Old Hollywood was not only a time when film and talent took the stage, but a time when beauty came to life. From Marilyn’s signature blond hair, red lips, and break-in beauty standards to Audrey Hepburn’s minimalistic elegance, the impact of this era on the modern day is undeniable. These old Hollywood leading ladies not only defined the 1950s and 1960s but also broke down social barriers and impacted beauty standards forever. In an age of constantly changing trends, fast fashion, and social media influencers, it’s easy to forget that many of today’s beauty ideas, trends, and fashion have come from the golden age of Hollywood.
- Marilyn Monroe
From Monroe’s bright blond hair and signature beauty mark to her confident body positivity and self-love, modern beauty would not be the same without her inspiration. Starring in 23 movies and being an epic Hollywood star meant Monroe was constantly in the spotlight. She became a style icon and influencer, especially in the 1950s and 1960s, as everything from her red-carpet gowns to her street looks changed the fashion world and sparked new trends.
Monroe was known for her keen sense of style, creamy skin, glowy makeup, iconic hair, and bright red lips. Marilyn was known to wear bold but classic looks that emphasized her hourglass figure, like corsets, body-skimming dresses, halter tops, and sweetheart necklines. Monroe’s style celebrated and embraced feminine form, forever changing the fashion industry. We still see replicas and outfits inspired by Marilyn’s unique looks everywhere today. Monroe also spent lots of time on skincare and makeup routines to create her flawless but natural look, accented by a bold, colorful lip, which has become a must in modern fashion and can be seen on every red carpet even today.
- Audrey Hepburn
In contrast to Monroe’s bold style, actress Audrey Hepburn quickly became a poster child for classy, minimalist elegance. In the age of Marilyn Monroe and Liz Taylor and the bombshell, dramatic look that became popular after World War II, Hepburn’s fresh and natural look distinguished her from other stars of the era. Women could see themselves in and be easily inspired by Hepburn’s style and fashion choices, like a simple cardigan, comfy ballet flats, retro trench coats, and, of course, a little black dress. Hepburn’s elegant style skyrocketed when she wore one of the most iconic dresses of all time, the black dress worn in her 1961 award-winning movie “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” This simple, but stunning, Parisian floor-length dress became one of the most famous fashion pieces of all time and has been recreated by some of the biggest celebrities, like Natalie Portman and Ariana Grande. Not only was Hepburn a style icon, but she was also known for her motto to “just be yourself.” While other stars wore high heels and fancy dresses, Hepburn kept true to her personal preferences with sensible flats and a simple outfit.
- Grace Kelly
Not only was Grace Kelly a phenomenal actress who starred in 12 movies and won a Best Actress award. She also became a princess when she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. After Kelly’s first acting role, she quickly became one of the best actresses, starring alongside some of the most talented actors of all time, like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. With her spotlight on the silver screen, Kelly also became one of the first actresses to embrace her own personal style. With Kelly’s expensive and elegant taste, her looks became widely popular. Designer brands like Gucci made specialized patterns just for her. Kelly realized her style was something that raised her profile and success. With this knowledge, Kelly started experimenting with new styles and aesthetics that inspired the world. Kelly’s eye for fashion and use of patterns, silks, accessories, along with pops of color, could turn any basic outfit into an iconic masterpiece. Kelly’s fashion influence on people and brands led to her being known as the original influencer before social media even existed. Kelly’s street, red carpet, and even wedding day looks are recreated and reinvented by celebrities and brands to this day.
Not only did all these actresses stand out from the crowd with their beauty and style, but also for the way they portrayed femininity in different ways. Monroe’s bold look, Hepburn’s minimalism, and Kelly’s royal elegance offered many interpretations of beauty and womanhood. These leading ladies’ looks and their lasting influence on beauty and style have left a permanent impact on modern fashion in more ways than one. The “Marilyn look” with curves and a bold lip is still a recurring trend in fashion and pop culture to this day. Hepburn’s simple, classy styles, minimalist makeup, and iconic outfits continue to inspire social media trends and designers everywhere. Kelly’s sophisticated look still serves as an example of elegance for designers, influencers, and high-class communities. These women have changed the way beauty is looked at and defined how beauty is seen. Without their impact and inspiration throughout the years, fashion, trends, social media, and beauty would never be the same.
