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Josephine Baker (1906–1975) -

Entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist Josephine Baker poses in a strapless gown in this 1961 studio portrait. The remains of the American-born singer and dancer, the first woman of color to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 silent film 'Siren of the Tropics,' are set to be reinterred at the Pantheon monument in Paris in November 2021, making her the first Black woman to receive such an honor.

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Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993) -

Effortlessly stylish all her life, Audrey Hepburn is recognized both as a film and fashion icon. In this early 1950s image, she wears a strapless gown and holds white kid-gloved hands up to her chin.

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Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) -

The embodiment of glamor and sexual allure, Marilyn Monroe turned heads wherever she went. She's seen arriving at the premiere of the film 'There's No Business like Show Business' in 1954 wearing a strapless satin evening gown.

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Brigitte Bardot -

French actress Brigitte Bardot seen in 1958 during a night out in London. She wears a strapless black evening dress with a lace wrap and long lace gloves.

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Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011) -

Elizabeth Taylor looks very glamorous in this 1953 portrait wearing a white satin strapless gown in front of a burgundy satin backdrop. The photograph was taken around the time 'The Girl Who Had Everything' had been completed, in which she costars alongside William Powell.

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Rita Hayworth (1918–1987) -

A statuesque Rita Hayworth, replete in a black strapless gown, as she appears in the movie 'Gilda' (1946). The film, which costars Glen Ford, is considered Hayworth's signature role. Her outfit was made by costume designer Jean Louis, who later declared it "the most famous dress I ever made."

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Ava Gardner (1922–1990) -

Ava Gardner photographed in a strapless patterned dress around the time of 'Mogambo' (1953), in which she stars alongside Clark Gable.

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Grace Kelly (1929–1982) -

Grace Kelly, a picture of style and sophistication, photographed in a strapless gown in the early 1950s. Kelly also stars in 'Mogambo,' one of only 11 movies she made before marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956 and becoming Princess of Monaco.

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Katherine Hepburn (1907–2003) -

Katherine Hepburn photographed wearing a strapless gown in 1942 around the time she made 'Woman of the Year' with Spencer Tracy. For her performance, Hepburn was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

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Queen Elizabeth II -

One of the few occasions Queen Elizabeth II is seen wearing a strapless dress. The photograph was taken during the British monarch's Christmas Day broadcast to the peoples of the British Commonwealth on December 25, 1953 from Government House in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Jacqueline Kennedy (1929–1994) -

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy attends an unveiling ceremony at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. on January 8, 1963, immaculately attired in a lilac strapless evening gown and white satin gloves.

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Jayne Mansfield (1933–1967) -

Photographed in 1955 reclining on a chaise longue in a strapless, sequined gown and dripping with diamond jewelry, Jayne Mansfield was one of Hollywood's original "blonde bombshells," though in fact she was a natural brunette.

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Jane Russell (1921–2011) -

Jane Russell was one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1940s and 1950s. She often showcased her voluptuous figure in movies like 'The Outlaw' (1943), but away from her pin-up image she could also strike a more elegant and refined pose.

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Marlene Dietrich (1901–1992) -

German-born American actress and singer Marlene Dietrich successfully traded on her glamorous persona and "exotic" looks to become one of cinema's greatest screen legends.

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Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–1997) -

The late Princess of Wales was an international style icon. Her public appearances were always eagerly anticipated by royal watchers and fashion editors around the world. Her many outfits included strapless evening gowns worn for official engagements.

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Halle Berry -

Halle Berry poses in a gold lamé strapless gown as Dorothy Dandridge, the first African-American film star to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performance in 1954's 'Carmen Jones.'

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Beyoncé -

Beyoncé's stunning strapless evening gown worn on arrival in 2009 at the 81st Academy Awards proved a winner with the fashion press.

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Jennifer Aniston -

Jennifer Aniston adopts a sassy stance dressed in a silver strapless skirt at the Women In Film 2009 Crystal + Lucy Awards in Century City, California.

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Natalie Portman -

Natalie Portman clutches her Golden Globe, awarded to her for 'Black Swan' (2010), while wearing a red rose strapless evening gown.

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Kate Winslet -

Looking relaxed and confident in her two-piece strapless top and dress, actress Kate Winslet acknowledges the cameras at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in 2010.

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Paris Hilton -

Paris Hilton dons a strapless party frock for her "Paris Electric Christmas" Holiday Party held at her private Los Angeles residence in 2011. The socialite and heiress is using one of her Ferraris as a perch.

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Emma Watson -

'Harry Potter' actress Emma Watson smiles coyly as she attends a special screening of the coming-of-age drama 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' at London's Mayfair Hotel in 2012.

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Salma Hayek -

Striking a super-stylish casual pose at the 2013 Golden Globes After Party is Salam Hayek, who looks stunning in her strapless evening gown.

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Jennifer Lawrence -

Jennifer Lawrence is all heart as she arrives for the premiere of her movie 'Passengers' in Westwood, California, in 2016.

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Julia Roberts -

A beaming Julia Roberts attends the 'Money Monster' premiere during the 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival in 2016.

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Penélope Cruz -

Spanish actress Penélope Cruz positively shimmers in a Chanel Couture strapless gown at the 70th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2018. The ornately detailed gown was a bodice adorned with 8,000 pieces including white and iridescent blue organza flowers, beads, and feathers, and took 280 hours to hand-embroider.

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Lady Gaga -

Lady Gaga's strapless gown emphasizes the singer's very expensive-looking diamond encrusted necklace as she acknowledges gathered photographers at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles in 2019.

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Viola Davis -

Viola Davis goes two-tone in a wonderful wraparound strapless gown at the 71st Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2019.

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Lupita Nyong'o -

Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong'o poses in the Press Room at the 50th National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 30, 2019, in Hollywood, California.

Sources: (Beyond Retro) (NPR) (The Royal Family)

See also: The biggest style icons throughout the ages

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