What clothing item did James Dean make famous in "Rebel Without a Cause"?
History of fashion craze
The big screen skyrocketed the sales of these items: Can you guess some?
How do some items go from old-and-forgotten to must-haves? Think Marilyn Monroe's white dress, James Dean's rebellious red jacket, or Jennifer Aniston's much-copied "Rachel" haircut. These were cultural icons—instantly recognizable symbols of a particular moment in time. We’ll dive into 12 iconic fashion moments that swept the nation, sparked by American celebrities and characters.
Image: loganathan logesh / Denis Jans
James Dean’s red jacket in Rebel Without a Cause
James Dean owned the screen in Rebel Without a Cause while wearing a red Harrington jacket. Jim Stark’s rebellious spirit resonated with a generation of teenagers, turning the jacket into a symbol of youthful defiance. That cool, casual style caught on in the ’50s and influenced menswear for years to come.
Image: visualsofdana
Tom Cruise’s aviator sunglasses in Top Gun
When Top Gun soared into theaters in the ’80s, sales of Ray-Ban Aviators took off like a jet fighter, reportedly increasing by 40%. Tom Cruise’s confident Maverick made these shades the ultimate symbol of effortless cool.
The latest installment of the franchise once again led to a surge in sales. Worn by pilots and by pop stars, Aviators remain a classic icon of the tough-guy aesthetic.
Image: Nitin Dhumal
Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel’s haircut in Friends
"The Rachel" wasn’t just a haircut—it was the haircut. Salons were flooded with requests for Jennifer Aniston’s bouncy, layered style.
The irony? Aniston reportedly hated it. But that didn’t stop an entire generation from chopping their locks in pursuit of sitcom-perfect hair.
Image: Ilse Orsel
Nancy Sinatra’s go-go boots
Nancy Sinatra’s "These Boots Are Made for Walkin’"—along with the groovy go-go dancers on "Laugh-In" —made white go-go boots the must-have footwear of the swinging ’60s.
Fun, fashionable, and full of youthful energy, they became a symbol of the era. Every mod girl needed a pair to complete her look and strut her stuff.
Image: Heriberto Jahir Medina
Marilyn Monroe’s white dress
A subway grate, a gust of wind, and boom. One of the most famous dresses in movie history was born. Marilyn Monroe’s billowing white halter dress is still a summer fashion inspiration more than half a century later.
Her signature winged eyeliner, red lips, and the Chanel No. 5 she allegedly wore to bed were also picked up by women all over the world.
Image: Stephen Leonardi
Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hat & suits
Jackie Kennedy’s impeccable style captivated the nation. Her elegant suits and perfectly perched pillbox hats turned heads with every public appearance.
Women everywhere sought to emulate her sophisticated, polished look, turning the First Lady into an unexpected fashion icon.
Image: Florida Memory
Farrah Fawcett’s feathered hair in Charlie’s Angels
An example of one poster that became one million salon appointments. Farrah Fawcett’s feathered waves became the ultimate hair trend of the 1970s, thanks to Charlie’s Angels.
Women flocked to salons, armed with cans of hairspray and dreams of achieving the perfect Farrah flip.
Image: Flybynight
Madonna’s lace gloves & layered bracelets
Madonna was as much a fashion icon as she was a music sensation. During her Like a Virgin era in the ‘80s, she introduced a bold new style: layered rubber bracelets, rosary beads, lace gloves, and a rebellious attitude. Young girls everywhere embraced her edgy, playful look, making it a defining trend of the decade.
Image: Paolo Sbalzer
Run-D.M.C.’s Adidas sneakers
No laces? No problem. Run-D.M.C. turned Adidas shell-toe sneakers into hip-hop royalty. Their song "My Adidas" made the brand explode, and suddenly sneakers with the three stripes were everywhere. Comfortable, stylish, and effortlessly cool—now that’s a trend anyone could get behind.
Image: Rahul Shah
Reese's Pieces in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Did you know that in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the beloved alien was originally supposed to be obsessed with M&Ms, not Reese’s Pieces? Luckily for the latter, Mars turned down the offer to feature their product in a Spielberg movie.
The result? After the movie’s massive success, sales of Reese’s Pieces skyrocketed by 65%. A perfect example of how sweet product placement can be.
Image: FlyD
Etch-a-Sketch in Toy Story
Sure, Toy Story featured dozens of different toys, but one classic that had been around for decades experienced a major resurgence after the movie’s release.
The Etch A Sketch saw a spike in sales in the ’90s, thanks to its memorable cameo in the Pixar movie. Maybe kids were drawn to its simple shake-and-draw magic, or perhaps parents couldn’t resist a wave of nostalgia.
Image: Nong
Kurt Cobain’s grunge look
Kurt Cobain didn’t dress for the cameras or the music industry, yet he defined an iconic style in the ’90s. His thrift-store flannels, ripped jeans, and round sunglasses became the uniform of a generation.
Ironically, the grunge aesthetic—born from a rejection of mainstream fashion—became one of the decade’s biggest trends.
Image: Ralph Rabago
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