Fashion kicks the door in every ten years and leaves a new icon standing in the doorway. One face. One look. One person who somehow made everyone else rethink their closet. Five decades. Five rule-breakers.
The 1950s gave us Audrey Hepburn: clean lines, quiet confidence. The 1960s followed with Twiggy, all angles and attitude. The 1970s belonged to David Bowie, who didn’t wear clothes so much as invent identities. The 1980s crowned Princess Diana, mixing fairy-tale glamour with real-world warmth. And the 1990s ended with Kate Moss, effortless, undone, and allergic to excess.
Styles changed. Icons stayed. Because every decade needs someone brave enough to wear the future first and make it look inevitable. We want you to take a deep breath and maybe take some inspiration for next year. These people knew how to rock an outfit; but, do you?
1
Audrey Hepburn, 1950s
Hepburn redefined elegance in the postwar era, popularizing clean lines, ballet flats, and the little black dress. Her collaborations with Givenchy made minimalism aspirational and timeless.
2
Grace Kelly, 1950s
With her polished tailoring and understated luxury, Kelly represented aristocratic refinement. Her style bridged Hollywood and royalty, influencing classic American and European fashion.
3
Marilyn Monroe, 1950s
Monroe embodied Hollywood glamour, turning curve-hugging silhouettes, red lipstick, and platinum hair into global symbols of femininity and confidence during the decade.
4
James Dean, 1950s
Dean made rebellion fashionable. His uniform of jeans, white T-shirts, and leather jackets transformed casual wear into a symbol of youthful independence.
5
Jacqueline Kennedy, 1960s
As First Lady, Jackie Kennedy set a new standard for political style. Her pillbox hats, sheath dresses, and polished simplicity shaped American elegance.
6
Twiggy, 1960s
Twiggy’s boyish figure and bold mod style defined the Swinging Sixties. She popularized mini skirts, graphic patterns, and a youthful, experimental approach to fashion.
7
Brigitte Bardot, 1960s
Bardot blended sensuality with ease, making off-the-shoulder tops, tousled hair, and natural makeup symbols of French cool and feminine freedom.
8
Yves Saint Laurent, 1960s
Saint Laurent revolutionized women’s fashion by introducing menswear-inspired tailoring, including Le Smoking tuxedo, redefining power dressing and gender norms.
9
Bianca Jagger, 1970s
Jagger became a symbol of disco-era glamour, mixing sharp tailoring with daring silhouettes. Her Studio 54 looks captured the decade’s bold, liberated spirit.
10
Farrah Fawcett, 1970s
Fawcett’s feathered hair and all-American casual style defined 1970s beauty, making athletic, relaxed fashion mainstream and aspirational.
11
David Bowie, 1970s
Through alter egos like Ziggy Stardust, Bowie blurred gender lines and expanded fashion’s expressive potential, influencing avant-garde and androgynous style.
12
Diana Ross, 1970s
Ross embraced drama and movement with sequins, gowns, and volume, embodying disco glamour and celebrating confidence through fashion.
13
Princess Diana, 1980s
Diana modernized royal fashion with bold colors, statement silhouettes, and accessible elegance, becoming one of the most photographed and influential women of the decade.
14
Michael Jackson, 1980s
Jackson’s military jackets, single glove, and sharp tailoring merged music and fashion, proving stage style could drive global trends.
15
Madonna, 1980s
Madonna turned self-expression into a fashion statement, mixing lace, corsets, and religious imagery. Her constantly evolving style challenged norms and empowered individuality.
16
Grace Jones, 1980s
Jones used fashion as performance art. Her sculptural silhouettes and androgynous looks challenged beauty standards and redefined power dressing.
17
Kate Moss, 1990s
Moss popularized the “heroin chic” aesthetic, shifting fashion toward minimalism, slip dresses, and an understated, edgy sensibility.
18
Naomi Campbell, 1990s
Campbell dominated runways and magazine covers, helping define the era of the supermodel and setting new standards for presence and professionalism.
19
Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, 1990s
Her refined, minimalist wardrobe made simplicity luxurious. She became a symbol of quiet sophistication and modern American style.
20
Aaliyah, 1990s
Aaliyah blended streetwear with sensuality, pairing baggy silhouettes with sleek styling. Her look reshaped pop and R&B fashion influence.
