The best vintage outfits are those that can stand the test of time. While much of 20th-century fashion falls prey to short-lived trends, some vintage clothing has become essential to the modern woman's wardrobe.

At Zeitgeist, we're all about keeping old trends current, so we've compiled a list of some of the most iconic outfits of all time.

Feast your eyes on some of the best vintage outfits of all time.

Christian Dior's New Look

After the WWII-induced restrictions on fabric, Christian Dior's groundbreaking silhouette redefined women's post-war style. Dior's 1947 debut collection was filled with full skirts and jackets emphasized by tightly cinched waists. This iconic vintage outfit was first dubbed the 'New Look' by former Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief, Carmel Snow, stating, "It's quite a revolution, dear Christian! Your dresses have such a new look!"

After the austerity of the WWII style that defined the 40s, Dior's extravagant, glamorous look came as a breath of fresh air to soon-to-be housewives everywhere. The voluminous midi skirts and cinched-waist jackets of Dior's new hyper-feminine silhouette required a petite waist— or a hidden helping hand from corsetry and/or hip pads. Astonishingly, the lengthened hemlines and voluminous petticoats required up to 13 1/2 yards of fabric per garment.

Despite feminists’ protests of the New Look's conservative hemlines and restrictive silhouette, the trends symbolized underlying societal changes of the mid-century. The excess of fabric signaled the end of the government restrictions placed on food and materials throughout WWII. Dior's new Parisian look exuded joy and glamour. The war-torn world rejoiced when they could finally enjoy fashion simply for the sake of enjoying fashion. Similarly, the comeback of shapewear and corsetry reflected women's shift from wartime careers to domestic suburban life.

Marilyn Monroe's White Dress

You'll be hard-pressed to name a mid-century sex symbol more iconic than Marilyn Monroe and her wind-blown white dress. The famous white cocktail dress is surprisingly simple with its bias cut, halter neckline, and pleated skirt. Its lightweight rayon-acetate crepe fabric was thoughtfully chosen by William Travilla, one of the leading costume designers at 20th Century Fox Films, to create the perfect wind-swept look.

In the decades since Monroe's dress has become synonymous with her image. It's been imitated in countless ads and fashion spreads, mocked in numerous spoofs and skits, and we won't even get started on its endless X-rated recreations. Everyone's worn it, from sorority girls at Halloween parties to Madonna on SNL. Even Lindsey Lohan sported it... with an ankle bracelet.

The dress's success should be credited to the genius of Travilla. It evoked both the feminine innocence and air of seduction that made Monroe an icon. Though considered revealing for its time, it wasn't overly sexy. The white fabric was angelic and ethereal while still edging on translucency. Who thought one—as Monroe put it— "silly little dress" could change women's fashion forever.

Audrey Hepburn's Little Black Dress

When Holly Golightly—a.k.a. Audrey Hepburn— wore a black Givenchy dress in the opening scene of Breakfast at Tiffany's, it established the L.B.D. as a staple of the modern woman's wardrobe. The sleek silhouette, layered pearls, and elbow-length gloves oozed glamour. It is now one of the most widely recognizable vintage outfits from the 1960s, even among those who have never seen the film itself.

The dress was only one of the many custom designs that Hubert de Givenchy created for Hepburn. The founder of the Givenchy house and the Hollywood starlet had a great admiration for each other and collaborated frequently. You can find Hepburn sporting more of Givenchy's looks in Sabrina, Funny Face, and more. She even wore custom Givenchy at her first wedding. Needless to say, it was a match made in fashion heaven.

Jackie O's Pink Bouclé Suit

Had it not been for the unforgettable events of Nov. 22, 1963, Jackie O's pink bouclé set would likely have never received the recognition it truly deserves. After the assassination of her husband, John F. Kennedy, Jackie famously refused to change out of her blood-stained Chanel. She even wore the outfit during the swearing-in of Vice President Johnson aboard Air Force One. Pretty badass if you ask us! If you're looking for an interesting read, check out this fascinating in-depth history of the former First Lady's famous outfit, and learn why the general public isn't allowed to view it again until 2103.

Jackie O's influence on fashion is undeniable. To this day, designers frequent her pillbox hats, headscarves, and oversized sunglasses when styling 60s inspired collections. The former First Lady also popularized monochrome color-palettes with her coordinated suits and all-white boating attire. And we certainly must not forget her influence on evening wear with her bow-adorned strapless gowns, elbow-length gloves, and perfectly poufed hair.

