Katharine Hepburn: She was a staunch feminist and was one of the first women to wear pants, starting in the 1930s. There is a story that during the shooting of a film, the execs took all of her pants out of her dressing room, leaving only skirts and dresses in an effort to make her wear them. She apparently walked around in a shirt and her underwear until they were returned. Katharine basically created the menswear trend, because she was probably wearing actual men’s clothing. And her assertive, slightly rebellious feminism was a great accessory.
Marilyn Monroe: She was a size twelve, but was considered extremely beautiful, and was one of the most photographed people ever. With platinum blonde hair, red lipstick, and oozing careless sexuality, Marilyn epitomized the classic beauty of the 1950s. She made the nipped waist, low-cut tops, and tight blue jeans her own, while reinventing eveningwear. Not to mention diamonds.
Audrey Hepburn: While Katharine epitomized menswear, Audrey brought beauty to tomboy clothes. With striking features, a swan neck, and a small frame, she made boatnecks, leggings, and flats incredibly beautiful. She could be demure and proper, or sparkling and mischievous, or bawdy and raucous (as in “My Fair Lady”). She was multifaceted, graceful, and ageless. If only the same were true for the rest of us.
