Navigating the practical, fashionable and moral codes of clothing is something that reigns familiar to all women throughout history from queens, to athletes and even the rich and famous – the every women and if you look back in history you will see that women, despite having limited resources available to them than men have manage to turn their clothing into a powerful voice, into a way to help advance their causes – regardless of the consequences. And while many women used their styles as an act of activism or of for function fashion – today they have inspired than many cult classic fashion trends we all know and love today. These women may not have known it at the time but the changed the face of fashion for future generations to come.
Cleopatra
Fashion is all about drama and Cleopatra queen of Nile’s life was full of it. From her legendary affairs with some of the most powerful men of her time to her struggles to maintain her influence as ruler of Egypt during Rome’s conquest – Cleopatra’s tale is one of gargantuan proportions and has fast become one of the world’s most enduring and tragic love stories retold by everyone from Shakespeare to Hollywood. Even Cleopatra’s death was a series of miscommunications, in a Romeo and Juliet-like twist fit only for the silver screen, one which led to both her and her lover Mark Anthony committing suicide.
An exotic queen of a seemingly distant land with an undeniable charm, who was renowned for her sexual allure and intelligence – Cleopatra has managed to remain a single influence in the world of style, not only for the extent of her beauty but for her ability to present herself in the most strategic manner – using her clothes as a key part of pageantry that she used in the display of her publicly controlled image (Like the original Lady Gaga). Of all her depictions from the ancient world as well as the cinematic one, Cleopatra’s attributes are demonstrated to one that is fitting for a queen, for a woman of power and passion. Like a true style innovator Cleopatra combined both Greek and Egyptian elements within her wardrobe, mixing the more tradition and modest Greek gowns with the seductive Egyptian flare. However, Cleopatra’s quintessential style imprint must be the black kohl eyeliner worn in a cat-eye style – a look that has stood the test of time, a trend that is still widely popular today.
Perhaps the best-known visual depiction of Cleopatra is not found in a museum or in paintings but in Hollywood. In scenes from the 1963 film ‘Cleopatra’ which is based on her life, and starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The film became the epic of all epics, a spectacular affair, and one of the costliest movies of all times – one which nearly bankrupt 20th Century Fox. However, the film inspired a revived interest in the styles of ancient Egypt in the early 1960s much as the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 served as a revived inspiration for the Art Deco movement.
The film which won an Oscar for Best Costume Design had a total of 65 costume changes for Elizabeth Taylor – who along with the fashion critics took the films fashion very seriously. A penchant for shimmery metallic fabrics, Grecian draping, heavy ornate jewelry which adorned her arms, neck and head as well as her iconic shinx eyes all combine to encompasses the vigor and style which made Cleopatra a fashion icon who still resonates today.
Channel You Inner Cleopatra: Adorn yourself in Jewells, and rock your finest cats-eye in the darkest colour you can muster and know that you carry with you the historic finesse of the exotic Queen of the Nile, a powerful female who encompasses all it is to be a woman.
Joan Of Arc
For many women throughout history dress clothes were more of a sentence than a luxury, more of a uniform than a form of self-expression and many who were not content with a life of domesticity dressed like men as it was their only way to break free, to escape their preordained destinies. They did this without care for the moral and physical punishments that came with discarding your womanly decency. Joan of Arc maybe the poster child for adopting masculinity as something a woman can be too, a prominent figure in history – she did after all lead the French to victory over the English in The Hundred Year War when she was only just a teenager – despite her gender and the restraints put on her because of it. However, just after Joan and her family were given the Nobility status she was captured a few days after, on May the 25th 1430.
On January 13, 1431 Joan’s trail began, tried by the church and not the state in which she was given 70 different charges of heresy against her in a single month. They accused her of being a witch as she behaved differently from most women and claimed to hear ‘mysterious voices’ in her head. The court claimed that the voices constituted blasphemy as she claimed the voices were a direct command of God – which the church believed she used as an excuse to go against the Church itself. Most the charges laid against Joan were for wearing men’s clothes and falsely claiming assured salvation – she not only dressed like a man but assumed a man’s duties and characteristics by bravely commanding armies and advising male authority figures – even the King. Joan paved a new wave of gender identity and lead not only armies to victory but a long line of women to gender freedom with to her ability to transcend traditional gender roles. Not only a role model but a muse rendering her a true style icon. By taking the female form to a more masculine appearance, allowing women to feel just as strong as any man with a welcomed hard-edge flare that points directly to Joan’s fiery spirit, with the introduction of chainmail accents, tunic and armor like silhouettes and weaponry influenced jewelry as an embraced androgynous style that will continue to fill the streets long after her death.
