The Peacock Magazine chronicles some of the iconic fashion figures whose enduring styles have inspired us all through the decades.
Manish Mishra
These stars were born to sparkle endlessly. From the runways to the sidewalks, from cinema to the red carpet, from magazine covers to music concerts–these iconic figures have never skipped a style beat. Their individual and singular style and appeal continue to charm, seduce, shock, surprise and inspire several generations of fashion junkies. Most of these legends can make a gunny sack look like a haute couture dress with their incredible carriage, confidence and sass. Here’s looking at 25 incredibly inspiring women hailing from different eras, who’ve straddled the worlds of cinema, fashion and music and always manage to thrill and hypnotise with their mere presence.
1. Marlene Dietrich
Actress Marlene Dietrich single-handedly defined and redefined the very essence of ‘androgynous allure’ in the fashion world. She was one of Christian Dior’s significant clients and her enviable closet comprising a litany of trouser suits pretty much evoked the spirit of Post War Paris–a war-ravaged city itching to get back on its feet and embrace glamour. The German beauty said in a 1960 interview, “I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men. If I dressed for myself I wouldn’t bother at all”. Thanks to her, tuxedos, trouser suits and evening jackets soon became women’s sartorial weapons. Not surprisingly, she went on to be the muse of Yves Saint Laurent, who invented “Le Smoking” decades later. Born to a military man father, she harboured a penchant for military uniforms and hence it’s hard to miss martial-inspired details in her looks. Soon her singular and cultivated style gave birth to the “Dietrich silhouette”–a gender-fluid metaphor for the lean, masculine cut of her trouser suits. She harboured a penchant for couture and bespoke tailoring. She once shared, “I have always had to have clothes made for me because of my unusual shape–broad shoulders, narrow hips.” For Dior’s Autumn Winter 2024 showcase (held at the Brooklyn Museum in New York), Marlene Dietrich was the brand’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s muse. Maria’s models sported Dietrich-style waves, white shirts and slouchy pleat-front trousers and velvet evening pyjamas. In an interview with The Guardian, Maria had remarked, “She was hyper glamorous and one of the first actors to understand the power of a look to define who she was.”
2. Catherine Deneuve
Parisian elegance at its chicest–that’s how one could possibly sum up Catherine Deneuve’s personal style which still inspires Francophiles. For nearly half a century, the award-winning film actress and Yves Saint Laurent were close friends which resulted in many of her game-changing looks. Her most epoch-defining film, Belle de Jour (1967) saw her sporting leather trench coats, polished day dresses and sexy lingerie all designed by Monsieur Yves. In 2002, at an event to mark the 40th anniversary of Saint Laurent’s career in haute couture, the French actor told him, ‘My most beautiful love affair is with you.’ She was always on the front row at all his shows. In fact, she was his first customer at his new Prêt-à-Porter store, Rive Gauche, when it opened in 1967, and remained Saint Laurent’s muse until his death in 2008. In the seventies, she agreed to lend her French beauty to Chanel’s iconic and largest-selling No. 5 perfume and got photographed by Helmut Newton making it one of the most memorable snaps in the brand’s hallowed history. Often spotted in her trademark sunnies and couture dresses at the Cannes Film Festival, her appeal at the film festival remains as buoyant as ever.
3. Brigitte Bardot
If French Riviera glamour had a synonym, it would be actor-dancer-singer Brigitte Bardot. Born in 1934, she initially started off as a dancer, training in ballet before making an effortless transition into modelling followed by acting when an Elle cover led to her first audition. By the mid-’50s, Bardot was a global sensation known for her inimitable raw sex appeal and velvet voice. Starring in the 1956 cult classic, And God Created Woman, her chignon in the film has inspired countless generations of style savants. Set in the scenic Saint Tropez, the film features her as a femme fatale soaking in the sun and sporting a bouffant as she walks around relishing desserts and breaking hearts. Even today there are countless YouTube and IG videos dedicated to nailing the quintessential ‘French girl chic’ dedicated to Bardot’s original and singular style. The infamous Bardot neckline which is a kind of off-the-shoulder neckline is making a comeback on the catwalks recently. Having bid adieu to films, she spends her time taking care of animals in her country house in South France.
