Josephine Baker
The iconic sound: After surviving the tumultuous times of America during World War 1, Josephine Baker burst onto the scene in the 1920s as a dancing sensation. She moved to Paris at the height of her career — a move that would prove fruitful, as Parisians were famed for fetishising black culture at the time. In the 1930s she pursued an acting career and branched out as a singer. In World War 2 she became a spy for the French Resistance, using her celebrity to gain access to high-ranking Axis officials.
The iconic look: While the banana skirt is Baker’s most iconic outfit, she also had a more sultry side that saw her become one of the biggest sex symbols of her time. With her iconic sleek hair, she always opted for slinky looks in soft tones and seductive silks. She often looked to striking accessories, such as chandelier drop earrings, to give her femme fatale looks a bit of glamour.