There's a certain je ne sais quoi that takes a celebrity from being considered really stylish, to being canonized a fashion icon. Jackie O and Marilyn Monroe are members of the exclusive "icon" club, but now, let's turn our focus to America's very own Oscar-winning actress turned Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly. Even before she captured the world's attention for her stunning (and much copied) wedding dress for her marriage to Prince Ranier in 1956, it's her daytime outfits, sophisticated suiting, crisp car coats, and austere-yet-feminine evening gowns that are influencing designers even today. She even inspired one of fall's biggest handbag trends: the box bag!
Scroll through these 15 archival images that prove that Princess Grace will forever be a style inspiration to us all:
Here she wears a cowboy hat and midi skirt, a look that could have easily been on the fall 2015 runways, circa 1945.
She wore an emerald green gown to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in 1954.
This ruched white gown and diamond collar in To Catch a Thief in 1955 is a look synonymous with the star.
She was classically graceful in a cardigan and self-tie blouse in 1955.
She wore a belted shirtdress, a car coat, and her signature Hermès Kelly bag with her groom-to be, Prince Ranier, upon the announcement of their engagement in Philadelphia in 1956.
Wearing an embroidered long-sleeve metallic gown with Frank Sinatra in High Society, 1956.
Wearing an elegant oxblood dress with fur-trimmed sleeves in 1956.
Kelly is the epitome of old-Hollywood glamour in a white ball gown, a matching shawl, and opera-length gloves, 1957.
Wearing her go-to travel outfit: a fur-lined trench and top-handle handbag, in 1963.
Wearing a cowboy hat again with a tribal-printed shirtdress aboard a boat in 1965.
Wearing a black cape on a Swiss ski trip in 1965.
Wearing a car coat and cat-eye sunglasses on a trip to Stockholm in 1967.
She wore a hooded silver cloak and white gown with Prince Ranier for the Masquerade Ball in Monte Carlo, 1967.
She was ever the Princess with a ruby and diamond parure, replete with tiara, and a red cloke draped over her ivory gown in 1973.
Keeping it casual in a white broadcloth off-the-shoulder top (the must-have top of summer 2015) and door-knocker earrings, 1979.
For more on fashion icons see:
Proof That Marilyn Monroe Was, Is, and Always Will be the Ultimate Fashion Icon
This New Fall Handbag Trend Will Have You Channeling Grace Kelly
These Rare Photos of Elizabeth Taylor Will Blow Your Away__
__Feel like some more royal style? Here are 11 things you didn't know about Kate Middleton:
