From Audrey Hepburn to Elizabeth Taylor: How to Dress Like a Vintage Movie Star

Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman had been acting since before she could walk, but it wasn’t until 1942 that she finally earned her role starring alongside Humphrey Bogart in the legendary Hollywood movie Casablanca.

Ingrid’s charm, sincerity, and – most importantly – her style, captured the hearts of moviegoers everywhere. To bring a touch of Bergman’s natural grace to your wardrobe, you only have to look at her gorgeous Casablanca outfits to know exactly what to wear.

If you’ve seen the movie, the images that stick out most in your mind are likely from the final scene, where Rick Blaine sacrifices his love for Ilsa and utters one of the most infamous lines in movie history, “Here’s Looking at You, Kid.”

In this scene, Ingrid wears a tailored tweed skirt and a matching jacket over a white collared shirt. The outfit perfectly encapsulates her character’s poise and sophistication whilst a grey wool hat softens the look and adds a touch of femininity.

To dress like Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca, take your favourite white shirt or blouse and style it with a tailored skirt. Add a slightly oversized blazer and top it off with a wool fedora, worn at an angle just like Ilsa’s.

A dancer before she was ever an actress, Audrey Hepburn exudes strength, elegance, and beauty, and it was these qualities that made her the remarkable performer and philanthropist the world came to admire.

Audrey wasn’t just an artist, she had a huge passion for fashion too, flaunting some of the most iconic outfits in fashion history. Whilst her filmography includes classics such as Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the most stylish Audrey Hepburn film has to be Funny Face.

A Cinderella story about a shy bookstore clerk, Jo Stockton, who transforms into a runway model when she meets fashion photographer Dick Avery.

The movie features so many gorgeous styles, evolving from earthy tones and layered looks to luxurious materials and eye-catching colours as Jo embraces her unique beauty.

To dress like Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face, you can lean into those layered autumn looks with a ditsy floral tea dress and a green cable knit. Alternatively, you can replicate Jo’s runway ready ensembles with a bright pink top and a lace maxi skirt, or dress to impress with a deep red dress and a matching red lip.

Make sure to accessorise with delicate jewellery, such as pearl necklaces and earrings, and finish it off with a pair of vintage heels so you can strut down the runway with confidence.

Bursting into the spotlight at just 10-years-old, Elizabeth Taylor is an actress whose talent was as big as her beauty, and whose reputation was larger than life.

Throughout her illustrious career, Elizabeth took the starring role in a long list of blockbuster movies, such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the history-making Cleopatra, but that wasn’t all she was famous for – it was her impeccable style that cemented her status as a timeless icon.

Whilst many of her roles featured a showstopping wardrobe, the relaxed and floaty outfits Liz donned in her 1965 film The Sandpiper stood out.

A refreshing change from the glitz and glam she was usually spotted in, the Sandpiper costumes were all about light tones and breezy, weightless materials that blended seamlessly into the coastal backdrop.

To mimic this ethereal style, look for tunic dresses and tops in soft colours like dusky pink and light blue. Red is a featured colour in many scenes and it’s set against crisp white tones for maximum impact. Wear a scarlet red jumper over a white shirt or dress, then add some matching red pumps for a look that’s both breezy and eye-catching.

Elizabeth’s character, Laura Reynolds, is an artist. So, look out for artistic details, like embroidery, to elevate your Liz Taylor look.

Lauren Bacall started out as a model and a Broadway ingenue, but it wasn’t long before her sophisticated style and alluring looks were noticed by movie director Howard Hawks. At just 19-years-old she starred alongside Humphrey Bogart in To Have and Have Not, where her provocative performance skyrocketed her to fame.

Though her big break might've come from film noir, Bacall shined in romantic comedies too, and it was in these technicolour delights that the movie star’s iconic style could truly shine.

In the 1953 rom-com How to Marry a Millionaire, Lauren starred as Schatze Page, a struggling model on the hunt for a wealthy husband. Schazte is full of fire and determination, and her outfits are just as bold.

To dress like Lauren Bacall in How to Marry a Millionaire, opt for bright hues, such as the yellow knit Schatze is seen wearing for some of the film’s most pivotal scenes. Tuck your knit into a floaty maxi skirt to create a feminine yet sophisticated silhouette.

One of Lauren’s iconic outfits is the mesh fabric dress she wears whilst modelling summer clothes. The dress is embroidered with gorgeous purple florals. To channel Lauren Bacall at your next autumn event, flaunt a similar dress. Then, complete the look with a pair of Mary Janes, and add a parasol for a look that’s as elegant as the movie star herself.

From Ingrid Bergman’s timeless elegance to Elizabeth Taylor’s breezy coastal looks, Old Hollywood style never truly goes out of fashion. Whether you’re drawn to polished silhouettes or playful colours these silver screen sirens still offer endless inspiration for your modern wardrobe.

Discover new Joe Browns vintage-inspired pieces in our Memory Lane collection, or explore our Inspiration page to find fresh ways to bring movie-star glamour into your everyday looks.