We often hear that girls like Audrey Hepburn or Princess Di are historical icons of women’s fashion, but there is an army of women who advanced fashion years before. These brave women of history paved the way for us and our predecessors with their revolutionary actions and memorable sense of style.
marquise luisa casati
A style icon from Italy, this heiress was way ahead of her time with eccentric looks that would one day inspire Mick Jagger and many other musicians. She was the OG of androgynous rock n’ roll before it became what it became decades later, and even Man Ray captured her beauty. Luisa liked bold jewelry, with equally bold black eyeliner and dreamy flowing robes. Oh, coincidentally she also had a cheetah on a leash.
Marquise pompadour
Say hello to the epitome of extravagance: Madame de Pompadour, born in 1721, was the mistress of King Louis XV. This beautiful woman sought to go overboard with her decadent bows and flowers on a puffy rococo dress in pastel tones. He looked like candy, in the best way possible. Today, this would only be seen on the catwalk.
Dalí Gala
Salvador Dalí’s wife (and muse, it should be noted) was much more than the wife of a famous mustachioed artist. Her signature timeless style consisted of fedora hats, perfectly fitted dresses, wide-leg pants, and designs by Schiaparelli, who eventually worked with the Dalis. Not only was she a stunner in her outfits, but she was also a smart entrepreneur who kept snakes away and attracted gallery owners with ease.
Simone de Beauvoir
Simone De Beauvoir was not one of those who dressed up to look pretty in front of a man: she was against corsets and fashion prisons. This feminist had actually said that clothes were not on her mind most of the time, but based on how she dressed, she must have naturally had a knack for fashion. Her wardrobe included accessories, oversized garnet earrings surrounded by silver, and outfits like a black-and-white wool braided tweed dress. He adored the clothes from his travels, like a silk Chinese jacket-like robe lined with lamb.
Elsa Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli was a French-Italian designer passionate about surrealist fashion. This shared passion for surrealism is what brought Elsa so close to Dalí and his wife. She inspired designers for years with her ingenious creations, such as a phone-shaped bag and a white dress printed with enormous lobsters. In the 1930s she led the world of haute couture and even coined a new color called “shocking pink” that fashion lovers were obsessed with.
