Timeless Style
No matter how hard we try to innovate, the fashions of today will always be influenced by the fashions of yesterday. But, maybe that isn't entirely a bad thing. Fashion is a great way of tracing cultural development through history and these 20 tastemakers and trailblazers set trends, redefined the fashion industry, and changed the way we think about personal style.
1. Louis XIV
When it came to extravagance, Louis XIV of France had the market cornered. The Sun King brought an explosion of color onto the fashion scene, quickly doing away with the dark and heavy colors favored by Spanish tastemakers. Louis's style was bright, bold, and gaudy; courtiers actually went bankrupt trying to copy all his ribbons and ruffles!
2. Audrey Hepburn
Few people exemplify beauty and grace as well as Audrey Hepburn. On screen, she wore gorgeous gowns by legendary designers Hubert Givenchy, Edith Head, and Cecil Beaton. Off-screen, she preferred turtlenecks, cigarette trousers, and penny loafers. Either way, she always dressed to impress.
Paramount-photo by Bud Fraker on Wikimedia
3. Anne Boleyn
The most iconic of Henry VIII's wives (though for less than desirable reasons), Anne Boleyn was also one of the most fashionable. Like many young women across history, Anne Boleyn did a stint in France, and brought her fashion tastes back home with her. She helped banish the old-fashioned gable hood in favor of the softer (and sexier) French hood.
Template:Leornado Da Vinci, English on Wikimedia
4. Steve McQueen
Undoubtedly one of the coolest men to ever live, Steve McQueen taught generations of American men how to dress. The King of Cool was a clothing chameleon, effortlessly shifting between rebellion and refinement. His go-to outfit of jeans, canvas sneakers, a plain white tee, and sunnies is just as cool today as it was in the 50s.
Unknown authorUnknown author on Wikimedia
5. Beau Brummell
If you love Regency romances as much as we do, then you have Beau Brummell to thank for the sharp-dressed dandies of Jane Austen. Brummell was the one to watch for all things fashionable in London society, reportedly taking 5 hours a day to dress. Almost single-handledly, Brummell brought on The Great Male Renunciation, which saw men give up their ornate outfits for a precursor to the modern suit.
6. Coco Chanel
What can we say about Coco Chanel that hasn't already been said? As a trailblazer she popularized everything from suntans to LBDs. As a designer, she put the final nail in the coffin of the corset. As a businesswoman, she headed one of the most financially successful and recognizable fashion houses of all time.
Los Angeles Times on Wikimedia
7. Jacqueline Kennedy
Probably the best-dressed woman to call the White House home, Jackie O's style was simple and elegant. Her favored suits and shift dresses made French couture patriotic and influenced women around the country. Her taste in clothing practically wrote the book for every first lady after her.
8. Empress Eugénie
The last Empress of France, Empress Eugénie helped make French haute couture what it is today. Influenced by Marie Antoinette, Eugénie never re-wore gowns and chafed against the crinolines of the time. With the help of legendary designer Charles Frederick Worth, Eugénie popularized the bustle silhouette that would define the gilded age.
Franz Xaver Winterhalter on Wikimedia
9. Isabella D'Este
Called one of the most beautiful woman of the Renaissance, Isabelle d'Este didn't just use clothes to feel pretty, she used them to make a statement. D'Este ruled in place of her wayward husband, and used fashion to assert her confidence and wealth. Her closet was filled with luxurious furs, intricate brocades, and sky-high headdresses.
Peter Paul Rubens on Wikimedia
10. Oscar Wilde
Never one to listen to society, Oscar Wilde was a fashion rebel. Wilde was a follower of the Aesthetic Movement, which prioritized "art (and fashion) for arts' sake" and took inspiration from dreamy medieval paintings. While most men were wearing three-piece suits, Wilde sported breeches, stockings, and green carnations in his buttonhole.
11. Marie Antoinette
When Marie Antoinette arrived in France from Austria, she had to give up everything from her home country, including all her clothes. Fortunately, Marie took to French fashion like a duck to water. Marie loved bold colors, huge wigs, and comfy muslin dresses.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia
12. Madame De Pompadour
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, better known as Madame de Pompadour, paved the way for Marie Antoinette. Not only did she give us the hairstyle that bears her name, but she knew how to dress when everyone's eyes were on her; as the chief mistress of the king, she had a lot of eyes on her. When you think of rococo dress, you likely think of Madame de Pompadour: powdered, pastel, and adorned with bows.
13. Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker set Paris on fire in the 1920s with her slicked-down Eton crop haircut, endless strings of pearls, and slinky silk dresses. Her cabaret looks continue to inspire some of the best-dressed women of today including Diana Ross, Rihanna, and Naomi Campbell. Although, Baker might have been best-known for wearing nothing at all, as anyone who's seen her banana costume can attest to.
14. Sergei Diaghilev
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the founder of the world's first avant-garde ballet company had style to spare. We aren't just talking about ballet costumes here, Sergei Diaghilev had a look and stuck to it: fur collars, top hats, and his famous mustache. Diaghilev's eye for aesthetics led to an Edwardian craze for everything Russian.
15. John Hancock
It's only fitting that the man behind the biggest and boldest signature on the Declaration of Independence would be an equally snappy dresser. In many ways, John Hancock's dress sense was the opposite of his penmanship: he was all about quiet luxury. Hancock relied on rich colors and fine fabrics to make an impression, forgoing extra adornments.
John Singleton Copley on Wikimedia
16. Princess Diana
From Sloane Ranger to the people's princess, Princess Diana's style was nothing short of legendary. Biking shorts and crewneck sweaters; the breathtaking Revenge Dress; billowing ball gowns and tiaras. No matter what look you think of when you think of Diana, it's a guaranteed stunner.
Provincial Archives of Alberta on Wikimedia
17. Virginia Oldoini
When the art of photography was first taking off, Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione, was one of the first influencers, in the modern term of the world. Dubbed the most beautiful girl in Paris, Oldoini was a pioneer in portrait photography, sitting for around 700 photographs in theatrical costumes. These outfits were then replicated in Paris boutiques.
Pierre-Louis Pierson on Wikimedia
18. Marlene Dietrich
A siren of the silver screen, Marlene Dietrich's gender-bending fashion continues to inspire today. Not only was she an early adopter of pants (and three-piece suits, both on and off-screen), but Dietrich's penchant for glittering jewels and luxurious furs proved that she could (and did) go both ways. However, contrary to popular belief, she was not detained in Paris for wearing pants.
Don English (1901-1964); Paramount Pictures on Wikimedia
19. Emma Hamilton
The quintessential English rose, Emma Hamilton rose from a scullery maid to the lover of one of the most famous men in England: Horatio Nelson. Hamilton was an actress known for her "attitudes", scenes featuring classical characters, historical figures, and saints, all performed in billowing Greek costume. At a time when fashion was defined by French elegance, these loose, Grecian garments sparked a revolution.
Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia
20. Charles II
When Charles II returned to England after a decade of exile, he brought his love of French fashion with him. Unfortunately, he was soon at war with France, and his beloved styles became unpatriotic. Undeterred, Charles swapped the traditional doublet and hose for a vest, coat, and breeches—an early version of the three-piece suit.
