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.

Half Chinese and half Portuguese, China (pronounced Chee-nah) Machado's striking looks and poise earned her the nickname of the "ambassadress of elegance." A highly requested runway model in a time way before Cindy and Naomi, she worked exclusively for Hubert de Givenchy in Paris, and in 1959, made history by becoming the first non-Caucasian model to be featured on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. The Richard Avedon muse still found it a struggle to move up in a white-dominated field, but her Bambi eyes and luscious lips continue to be emulated today.

The Oscar-nominated actress was the first black woman to wear cornrows on TV during her stint on the series "Roots." She continued to showcase this and other natural hair care styles on the cover of magazines, which countless celebrities such as Rihanna and Jada Pinkett-Smith have recently brought back into style today.