In every decade, there's always a lady or gentleman who exemplifies true class and style - whether it be because of their fashion sense or the way they carried themselves in everyday life. However, many of these exceptional people get overshadowed by others who, of course, are also very elegant and stylish. As someone who likes to root for the underdogs, I make sure that these fabulous people get the recognition that they so desperately deserve. Below, discover five of fashion's greatest icons who have slipped under the radar of the fashion industry.
1. Diana Vreeland
Diana Vreeland was Vogue's editor-in-chief from 1963 until 1971, becoming arguably one of Vogue's most influential editors. She took the magazine to new heights by celebrating the new and exciting fashion trends that were being displayed on runways all over the world. She wanted Vogue to feel youthful, stylish, and full of a certain joie de vivre. Vreeland's own personal style was dramatic, over the top, and simply fabulous. Not even Anna Wintour herself could match Vreeland's sense of unique style.
2. Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German film star during the Golden Age of Hollywood who found success in American films. Dietrich was known for her taste in men's clothing, often being photographed in men's trousers and overcoats. However, her fashion icon status was sealed in the 1930 film "Morocco" when she wore a man's tuxedo and top hat. She was also a bisexual woman and frequented the drag shows of 1920s Berlin, giving us a clue to where she developed her masculine sense of style.
3. Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford always said: "I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door." Throughout her long career in Hollywood, Joan would be known for her glamorous costumes and her impeccable taste. She was even known to start fashion trends well before anyone else. In her 1932 film "Letty Linton," Crawford was seen wearing a dress with exaggerated sleeves, thus beginning a craze for padded shoulders of all sorts. Although she was known for her acting ability, Joan would forever be remembered as the queen of haute couture.
4. Princess Diana
Princess Diana would forever be remembered for her humanitarian efforts, but it was her fashion sense that made her a favorite royal amongst the fashion houses. Diana's elegant, yet casual, approach to fashion made her seems as though she was one of the commoners of the world. Diana also used fashion to send a message, one such example being the "revenge dress" she wore in 1994 to send a message to ex-husband Prince Charles.
5. Cher
Cher's over-the-top style and campy fashion earned her the title of red carpet rebel. Along with her fashion collaborator Bob Mackie, Cher reinvented what a pop star could look like, often combing high fashion with her impeccable showmanship. Cher's fashion has even influenced the current exhibition on camp fashion at the Met, thus cementing her status as a fashion superstar.