Channel You Inner Joan: Play with different textures and a regal colour pallet to best embrace your inner Joan. Layer different textures, metallics, hemp, and knits and adorn yourself in gold, silver or bronze jewelry – the bigger and chunkier the better.
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette, was an Archduchess of Austria from 1755 to 1770 a Dauphine of France from 1770 to 1774 and the last Queen of France. But history remembers her for so much more than her titles. She was the queen of more – an extrovert personality and a queen whose sartorial decisions were used as propaganda to contribute to the crumbling of the French monarchy with the help of her extravagant lifestyle she quickly turned into the most scandalous party figure of her time. Her marriage to King of France Louis XVI was more for conceive than love, as her interest lay more with fashion, parties and extravagant behavior that led to her to become wildly unpopular with the French Population, Versailles was a theater of fashion and Marie was the lead role. Oozing with all the characteristics of true Rococo style Marie exploited all the luxuries that the royal title offered her; fabulous fabrics, delicacies, spa treatments and lavish jewelry. Marie had such a passion for fashion and for expressing herself through her dress so much so that she broke royal etiquette and dubbed a young women commander Rose Bertin, who was a milner and a dressmaker her ‘Minister of Fashion’ – a women who quickly became one of the world’s first fashion desires. A symbol of femininity and extravagance Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette is one of the many icons of French Style, alongside the likes of Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Edith Piaf and others. Her fondness for fashion and depraved masquerade parties – which were immensely popular with those of the upper class, all who participated in the exuberant gowns, costumes, expensive and rare fabric and magnificent jewelry created an image of an 18th century fashion parade filled with wild aristocrats. Marie’s lifestyle was one of exorbitant spending, and while her country was ravished with poverty she bathed in the all the riches royalty could offer her. She ignored her critics who criticized for her expensive taste and continued to live a life beyond measure – all the way through the birth of her children to her execution Marie was full of style and luxury. She had a huge influence all over Europe not only in the XVIII century but even now, with the most famous couturiers like Karl Lagerfeld and John Galliano continuing to take inspiration from her baroque style.
Channel Your Inner Marie Antoinette: Gone are the days of big and bold gowns and hairstyles, but this doesn’t mean channeling your inner queen of style is impossible. Look to designers that encompass the same qualities in which Marie would choose her outfits; flirty, flouncy and frilly with pastel colours that resemble that of frosting on a cake. Decadent and delicate.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who shared in the win of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize as a champion of women’s rights made history in 2005 when she became Africa’s first elected female president in Liberia. She also presided over the West African country’s first democratic transfer of power – so undoubtedly, she is an inspiration, an icon a figure of empowerment and possibility. Among all these things she is also a style icon, despite working in the West and studying at Harvard she doesn’t stray from her African roots, sporting an Afrocentric style, which is a take on a contemporary 21st century version of the traditional dress. Her dress encompasses a four-piece skirt suit made from a distinctive cloth known as a Lapa as well a silhouette that is common across western Africa. The traditional dress usually features a ‘buba’s loose tunic style blouse with an intricate embroidered neckline; an iro which is hugging wrap around maxi skirt with slits on either side; a ‘gele’ which is a traditional head scarf that is wrapped or tied into a turban. Her dress brings about a unity of the people of Africa as well as time. Her clothing speaks to her political message and her beliefs in a bold and colourful way that is fit for a world stage.
Ellen represents a vision of culture, power, femininity and tradition combined. Throughout history female leaders have used the way they dress to embody their message, Fashion is often more than merely an interest or a desire but rather used as a mobile political arena in which women can be chastised for their choices both in and out the spotlight. Ellen does all of this with grace and confidences and is a constant reminder to the women of Africa that anything is possible.
Channel Your Inner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Don’t be afraid to mix and match all the different facets that make up you. No matter how far apart they may seem Ellen shows us that with enough confidence you can make all the traits you have come together in one cohesive transcending look. Be playful, respectful and boundless.
Greetings, dear readers! I am Rohini. As a proud contributor to the Worthview blog, I am excited to bring you insights into the realms of fashion, beauty, and health. Let’s embark on this adventure together, where my words become a bridge between my world and yours. I look forward to our shared journey of discovery and connection.