4. Jane Birkin
Besides being a singer, actor, author, mother, and philanthropist, the late Jane Birkin was a true stylista. The popularity of the naked dress can be easily attributed to this multi-hyphenate icon, who made a statement in a sheer dress back in the sixties. Moreover, her signature wicker basket handbag was another key element of her cultivated look. The English girl (who made France her home) was a noteworthy study of the Anglo-French style. Her gingham mini dress, fringed mane and round sunnies in the French thriller, La Piscine (1969) comes to mind instantly. She made a remarkable foray into fashion history books when Hermès named their Birkin bag after her (after she reportedly spilled the contents of her wicker basket bag all over the CEO of Hermès on a flight), and she has since worn her own with her distinctive nonchalance. In addition to serving as a style inspiration on Instagram and TikTok in more recent years, Birkin, who passed away at the age of 76 in July 2023, has been a muse to an array of designers, even starring in a campaign for Yves Saint Laurent in 2016. Though synonymous with style, Birkin’s legacy also includes a decades-long commitment to humanitarian and activism efforts.
5. Audrey Hepburn
In the opening shot of the cult classic, Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961) Audrey Hepburn breezes out of a cab wearing a floor-length Givenchy gown, pearls, gloves and sunnies. Playing Holly Golightly (a New York playgirl), she glides towards the sprawling storefront of the Tiffany store sipping coffee and taking bites of her croissant. Nothing in fashion’s cinematic history comes close to this portrayal. A metaphor for understated elegance, Audrey was partial to impeccable tailoring and her enduring friendship with Hubert de Givenchy merits a chapter of its own in fashion textbooks. Known for ballet flats, hairbands, waist belts, black polo necks and gingham trousers, she was often spotted cutting an elegant figure in white lace gowns. In her latter years, Hepburn further edited her sartorial choices, with her faithful slim-cut trousers, crisp shirts and neat sweaters on regular rotation–a transition that marked a significant change in her personal and professional life.
6. Lady Diana
Diana’s early years reflect ’80s OTT glamour and excess–from her fairy tale wedding dress designed by the Emanuels to her bold shoulder evening gowns crafted by Catherine Walker. After she and Prince Charles separated in 1992, her personal style saw a huge transformation as she would attend charity and red carpet events in elegant evening gowns from labels like Versace offset with Dior bags. Who can forget the iconic Revenge Dress–an off-the-shoulder LBD designed by Christina Stambolian? The dress had a sweetheart neckline and Diana accessorised it with a choker. This historical dress was sold at an auction back in July 1997 and has since been exhibited occasionally! From being a shy English teenager used to wearing comfy knits and denims, she evolved into a tastemaker often spotted in Chanel suits and what is now known as Gucci Diana bags.
7. Jackie O
Jackie Kennedy was a veritable style figure even before she became the First Lady of the United States. Her Chanel suits, pearls and oversized sunnies instantly transported one to the unbridled glamour of the swinging seventies. For her official outings, she stayed loyal to the monochromatic ensembles from Chanel which were offset with pillbox hats. She’d finish off her ensembles with a printed silk scarf, bug-eye sunglasses and Gucci’s half-moon-shaped bag, now known as the Gucci Jackie 1961. In fact, she bought the bag in multiples, and she wore them so faithfully that the Italian luxury house ended up renaming the bag in her honour. However, her reign as Queen of Camelot was just the beginning for Jackie O, as she became known after her marriage to Aristotle Onassis in 1968. Her vintage holiday images embody her passion for luxe bohemia and masculine tailoring. She’d grown fond of voluminous maxi dresses and menswear-inspired suits later. In the later ’70s, widowed once again, Jackie embarked on a career as a book editor and cultivated a more no-nonsense approach to dressing.
8. Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly remains one of the most fashionable screen legends of our time. She ended her career on the big screen after her marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956 at the age of 26. Her sophisticated style during the 1950s both on and off screen was pretty remarkable–from wearing dresses by renowned Hollywood costume designers including Helen Rose and Edith Head to exceptional pearl and diamond jewellery, Hermès bags, Pringle of Scotland twin-sets and couture Christian Dior dresses. In fact, in 2010, the V&A dedicated an entire exhibition to the actress-turned-royal, which featured dresses from her starring roles in Hitchcock’s classic Rear Window to High Society. Her iconic wedding dress, created by Helen Rose who was head costume designer at MGM film studios, is still cited as one of the most famous bridal gowns ever to be worn. She was the muse behind Hermès’ Kelly Bag–which still remains the ultimate status symbol.
9. Anna Wintour
Given her lifelong allegiance to Chanel suits and Manolo Blahnik shoes, Anna Wintour’s style embodies power, achievement and polish. According to the several books which document her style, Anna would wear tight Chanel skirts even during her pregnancy in the Vogue office. Her oversized Chanel sunnies and precisely cut bob are easily one of the most recognisable looks in fashion. She’s often known for customising each of her looks favouring designs from Oscar de la Renta, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Tory Burch and Marc Jacobs. Besides tailored skirt suits which she often wears with studded necklaces, she has a collection of tea-length garden dresses brimming with graphic and bloom prints. Given her lifelong dedication to lawn tennis and working out, she remains impeccably fit and looks incredible on the front rows of fashion weeks and at the Met Gala which she hosts every year.
10. Carine Roitfeld
A high-waist skirt, tights, high heels and a camisole in lace–this pretty much sums up Carine Roitfeld’s sexy granny style. The former editor of French Vogue boasts of a personal style which is informed by her body of work, especially the sexed-up Gucci campaigns she shot with the then creative director Tom Ford and ace photographer Mario Testino. After moving out of Conde Nast, she went on to launch her bi-annual magazine CR Fashion Book, her creative talent agency CR Studio, and now her Carine Roitfeld Parfums. A true Parisienne, her closet is smaller than most would guess comprising Saint Laurent jackets, strappy heels and Rick Owen skirts. Friend and colleague Azzedine Alaïa inculcated in her the importance of taking care of her clothes—anything he lent was to be returned in the same silk paper—or else. Her longtime friend, mentor and associate–Karl Lagerfeld taught her to always dress up— so track pants were out of the question.
11. Sienna Miller
Actor and style savant Sienna Miller effortlessly reinvented bohemian chic back in the summer of 2005, as she forayed into the fashion landscape with her haute hippy energy. Since then she’s owned every room she’s walked into with her wavy, artfully dishevelled hair and prairie dresses and separates which had style junkies swooning. The unrivalled queen of boho chic, Miller brought back the seventies at the 2024 Met Gala as she showed up in a lace dress from Chloé, which featured a high neckline and floor-length sheer lace hemline layered on top of a mini-length lace dress. Last year, she left the style cognoscenti begging for more in a backless, metallic gown while at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The actor offset the shine-on number with silver heels, a Fendi baguette and pearl drop earrings. Moreover, not long ago, she starred in a Gucci campaign–which saw her celebrating the multitude of motherhood in a homage to the intimate art of portrait sittings, shot by Larissa Hofmann.
12. Naomi Campbel
She’s a quintessential bikini bombshell. At 54, she can still give girls half her age a run for their money. Recently Naomi was spotted flaunting her enviable hot bod while vacationing on a yacht in Ibiza. One of the five original supermodels, she was born in London and caught her break when she was 15 years old. Gracing the covers of more than 500 magazines during her career, she has fronted campaigns for Burberry, Prada, Versace, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. Moreover, she was the first black model to appear on the cover of TIME magazine, French Vogue and Russian Vogue as well as the first British black model to appear on the cover of British Vogue. Easily the undisputed queen of the runway, she’s walked for Chanel, Azzedine Alaia, Christian Dior, Versace and many more. Besides, her philanthropic work has been commendable. She’s been devoted to Fashion For Relief, Nelson Mandela Child Relief Fund and amFAR. On June 22, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum opened an exhibition – NAOMI: In Fashion celebrating Campbell’s 40-year career. Tracing Campbell’s ups and downs, it featured many of her most memorable outfits, including the blue 30cm-high Vivienne Westwood heels that famously toppled her on the runway in 1993.
