- 2 months ago
From Gibson Girls and Flappers to Mod icons, Supermodels, and the rise of the Tumblr Girl, each decade brought a new version of the "It Girl" who defined style, spirit, and culture. See how icons—from Louise Brooks to Madonna, Twiggy to Taylor Swift—shaped the style revolution, reflecting both the glamour and rebellion of their eras. Which "It Girl" do you relate to most? Let us know in the comments!
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00:00I want to look... like her.
00:03Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the ineffable qualities
00:07and style that defines the It Girls of every decade since the start of the 20th century.
00:12Why don't you ever get a dress like that?
00:15Listen, for a dress like that, you've got to start laying plans when you're about 13.
00:211900 – The Gibson Girl At the turn of the 20th century, the Gibson
00:27Girl defined the moment.
00:35Dreamed up by illustrator Charles Dana Gibson, she was stylish and sporty.
00:40The Gibson Girl was just rebellious enough to scandalize her corseted predecessors.
00:57You take my breath away with your compliment.
01:00Real life muses helped bring her to life.
01:02Irene Langhorne, a southern socialite known for her wit and charm, was a direct inspiration.
01:07Evelyn Nesbitt, a model whose dramatic life made her one of America's first tabloid celebrities,
01:12captured the Gibson Girl's beauty and boldness.
01:15Together, they embodied a perfect blend of elegance and energy.
01:19With piled high hair, swooping skirts, and fierce independence, the Gibson Girl proved that being
01:25fashionable and formidable could go hand in hand.
01:28Walking as if we owned the world, are we?
01:30So I do.
01:321910s – The Edwardian Lady, The Suffragette, and The War Worker
01:37In the 1910s, the It Girl had a few different faces.
01:41Early in the decade, the Edwardian Lady reigned, floating through life in flowing dresses, giant hats,
01:46and elegant empire silhouettes.
01:50As the decade wore on, styles transformed radically.
01:58Fashion wasn't just about elegance and looking pretty.
02:01As women fought for the right to vote, the Suffragette became an icon in her own right,
02:06with her own style.
02:07She paired smart tailoring with bold sashes and political fire.
02:11I will continue to plead for the political liberty of American women.
02:17Where 16 of us face your judgment today.
02:18Where 10 of us face your judgment today.
02:20Where 12 of us face your judgment today.
02:24There will be 60 tomorrow.
02:26When World War I broke out, the War Worker rose to the spotlight, trading corsets for a utilitarian look.
02:32Both the Suffragette and the War Worker proved that women could wear the trousers too.
02:37What in the world didn't I think of it before? Why? We could be on Easy Street.
02:41What is it?
02:42Come on, spit it out.
02:43Why don't we all get jobs and go to work?
02:511920s, the Flapper. Picture it. Jazz blaring, fringe flying, and a generation of women refusing to stay quiet.
02:58After centuries of corsets and rules, women in the 1920s broke free.
03:03For the first time we're man's equal. If we can go out into the world and make a life for ourselves.
03:08And I fully intend to. So do I.
03:10The Flapper was a cultural earthquake in a beaded dress redefining femininity with short hair and
03:16shorter hemlines. She smoked. She danced. She drove. She made it clear women weren't going to
03:21sit quietly in the corner anymore. She was fearlessness personified.
03:26I'm going to meet you men on your own terms. Cater to your craving for efficiency. Learn to
03:30talk sports, tell jokes, smoke, drink, and yes, if I have to, I'll even kiss you back.
03:36Icons like Louise Brooks and Clara Bow, who was the first to be called an It Girl, lit up the era.
03:41With her bobbed hair, bold lipstick, and love of a good party, the Flapper wasn't just a trend.
03:47She represented a whole new way of living.
03:49What do you think of mine? It was a gift from one of my older gentleman friends.
03:54I'm the most scandalous gold digger, darlings. Isn't it just deliciously decadent?
