In a world full of boring red carpets lined with stylist-approved iterations of the same gown, it’s refreshing to be reminded that there are (and were) celebs who go (and went) against the grain. Here, 25 style icons, ranked from “Can we be you?” to “Seriously, can we please be you?”
25 of History's Greatest Style Icons, Ranked
Teach us your ways, oh great ones
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Published Jul 11, 2016
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25. Bianca Jagger
Really makes us wish we had gone to Studio 54.
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24. Courtney Love
Kind of a mess but you know you wanted those slip dresses.
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23. Tilda Swinton
There's a very real chance she might be an alien…and we mean that in the greatest way possible.
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22. Cate Blanchett
Oft confused with the previous, Blanchett takes almost as many risks, just in a slightly more elegant way.
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21. Grace Kelly
Regal as hell.
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20. Diana, Princess Of Wales
Same, TBH.
19. Kate Middleton
Making princess fashion accessible since 2010.
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18. Brigitte Bardot
The hair envy is real.
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17. Grace Jones
The definition of fierce.
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16. Marilyn Monroe
Just as chic in high-waisted bikinis as she was in cropped pants and sweaters.
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15. Lupita Nyong'o
The cape dress that launched a billion girl crushes.
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14. Jenna Lyons
Quirky and wonderful.
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13. Lauren Hutton
Ageless, timeless, classic.
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12. Beyonce
Bow down.
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11. Mary-kate And Ashley Olsen
Proving it’s OK to never not wear black, especially as a package duo.
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10. Solange Knowles
Sorry, Bey, but Solange has the edge here.
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9. Diana Ross
Seventies glamour at its finest.
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8. Katharine Hepburn
No dresses, no problems.
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7. Kate Moss
No bras, no problems.
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6. Stevie Nicks
When you have a type of sleeve associated with your name, you've made it.
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5. Madonna
Decades later, the cone bra is still iconic.
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4. Cher
Thank God for Bob Mackie.
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3. Rihanna
Dare we say...the modern-day Cher?
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2. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
But it's not all shock and sparkles that make an icon. You still need the patron saint of prep.
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1. Audrey Hepburn
Cliché as it may be, there’s a reason her posters decorate one in every three college dorm rooms.