13. Gwyneth Paltrow
Celebrated actress, Goop founder and an unabashed luxist, Paltrow always makes news for her impeccable style choices which set the internet buzzing. In a prolific career spanning 30 years, her style influence has refused to wane. And understandably so! Who can forget the bubblegum-pink, taffeta Ralph Lauren gown she wore to the 1999 Oscars or the pink rose-inspired Ralph & Russo gown she wore for the 2015 ceremony–each look has been bold and timeless! When she re-wore the Gucci velvet trouser suit designed by Alessandro Michele at the brand’s Love Parade show in 2021, she rekindled the timeless outfit’s magic which was originally crafted by Tom Ford (for her VMA 1996 appearance). Even her courtroom style (she was recently in Utah for a civil trial, following a 2016 incident on the ski slopes and a 2019 lawsuit for an alleged hit-and-run) was hailed a master class in “rich mom” dressing. For each day of her trial, Paltrow showed up wearing beautifully crafted neutrals and some pieces were from her own label.
14. Jennifer Lopez
Agelessness is something one not just associates with J-Lo’s killer physique but also her style. The singer and actress has been dazzling the red carpet and concerts with her larger-than-life appeal. Even her off-duty looks make for a compelling study. It was a historical moment documented in style Bibles when on the evening of February 23, 2000, J-Lo set the red carpet of the 42nd annual Grammy Awards ablaze dressed in a jungle print chiffon dress by Versace. It caused a digital mayhem of sorts, and several million Google searches–indeed, according to Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, it was the most searched-for ‘thing’ the platform had encountered to date. But people didn’t want reams of text about the dress: they wanted to see it. Thus, Google Image Search was born, one month later. Even now year after year her Met Gala looks are talked about and hugely anticipated. She’s often been partial to Falguni Shane Peacock’s dramatic and glamorous dresses. In 2013, the American singer was seen in a custom-made outfit by Falguni Shane Peacock during a performance at Chime for Change: The Sound of Change Live Concert, London.
15. Madonna
Madonna has been the ultimate reigning queen of relentless reinventions as she’s stayed relevant in every decade with her timeless music and evergreen style. Starlight, star bright, the star’s first look, seen in the ’80s is her “Lucky Star” video ensemble, consisting of a black mesh crop top, black fingerless lace gloves, a black ribbon in her hair, a black skirt over leggings, and stars and crucifixes (both of which will constantly show up in her looks to come) dangling from her ears and around her waist. And it’s hard to erase the conical and pointy pink corset, designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, that she wore on her Blonde Ambition tour making underwear-as-outerwear history and inspired imitations for years after the fact. For 2018’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” Met Gala theme, Queen Madge looked sensational in a Jean Paul Gaultier look comprising a voluminous black dress with a matching veil, topped with a smattering of crosses at her neck and in her glittering crown.
16. Rihanna
Rihanna has always been ahead of the style curve or is that an understatement? A sense of fearlessness is central to her style which borders on edgy, adventurous and unforgettable. Rihanna’s naked dress worn to the CFDA Fashion Awards in June 2014 will go down in history as her most daring. By day, she wears tracksuit-stiletto combos, gargantuan puffer jackets, and killer thigh-high boots. Post sunset, her glamazon side comes to the forefront favouring crystal mesh numbers. In 2015, she made headlines with a sunshine-yellow Guo Pei gown at the Met Gala sparking off a deluge of memes and her 2017 Comme des Garçons dress and 2018 John Galliano headpiece similarly broke the internet. For one of her early concerts, she had opted for a Falguni Shane Peacock bodysuit with sheer detailing.