03:581930s. The Silver Screen Siren
04:01When the world fell into depression, Hollywood turned up the glamour. The 1930s woman didn't care
04:07about youth a rebellion. She was all about devastating elegance.
04:23Designers like Madeleine Vionnet revolutionized fashion with the bias-cut gown, creating dresses
04:28that clung and flowed like liquid light. The siren glided across the silver screen,
04:34impossibly polished, and dangerously alluring. None embodied the moment better than Marlene Dietrich,
04:40who blurred gender lines, dripped charisma, and made it clear she had no intention of playing by
04:45anyone's rules, on screen or off. May I have this? Of course.
04:49I have this.
04:59Whether wrapped in satin or suited up like a dashing rogue, the 30s It Girl knew how to smolder.
05:05In an era desperate for escape, she gave audiences something they couldn't look away from.
05:10You don't drink?
05:11No bad habits at all.
05:18None I can't handle.
05:231940s. The Pin-Up Girl and the Land Girl
05:26The 1940s was a complicated decade full of struggle and too complex for any single vibe to fit.
05:33The It Girl went one of two ways, glamorous or gritty. On one side, the Pin-Up Girl ruled.
05:39Me?
05:49Sure, I'm decent.
05:50Stars like Rita Hayworth and Ingrid Bergman lit up movie screens in barracks walls.
05:55Satin gowns and sultry smiles became weapons of mass distraction.
05:59This isn't going to be easy.
06:01Why?
06:02He, uh, he's quite sensitive about you. He's gonna watch us like a hog.
06:06Yes, he's rather jealous of anyone.
06:09On the other, the Land Girl and wartime workers stepped up.
06:12They traded lipstick for overalls and proved resilience could be just as iconic.
06:17Young fashion icons like Gloria Vanderbilt kept glamour alive on the home front.
06:22But practicality became its own kind of chic.
06:25As bikinis debuted on beaches, women in trousers made their mark on city streets.
06:30They'll love us.
06:31Oh dear, you both better dress.
06:33And please, both of you promise to behave like ladies in front of these creatures.
06:37We'll do our best, Mrs. Lord.
06:39I don't know how good that is.
06:401950s The Bombshell and the Housewife
06:44After World War II, America was desperate for two things, comfort and control.
06:49Hollywood still had room for sultry blonde bombshells like Marilyn Monroe and Jane Mansfield.
06:54At the same moment, a different ideal took root closer to home.
06:58The perfect suburban housewife.
07:00I'm able to baste the chicken with one hand and outline the paper with the other.
07:05While our mothers were called to the workforce for Lady Liberty,
07:08it is our duty, nay obligation, to reclaim our place in the home,
07:13bearing the children that will carry our traditions into the future.
07:17On one side, the bombshells smouldered in curve-hugging dresses and platinum curls,
07:22selling dreams at the movies. On the other, the housewife smiled in nipped waist dresses and pearls,
07:28selling the dream of domestic bliss.
07:30How are these open already?
07:32Well, Betty, we don't want life to look difficult now, do we?
07:38You're too much.
07:39Whether lighting up a billboard or a backyard barbecue,
07:42the 1950s It Girl was all about perfect presentation.
07:46But beneath the satin and smiles, both versions sold fantasies,
07:50ones often far removed from real life.
07:53I wouldn't have figured you as domestic.
07:56That's one of my favorite pastimes.
08:00What is?
08:01Cooking.
08:05What are the others?
08:06Oh, keeping house.
08:10You know.
08:101960s – Camelot's Elegant Icon and the Mod Girl
08:15The 1960s didn't just have one It Girl,
08:18it had a full-blown style revolution.
08:20Early on, elegance ruled, with icons like Jacqueline Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn setting the tone.
08:26She's a… what they call in America these days a kook.
08:29What does that mean?
08:31It's spelled with a k, I believe.
08:32Which is a dizzy, gay type of girl.
08:38Anything like you?
