When a Signature Shade Becomes Part of a Legend
Certain women have worn particular colors so memorably that the shades became inseparable from their public images. Hollywood stars, fashion icons, singers, and modern celebrities have all used color to create recognizable styles, whether through a favorite dress, a signature lipstick, or an entire wardrobe built around a particular palette. Some of these associations developed decades ago and still influence fashion today, while others have emerged through red carpets, music videos, and social media.
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1. Marilyn Monroe — Platinum Blonde
The platinum blonde hair Marilyn Monroe sported became one of Hollywood’s most iconic beauty looks. Her tousled curls and glamorous style helped transform extremely light blonde hair into a signature part of old-Hollywood glamour. Blonde hair was hardly new, but Monroe’s massive popularity put platinum blonde on another level.
2. Rihanna — Green
Rihanna has worn every shade of green on multiple occasions, from red carpet gowns to trendy street style. Her fearless approach to highly saturated colors helped bring bright green into fashion relevancy. Rihanna also pairs green with unexpected silhouettes, which prevents it from becoming stale.
3. Audrey Hepburn — Black
Audrey Hepburn helped solidify black as the go-to color for chic, timeless style. Her little black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s became one of the most famous movie costumes of all time. Hepburn demonstrated that you didn’t need bright colors or excessive frills to leave a lasting impression.
4. Taylor Swift — Red
Taylor Swift has become synonymous with red clothing thanks in large part to one of her biggest eras musically. She has rocked red dresses, lipstick, shoes, and accessories many times throughout her career. Music-wise and aesthetically, the connection between Taylor and the color red cemented it as one of her signature looks.
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5. Grace Kelly — Powder Blue
Grace Kelly often wore pale blue hues that matched her classy, elegant style. Powder blue showed up in dresses and other feminine staples that showcased her love for timeless silhouettes. Her icon status certainly helped give blue a highly glamorous perception.
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6. Beyoncé — Gold
Queen Bey has donned gold many times as a part of her stage costumes, music videos, award show looks, and general breakout moments. Gold and its metallic properties fit Beyoncé’s glamorous stage presence but work for everything from over-the-top gowns to simple accessories. Beyoncé’s reign helps gold stay true to high-fashion impact.
7. Brigitte Bardot — Gingham Pink
Brigitte Bardot will forever be linked to pink gingham after wearing her now-famous pink gingham wedding dress in 1959. The soft color and playful pattern attached themselves to Bardot’s youthful French persona. Her style helped pink gingham become recognizable as a vintage trend vs. just a casual fabric option.
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8. Zendaya — Brown
Zendaya has brought brown into a modern light by wearing it as part of elegant suits, gowns, and all-neutral ensembles. From chocolate to creamy caramel tones, her attire manages to feel sophisticated while not relying on brighter colors. Zendaya has also shown that you can mix several different shades of brown without having your outfit feel boring.
9. Elizabeth Taylor — Violet
Elizabeth Taylor is known for her beautiful violet-blue eyes, so it’s no surprise that purple is memorable when she wore it. Taylor appeared in lavender, violet, and other bold shades of purple that complemented her eyes. Many of her luxe gowns helped solidify purple as a color symbolic of luxury and old-Hollywood glam.
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10. Lady Gaga — Black
Lady Gaga has used black in countless memorable ways, from dramatic stage costumes to sleek and surprisingly restrained red-carpet outfits. Her styling often relies on unusual shapes, textures, and accessories to make an otherwise familiar color feel completely different. That constant reinvention has kept black at the center of her evolving fashion identity.
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11. Jackie Kennedy — Pink
Perhaps one of the most famous pieces of clothing Jackie Kennedy ever wore was her pink suit. Worn during a presidential trip to Texas in 1963, it is one of the most recognizable articles of clothing she owned. Outside of that one moment, pink was a staple in Kennedy’s wardrobe, showing how it could look polished and extremely 1960s.
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12. Lupita Nyong'o — Cobalt Blue
When thinking of standout colors Lupita Nyong’o has worn, cobalt blue definitely comes to mind. Whether it be a floor-length gown or chic tailored outfit, she has made the color pop time and time again. Nyong’o isn’t afraid of vibrant colors and has shown how you can make blue look elegant.
13. Sophia Loren — Red
Sophia Loren wore many red dresses and gowns during her heyday, which pairs perfectly with her luxurious Italian style. Red showed up often when Loren was dressing up for special occasions, and her larger-than-life silhouette made it pop. Loren will always be remembered as a Hollywood classic.
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14. Jennifer Lopez — Champagne
From dress-shopping rumors to the actual Grammy Awards stage, Jennifer Lopez has graced us with countless champagne, beige, and other neutral outfits. The warm tones allow eye-catching designs, fabrics, and embellishments to take center stage without fighting a bold color.
15. Diana, Princess of Wales — Electric Blue
Queen Diana knew how to rock blue on the regular. From fancy blue gowns to feminine suits, she wore it all. Electric blue was made for her, especially during the trendy 1980s and 1990s, as it complemented her daring fashion choices. Diana showed that bright colors can be regal and personable all at the same time.
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16. Emma Stone — Yellow
Emma Stone will forever be linked with that gorgeous yellow dress she wore in La La Land. While the film features many stunning outfits, the yellow dress stood out amongst them all. Stone isn’t afraid of bright and sunny colors, so yellow is no stranger to her red carpet looks either.
17. Rita Hayworth — Crimson Red
Much like Taylor, Rita Hayworth’s crimson red lips and painted-on curls are something we will always remember her by. Her voluptuous Old Hollywood look was paired with red dresses, scarlet lipstick, and, of course, her signature waves. Hayworth helped cement bright red as a symbol of evening glamour.
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18. Cardi B — Orange
Cardi B has embraced orange in some of her most attention-grabbing fashion moments, often making the vivid shade the centerpiece of an entire look. She isn't afraid to combine orange with dramatic silhouettes, bold accessories, and coordinated details. Her approach shows how a traditionally difficult color can become striking when it's used confidently from head to toe.
19. Elizabeth Taylor — Emerald Green
Not all of Elizabeth Taylor’s memorable colors were purple; she was also known for wearing rich jewel tones like emerald green. She wore the color frequently, and it complemented her glamorous wardrobe. Emerald green matched beautifully with the statement jewelry Taylor loved to wear.
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20. Blake Lively — Burgundy
Blake Lively is no stranger to the color red, especially when it comes to dressing up for events. She’s worn many shades of burgundy as a part of her glamorous red carpet appearances. Her use of burgundy has helped reinforce the color's appeal for formal events and sophisticated seasonal outfits.
