Women Who Made History And Looked Great Doing It
March is Women’s History Month and contrary to most history books you read in school, there’s actually a lot to learn. From entrepreneurs to world leaders, there’s a plethora of women to be studied who despite gender discrimination, made their mark.
I’ve listed seven women whose achievements and character inspire me, as well as their style. I should note that women are often belittled for what they wear or even just for liking fashion, but in recent years I’ve seen quite the turnaround.
Fashion can be very powerful. At the 2018 Golden Globes, female guests chose to wear black dresses in solidarity with the MeToo movement. It marked a moment where some of the most influential women in the world stood up to the sexual assault that ran rampant in Hollywood by coming together and showing solidarity through their clothes. There is a power in weaponizing fashion to make history. And this past year, from the Barbie film to the Taylor Swift era, women are celebrating power on their own terms.
The seven women I’ve chosen have all had huge impacts on the world, either through fashion or other means. Nonetheless, they all deserve their own spotlight during Women’s History Month.
Jeanne Lanvin
You most likely recognize her last name, now one of the most well-known fashion houses in the world. Yet its namesake, Jeanne Lanvin, is little known. In a time when women weren’t granted the same rights as men, Jeanne started out as a milliner - a hat maker but went on to become a self-made businesswoman.
What really pushed her to design clothes was what she saw as her most important role: motherhood. She designed clothes for her daughter Marguerite and accompanying clothes for mothers. There was barely any area she didn’t expand her business into: children’s, women's, men's, furs, lingerie, perfumes, and even interior design.
Her success can, in large part be attributed to her understanding of women - she designed clothes for different bodies - a lesson many brands are yet to learn. Her designs were modern and feminine, inspired by her worldly travels, and as elegant as she was. Jeanne’s lasting impact in fashion can be most easily seen by her capabilities as both a designer and businesswoman to create a brand so eternal that it exists to this day.
Vivienne Westwood
The late Vivienne Westwood was a true original and the most influential people of the 1970s punk movement. The punk movement stood for non-conformism. It was about standing up to an over-consumeristic and greedy mainstream culture in the West characterized by aggressive music and a dark aesthetic.
Vivienne Westwood was at the forefront of making these “punks” easily recognizable. She didn’t care that her sex-fueled designs enraged the British upper class, in fact, it was that very political statement that inspired her to continue designing. For her, fashion was a way to make a political statement, and there was no stronger political movement in the 1970s than the punk movement.
Her passing in late 2022 was a moment for the fashion industry to reflect on Westwood’s legacy: fashion that meant something. In a time of minimalism and clean aesthetics, the Vivienne Westwood brand is still one of excess and individualism.
Madam C. J. Walker
If you haven’t yet seen the series Self Made, now you don’t need to scroll through streaming services for an hour to find your next show!
Octavia Spencer nails the role of Madam C. J. Walker, the first black woman millionaire in America. How she made her millions is even more impressive, she created a line of hair care products for black women. Even today, black women around the world have had to protest for more hair care products catered to black women, it reminds me of why it’s so important to study holistically from a range of perspectives. And now, Beyonce is launching her very own brand this year!
Madam Walker employed over three thousand people, mostly black women, as salespeople across the United States. She was a philanthropist and an active champion of the Harlem Renaissance. And yet, given all these achievements, most people are unaware of who Walker was, her mark in history, and, unsurprisingly, are unaware that access to hair care products is still a persistent problem for black women.
Madeleine Vionnet
Madeleine Vionnet is not a fashion household name, and yet her impact on fashion can be seen in the wardrobes of most women around the world. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the most influential designers in redefining the shape of women’s clothing were well: women.
Vionnet’s, her namesake brand, particularly flourished during the 1920s, when her bias cut, a technique of cutting diagonally across clothes, marked the decade's fashion. The technique naturally flatters many women’s bodies and you might even find this cut in your closet. Today’s girls would go crazy over her style, the epitome of Parisian chic: minimalistic yet striking, never compromising in elegance. She was inspired by ancient Greek art and more modern movements of the time, such as Art Deco and Cubism.
While her name can't be seen among the storefronts of Paris, her influence is still sighted by designers across the globe.
Angela Ahrendts
Let’s transition to women still making history today, and who better than boss lady Angela Ahrendts. After serving as President of Donna Karan, Ahrendts became the CEO of Burberry, where she increased the value of the company over threefold, from 2 billion pounds to over 7 billion. No wonder she was the UK’s highest-paid CEO in 2012!
An impressive feat in general, but especially given the belittling women face in business. Just one year after she then joined Apple as Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores, she yet again made history as the highest-paying member of the company's executive team, meaning she was making more money than the CEO. In the words of Naomi Campbell, “I make a lot of money, and I’m worth every cent.”
As Ahrendts continues to make history in fashion, Silicon Valley, and wherever she heads next, she is a timeless style icon who mixes soft colors with strong silhouettes to create a feminine and powerful professional image. If you too are in a position of power, regardless of industry, she may be the style, leadership, and inspiration you’re looking for.
Emma Grede
Love them or hate them, the Kardashians business empires are impressive. And it does leave you wondering who is behind it all. And yes of course we know momager Kris Jenner has her hand in everything, but behind Kim’s Skims and Khloe’s Good American is powerhouse Emma Grede.
Raised by a single mother, Grede went on to network her way into pitching a denim company to Khloe Kardashian, the success led her to partner with Kim on an undergarments brand that has revolutionized the industry. She has taken her entrepreneurial skills to Shark Tank and the UK’s Dragon’s Den. Not only do you get great and direct business knowledge but on-point style inspiration.
She is showing the world that behind every great woman, is another great woman.
Miuccia Prada
This year Prada surpassed Miu Miu as the most talked about/influential brand of the year. In other words, Miuccia Prada just beat Miuccia Prada. Miuccia Prada is the definition of being in a league of her own.
Miuccia may have inherited the Prada luggage company, but it was under her that the company became a billion-dollar business. Her series of nylon bags forever changed fashion and are to this day some of the most recognizable and sought-after luxury items. Prada pushed the limits. She has used her platform to address issues such as women's rights, sexuality, and gender identity. She has spoken out about the need for greater representation of women in leadership positions and has actively promoted female designers and creatives.
Because one billion dollar company wasn’t enough, Miuccia launched Miu Miu, a Gen-Z favorite and now she’s basically just in competition with herself. And the icing on the cake is that Miuccia is a style icon in her own right, and the best thing? She has decades of outfit inspiration to steal from.
Choosing which seven women to include on this list was almost as hard as choosing which of their accomplishments to showcase. There are many women who have changed the game and deserve recognition, as well as women who are currently changing it and making sure people know their names. These women have a range of accomplishments, but one thing they have in common is their ability to use their personal style to create powerful images that feel like an authentic extension of their character. Bravo!
x Lili