08:39I'm not quite that way, no.
08:42Jackie brought polished sophistication to the White House,
08:45while Audrey gave the world timeless minimalism with ballet flats,
08:49little black dresses, and gamine charm.
08:52But by mid-decade, youth culture took over.
08:55That's when the Mod Girl stormed the scene.
08:57About three weeks later, it was a big page in the Daily Express saying,
09:02Twiggy, the face of 66.
09:04And on that day in February, my life changed forever.
09:08With her doe eyes, mini skirts, and fearless attitude,
09:12Twiggy became the face of a new generation.
09:15She was bold, boyish, and unbothered.
09:17Mod Girls rocked sharp lines, loud prints,
09:20and looks that screamed London cool instead of Paris chic.
09:24They didn't just want to look different from their parents,
09:26they wanted to live differently, too.
09:28Sir, will you wave your magic wand and make me sweet 16 again?
09:34Nothing to do with me.
09:351970s – The Disco Diva and the Bohemian Beauty
09:39In the 1970s, the woman of the era was either lighting up the dance floor
09:44or chilling out in a field.
09:46On one end of the spectrum, the Disco Diva ruled the night.
09:49I'll never give up, I got to do or die.
09:55Sequins, sky-high platforms, and larger-than-life energy defined icons like Grace Jones,
10:01whose ferocity and androgynous beauty pushed boundaries with every beat.
10:06Meanwhile, the bohemian beauty floated through the decade in maxi skirts,
10:10fringe vests, and natural effortless glam.
10:13A little taste of honey ain't enough for me, I gotta have the whole behind.
10:17Oh, you're gonna get it, baby.
10:19Stars like Pam Greer made it iconic, rocking afros, bold prints,
10:23and a confident earthy style that was as powerful as it was free-spirited.
10:28Whether spinning under a glitter ball or rocking suede and denim at a festival,
10:33the 70s It Girls celebrated self-expression, liberation, and a whole lot of fabulous fashion.
10:39I'm gonna be a designer.
10:42And so you shall be, my darling.
10:44But let's not try to run until we've learned how to stroll down a walkway.
10:491980s – The Power Woman and the Material Girl
10:53In the 80s, style was all about making an entrant.
10:56No one was sneaking in quietly.
10:58Power dressing took over corporate America.
11:00Dress shabbily, they notice the dress.
11:02Dress impeccably, they notice the woman.
11:05Woman donned skyscraper shoulder pads, tailored suits,
11:09and silk blouses sharp enough to double his armor.
11:12At the same time, pop culture turned up the volume.
11:15Madonna's Material Girl era threw subtlety out the window.
11:18You know that we are there, and the material world,
11:23and I am the material girl.
11:26Teen Girls followed her lead, rocking corsets, layered lace, and neon excess with a wink and a snarl.
11:32Some stars like Whitney Houston split the difference by embracing a glamorous,
11:36polished look that shimmered without shouting.
11:39Whether closing a deal, ruling the charts, or dazzling under stadium lights,
11:43women in the 80s made one thing clear.
11:46Fashion was now a power move.
11:48It's simple, elegant, yet makes a statement.
11:51Says to people confident, a risk-taker, not afraid to be noticed.
11:56Then you hit them with your smarts.
11:581990s, the supermodel and the grunge queen.
12:01Cool didn't come in just one size or one style at the end of the 20th century.
12:06Supermodels like Cindy Crawford ruled the runways and magazine covers.
12:10We looked powerful, and then we kind of were like,
12:17maybe we are powerful.
12:19And we started owning that power.
12:22They channeled an almost athletic glamour with blown-out hair, bodycon dresses,
12:27and a permanent backstage pass to every exclusive party.
12:30They were polished, powerful, and seemingly untouchable.
12:34But right alongside them, a different kind of icon was taking over.
12:38Winona Ryder helped usher in the era of grunge queen.
