It's difficult to think about the glamorous Gatsby era that's been in style without remembering the force that was Josephine Baker. The French citizen was known for taking the flapper-chic image to the next level with fearless fashion choices. Case in point: her famous banana skirt, which was emulated by Beyoncé; her lavish, exotic gowns that have inspired Rihanna's risqué looks; and her tendency to invite her pet cheetah to join her on stage. It's no surprise she was muse to many, including Pablo Picasso and Christian Dior.

Her fearlessness also carried over to her work off stage -- the world-class entertainer also played notable roles in the French Resistance during World War II and later, the civil rights movement.

Something tells us Joyce Bryant would appreciate the current rainbow hair trend. During the height of her career as a theater and nightclub performer in the '40s and '50s, Bryant stood out from the pack of other singers with her signature silver hair and tight mermaid dresses. She was known for her four-octave range as much as her signature backless, cleavage-baring dresses -- the same we tend to see making the rounds on the red carpets come awards season and film festivals.

Born Margarita Carmen Cansino, Rita Hayworth changed her name and her hair (yes, the famous redhead is naturally a brunette) to attract more roles, but the actress remained true to her Latin roots by showcasing on film her skill in Spanish dance. Hayworth secured a place in fashion history's hall of fame in the 1946 film "Gilda," where she set the scene for every femme fatale to follow by appearing in the now iconic black satin dress designed by Jean Louis.

Frida Kahlo's numerous self-portraits are proof enough that she was a style icon in her own right. She often mixed bright, vivid colors in a wide variety of patterns and textures, creating looks that were mismatched, but never clashed, much like many fashion bloggers do today. Even her signature beauty look -- bright blooms in her hair, strong brows and ribbons weaved into braided updos -- are consistently seen on Pinterest boards and constructed backstage during Fashion Week.

"Eartha Kitt was literally the cat's meow in leopard fashion," says Bernard. With her petite yet curvy figure, Kitt made a lasting mark on fashion in the '50s and '60s by taking risks, like her signature head-to-toe leopard print look, which has inspired animal print looks today. Fittingly, Kitt also took over the role of Cat Woman in the '60s, influencing future Cat Women to come including Halle Berry and models on the runways of PPQ and Givenchy in 2011.