Cher's Naked Dress

In 1974, Cher donned what would come to be known in the fashion world as 'the naked dress.' Nearly everything was visible. No shapewear. No pasties. Just 70s fashion icon, Cher, and her statuesque frame. Like many of Cher's best-known looks, the feather-trimmed number was designed by fashion legend Bob Mackie. The theme of the year's Met Gala was Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design and Cher's daring look fit the dress code to a T. Today, the look has been worn by seemingly every Hollywood It-Girl.

Olivia Newton John's All-Black Ensemble

The all-black look worn by Olivia Newton John in the closing scene of Grease is nothing short of iconic. So iconic in fact, that it sold for over $400,000 at a charity auction in 2019. According to Olivia Newton John, she needed to be sewn into the snug-fitting leather pants on set.

The monochrome 'fit visually marks Sandy's transition from an innocent high school sweetheart to a leather-clad biker chick. The juxtaposition between her two looks represented a deeper societal division between the suburban middle class and the Greaser subculture popular in lower-income communities. The film's box-office success ushered in a resurgence of Greaser fashion. Overnight, leather motorcycle jackets, Cigarettes were deemed an essential outfit accessory.

A good all-black outfit? Tell me about it, stud.

Grace Jones' Power Suit

Hands down, no one pulled off an 80's power suit like Grace Jones. While she frequently sported the look, the black Giorgio Armani suit featured on the album cover of her 1981 album Nightclubbing, is perhaps her best-known. The iconic cover was painted by famous French artist, Jean Paul Goude. Armani himself called the look one of "the most enduring and powerful images" of the androgynous fashion icon.

Jones' style broke all the fashion rules. For starters, her closely shaved head stood out amongst the hair-sprayed looks of the 80s. The singer/actress /model/fashion icon often channeled Cubism and Afrofuturism through her maximalist looks. Her square-shouldered suits— frequently worn with little to nothing underneath—were a minimalist departure from her over the top red carpet style. She gender-bended long before gender-bending was cool, and it's much thanks to her that androgynous dressing made its way to the mainstream.

Pamela Anderson's Baywatch Swimsuit

Just imagine 80s fashion without Baywatch's trademark red swimsuits. Impossible!

At the show's peak, it had over one billion viewers each week, so as soon as Pamela Anderson and crew put on their red Lycra beachwear the rest was history. While each suit was tailored to ensure a figure-accentuating fit, Anderson's featured a lower neckline and higher cut sides than most of her castmates'.

Baywatch co-creator, Greg Bonnan, had the suits created by a competition swimsuit company instead of a Hollywood costume designer to ensure they accurately imitated the swimsuits of real California lifeguards. Peep them here in the show's equally famous slow-motion running in the Baywatch opening credits. Interestingly enough, those slo-mo shots actually played a role in the swimsuit's design. The one-piece needed to look sexy while staying in place and providing ample support.

Madonna's Cone Bra

While many of Madonna's signature looks could have made it on our list of the best vintage outfits, we painfully narrowed it down to just one. After much careful thought and consideration, we've gone with the Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra. Madonna's 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour was named the Greatest Concert of the 90s by Rolling Stone Magazine. In addition to being worn on tour, the bra was featured in several of Madonna's music videos.

Gaultier's pink satin cone bra made quite a stir when it first debuted. Reminiscent of mid-century bullet bras, the look evoked old-school femininity. When placed on Madonna's perfect bod, the pointed bra became a symbol of female empowerment. It has since been imitated countless times, securing the 'lingerie as outerwear' trend a spot in mainstream fashion.

Jennifer Lopez in Jungle Print Versace

You can credit Jenny from The Block and her iconic jungle printed Versace dress for being the first to "break the internet" after the 2000s Grammys. The day after the awards show, J-LO and her belly button were front-page news despite not winning a single award the night before. At the time, the look was the most popular search query ever seen on Google Images. The look came to define Lopez's signature elegant meets risqué style.

It's hard to believe that this was 20 years ago, right? While we'll admit that this one borders right on the edge of what is considered vintage versus retro, but its current resurgence in popularity only goes to show its long-lasting impact on the fashion world. For proof, just look at Versace's Spring '20 collection.

Vintage Outfits That Changed Fashion Forever