Vintage Glamour Icons

With the luminary Academy Awards wrapping up this week during the peak of awards season, it became clear that vintage wear is becoming synonymous with certain high profile events. Celebrities rock vintage items on the red carpet but few hardly succeed in portraying that nostalgic feeling of old Hollywood glamour – as defined by the following 5 female legends.

Old Hollywood had flair – a certain charm and striking glamour that is dejectedly lacking today. Vintage glamour icons Marilyn Monroe, Billie Holiday, Jackie-O, Madonna and Audrey Hepburn have all successfully reset the rules of fashion in their own way.

Curvaceous, sultry Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean Baker) is the ultimate glamour icon. Although her life was dramatic, tragic, and short lived, Marilyn is possibly one of the most imitated style icons of the century. She was a chic, feisty sex symbol who knew how to draw attention to her figure without ever being overly provocative. Platinum blonde curls, low cut white flared dresses and pouty red lips are seen universally on the Halloween holiday – perhaps the most identified Marilyn look. Her off-screen persona embraced her curves with her fondness for pencil skirts, button-down shirts and sleek dresses. There are thousands of items today in pop-culture that are branded with Marilyn Monroe.

Some call her the most influential jazz singer and songwriter of all time, Billie Holiday had an overly distinctive style. During the peak of her fame in the 1950’s, a signature white gardenia, polished chignon, full length glittering dresses, diamond earrings, and pearl necklaces became frequently seen during her stage performances. Off the stage, Billie felt more comfortable in a sleek ponytail, turbans, and extravagant, flashy earrings. Her stage outfits undoubtedly became as legendary as her voice.

Through her continuous reign as the most stylish First Lady in history, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (Jackie-O) quickly became known for her impeccable trend-setting style and ability to consistently look flawless. Throughout the 60’s, Jackie-O predominantly wore crisp suits by French designers like Chanel, Givenchy and Christian Dior. Big sunglasses, pearl necklaces, and fine tailored A-line skirts are ultimately very popular trends in fashion today – a few staples. Want her style? Check out Gucci’s ‘Jackie-O’ inspired handbag, but don’t forget your POOQ purse hook for safe keeping.

MADONNA. The pop legend was crowned the ultimate style icon of the 1980’s for her ever-evolving style. Currently, even though not many of us are wearing jewelled, cone-shaped bras and have overly bleached hair, recent trends have seen a lot of layering with lace, lightly teased hair, rosaries, and lace leggings or gloves. Madonna has been a muse to numerous fashion designers for over 20 years.

Like Jackie-O, Audrey Hepburn always kept it simple. Audrey epitomized glamour and elegance in every way with clean lines, femininity and simplicity. Her style, being most notably known for her appearance in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, gives credit to the long black gloves, the cigarette holder and the classic little black dress (the “LBD”). The LBD was made famous on the big screen and lives on to be a staple in women’s wardrobe today. Capri pants and ballet flats were ideally worn in her downtime, which happen to be another two items that consistently evolve in fashion. Thanks, Audrey.

Each of these vintage glamour icons are equally timeless and also made who they were look effortless. On top of these five, there are hundreds of fashion inspirations that contribute to fashion as we know it today. It is, after all a reflection of what these women brought to the dramatically shifting industry.

Authored by: Courtney L. Franklin

Photo credit:
www.starpulse.com
www.jennylevinstyle.blogspot.com
www.marilynmonroeart.net
www.liketotally80s.com
www.alice-in-ponderland.blogspot.com