The Katharine Hepburn Style Guide – Her Vintage Tomboy Fashion

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Katharine hepburn style, 1940s Hollywood fashion, Katharine Hepburn fashion icon, her suits, her pants style, street style, and did she ever wear dresses?

This post is all about Katherine Hepburn style

What was Katherine Hepburn famous for?

Katharine Hepburn was a famous Old Hollywood actress from the silver screen.

Her long acting career spanned over 6 decades from the 1930’s through the 1980s, with her final on-screen appearance at the ripe old age of 87!

(Apparently she wasn’t one for early retirement.)

She was also an American fashion icon, known for her independent style and spirit.

It was partially her influence that helped women’s pants and wide-legged trousers become acceptable in the 1930s and 1940s.

In her private life, she was famous for her long time romance with co-star Spencer Tracy, as well as dating one of the wealthiest men at the time, the eccentric Howard Hughes.

She had many well-known roles over her long film career, including the classic films: Bill of Divorcement, Adam’s Rib, Bringing up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, The African Queen, Woman of the Year,  & Guess who’s coming to Dinner.

Katharine Hepburn’s Style

Katharine Hepburn is known as a pioneer of the american sportswear.

She influenced a more modern casual style, as her signature look off-screen (and on-screen whenever possible) was a great pair of wide leg pants.

Menswear-inspired outfits like a crisp button-up combined with high-waisted trousers and a comfy pair of sandals were Katharine Hepburn’s personal style preferences.

Sounds pretty dressy by today’s standards, but back in the 1930s and 1940s with dresses still the mainstay of women’s fashion, it was considered a bit controversial and she was perceived as a tomboy.

It wasn’t until the 1940s, with the practicalities of world war II, that pants became acceptable for women.

She preferred pants because of no need to wear stockings as was the norm with skirts at the time.

Pants also suited her active lifestyle as she would reportedly would swim and play tennis every morning for years.

Yeah, not something you want to do in a dress.

Despite her preference for pants, she could still glam it up in sleek evening dresses and we especially love her classic vintage style dresses she wore in the 1940s.

As you may have guessed, Katharine Hepburn was very opinionated about her style preferences.

The costume designer Edith Head once said: “One does not design for Miss Hepburn, one designs with her…”

(Top left) Katharine Hepburn wears a classic white button-down blouse, slacks, and sandals, with no need for socks or stockings.

One of her favorite outfit combinations, as it let her be active and comfortable at the same time.

(Above) Katherine Hepburn looking comfortable in her wide-legged pants and blouse with Cary Grant during the filming of The Philadephia Story.

James Stewart also co-starred in the film.

The Philadelphia Story was remade a decade later with Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra as High Society, with Grace Kelly playing Katharine Hepburn’s character Tracy Lord.

High Society is also a must-watch for some stunning 1950s fashion.

If you love 1940s, you might also like:
30 Top Movies of Cary Grant Ranked Best to Worst
27 Best Comedy Movies 1940s – Find Your New Favorite Classic!

Did Katherine Hepburn wear dresses?

The answer is yes, when she had to.

Katharine Hepburn did wear dresses as well as pants, (especially on-screen) but they weren’t her preferred style.

One would’ve never guessed as she looks just a classy and put together in her dresses as she does in her trousers.

We love her classic 1930 and 1940s style dresses as well as her fancy evening gowns.

In the image above, check out Katharine’ Hepburn’s classy outfit from Woman of the Year.

Although wearing a dress and heels, she does bring in a bit of her own signature style with a more masculine looking blazer.

Katherine Hepburn style pants

Katherine Hepburns signature style, the pants she would always wear were high-waisted and with a roomy straight or wide leg.

No skinny jeans here!

Remember, there weren’t a lot of options for women’s pants back in the 1930s when she started wearing them, so skinny jeans weren’t an option.

Instead, think tailored menswear styles, combined with retro style curls and a splash of red lipstick to nail the Katherine Hepburn aesthetic.

Katharine Hepburn, along with Greta Garbo, and Marlene Dietrich were pioneering in how they popularized trousers for women.

“I put on pants 50 years a go and declared a sort of middle road.” Katherine Hepburn said years later in 1981.

She usually paired her pants with a simple button up, turtleneck or other fitted sweater.

For shoes, she preferred loafers, oxfords, or simple sandals.

Amazing that this was considered too casual back in the day.

For more 1940s pants inspiration:

Vintage 1940s Fashion: Women’s 1940s Pants Style

(Top left) Katharine Hepburn wears a dark button-up, high-waisted slacks, and open sandals with a wedge heel.

Tailored clothes with a masculine touch, along with sculpted pin curls and classic makeup, give this look an Old Hollywood Glam feel.

(Top right) Katharine Hepburn enjoying her morning tennis in slacks, a tee, and cardigan sweater.

Even for tennis it looks like she has her hair and makeup spot on.

The Aviator was a 2004 film about Howard Hughes life, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Since Katharine Hepburn was with Howard Hughes for a time, she is represented in the film, played by Cate Blanchett.

It’s always a treat to see 1940s fashion in color, and the pants that Cate Blanchett wears while playing Katharine Hepburn are spot on.

We love the monochromatic outfit of brown trousers with a brown silk blouse, paired with a comfy pair of oxfords.

Other posts you might like:

Lauren Bacall Pants – How to Wear Pants like an Old Hollywood Glamour Star

Katherine Hepburn style dresses

Although predominately known for her pants style, Katherine Hepburn could sure dress it up in a snazzy dress.

From full-on Old Hollywood Glamour evening gowns, to more basic vintage style day dresses with an emphasized waist, it’s hard to decide whether we like her better in pants or dresses.

For someone who didn’t like wearing dresses, she sure could pull them off!

Above left, in the The Philadelphia Story, Katharine looks proper and feminine in a flowy dress with a fitted waist.

Above right, we love Katharine Hepburn’s polka-dot dress in Woman of the Year.

This classic dress is the kind that never goes out of style.

Need more formal gowns style inspiration from Katharine Hepburn and Old Hollywood?
Your Guide to 1940s Dresses Formal

Above, again, Cate Blanchett shines in a 1940s style evening dress while playing Katharine Hepburn opposite Leonardo Dicaprio in The Aviator.

We’re not sure if this is based on a real dress that Katharine Hepburn wore or not, but it’s a perfect example of 1940s style Old Hollywood Glam.

Katherine Hepburn suits

Katherine Hepburn wouldn’t just wear trousers, she would also combine her pants with blazers for a full-on pantsuit.

How to bring glamour to this look?

It’s all in the hair and makeup.

Notice how Katharine Hepburn wears her signature red lips and sculpted pin curls with every outfit.

Above, Katharine Hepburn wears two different pants suits, with a similar style.

Even though the pants are loose the waist is always defined with either a blazer that emphasizes the waist or a tucked in blouse.

This post was all about Katharine Hepburn style

What is your favorite Katharine Hepburn style?

Do you like her signature trousers look, her pantsuits, or her dresses?

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