17. Paris Hilton
Hilton has been walking runways since the early 2000s for notable designers including Lloyd Klein, Julien Macdonald, Christian Cowan and more. Last year she closed the Versace show in Milan in a Barbiecore outfit. Though she’s stuck to favourite labels like Diane von Furstenberg and Alice + Olivia, Hilton has expanded her repertoire as she’s grown up, showcasing the mature business woman side of herself. Not long ago, the jet-setting socialite had attended Indian designer duo Falguni Shane Peacock’s show at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), stating that their collection was full of ‘incredible’ designs. As she posted on Twitter, ‘Falguni and Shane Peacock on a fabulous runway show! So many incredible designs, can’t wait to wear them! New York Fashion Week’, she also wore a knee-length dress created by the designer duo. ‘Love the Falguni and Shane Peacock dress I’m wearing to their runway show. So futuristic and unique,’ she posted further. Hilton had previously flaunted Falguni Shane Peacock’s design at the amfAR (The American Foundation for AIDS Research).
18. Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian has been the undisputed queen of reality television since 2007. Over the years, Kim has branched out to make a name for herself as an entrepreneur and fashion mogul, launching multiple brands like SKIMS and SKKN by Kim. While in the early days of her career, she embraced a simpler aesthetic, Kardashian has evolved into a high-fashion trendsetter, popularising biker short ensembles, “pantaboots” and skintight latex dresses, just to name a few. Not every outfit sticks–her looks often spur mixed reactions–but that doesn’t stop the reality star from continuing to take style risks. The SKIMS founder has a penchant for Balenciaga, Balmain and Mugler and attends their shows at Paris Fashion Week driving paparazzi into a tizzy of sorts. Kardashian’s look-at-me sense of style continues to make her an anticipated arrival at every mega-wattage event, whether she’s walking the red carpet at the Met Gala or sitting front row at a fashion show. For a Vogue India cover story editorial spread, Kim had donned a custom Falguni Shane Peacock outfit that looked absolutely ravishing.
19. Beyoncé
Nothing ever comes close to the diva-like Beyoncé energy. From ‘Bootylicious’s’ tassel pink get-ups, to ‘Crazy In Love’s’ denim hotpants she’s had a considerable influence on pop culture. Always gravitating towards hourglass shapes, bright colours and diamond jewellery, the buxom siren has been partial to brands like Peter Dundas, Roberto Cavalli, Falguni Shane Peacock and Christopher John Rogers. For the second-ever Wearable Art Gala hosted by her mother Tina Knowles, the iconic singer wore a custom gold gown created by none other than Indian design mavens Falguni Shane Peacock. Having said that, the Peacocks are no strangers to Beyoncé’s unique aesthetic, having created a look for her ‘Formation’ video. Queen Bey’s look for the Wearable Art Gala, 2018, was not only one that grabbed eyeballs, but also powerful. “We wanted to create an art statement, taking inspiration from the Nubian warrior queen. We felt it was the perfect inspiration for such a strong woman like Beyoncé,” said Falguni Peacock. “The metallic cutouts on the sheer gold dress are strategically placed to mimic the shape of an armour.”
20. Twiggy
Sixties’ mod style owes a lot to Twiggy. Born Lesley Hornby, Twiggy’s prolific modelling career started serendipitously. She modelled a new hairstyle for a salon in London when she was a teenager. Fashion editor Deirdre McSharry came across the image and met Twiggy. McSharry arranged to have more photos taken of her. The editor, who worked at the Daily Express, featured the pictures in an article a few weeks later calling Twiggy “The Face of ’66.” The rest was history. As a long-standing fashion industry figure, Twiggy has lived through many style phases throughout her life under the spotlight. She’s gone from the cool Mod girl in her teens and early 20s to a sophisticated, business-style judge during the seasons she was on “America’s Next Top Model.” During the ’80s, Twiggy began focusing more on her acting and singing career and her fashion sense became more inspired by Hollywood. She began donning glamorous cocktail dresses and eveningwear fit for her public appearances.
