9 Celebrity Icons Who Set Fashion Trends We Are Still in Love With Today

Fashion changes and there’s always a place for experimentation. But sometimes fashion trends that seem bold and new were actually born decades ago. Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Diana Ross, and Prince are just a few celebrity icons who continue to influence our wardrobe choices even now. Modern celebrities and fashion lovers around the world recreate their looks on different occasions, from beach holidays to weddings.

We at Bright Side tracked 9 fashion trends back to their roots and found 9 celebrities who seem to have made them popular. Buckle up and get ready for a little time travel!

Audrey Hepburn: the little black dress

Even though the original concept of the little black dress was born back in the 1920s and was inspired by Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn turned this piece of clothing into a never-dying classic in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The black sleeveless sheath dress with cuts on the back, paired with a hat and opera gloves, created a truly legendary look, that is both elegant and sensual, and is often recreated nowadays.

In 2019 Lady Gaga recreated this iconic look when she stepped out in a black sleeveless dress with black opera gloves at the Academy Awards, and she was also wearing the very same piece of Tiffany & Co. jewelry that Audrey Hepburn was wearing when promoting the Breakfast at Tiffany’s movie.

Marilyn Monroe: high-waisted swimsuits

If you take a look at a few pictures of Marilyn Monroe wearing swimsuits, you’ll easily notice that the majority of them are high-waisted bikinis. Popular back in the 1950s (and made even more popular by Marilyn), this type of bikini is now making a big comeback. Feminine and elegant, these swimsuits are also flattering, as they help to smooth out any little imperfections you may worry about and create a sensual hourglass shape. Some swimsuit shops are even naming their high-waisted bikinis after Marylin.

Katharine Hepburn: “men’s” suits on women

Modern celebrity women are often seen wearing “male” attire on the red carpet, but this kind of fashion choice was quite uncommon, and even risky, in the first half of the 20th century. Back then people were supposed to dress “according to their gender” but Katharine Hepburn broke those rules. Along with Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, she was brave enough to promote the wearing of pants by women. The actress challenged fashion gender norms and proudly wore pants, shirts, and tuxedos, being an inspiring example of expressing oneself through fashion.

Brigitte Bardot: off-the-shoulder tops

Off-the-shoulder tops and dresses can make you look fabulous on many occasions, from a lunch with friends to a public event. Brigitte Bardot turned off-the-shoulder tops into her signature fashion style back in the 1960s, pairing these tops with different kinds of skirts and pants, and we see this feminine silhouette worn by women all around the world today.

Diana Ross: an avalanche of sequins

In 2021, Dua Lipa stunned the audience with her gorgeous purple gown at the Grammy Award show, and we’ve already seen that purple sparkle. Back in 1983, Diana Ross wore a sequin jumpsuit of a similar color during her performance, and she also looked fabulous. If you have a look at the pictures of Diana Ross’s stage outfits, you’ll see how she loved sequins, in all their shapes and colors.

Grace Kelly: that famous wedding dress

The gown Grace Kelly was wearing at her wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956 became one of the world’s most remembered and inspiring wedding dresses. Made of a fitted lace bodice and a flared skirt, it has been a dream wedding dress for many brides ever since. Many people felt that Kate Middleton’s gown was giving off Grace Kelly dress vibes too.

Twiggy: miniskirts and dresses

Just like the “men’s” suits worn by Katharine Hepburn, short and revealing miniskirts were a fashion statement back in the 1960s when Twiggy was their poster girl. Today many fashionistas have at least one miniskirt or mini dress in their wardrobe, and they’ve found their place on the red carpet as well.

Prince: androgynous style

Long before Harry Styles started to amaze the public by wearing transparent ruffled blouses and boas, the famous singer Prince did it. As one of the biggest fashion icons, he challenged the fashion gender norms that defined how men “should” look. Lace, sequins, feathers, boas, and even high heels were part of his stage outfits, and this was still something extraordinary for a male celebrity back in the 1980s.

Elizabeth Taylor: lots of jewelry

Throughout her life, Elizabeth Taylor has been collecting jewelry, and her personal collection included diamond diadems, emerald earrings and brooches, luxurious sets by Cartier, Bulgari accessories, and other gorgeous pieces of jewelry. The actress loved her collection and proudly demonstrated it in movies and at public events. It looks like many modern celebrities channel Elizabeth Taylor and wear lots of jewelry on stage and on the red carpet. Would you agree?

Have you ever noticed how modern celebrities channel icons of the past in their fashion choices? Which celebrities inspire you the most with their style and why? Let’s discuss this in the comments!