Adelaide Hall

Adelaide Hall & The Nicholas Brothers, 1935 (11:02)

Before Ella and Billie, there was Adelaide Hall, one of the best-kept secrets of the Harlem Renaissance — to many Americans that is. Embraced in Paris and London, the Brooklyn born entertainer began in Harlem as performer and Jazz singer; sharing the stage and recording with greats like Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Over the span of her 80-year career, she recorded 70 albums as well as acted in popular plays. This lady definitely had style, I'm loving the semi-transparent silk gown!
AUDIO: I Must Have That Man (1928)

Marlene Dietrich

She once said, "I dress for myself. Not for the image, not for the public, not for the fashion, not for men." Whether in a silk chiffon robe or top hat and tails, The Dietrich remains a fashion trendsetter. She invented re-invention long before Madonna and lived her life the way she pleased with maximum visual impact.

Florence Mills

Forgotten stage star Florence Mills was one of the first black international superstars of the early 20th century. Here, in a beaded and embellished flapper dress, she was the first black woman featured in Vogue magazine. A child prodigy, she took the stage at the age of 4; singing, dancing and acting. Simultaneously conquering Europe with long production runs in Paris and London while helping to usher in the Harlem Renaissance by headlining Broadway shows, her life ended tragically at the age of 31.

Zora Neale Hurston

Not a lot of people know this, but Zora Neale Hurston was a hat lady. I don't have any hard evidence, but in nearly every photograph I've seen, she's wearing a hat. Usually tilted to the side, sheilding her face. These people are rare, I don't know any at all — the hat people. I've recently enjoyed the pleasures and attentions of wearing a hat, but better than shoes? Better than chocolate?

Marilyn Monroe

People used to dress a bit more formally when traveling by plane, quite the luxury in 1954. And for a movie star, the choice travel accessories to be photographed when disembarking are a black mink stole, leather coat casually thrown over shoulder, Saks Fifth Avenue hat box and Delman mary jane pumps. Now besides the slight dip in the vance, can you tell the difference?