21. Kate Moss
Her relevance in fashion can be measured by her cover appearances. She landed the covetable cover spot of international Vogue magazines over 120 times, the most recent being British Vogue’s December 2023 with her daughter Lila which marked 30 years after her first-ever cover shoot for the magazine in March 1993. Moreover, she was also on the cover of W more than 20 times. A teen from Surrey became a supermodel, in the early ’90s becoming a metaphor for minimalism and walking for the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Marc Jacobs and John Galliano. She is still a front-row fixture at fashion weeks and fronting brand campaigns like Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2023 by Anthony Vaccarello. Often stopping the traffic in floor-length gowns, fur dusters and silky slip dresses, Kate is a symbol of British fashion. The infamous sheer “naked” dress trend came into being thanks to her back in the ’90s. Over the years, she has walked the runway for almost every major fashion house globally–including Saint Laurent, Prada, Vivienne Westwood, Versace, Gucci, Chloe, Chanel, Alexander McQueen and Louis Vuitton–despite being just 5’7”.
22. Blake Lively
Ever since she essayed Gossip Girl’s bad girl–Manhattan’s Upper East Side rebel–Serena van der Woodsen, Blake has become a pin-up sensation for many across the world. It’s not for nothing that they hail her as the red carpet royalty. Carriage, charisma and confidence come to her naturally. In an industry where most stars depend on their stylists, Blake is one of the rare exceptions who styles all her looks herself. While for special red carpet events like the Cannes Film Festival, she opts for bold Versace numbers which accentuate her natural curves, her street style is relatively vibrant and fun, no matter where she’s off to. At Ralph Lauren’s 50th Anniversary runway show, she looked exceptional in a black fitted suit with a waistcoat, top hat and cane. Another noteworthy look was her Atelier Versace gold beading and blue feathers at the 2017 Met Gala. Trouser suits in coral hues, maxis and leather jackets worn with shorts reflect the duality in her multi-layered style as she oscillates between chic and bohemian.
23. Heidi Klum
As one of the most talked-about supermodels in the world and the host for Fashion TV shows including Project Runway and Making the Cut, Heidi Klum embodies the values of a true style icon. From her subversive sense of style to her never-ending legs, Klum is always one to look out for on the red carpet and also off it. Her Halloween looks have always broken the internet leading to viral memes. Her elaborate costumes and outrageous sense of style have flummoxed her Instagram fans. From sitting in the make-up chair for seven hours to transforming into a werewolf to shelling out a whopping $10 million to cloning herself, Heidi always brings her A-game for Halloween festivities. She’s been everything from a goddess to a worm.
24. Sarah Jessica Parker
Starring in fashion-centric shows like Sex and the City and And Just Like That, Sarah Jessica Parker always had a risk-taking approach to dressing much like her on-screen character–Carrie Bradshaw. There’s always been a sense of playfulness to Parker’s looks; for her clothing is a tool for self-expression. From offsetting her looks with strappy Manolo Blahnik and Aquazzura heels to sporting kicky and often outrageous headgears–she’s a true clotheshorse and easily the muse to most designers. From carrying vintage Dior saddles to clutching Fendi baguettes to opting for floor-sweeping gowns at the red carpet–Sarah always has fun with fashion. In And Just Like That, she opted for a Falguni Shane Peacock couture Lehenga featuring hand-embroidered resham (silk) work in chequered patterns on the full-sleeved blouse and motifs inspired by Udaipur’s grand palaces on the skirt, which became one of her strongest looks in the show.
25. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (ARB) has been a timeless style icon ever since she won the Miss World title in 1994. Having worked with the likes of Mani Ratnam and Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Bollywood and also having made her presence felt in a series of Hollywood films like The Last Legion (2017) and The Pink Panther 2 (2019), ARB’s nuanced yet impactful style pretty much reflects her well-rounded on-screen and off-screen persona–polished, refined and cultivated. At the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival, the L’Oréal Paris brand ambassador opted for a series of sensational looks from Falguni Shane Peacock which celebrated her exemplary cinematic works and her allegiance to several philanthropic causes.