casual style still resounds with many today as Princess Diana could often be seen wearing oversized blazers or casual sweatshirts paired with biker shorts and chunky sneakers. One of her most memorable looks is the “Revenge Dress” by Christina Stambolian: the slinky little black number she donned with unflinching confidence to greet her public the day after it was announced that Prince Charles had an affair.
Beyond the Wardrobe
Princess Diana’s mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, notoriously always wears gloves to prevent spreading germs whereas Diana decided to forego gloves in order to have skin-to-skin contact with the people whose hands she shook, especially those with leprosy, in order to dispel the false idea that the disease was transmitted by touch. Simply put, Princess Diana changed what it meant to be a British royal. She wanted to be in tune with the public and spent extensive time doing humanitarian work for more than 100 causes, including landmines in Angola, HIV/AIDS awareness, and childhood cancer. The Princess would visit the Royal Brompton Hospital in London at least three times a week to devote time to the young patients. Though she passed at age 36 after a tragic car crash, her legacy continues to inspire many. In the time that The Princess Diana Memorial Fund was open, it awarded over $145 million to charitable causes.