12:48Pink thrift store flannels, combat boots, messy hair, and an effortless vibe that screamed,
12:53I didn't try, and that's the point.
12:56Style in the 1990s was whatever you wanted it to be.
12:59As long as you made it look effortless.
13:01Try and be cool.
13:03Oh yeah, we cool.
13:052000s, the boho babe.
13:09After a decade of effortless glam, fashion got messy, and that was exactly the point.
13:14Some days I can feel clean and minimal, other days scruffy and sometimes vintage.
13:20That wouldn't get worn now.
13:22The 2000s style star was the boho babe.
13:25Think flowy tops, distressed denim, giant sunglasses, and enough fringe to start a stampede.
13:31Celebs like Sienna Miller made boho chic feel effortlessly cool, even when it was anything
13:36but effortless.
13:37Meanwhile, Paris Hilton gave the trend her own twist, mixing laid-back California girl vibes
13:43with tabloid-ready glam.
13:44There's no such thing as too many rhinestones, because it's hot to bling as much as possible.
13:50It was a high-low free-for-all, where a $20 vintage vest could sit next to a $2000 designer bag.
13:56And somehow, it worked.
13:58The 2000s were all about looking like you woke up fabulous, even if it took hours to pull off.
14:03The whole ripped jeans and skinny ripped jeans with the, like, layering of different sizes.
14:07That's very, very reminiscent of the noise.
14:112010, The Tumblr Girl
14:13Before TikTok rules the internet, there was Tumblr, and it created a whole new kind of style star.
14:19Sexy body, she shows it.
14:21Loves the drama, she chose it.
14:23The Tumblr girl aesthetic blended moody minimalism, indie grunge, and a hint of soft rebellion.
14:29Oversized flannels, chokers, ripped jeans, and Doc Martens were practically mandatory.
14:34And make sure to add another layer that matches the shoes.
14:36Congratulations, you've transported back in time.
14:38I definitely got 100,000 notes.
14:40These looks were always paired with carefully curated selfies and perfect lighting.
14:45She wasn't chasing mainstream trends, she was curating a vibe.
14:49From pastel hair to sharp-winged eyeliner, the Tumblr girl made personal style feel like an art
14:55project you posted online for the world to admire.
14:57Long before aesthetic became a buzzword, she proved that the right outfit could be a whole mood.
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15:292020's That Girl
15:32Effortless isn't really effortless, but that hasn't stopped anyone from chasing the illusion.
15:37That Girl became the new style blueprint.
15:39Polished, hyper-organized, and living a life straight off a Pinterest board.
15:44I just finished journaling, and I still need a shower, do my skincare, makeup.
15:48This is a full-time job.
15:50Her look leans minimalist, built around dewy skin, slicked back buns, and gold hoops.
15:55Her look is a nod to the clean girl aesthetic that swept through TikTok.
15:59Stars like Taylor Swift, especially in her Midnight's era, captured the vibe.
16:04Calm, curated, and quietly unstoppable.
16:07It's so heartwarming to me, because this is something that I care about, but I don't expect
16:12other people to care about it. It's something that's very personal to me, and it's a lot of
16:15work, but it's really fun and rewarding for me, and I can't believe people have actually gotten
16:21behind it the way they have.
16:22With the decade only halfway through, the trend cycle is already picking up speed.
16:27Whether the future swings back toward maximalist chaos or keeps things muted,
16:31the real flex is making it look easy, and making it look like you.
16:36There's so much variety to what we find productive or fulfilling in life,
16:40and it's just important for us to be able to acknowledge that and figure that out for ourselves.
16:44Which decade's It Girl vibe would you rock? Which one would you run from?
16:48Let us know in the comments below!
16:50I'm gonna be the most popular girl!
17:01I'm gonna be the most popular man addressed.
17:07We know that!
17:11I'm just، that in the comments below!
17:16We know that!!
17:20So, пока!
17:22Not exactly .
17:26But we're all right.
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