18 American Icons Who Stylishly Impacted the World
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Katharine Hepburn
Reportedly averse to skirts, this Oscar winner preferred slipping on a pair of pants at a time when most ladies opted for dresses and formal gowns. Thanks to this rebellious attitude, Katharine set the tone for future incarnations of tomboy chic style.
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Grace Kelly
Elegance and femininity were the hallmarks of Grace’s style in the 50s. Although she gave up the limelight of Hollywood to live life as a princess in Monaco, her wardrobe was always strictly sophisticated.
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Marilyn Monroe
Norma Jeane reinvented herself as Marilyn and became one of the most famous women in the world. Known for her platinum blond locks and sultry dresses, including that white pleated halter creation from The Seven Year Itch, this icon has left an indelible mark on fashion.
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Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
The former first lady is most often associated with the pink suit and matching pillbox hat she wore when her husband was assassinated in Dallas, but Jackie O’s style underwent several transformations. In the late 60s and early 70s, a head scarf and oversized shades became her most notable trademark.
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Edie Sedgwick
Back before there were Kardashians and the Hilton sisters, Edie was the socialite du jour of the 60s. After meeting Andy Warhol in New York City, she blossomed into a performance artist as well as Andy’s muse decked out in leotards, leopard prints and chandelier earrings.
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Mia Farrow
Rocking one of the most infamous haircuts of all time, Mia pretty much established the super short pixie after chopping off her hair in the late 60s for Rosemary’s Baby. Peter Pan collar dresses and graphic prints stood out even more when paired with the star’s head-turning hairstyle.
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Diana Ross
Diana once dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, that was until she hit mega stardom with The Supremes. Her style continued to evolve in the 70s as she dove head first into the flashy nature of the decade with big hair and grand dresses.
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Lauren Hutton
Rather than shying away from showing the gap in her front teeth, Lauren embraced the perceived flaw as part of her signature look. The model epitomized classic American style back in the 70s complete with streamlined colorblock suits.
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Diane Keaton
Also borrowing from the boys, Diane’s wardrobe in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall ushered in a new era of menswear-inspired style. Wide ties, wide-leg trousers and other masculine staples helped define her wardrobe for years to come.
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Debbie Harry
Punk never looked so glamorous. As the front woman for Blondie, Debbie’s onstage style during the late 70s and early 80s included everything from thrift store treasures to neon accents.
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Madonna
The self-proclaimed Material Girl is the queen of reinvention. Madonna has sported everything from cone corsets to embellished gowns, but it’s her 80s look fashioned of fingerless lace gloves, hair bows and rubber bracelets that inspired tons of copycats.
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Janet Jackson
Janet hit the stage in the 80s and early 90s routinely outfitted in all-black ensembles. Whether she simply accessorized with a key hoop earring or was covered up in her structured emblem-clad getup from the Rhythm Nation video, the looks were all 100% Janet.
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Cindy Crawford
Cindy was the supermodel of the 90s, showing off her killer curves in slinky dresses and strappy gowns. There was also that 1992 Super Bowl commercial spot where she made waves in a simple white tank top and cropped shorts.
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Vera Wang
Wedding dresses were the designer’s eventual calling card, but Vera started off as a Vogue fashion editor. She began designing after not being able to find the perfect white gown for her big day and subsequent ready-to-wear creations along with her red carpet gowns have garnered a large Hollywood following.
Image: Andres Otero/WENN.com
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Annie Leibovitz
She may favor black when she’s behind the lens, but it’s Annie’s ability to create iconic images from the arenas of fashion, music and film that lands her on this list. The accomplished photographer shot era-defining pictures from Yoko Ono and John Lennon’s Rolling Stone cover to Demi Moore’s naked pregnant pose for Vanity Fair.
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Sarah Jessica Parker
Even though Sarah has been appearing on TV and film since the 80s, it’s her turn as Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City that really established the actress as a cultural force. Her eclectic wardrobe on the popular HBO series served as inspiration for many viewers and her red carpet appearances proved Sarah was quite stylish in real life.
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Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen
It’s amazing to think that this designing duo rose to fame playing the adorable Michelle Tanner on the 90s sitcom, Full House. Ashley and Mary-Kate are somewhat affectionally credited with making bag lady chic a real fashion trend.
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Lady Gaga
Is she over-the-top? Sure, but Mother Monster’s unabashedly bold fashions have made her a true legend with all those unconventional looks and installations often serving as extensions of her artistic spirit.
Image: Adriana M. Barraza / WENN.com
